Heart Matters (16 page)

The intercom buzzed and she thanked the Lord
for the distraction. “Yes, Ruth?”

“There’s someone here who says he’s a good
friend and wants to meet you. His name’s Jake”

Jessica immediately felt the blood leave her
face. “Give me a minute, Ruth.” She turned with a smile to Cheryl
who seemed to have missed her sudden bout of nerves.

Cheryl rose to her feet. “I must leave now.
It’s past the children’s lunch time.” Her stomach was beginning to
protrude gently and she smiled lovingly, running a hand over it.
“Jeff and I want you to be our third child’s godmother. Will
you?”

A warm feeling arose in Jessica’s heart. “Of
course! And Cheryl?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Cheryl simply nodded telling her without
words that she was not totally convinced. She let it remain at that
and left the room.

Jessica’s hands immediately grabbed her
phone and she speed dialed Mark. As soon as he answered, she
whispered in desperation. “He’s here! He’s in my boutique!”

“I’ll be right there! Jess, don’t let him
leave.” He warned and she could make out he was running. “Be brave,
baby girl. He can’t hurt you with people around.”

“Ok,” she agreed, her hands shaking as she
disconnected the call. She buzzed Ruth. “Send him in, Ruth,” she
asked, holding her breath instinctively.

The door to her office opened and Jake
stepped in. Jessica’s face immediately lost all color taking in his
sight for the first time in years. He was still handsome but drugs
had done their part on him. Fine lines crinkled at the edge of his
eyes, his skin held an unhealthy pallor and his fine blond hair
seemed thinner.

His smile was hideously evil as he regarded
her with his cold, blue eyes. “Hello Jessica. You’re looking
luscious.” His eyes roved down her body making her cringe.

She stared at him with mustered courage not
wanting him to realize she was on the verge of a panic attack.
“What do you want?” she hissed through clenched teeth.

Jake raised a cynical brow before plopping
down on the visitor’s chair. “Straight to the point. I like that in
my woman.”

She immediately snapped; her eyes raging
with fury. “I’m not
your woman
! Now tell me what you want or
I’ll call security!”

He pouted, feigning annoyance. “Aww, Jessi,
Jessi, Jessi! Is this any way to treat an old lover?”

“You.Are.Not.My.
Lover!”
she almost
yelled, slamming her palms on her desk and standing up. “You
never
were! You raped me, Jake! Do you get that? Does your
sick mind process that word? You are a
rapist!
”

“Tsk, tsk. Your temper’s such a turn on,
babes.” He stood up and came around her desk slowly, trailing a
finger on it, stalking her into a corner.

“Keep away from me!” she warned all but
backing into the work desk behind her.

He didn’t heed her warning and came to stand
arrogantly before her. “Jessica, my sweet, I can fuck you right
here on your table and no one can stop me.” He reached out to trace
her quivering lips making her flinch with revulsion. “Even
you.”

Her hand came up to strike him but he caught
it deftly and twisted it behind her. He entangled his fingers in
her hair and jerked her head back so that she was staring wildly at
him.

Jessica’s heart thudded so loud that she was
sure the whole world could hear it. This could not be happening to
her! Not again! She could not allow this evil man to manipulate her
in this manner. Mark’s words rose in her mind.
“Don’t let him
see your fear.”

Sucking in a deep breath, she bent her knee
and connected it with his groin with a perfect whack. Jake’s breath
left him with a whoosh as he bent over to hold his tender parts
with a loud groan. She shoved him away from her and grabbed her
phone. “You come near me one more time you freak and I swear I will
make you hurt worse!”

Jake slid into the visitor’s chair, still
bent over. When he regained some part of his composure, he scowled
at her. “You will pay for this you whore!”

Jessica slammed her palms on her desk and
glared at him, her eyes dark and defiant. “I dare you to try, you
dirty son of a bitch!”

For a while they just glowered at each
other. Then Jake suddenly started chuckling. “Whoo, hoo! That was
fucking hot, Jessi! I mean it! I like to screw wild girls.” His
laugh was dangerous and deliberately condescending but Jessica
refused to let it rattle her. His eyes narrowed into shrewd slits.
“What’s behind the bravado, Jessica? Your billionaire brother, your
billionaire fiancé or your shithead dog? Which one is offering to
protect you?”

His words disturbed her but she refused to
show him her fear. It was evident he wanted her to know he was
keeping tabs on her. “Get out while you still can!” she hissed.

Jake didn’t move a muscle. He appeared back
in control and reached for his cell phone. “Seeing you’re being so
damn inconsiderate, I guess I’ll just forward our sexy pics to your
fiancé, what say?”

“No!” Her response was immediate and just
the one he was looking for. He chuckled looking smug. Jessica
glanced at her watch. It was almost thirty minutes since she had
spoken to Mark, why wasn’t he here yet?

A thousand thoughts passed through her mind.
Jake was a dangerous predator. He was here for a reason. Money. If
she gave him what he wanted, would he just go away? A look at his
greedy face sent a shudder down her spine. No, he wouldn’t. If she
gave in, he would haunt her for the rest of her life. She drew in a
shaky breath. Her life. What a messed up life it was! It felt as if
she had spent it entirely searching for peace and happiness.
Neither of which would be within her reach till Jake chose to
torment her.

Steven.
She almost whispered his
name, hugging her arms close. There was no one she would rather be
with than him. But if he saw those shocking pictures, would he
still want her? Would he believe her? Perhaps not. He didn’t love
her so why would he?

The thought was miserable enough to make her
want to cry but seeing Jake’s horrid challenging eyes she was
determined to challenge him back. Before she could get the next
word out, her intercom buzzed and Ruth’s voice came through.
“Jessi, I’m sorry but Ms.Ida Devon is here to see you.”

“I’ll be right…”

“No, she wants to see you in your office.
Should I send her in?”

Jessica hesitated. What did Ida want? “No,
Ruth...” her voice trailed away as her office door was pushed open
and Ida Devon entered.

“Ida, what a pleasant surprise,” Jessica
managed, shooting a warning look at Jake who smirked at her. “What
can I do for you? I hope your costume went well with your Halloween
party.”

Cold, hard, green eyes regarded her with
pure hatred before Ida spoke in an even tone. “I’ve not come here
on business, Jessi. The visit is purely personal.”

The statement took her aback and Jessica’s
well-shaped brow rose curiously. Ida glared at Jake who opened his
arms graciously to indicate she could take the second visitor’s
chair.

Jessica glared at Jake willing him to leave
but he ignored her. Ida sat on the visitor’s chair and lit the
cigarette she held between her delicate fingers. She blew out a
whirl of gray smoke all the while watching Jessica with careful
eyes. Her manner was so blatantly hostile that an unknown sense of
fear rose in Jessica’s heart. She steadied herself and returned to
her chair behind her desk.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she
asked politely.

“I read about your engagement in the
papers,” Ida stated, completely ignoring her question. Jessica’s
eyes widened in surprise. The last thing she had expected Ida to
discuss was her engagement. Ida blew out another puff of smoke. “It
was rather unexpected.”

Even Jake’s brows rose at that making
Jessica give him one more glare, silently asking him to leave. He
ignored her as expected so she returned her attention to Ida.
“Well, it did happen rather suddenly.”

“How long have you known Steve?”

A frown creased Jessica’s attractive face.
What did her engagement have to do with this woman, she wondered
but replied honestly. “A couple of months.”

“Is that all? And you decided to marry
him?”

“Ida, what are you getting at?”

Ida’s upturned lips formed in a cynical
smile. “I know it’s a charade, Jessica. You can’t fool me. You
trapped Steve for this silly little company of yours. I’ve read all
the nasty details of the
merger
in the papers.” Critical
jade eyes scrutinized her. “You’re not his type. Too short. Too
ordinary.”

Jessica all but gaped at her in disbelief.
“I don’t think my engagement is any of your concern, Ida. And the
fact that Steven is marrying me should tell you I’m very much his
type.”

The other woman’s face dropped its cynical
look to slowly turn vehement. She leaned forward, her green eyes
glinting dangerously. “He belongs to me!” she hissed with a passion
that shocked Jessica. “Do you get that? You’re never going to get
him, Jessica. He’s mine!”

The color drained from Jessica’s face. “I
don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Ida’s lips were thin and firm as she spoke.
“I have known Steve since he was in college. He fell so madly in
love with me that he begged me to move in with him. We lived
together for four long years before I left him for David.”

The world suddenly reeled before Jessica.
Steven
was the man she left for Senator Devon! But how was
it that nobody knew about it?

Ida answered the silent question. “I will be
very frank with you, darling. I left Steve because he couldn’t give
me what I was looking for. I needed fame and money of course and
the poor dear was a nobody. He had no family business to fall back
on and I couldn’t simply marry him and watch him work nine to five
just to make ends meet!” Her arrogant statement appalled Jessica
but she declined to speak. “And you know what? He would have
remained as he was if I hadn’t walked out on him. He was so hurt by
me that he staked all that he had on the stock market. That’s where
luck favored him and he struck rich.”

A dull throb was beginning to form in
Jessica’s temples as she tried to speak calmly. “What happened was
a long time ago, Ida. Why are you here now?”

People often said madness is reflected in
the eyes and that’s what Jessica saw in the green ones that burnt
into her. “Do you know how boring it is to be married to one man
for seven long years? Do you know how it feels to sleep with your
husband and dream of your lover each time he invades your body?
Well, I know and I’m sick of it! I’m sick of David and his prissy
diplomatic views!” Ida unfurled her tall length from the chair,
appearing thoroughly self-composed despite the agitation in her
eyes. “I was about to leave my husband and go back to Steve when I
read about you. Nice try, I must say but I know he doesn’t love
you. Steve is incapable of loving any woman. I made sure of that
when I left him. So you see, you might as well give it up right
now. He’ll never be yours!”

Jessica breathed slowly trying to calm her
rapidly beating heart. Ida’s antagonism had astonished her
initially but she finally understood the reason behind it. She was
one of those people who could not accept loss. What was even more
amazing was the self-assured notion that she could just walk in and
out of someone’s life on her own whim and fancy. Had she bothered
to check with Steven if he wanted her back? It was possible that
she had rendered him invincible when it came to falling in love but
that was where it ended. Steven had given ample evidence of his
attraction for Jessica and she was sure he had no ulterior motive
behind his decision to marry her. She faced Ida bravely. “Ida, I
don’t have anything to say to you so if you have finished, you can
leave.”

Ida glared at her for a while then her face
abruptly dropped the vile look and she smiled nonchalantly. “You’re
a tough one, aren’t you? That’s fine by me, Jessi darling.” She lit
another cigarette and blew out the smoke leisurely. The haze
floated between them temporarily before it disappeared completely.
“I love challenges. Steve is mine and I’ll do whatever it takes to
get you out of his life. Is that clear?”

“As crystal.” Jessica watched the other
woman leave with troubled eyes. Lord knew she didn’t want to fight
anyone over Steven. He was a mature individual and could take his
own decisions. That’s why he had chosen her. The explanation
sounded good enough but a doubt distressed her mind. It was obvious
that Ida had not approached Steven yet. What if she did and he
realized that he really wanted her in his life?

Jake suddenly jumped to his feet startling
Jessica out of her reverie. “Well, that went well, didn’t it? Now
if you will excuse me.” With that he was gone, leaving her standing
speechless. She had almost forgotten about him and was glad he left
without torturing her further.

A headache began throbbing behind her
temples. The day’s happenings were too much for her to handle. She
felt confused, troubled, restless, disturbed all at once and she
wanted Steven. She needed to be with him, in his arms, kissing him,
losing her senses to him.

A bitter laugh rose in her throat. You’re
one messed up girl, Jessica Cantrell, she told herself. What was is
it about stress that sent her hormones raging?

Her phone beeped and she saw it was message
from Mark.

You did well, baby girl. I’m proud of
you.

The simple words made her smile. Yeah.
Someone thought she rocked. It calmed her to think Mark was around.
He had come for her but kept his presence hidden. He would deal
with Jake while she took on Ida’s warning.

Then his next message caused a nervous ball
to grow in the pit of her stomach.