"You look worried, baby doll, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you keep doing what you're doing, you two are going to be fine. He's already hooked, now you have to just keep him hooked."
"I'm not one to run after guys, you know." No, she didn't run after Anthony and she certainly wouldn't run after Jordan.
"I can tell. Neither is Jordan the type to run after females, they come to him, believe me. Besides his good looks, has he told you how much he's worth?"
"Worth? What do you mean?" Annette was confused. Of course, he had two jobs, a nice house with his brother and best friend, a nice car, a nice motorcycle … there was no doubt that Jordan was doing well for himself.
"You mean he didn't tell you?" Tara eyes were wider than before in disbelief.
"Tell me what? That he works two full time jobs."
"Oh, my gosh … I can't believe Jordan wouldn't say anything to you," Tara said, and put down her smoothie. "Annette, he owns that dealership and the auto repair shop that most of the guys work part time at."
"What?" Jordan never said anything about owning those businesses. They've been talking about their life and their future, but he never once mentioned that.
"Annette, he also owns the auto parts store across the street. This guy invested so much money in real estate and the stock market when he was in college that between him and Troy their net worth is at least a million dollars by now. Don't let their hood life confuse you. Those two brothers know how to hustle."
"He didn't tell me … " Annette shook her head.
"You're kidding! Jordan is really humble about it and all and he doesn't tell everyone he meets, but you're his girl. I wonder why he hasn't said anything?"
Annette was now looking off in the distance wondering if she should be just mad or infuriated that Jordan kept this secret from her.
"Jordan and Troy live off about fifty or sixty thousand dollars a year between the two of them and that's why no one suspects that they're rich. They actually make about double that on a yearly basis between the businesses, but they could probably live off investments right now."
Annette mumbled. "Tara, we should be getting ready. I need to go upstairs to get dressed." Suddenly, she wasn't interested in what Tara was saying, she was just heartbroken that Jordan hadn't told the complete truth about his line of work. What? Did he think that she was after his money? Lord knows that she had money of her own. She didn't have a million dollars in net worth, but she had a considerable amount considering her age. She didn't need any man's money and if Jordan had thought that was the case for one second then her feelings would be really hurt. As Annette punched the elevator buttons to go up to her room, she realized that she hadn't said goodbye to Tara. She had just walked away. She would apologize to Tara later … hopefully, she wouldn't hold a grudge.
When she got in the room, she was even more disappointed that Jordan was nowhere to be found. Maybe she would cool down a bit. She was more than a little upset.
Annette opened up her garment bag to withdraw the white leather short set outfit that she would be wearing today. The outfit was one piece, strapless, shoulder-less, and the shorts were only short enough to cover her ass and keep them from peaking out. She had made sure in the dressing room, that her ass was not showing every time she bent down or something. The white stilettos complimented her outfit. Maybe it was time for Annette to start being her own women and stop relying on a man to make her happy. If Jordan could get the ladies attention, then she could also get the men's attention. If Jordan wanted to keep his little secret about his money to himself, then she would keep her little secrets to herself. Annette would make sure to let Jordan know that he had finally met his match with her. If he wanted her, he was going to have to beg for her, the way all those females begged for him. She was tired of the secrets and heartbreak. In fact, as soon as she saw him, she was going to make it clear that she didn't want a relationship with him, just sex. Wasn't that what she wanted?
When Annette heard the room door handle being opened, she began digging in her bag pretending to look for something. She didn't want Jordan to see her standing their fuming. There was no need to make the man think that she was crazy. She didn't look up from her bag until she felt a familiar bulge pressed up against her ass. A rush of excitement went up her spine, but she couldn't be side tracked by the sexual attraction she was feeling right now.
"You were only at the spa for a few hours and I missed you." Jordan's lips were close to the nape of her neck.
"Oh, yeah?" she mumbled, and moved to the side away from his body, still not looking up.
"These are for you."
She finally looked at him, when he handed her a half a dozen red roses wrapped in a pretty red ribbon. Every rose bud looked flawless.
"Thank you." She smiled at him, feeling helpless by the way he made her feel. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him, but she held back. She pulled the roses up to her nose to smell them. The roses were extremely fresh and fragrant.
"You okay?" Jordan asked, his gaze roaming over her face.
"Yes." She placed the roses on the bed, and lowered her head again, pretending to be looking in her bag. Actually, she really was looking for her small cosmetic bag, so she could get ready.
"Look at me," Jordan said. Annette was surprised as he gently lifted her chin, so that he could search her facial expression again, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing … I just thought we agreed never to keep secrets from one another."
"What are you talking about?"
"Is there something you haven't told me?" Annette crossed her arms against her chest.
"Don't play that game with me, Annette. I don't play games, remember? Is there something you want to know?"
Annette was shocked that he would ask her not to play games with him like she was a little child. "I'm not playing games, Jordan." She snatched her chin away from his grip and grabbed the cosmetic bag from the suitcase.
"Then, what's the matter?"
"Where do you work?"
"I told you that already. I work with cars. I sell cars and I fix cars. Why?"
"Is that it?"
"What do you mean, is that it? Am I supposed to read your mind? Say what you want to say, Annette." She could tell that he was getting aggravated with her.
"You don't work at those places, Jordan. You own them. Why didn't you tell me that? Did you think I would want your money?"
"Where are you getting your information from? Yes, I own them. I also work there as well. I own and work at the repair shop. I own the dealership. I also partner with my brother and we own an auto parts store. What's the difference? I still work there. I told you that." Jordan shrugged his shoulders as if nothing was wrong.
"Is there a reason that you would keep those simple details from me? There is a difference between owning them and just working there."
"What does it matter?"
"Why didn't you tell me? Is it a secret? Am I the only one dumb enough not to know your secret? I know what … you think I want your money. You think that if I find out how much money you have that I would be interested in your money. Well, let me tell you something, I don't need any man to take care of me."
"I didn't tell you because I knew it wouldn't matter one way or the other to you. I know that you are different, Annette. I sense that. And if you wanted money, you would have demanded it from the beginning, despite the size of my bank accounts or credit limits."
"Well, it's not that you didn't tell me that you were … rich. It's just when I asked you about your line of work, you always said that you work at the repair shop or the dealership. You never mentioned that you owned either of them."
"Would it have been different if I mentioned that? What? Would you have wanted my money, then? Look, Annette, the money must be sure as hell important to you since you're so fuckin' worried about it."
"You know what? Fuck you. I don't care about your money. You have no idea how much I don't care about the size of your wallet," Annette was shouting now, and she was beginning to walk away, "I can't believe you said that. I told you that I have a trust issue and I told you that I was fresh out of a nasty relationship and you still want to keep little secrets from me. Little secretes lead to big secrets and then big secrets lead to heartbreak."
"Don't compare me to your ex. I am nothing like him. I don't want to be anything like him, either. You can't go around comparing guys to each other or nobody's gonna wanna put up with you!"