The Recruit(74)

‘Besides, you do have the best theatre room around. Hey, do I get to pick the movie?’ asked Anna.

Taylor squirmed in his seat, reluctant to answer. ‘I…guess so?’ he said unsurely. ‘Please, don’t let it be too chick-flicky!’

Anna smiled and pushed his arm gently. ‘Alright, I’ll try and pick a good one.’

For a moment Jaz wished she could join them. But she had bigger fish to fry. She was going to see what her possible future could be like.

*



A tingle spread its way through Jaz’s body when she saw Ryan standing against his car, waiting for her after school.

‘Oh, lucky you. I guess you’ve got a ride to The Ring,’ teased Anna. ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do?’

‘Right back at ‘cha,’ she smiled. ‘Catch you both later!’

Taylor and Anna veered off towards his Mustang. Both of them waved and said hello to Ryan.

‘Hey, you,’ said Jaz as she walked towards Ryan.

‘Hey, yourself. It’s good to see Taylor doesn’t glare at me anymore,’ said Ryan opening her door for her.

‘Oh, are you kidding, he thinks you’re God’s gift after the time at the range. If you weren’t a guy I think he’d want to date you!’ she said teasingly before jumping in his car.

She stowed her bag near her feet and waited as Ryan got in. Today he was wearing baggy jeans and a grey and white hoodie.

‘Hey, I like that jumper.’

Ryan paused, with his hands on the keys, to give her a dirty look.

‘What? I was just saying. If it goes missing don’t blame me,’ she smiled as he shook his head.

The afternoon sunshine was warm as it came through the car windows, but it did nothing to calm her nerves as they drove closer to the city centre.

‘You okay there, Jaz. You seem a bit nervous?’ asked Ryan.

‘What gave you that impression?’ said Jaz taking her finger out of her mouth and away from her chomping teeth. ‘I can’t help it; it’s just all so bizarre.’

‘We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Just say the word, Jaz and I’ll take you home.’

One look at the concern on Ryan’s face filled her with an unknown strength.

‘No, I need to know more.’

‘Don’t worry, you’ll be fine, James is great.’

Jaz breathed in deeply as she watched the cars pass by. Before long, they had parked in an underground car park and were heading to a set of doors.

They got into an ordinary elevator, no secret codes or eye-scan stuff. Jaz was a little disappointed as she adjusted her school bag on her shoulder.

The doors parted and they stepped into a foyer and walked towards the right, down a corridor to a desk, MTG Agencies in bold print on the wall behind it. The pretty receptionist saw Ryan and nodded him through. Jaz could hear the door they were walking to click. The receptionist must have unlocked it.

‘You know her well?’ Jaz asked curiously.

Ryan smiled as he put his hand on her back to direct her down the corridor. ‘Tina has been here for as long as I have, she knows the deal.’

Ryan stopped outside a door. A James Montenegro sign was stuck on the wood panel, it looked new. A hundred butterflies fluttered and took flight in her belly. She felt like throwing her arms around Ryan and hiding away in his arms. But that was showing weakness, and he praised her for her strength. So she would show him her strong backbone.

Ryan knocked twice then opened the door, poking his head in.

‘Hey, James, we’re here.’

‘Bring her in,’ she heard him say in a smooth warm voice.

She reached forward, her fingers just grazing Ryan’s strong back. The touch was enough to stand her straight and give her courage to stride into the room.

In the large office were shelves and a desk with a flash-looking computer. Slowly she dragged her eyes towards the towering figure in the middle of the room. Tall, lean, dressed in a simple grey suit, her eyes ran up his body. She got to his face. He was blond but she could see the edges tinged with grey, his face clean-shaven and his eyes were blue just like hers.

‘James this is Jasmine…’

‘Jaz,’ she cut in.

‘Jaz, this is James,’ Ryan finished. ‘I’ll leave you two to talk.’

Jaz’s eyes flew to Ryan’s, pleading him not to leave her.

Sensing her discomfort he said, ‘I’ll be just outside the door.’

She nodded and watched him exit before turning back to James.

‘Hello,’ she said awkwardly.

‘Hi, Jaz. Please take a seat.’

She did as he asked and put her bag between her legs.

Instead of sitting at his desk, he sat next to her in the other chair and focused all his attention to her. It was a little unnerving but she figured she was doing the same to him.