In Love With My Personal Assistant(31)

"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. 34th 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.