Page 90 of Corporate Escapades

“Thanks,” she replied after she’d blotted her face clean. “Do you also carry gum or mouthwash?” she asked.

“Actually, you’re in luck,” he replied, producing a package of gum from his coat pocket. Opening the pack, he handed her a piece. She took it from him, and unwrapping it, popped it into her mouth. “I’m sure there’s some bottled water in the car,” he said. “You’ll feel a lot better after you’ve washed the taste out of your mouth.”

“I’m sorry for sounding ungrateful, but why are you here?” she asked, as she watched Jack retrieve her leftovers from the sidewalk. Somehow, they managed not to spill.

“Vic called me when you were getting ready for dinner. He told me what happened with Tom and Angela and how you had to follow through with this awful date. I followed you in case you needed backup. Then I sent my driver home and asked the server to notify me if anything improper went down.” He handed her the leftovers.

“Wow, Jack, that’s going above and beyond,” she replied. Paris admired the kid’s tenacity, but she hated knowing she had to break his heart.

“I don’t like the idea of anyone hurting you. Anyway, let’s get out of here,” he said, helping her into the car.

Upon settling into their seats, she leaned her head in and rested it on his shoulder. “I know you have feelings for me,” she said.

“It’s pretty obvious, huh?”

“You know I’m not Alli, right? She’s irreplaceable.”

“Yeah,” said Jack.

“I couldn’t be more different from her,” she whispered. “I think your feelings for me are your way of holding on to her.”

A tear rolled down Jack’s cheek. Though Paris couldn’t see it, she could feel his hurt. “I miss her like crazy,” he replied.

“We all do, but you and I being together would never fix that, and it would never bring her back. You need to let me go. We can’t be more than friends,” she breathed.

“I know,” he replied, “but there’s a bigger reason than that for why we can never be more than friends, and I’m okay with it.”

“What’s that?” she asked as she turned to look at him.

“My brother’s in love with you. You might not want to believe it, but it’s true. I’ve never seen him act the way he does in your presence, toward any other woman.”

Paris settled back in against Jack’s shoulder, and though she said nothing, she squeezed his arm, and spent the rest of the car ride contemplating what he’d said.

When the car stopped, Jack gently nudged Paris, who had fallen asleep. She awoke to find that they had arrived back at ADG.

“Let me walk you to your door,” requested Jack. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, I’m okay now,” said Paris. “I was so angry. The wine and my heightened state didn’t mix well on an empty stomach.”

“That’s valid,” he replied as he got out of the car and reached for her hand. They walked silently to her door. “I’m headed to Vic’s. Do you need anything else?” he asked.

“Just for you to be okay with our friendship,” she replied. “Oh, wait. There is something else.” Reaching up, she removed the necklace Tom had given her. “Give this to your brother, please. He’ll know what to do with it.”

“Will do,” he said. Leaning in, he wrapped her in a tight hug and held on for longer than normal. “I’m happy, Paris. I consider you family, and as long as you’re in my life, I feel like part of Alliis still alive and well. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right up the hall,” he said as he turned and walked away.

“Goodnight, Jack!” she called after him. He gave her a brief wave without looking back, and she turned and disappeared into her condo.

Walking into the kitchen, she grabbed her favorite wine glass. All she wanted to do was eat her leftovers and curl up on her settee with a soft, cuddly blanket and her favorite Syrah, but she didn’t want to do so alone. The events of the day had put her on edge, and she needed a security blanket to get her through the night. As she finished pouring the wine, her phone rang. It was Mya.

“Hey! I heard your date ended early. Are you okay? Did anything happen?”

“Somehow, I convinced him to let me take my food to go, and that I was not feeling well because of my grandmother’s hospitalization,” she replied. “But my nerves got the better of me as I was leaving the restaurant. I lost the minimal contents of my stomach in the bushes right outside the door.”

“Classy,” laughed Mya. “Sorry, I know it was a rough evening for you. I probably would have done the same.”

“Will you come over?” Her voice shook. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“For sure. I’m packing a bag as we speak. Did you eat anything?”

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