Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Personal Assistant - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 2) (20 page)

Jennifer sighed and realized her cheeks were moist. At some point, she had started crying. Her phone began to ring again, but it was a different tone. She fished it from her purse and stared at the screen. It took a while for the numbers and words to morph into focus, but when it did, it read: Nicole Dacius. She let out a cry and laugh at the same time and answered the phone.

“Where are you?” Nicole asked in a firm voice.

“My room,” Jennifer whimpered.

“What’s wrong?” The firmness was gone. “Is he with you? Tell him to get out now!”

“I’m by myself,” Jennifer gulped.

“What’s wrong then?” Nicole paused. “Did he kiss you again?”

Jennifer sniffed. “Kind of but I could have stopped him and didn’t.”

“Sweetie, why didn’t you leave with me? You should have left with me,” Nicole pleaded. Jennifer felt the hot tears on her face. She was definitely crying now and nothing was going to stop her.

“What is wrong with me?” Jennifer whined into the receiver. She didn’t hear anything on the other line. She tried to stim back her sniveling to hear anything that Nicole might say, but she only heard silence. Jennifer checked the phone. The call was still live.

“Nicole? Nikki?”

“I’m here, Sweetie,” she responded promptly, but then fell silent again.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know why I didn’t leave, or why I even thought I could match his tit for tat—”

“You were never good at those games,” Nicole muttered.

Jennifer paused. “What’d you say?”

“I said you never good at those games.”

Games.

That’s what this was—that’s what all of it was. A big game.

And she just lost.

“Sounds like you need to put some distance between you and James. Sure, he’s hot, but he’s bad news.”

“Yeah,” Jennifer murmured. She composed herself enough to crawl to the bed and throw herself across the king sized duvet. If it had swallowed her body, she wouldn’t have cared one iota. As it were, it only nibbled at her skin and caressed her sweetly, calling her to fall asleep. Jennifer closed her eyes and sighed. Her mind and thoughts swam like one with the ocean. She rolled onto her back and kept them closed.

“So who’s your lover boy?” She asked, her voice sluggish.

“Call me back when you’re sober and I’ll tell you all about him.”

“I am sober,” Jennifer whined. Nicole only laughed.

“I gotta go, Babe, but do me a favor. Don’t answer your door until you’ve slept and it’s tomorrow and the sun is out. Do you understand? You’re too weak to say no. Just don’t even go there.” Jennifer nodded.

“Say it out loud, Jenn. I can’t see you,” Nicole suddenly barked. The sound jolted Jennifer from her sleeplike trance.

“I won’t open the door,” Jennifer stammered.

“Don’t
answer
the door. Especially if they say ‘Room service.’”

“Not even for room service?”

“Did you ask for room service?”

“I guess not,” Jennifer mumbled.

“But you’re sober,” Nicole mocked. “Girl, you are slow. Don’t answer the door.”

“Okay, got ‘cha. Don’t answer the door. Say nothing. I’m dead.”

Nicole laughed. “I love you, Sugar. Gotta go, girl.”

Jennifer didn’t bother saying a response. By the time she tried, the call had already ended. She opened her eyes and wondered for a moment if James really would come to her door and pretend to be room service. She shrugged the thought away and shivered.

She didn’t want to think about how she could have just compromised the best man that had ever walked into her life, let alone acknowledge that she had severely destroyed the professional lines of boss and employee.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Jennifer managed to pull the top comforter down enough to slip her body underneath. The bed and pillow whispered her name in sultry chants and song and lulled her to sleep while her head spun and danced with the lingering specialty cocktails from the lounge. If James ever stopped by her room, she never knew because the next time she opened her eyes, it was morning.

Chapter Sixteen

One Too Many

When Jennifer peeked outside her room, there was a set of complimentary toiletries waiting for her. She grabbed them in the best stealthy way she knew how: sliding the door open quietly and snatching at the bundle, only to slam the door shut and probably wake anyone within the closest four rooms.

Her head pounded and throbbed, pulsating painfully against her skull. Her mouth was parched and dry and when she tried to brush her teeth, she actually vomited bile. All signs that she most definitely had one too many signature cocktails.

A hot shower helped massage her. But it wasn’t enough to wake her up. She wasn’t sure about the time and didn’t care about it either. James never told her what time they needed to return, but she was certain she missed any complimentary breakfast the hotel might have served.

Sun streamed through her half cracked blinds and flooded the room with light. Lazily, she pulled her same clothes back on and groaned. She hated wearing dirty clothes.

The comb provided her wasn’t much, but she used it to set her hair straight and blow-dried it to perfection. Sleek. That’s the look she had. With a pair of shades, she’d be able to mask her hangover quite well, except she didn’t have a pair of shades. She frowned at that thought. It meant she’d have to look James in the eye. She didn’t want to do that.

Chapter Seventeen

The Morning After

In the mirror, James’s reflection was flawless. What could he say? It always was, but his mind belied his looks and he really felt like shit.

And not just the metaphorical kind.

He couldn’t stop replaying the night before in his mind. He didn’t need anyone to tell him he screwed up to know it in his gut. Toss in the raving headache, borderline migraine, and dry mouth, and he had woken up questioning his sanity.

The concierge had placed an errand service to grab both him and Jennifer a change of clothes. He decided it would be best to let them contact her directly. He didn’t plan on speaking to her any sooner than was necessary.

He tried to think of what he would say, but his mind was blank. He could try to blame it on the alcohol, but that would only be a coward’s way out. Instead, like a gentleman, he planned to face things head on. That’s what he did.

Jennifer would likely try to simply forget the issue; but James just wasn’t that type of guy. He wasn’t about skeletons in the closet hanging around with everyone afraid to mention them. He was pretty straightforward and direct. Most people liked that about him. Except he hadn’t really been straightforward with Jennifer.

He tried to tell himself that she was an exception. It was a mighty tempting thing to do. Then he could explain his bizarre behavior on that wild card, but he couldn’t deny himself either.

The truth was that he didn’t regret anything that had happened, except the damn phone call that had ruined it all. He didn’t know what that was about, but the last look on her face as she left him standing outside the elevators looking stupid told him that he had somehow betrayed her. That’s what did him in.

Check out was at noon and it was already 11 am. Jennifer hadn’t called. She hadn’t even sent a text. He managed to see her briefcase and blazer back at the lounge.  Yes, he had gone back to sample a few more drinks after yet another fiasco with her.

His phone was exploding with emails and missed calls from the floor front desk clerk. He didn’t know what her name was. He just remembered that she was a fake blonde with perky everything. He never gave her a second notice but he hated it when she left him work messages on his personal cell.

For one, it meant something bad was happening, and two, he was forced to listen to her annoying voice for the duration of the message. He thought about having her summarize the calls in an email, but he didn’t want to create the opportunity for too much correspondence.

He decided he would check the messages and missed calls on the plane. There wasn’t much he was going to be able to do about anything before he landed in Chicago. He was sure Jerry and Andrew must have some news for him. He was certain beyond a doubt that Andrew had sent him several updates that he didn’t even respond to. That was a stupid move.

This wasn’t a good way to run a business or start a partnership. Running his fingers through his hair, James took a deep breath and then reached for his suit top. Ready or not, he had to face Jennifer sooner or later. The pilot was on standby with a tentative departure time set for noon. It had to be sooner. Jennifer should have had more than enough time to get ready.

James gathered Jennifer’s briefcase and left the room, leaving the room key on the marble sink. Jennifer’s room was two floors down. He took the elevator silently and walked the length of the hallway briskly. He eyed the rooms and stopped hesitantly outside 1205. With a sigh, he raised his hand and knocked. When he didn’t readily hear anything, he knocked again.

“It’s James.”

There was more silence, but after a moment, the door opened and Jennifer stepped out clutching her bag. A round pair of shades hugged the bridge of her nose. The sight made him smile. Jennifer grimaced and looked away.

“So the errand service stopped by?”

“Yes,” Jennifer said flatly. She shouldered her purse and shifted on her feet. Behind her, the hotel door slowly closed. “They got me some shades,” after a period of hesitation, she added, “I’m not too keen on their choice of attire but I guess it’ll do for the ride back.”

James smirked. “Yeah, I’ll have the hotel ship your clothes back too. It won’t be a problem.” Nodding, Jennifer cleared her throat and looked down the hall. She crossed her arms at length. After running a tense hand through his hair, James nodded to Jennifer.

“How are you?”

“Hungover,” she reply curtly. “Can’t you tell?”

“No, let me see your eyes.”

Jennifer hesitated, and then reached for her glasses tentatively. She lifted them up and lowered them from her face. Her dusty brown eyes sought for James’s face. She was so gorgeous.

“You—you look fine,” James stuttered. He chortled nervously and smiled thinly. “Still beautiful.”

With a frown, Jennifer lowered her eyes. She brought the glasses to her eyes a second later and took a heaping breath.

“About last night—”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jennifer cut in quickly and turned. She headed for the elevators and walked briskly.

Damn
.
I should have seen that one coming
.

James sighed and walked after Jennifer leisurely. He’d wait, but it wouldn’t be for very much longer. He didn’t like tiptoeing around bushes.

In the escort car, they settled into the back easily. Jennifer placed her purse over her lap and drew the seat belt across her lap quickly. James didn’t bother with the belt. He sat the briefcase down and turned to Jennifer. He waited for her to look at him, but she fought his gaze.

With hundreds of hesitation and a grimace, Jennifer finally turned her head in his direction. As soon as she turned, however, she snapped her head back towards the back seat of the driver. James rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. Jennifer glanced again this time, but looked away a little less quickly.

James started tapping his foot loudly against the floor of the car. It was difficult to make a noise annoying enough to get Jennifer to look his way, but it was worth it. She looked at him a third time and grinned. A moment later, she chuckled and James laughed.

“Can you take off your glasses please?”

The smile vanished and Jennifer shook her head. She pressed her lips together in an effort to hide the grin that still kissed her mouth.

“Jenn,” James pressed, but Jennifer shook her head firmly. James sighed and looked at the roof of the vehicle. 34
^th
street would be less than ten minutes away. From there, it was another helicopter ride back to New Jersey where the pilot and Carolyn would be waiting for them. He didn’t want to have this conversation with Carolyn within earshot. Then again, the driver of the vehicle would be able to hear them.

James looked towards the driver and smiled. The car had a limo design and had a partition between them. It was now, not later.

“I need to talk to you,” James said quickly. Jennifer frowned and shook her head.

“No.”

“Jennifer, please take off your glasses.”

She scoffed and turned her back to James. “I said no.”

James sighed loudly. “Please don’t make me do this.” He waited for Jennifer to respond, but she didn’t. Instead, she crossed her legs and her arms and clamped her jaw shut with renewed vigor.

“Okay, fine. As your boss, Jennifer, take off your glasses.”

Jennifer sneered this time and turned to James. “Are you seriously talking to me like that?”

Shrugging his shoulders, James repeated himself, “Take off your glasses.” She froze first, and then, with clear disgust, she removed the glasses and glared at James.

“What?” She spat the word in his face. James held her gaze steady.

“I’m sorry,” he said immediately. Jennifer didn’t move. “I’m sorry, and I mean it this time.”

“And the last time was…what?”

James sighed loudly and ignored her question. “I’m sorry about last night, Jenn.” She searched his face, hers softening considerably at length. “I don’t understand entirely what happened,” he confessed. Jennifer’s brow twitched as she searched his face. “But I am sorry. I mean it,” James repeated. He needed her to believe him. It wasn’t a lie, or a gimmick, but the truth.  

Jennifer looked away, and then down. Her face wasn’t as hard, nor her poise quite as off putting. James ran his eyes over her body.

“Were you drunk last night?” He questioned her softly.

She offered him a weak shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Do you remember everything?”

Jennifer met his eyes again. “Well, I know we didn’t have sex.”

James grinned with her direct statement. “Sometimes you’re predictable, and then other times, like now, you completely blow my mind—”