Page 16 of The Facilitator: Part 2
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The next coupleof days continued with nothing out of the ordinary. Mackenzie seemed to perk up midweek and reminded me we had a date at the club. I wondered if he was using sex to take his mind off his problem. I wouldn’t complain, of course, well, not for a little whileanyway.
“Don’t forget I’m out with Jerry tonight,” I said, as I popped my head around Mackenzie’s officedoor.
He didn’t answer straight away, but then slowly nodded hishead.
“I wish you two would stop this jealousy thing, it’s beginning to annoy me,” I said, crossing my arms over mychest.
“I’m not jealous of…is that what you think?” hesaid.
“Why are you always snippy when I mentionhim?”
“Snippy?”
“Sarcastic, dear,” Mary said, as she pushed past me to place a cup of coffee on hisdesk.
“Am I snippy with Jerry? Do you even know who Jerry is?” he asked her with asmirk.
She tapped her fingers against her lips as if deep inthought.
“The little twerp Lauren worked for, who came here and acted all silly when you bought his company. Best friend of your girlfriend, so yes, you’re jealous.” She turned and walkedout.
I wanted to laugh; instead I raised my eyebrows, waiting on hisanswer.
“Well, if mystic fucking Mary out there believes that, then I guess it must be true,” he overemphasised themystic fucking Mary. I wanted to chuckle, but I knew he’d just diverted my attention away from Jerry and theirjealousy.
“He’s the same and I intend to have a word with him this evening,” Isaid.
“He’s jealous of me? Well, I don’t mindthat.”
“Don’t take the piss. I’mserious.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m not jealous of your relationship with Jerry,Lauren.”
“So what had you hesitate when I reminded you I was out withhim?”
“Nothing in particular. You go and have a great time. Do you need acar?”
He stood and walked around his desk. He glanced over to see Mary squinting at her computer and paying us no attention. He grabbed me and pulled me to him, planting a kiss on my closed lips. His demand, and the pinch to my side had me open my mouth. I kissed him back because I loved his kisses, but I filed away his need to silence me where Jerry was concerned. It was a conversation I’d most certainly have with him anotherday.
He pulled back and stared at me, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear. I was conscious of the fact Mary was sitting just a few feet away. Displays of affection in public weren’t something I was used to; displays of possession, because that was what his kiss was, most certainly wasn’t something I wanted atwork.
“I’ll call you when I’m leaving to come home, okay? I’ve texted you the address so you know where I’m going,” Isaid.
“I don’t need toknow…”
I interrupted him, “I might get kidnapped or something. Yes, you need to know where I’mgoing.”
“Don’t tell him that, dear, he’ll have one of those thingies inserted inside you,” Mary said, not taking her eyes off her computer but tapping the paperback copy of a thriller she had sitting besideher.
I mouthed, “I hope you do insert that thingy insideme.”
Mackenzie roared with laughter. I gave him a wink and left. I could hear him asking Mary exactly what she meant. As the lift doors closed she replied, “One of those tracking thingies, what the fuck did you think Imeant?”
I laughed all the way down to my floor, where I grabbed my coat and bag and then headed out. A sleek silver Mercedes was waiting for me. I climbed in the back and gave the driver the address for Frank’s Bar. While I settled back I textedJerry.
I’ve just left the office; see you there in about a halfhour.
