Obsessed(18)

Chapter 8




I glance at my ringing phone again. It's the same number for the sixth time since I left Veray this afternoon. It has to be Jax. I slide back down into the bathtub, letting the water and remaining bubbles rush over my body. Since I left the elevator I've replayed every interaction with the man over and over again in my mind. He knew when he met me at the gallery that he practically owned my business. My pulse quickens just thinking about how foolish he's made me feel.

I pull myself from the now tepid water and walk to my bedroom with a towel wrapped around me. I need fresh air so I decide a walk in Central Park will help. I throw on a pair of loose fitting jeans, a white t-shirt and a light pink cardigan. I rummage through my cluttered closet to find a comfortable pair of blue flats.

"Ivy." I hear the recognizable sound of Mrs. Adams' voice as I lock my apartment door behind me.

I turn to look at her. "Mrs. Adams. How are you today?"

"I'm fine." She gives me the once over. "Are you wearing a brassiere, dear?"

"I glance down at my full breasts pushing against the thin fabric of the t-shirt. "Oops. I guess I'm not."

"You should close this then." She reaches to fasten several of the buttons of the soft cardigan.

I smile. "How was your hot date?"

She giggles in response. "I'm eighty-nine-years-old. My suitor is eighty-six. Hot dates are for the younger crowd."

I laugh with her. "I'm going for a walk. Would you like to join me?"

"Not tonight. I'm rather tired. I just stopped by to give you this."

She hands me another letter addressed to Mark. "Thank you," I say in a hushed tone.

"I don't have to keep giving them to you." She reaches to take it back. "I know it must be hard."

"No." I hold the letter tightly. "It's fine. I'm going to take care of this with Mark."

"Good," she says. "You need to get that boy out of your life for good."

I nod in silent agreement as she turns to walk away.



***



Sixty minutes later I march into the lobby of my apartment with Mark's letter still clutched in my fist. The instant Oliver approaches me I see Jax sitting on the bench near the elevator.

"He's been waiting for almost an hour, Ms. Marlow." Oliver's voice is apologetic.

"It's fine." I smile weakly. "We work together."

Jax stands as I approach him. "Ivy, we really need to talk."

"Let's talk." I stand in front of him, perspiration gathering on my forehead from the brisk walk I've just finished.

"Not here." He glances in Oliver's direction.

"He's paid not to hear." I know my voice sounds harsh. I suddenly feel overheated so I quickly remove the cardigan.

"Your apartment would be better." Jax reaches to push the call button for the elevator, his eyes lingering on my breasts.

I hold the cardigan to my chest as we share the elevator ride with one of the students subletting the apartment next to mine.

I close my apartment door behind him and throw my cardigan, keys and the letter on the foyer table.

"You can sit down in there, Jax." I motion towards the living room. "I'm going to get some water. Would you like anything?"

"Water sounds good." He stands motionless in the foyer, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. The grey polo shirt he's wearing wrinkled just a bit.

"Please, have a seat," I say as I walk out of the room.

I steady myself against the kitchen counter as I take a long drink of water to quench my thirst. This is the conversation I've been dreading all day and now I realize it's unavoidable. I pick up both bottles of water in my hands and walk back to the living room.

Jax is still in the foyer, his back turned to me. I silently walk up behind him and instantly realize he's holding the envelope addressed to Mark.

"What are you doing?"

He jumps slightly, the letter falling from his hands to the floor. He quickly reaches to pick it up and place it back on the table. "I'm sorry."

"That's personal."

"Do you still see him?"

I motion towards the living room. "That's none of your business."

"He's bad for you." He doesn't budge. "You shouldn't be anywhere near him."

I push the bottle of water at him. "I can do whatever I want."

"Stop acting like a child." Jax wraps his large hand around my wrist. "He hurt you. Why put yourself through more of that pain?"

"I refuse to discuss Mark with you." I stamp my foot for effect, pulling my arm free from his grasp.

"You can't trust him." Jax moves to sit on the edge of the couch.

"I can't trust you either, can I?" I seethe. "You conveniently forgot to mention that you were going to be my boss when you had me sitting half naked on your lap."