Page 16 of Hidden Gem
“We’ll just pop into the upstairs office. There might be someone burning the midnight oil. Although it’s hardly midnight, yet.”
“Who are you looking for?”
“There are a few people who’d love to see Kathleen gone...” They exited the lift, and he stopped to swipe his key tag by another heavy door. “Follow my lead. We’ll try to make it sound as casual as possible. Just tell them what you told me.”
Marnie nodded, the knot in her stomach tightening. She wasn’t an actress like Shasa, but then again, he wasn’t asking her to lie.
Jason opened the door into a large open plan office, surrounded by glass-fronted rooms with MPs’ names printed on them. Marnie surveyed the space, and her shoulders dropped. It was empty. She followed Jason as he traipsed across the geometrically patterned carpet, peering into various rooms and behind privacy screens. After a moment, he stopped and turned to her with a pained smile. “I’m sorry. I guess I was wrong. There must be a few good parties or something else going on tonight.”
.“It’s okay. We can try again another time”
“Would you?” His eyes shone with relief.
Marnie gave him a vague nod. She still felt uncomfortable about his plan. Maybe the empty office was a sign, her last chance to back away. “You need to get some rest,” she said, edging towards the door.
Jason nodded and led them out of the office.
Moments later, they stepped out of the lifts and descended the stairs to a deserted lobby. A friendly guard helped Marnie locate her jacket from the locked coat check. He raised his hand in greeting as they made their way through the security doors. Outside, darkness had fallen over the huge, paved square, streetlamps burning in the distance.
Marnie checked her phone, 9:45 p.m. This was it. They would go their separate ways. It had been a wild ride, much wilder than she’d expected. That’s what she wanted to focus on, not the overwhelming sense of loss that overtook her when she thought about walking away from him – a man she hardly knew. A man who lived in a world she could barely comprehend.
“Can I please get your phone number, to call you tomorrow?” he said. “We could meet here.”
Marnie bit her lip. If she gave him her number, she’d risk him finding out her real name. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t. The anonymity made her feel safe, it was the only way she could give him what he was asking. “Could we just meet here, say nine a.m.?”
She gestured at the emblem-adorned glass doors, pleading for him to understand.
Jason gave her a sad smile. “Let’s do that. Thank you, Beatrice. I appreciate your help.” He offered his hand.
The handshake went on for seconds, neither of them willing to let go. Why he wasn’t running away, she had no idea. But she liked it.
“No problem. It’s been an exciting night.” She smiled at him, finally letting go of his hand.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Where are you off to?”
“Back to the hotel, I think. Or maybe I’ll get one of those crepes from the street kitchen. Although it’s a bit of a walk.” She gave him a quick wave and turned around. No point in prolonging the agony.
She made it three steps down the pavement, when he reappeared in front of her, forcing her to stop. His face radiated desperation that made her throat tight. “I know this will sound nuts but... stay with me? Just for one night. I mean – evening. Nothing you’re uncomfortable with. Just hang out with me. I’m so tired, and I feel better with you. Is that crazy?” He grabbed her hands in his.
Marnie forced an awkward smile, her heart beating out of control. “It is a little crazy.” She couldn’t pull her hands away. His touch had arrested her whole body. She would stay here for as long as he held her. Her hands were officially his, while the rest of her cells argued over short-term rental options. Maybe she could extend this strange, magical night. This could be something to write about later. What would Beatrice do?
Jason gestured at the tall buildings in the distance, on the other side of the road. “I live over there. It’s only a short walk.”
“You want me to stay with you?”
“Yes. Just... be there.”
“You don’t want ... anything else?” Marnie couldn’t hide her disappointment. He may have liked her breasts, but he wasn’t interested in her. Not like that. He was just lonely, or worried that she wouldn’t show up in the morning.
Jason bowed his head, his face contorting in regret. “I do. But I don’t think I can. Not until I get some sleep. I’m so sorry.”
Marnie couldn’t stop her heart going out to him. “You poor thing. Do you really think I can help? That I can make you sleep?”
Jason shook his head with a sad smile. “I don’t know. Probably not. But I’m so tired. I’m so tired of lying there by myself, staring at the ceiling. Or taking drugs that leave my head all muddled the next day. If I could break the cycle, to have someone there... I’m not making sense.”
Marnie took his arm, and they walked silently across the square. He was making enough sense to her. She heard the genuine pain behind his words, could see it in his eyes, in the darkness that circled them. She’d caught a piece of his broken soul, and it called out to her. Guilt hit her for not giving him her real name. Still, she could try to help him, give him what he needed.
“Just promise not to ask me too many questions, okay? I’ll go with you. I’ll stay with you. In the morning, if you still think it’s a good idea, we’ll think of a way to alert the right people about the minister. Then we’ll go our separate ways. Is that okay?”
