Very Bad Billionaires (39 page)

Chapter 6 – Jerrica

I walked through the door of my apartment, exhausted from my first day on the job. After grabbing a yogurt out of the fridge, I slipped off my heels and sat down on the couch to relax while I stared out the window and reflected on my day.

“You’re home already,” Liz said as she came down the hall. “How was the first day at the new job?”

“Great, terrible, and everything in between. Right now, I’m basically a gopher. It’s not what I thought it was at all. I thought I’d be doing the real work. Instead they have me running all over the city picking up supplies and delivering things,” I said as I rubbed my aching feet.

“Awww, it will get better. Do you want a glass of wine?” she asked as she poured one for herself.

“No. I better not. I have to go in early tomorrow, lucky me.”

“It was only your first day. I’m sure after you prove yourself they’ll give you actual projects to work on. Give it a few weeks. If you still hate it, you can always start applying for other jobs. Just don’t let it get you down.”

“It’s not really that bad. I’m just disappointed, you know. I wanted to jump right in and get right into the swing of things. I’m going to try to stick it out and work my way up the ladder.”

“Good for you. That’s the spirit,” she said as she patted me on the back. “Oh, guess what? I have a date on Saturday.”

“With who?” I asked her suspiciously. Liz didn’t date. She fell in love a lot, but her idea of dating was hanging out with someone watching movies on the couch or eating takeout. For her to use the word “date” meant the guy must be special.

“With Jimmy Calhoun,” she said as she scrunched up her face.

“Jimmy Calhoun? From high school, how the hell did that happen?”

“I ran into him at the supermarket the other day. He’s a lawyer now and recently divorced. We got talking and one thing led to another, and yeah, he’s taking me to dinner.”

“Wow, that’s awesome,” I said as I nudged her shoulder. “Congratulations. I hope it all works out.”

“It’s just a date,” she said. “I’m trying not to read too much into it. How about you, anything new and exciting going on in your life?”

“No. Well, do you remember that guy from the bar on Friday night?”

“Yeah, yeah, the one who thought he could buy us with a drink. What about him?” she asked as she stared at me intently, waiting for the gossip.

“Remember when I went shopping the next day?”

“Yeah, yeah, keep going,” she said impatiently.

“Well, I ran into him again at a coffee shop.”

“And...please tell me there’s more,” she said with her hand on her hip.

“I had broken a nail and he fixed it for me with super glue, and then he fixed my shoe.”

“Go on...”

“Well, I ran into him again today. I was running errands for work and he tried to stop me on the street.”

“What did he want?”

“He asked to take me to lunch. But of course I told him I was too busy. I have too much on the go right now to get bogged down with a relationship.”

“Oh, so you’re attracted to him,” she said with a glint of sarcasm in her voice.

“I never said that,” I said.

“Yes, you did. You said you were too busy for a relationship.”

“So?”

“If you didn’t like him, you would have said you weren’t interested in him, or you didn’t like him.”

“Well, I don’t like how he assumes that I’m interested, or the way he tries to demand my time,” I said as I pondered on the idea.

“But you are attracted to him,” she said, smiling at me mischievously.

“Well, he does have a nice smile, and a killer butt. Oh, and his eyes, the way his eyes sparkle in the sunlight...”

“Jerrica, just admit it, you’re smitten.”

***

The next morning when I was getting ready for work, I kept thinking about my conversation with Liz the night before.
Maybe I do like him
, I thought. It wasn’t that hard to believe that I could be smitten with him. After all, he certainly was charming.

I tried to put him out of my mind while I finished getting ready and hurried to the office. If I was going to move up the ladder, I had a lot of work to do. My career was very important to me, and I didn’t have time to sit around daydreaming about him.

“Jerrica, I’m glad you’re here,” my boss said. “Can you run over to CHI and grab a copy of the dailies?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” I said as I grabbed my purse, ready to head back out the door. I hurried along the streets determined to make it back in record time. If running errands was what it took to get a promotion, I’d be the best damn gopher they ever had.

I was hurrying along so fast, that I didn’t even look up to see the gentleman in the grey suit that was walking toward me until I bumped into him with a
thud
. “Miss Rollins,” he said. “We meet again.”

I sighed in disbelief as I realized who he was. “Yes, I’ll go to lunch with you,” I said.

“I don’t remember asking,” he laughed. “But it was nice running into you, or rather it was nice being run into by you.”

I felt my face turning crimson.
What an ass
, I thought. “Oh, I... I... I’m sorry,” I stammered. I wanted to cry, and I knew I had to get out of there fast. I nodded my head and started to walk away.

“Miss Rollins,” he said as he grabbed my elbow. “The restaurant on the corner at noon?”

“I’ll be there,” I said, smiling. Then I put my head down and walked away. I felt like such a klutz for walking into him like that, and an even bigger idiot for assuming he was going to ask me out again. At least he decided to humor me by giving me a pity date.

***

As the morning wore on, I wished I knew his last name or his phone number so I could cancel our lunch date. I really didn’t want to get into anything right now, and if it was just a pity date, I could do without it.

When eleven forty-five rolled around, I could feel my stomach tying in knots. I was getting so nervous as I stared at the clock. I started getting myself primped up to head out. Just because I went to lunch with him, didn’t mean I had to actually date him.

***

“Table for one?” the maître d’ asked.

“No, I’m meeting someone,” I said. “Jason... I don’t know his last name, but his first name is Jason.”

“You must be Miss Rollins,” the host said. “Right this way.” He showed me to a little table tucked in a far-off corner where Jason sat waiting for me. As soon as he saw me, he stood up and reached out his hand to take mine.

“Miss Rollins,” he said. “I’m so glad you could make it. Won’t you join me?”

“Please call me Jerrica,” I said. In the beginning I loved making him call me Miss Rollins, but now it seemed so formal.

“So tell me, Jerrica, what do you do?” he asked as he read over the menu.

“I’m a PR intern at Donnelly Multimedia,” I said as I played with my napkin.

“I see,” he said with a surprised expression on his face.

“Does that surprise you?” I asked.

“I just pictured you as working in banking and finance,” he said quickly.

“What do you do, Jason?” I asked.

“I work at a large corporation. A lot of administration crap, really boring stuff. Now tell me, do you like your job?”

“Right now, not so much. I’m new, so I don’t get to do anything exciting. I’m determined, though. I’m going to work my way up in the company as quickly as I can.”

“Good for you,” he said. “Now tell me this, Jerrica, can you read a word of that menu?”

“Not really,” I laughed.

“Why don’t you let me order for you then?” he said as he reached across the table and took my hand in his.

“Okay,” I agreed. When the waiter came over I listened in awe as he ordered for us in French. “Where did you learn that?” I asked.

“Oh, that. I went to a French Immersion school,” he said. “Now tell me about your family.”

“I have two sisters, both older than me and both live out of state. What about you, do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“One brother, one sister. What about your parents?”

“Do you get along with your brother and sister?” I asked.

“We get along fine. Tell me about your parents.” I knew there was no getting around answering the question. “My parents live in Oklahoma,” I said. I didn’t think there was any need to tell him more at that point. “What about your parents?”

“Do you get along with your parents?” he asked.

“Yes,” I lied. I hadn’t talked to my parents in four years, not that it was any of his business. “Now, tell me about your parents.”

“They’re fine,” he said as the waiter brought our food to the table.

***

“Guess what?” I yelled as I ran into the apartment after work.

Liz ran to the door with her arms outstretched. “You got a raise?”

“No, I went to lunch with the guy.”

“And?”

I told her all about our lunch date. As she and I analyzed the whole thing, I started to think it was weird that he had me talking about my job, myself, and my family, while he barely revealed a thing about himself.

“So, are you going to see him again?” she asked.

“Saturday night,” I said, smiling. “He’s taking me to dinner.”

Chapter 7 – Jason

After our lunch date, I hurried back to my office.
Goddammit, how could the girl of my dreams be one of my own employees?
I thought. When she said Donnelly Multimedia, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

“Julie,” I said into my intercom, “can you come in here for a moment?”

“What is it, Jason?” she said as she hurried into my office with a coffee.

“I need you to take care of a little problem for me.”

“What is it this time, Jason?” she asked, shaking her head.

“Jerrica Rollins in PR.”

“Jason, not again. Seriously, you’ve got to stop...”

“Just listen to me for two minutes.” I told her what I wanted her to do, and she shook her head as she got up to walk out of my office. “I’ll do it this time, but from there on in you’re on your own.”

***

On Saturday night I met Jerrica at her apartment building to take her to dinner. I considered sending a driver to get her, but I didn’t want her to know I had money yet. I figured that was a secret better left kept for as long as possible.

Once they found out you had money, they started hinting about financial problems, or started falling in love quick. The next thing you knew they wanted to move in with you. If she was the one that would settle me down and bear my children, I wanted it to happen because she loved me, and not my bank book.

“Hey Jason,” she said as she stepped out of the building. She looked so beautiful in her black silk dress that cut off mid-thigh.

“Well, hello, Miss Rollins,” I said as I took her hand and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re looking quite stunning this evening, I must say.”

“You look pretty good yourself,” she said as she smiled up at me. I was glad she noticed. I had worked hard at looking dressed up enough for the evening, but no so dressed up that I looked wealthy. I almost felt naked with a jacket and tie.

***

After dinner, she talked me into going to a dance bar of all things. When we walked through the doors, I felt like the oldest man in the place, but she immediately made me feel like a teenager again.

“Let’s go dance,” she said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the dance floor. The fog and laser lights added to the illusion. They reminded me so much of the strobe lights from my younger days.

After we hung around there for a while, we decided to go for a moonlit stroll. She was stumbling around on her heels, even though she’d only had a couple of drinks. Taking pity on her aching feet, I picked her up and carried her back to my car.

***

When we got to her apartment building, I offered to help her inside. “No,” she said. “I know what you want, and dinner and a few drinks isn’t getting it.”

“Miss Rollins, Jerrica, all I want is to see that you get inside without landing on your ass.”

She said she was fine as she fell out of the car onto the sidewalk. I helped her up and walked her inside the building and straight to her door.

“Goodnight,” I said as I turned around to walk away.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me goodnight?” she asked as she pouted.

“I didn’t think dinner and a few drinks could buy that,” I said with a grin.

“Get back here,” she said as she pulled on my arm. I practically flew back to her and took her in my arms, while I kissed her goodnight.

Chapter 8 – Jerrica

The Monday after my dinner date with Jason, I got called into my supervisor’s office. I thought for sure I was getting fired, and I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong. My eyes stung with tears, and I kicked myself for not having thicker skin.

I sat in the hot seat and waited for Mr. Rompwell, my supervisor, to come in. He’d called me for the meeting, the least he could do was be on time. The longer I waited the more nervous I became.

Finally, I heard the door handle turn. My pulse started rising when I realized the end was near. I braced myself for what I knew was coming.

“Miss Rollins,” he said. “We’ve decided to promote you. Starting today, you’ll be an associate PR in new series development.”

“I don’t understand. How does that work?”

“You’ll be handling public relations for new series that we produce, the stars, the shows, that sort of thing.”

“Are you serious?” I asked him, almost jumping out of my chair. I wanted to hug that man, I was so excited.

“Yes, I am. There’s an office waiting for you up on the third floor. Now pack your things and go.”

I couldn’t believe it. One week on the job, and I got a major promotion. My resume must have really blown them away even though it only had the projects I worked on in college on it. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Liz, and more importantly, I couldn’t wait to tell Jason.

I gathered my desk up quickly, and made my way to the third floor to claim my office. I was almost afraid that if I took too long they’d realize that they made a mistake and change their minds.

After spending the day getting up to speed on my new position, I raced home from work. “Liz,” I yelled when I threw open the door of the apartment. “I got a promotion.”

“Yay,” she said. “Tell me all about it.”

“I can’t right now because Jason’s coming to pick me up in a few minutes. But I’m now an Associate PR in new series. Basically I handle PR for new series and the people who star in them,” I said as I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Good for you,” she said. “See, I told you that it would get better.”

The buzzer rang. “Well, I better go,” I said as I raced out the door to go meet Jason. When I told him about the promotion, he gave me a pleased smile.

“I think that calls for a celebration,” he said. “What do you say we go for dinner?”

***

Over the next few weeks Jason and I had a whirlwind relationship. We were practically inseparable when we weren’t working. I knew I was falling in love with him whether I had time for it or not.

One Friday night when Liz was out of town visiting her parents, he walked me up to my apartment like he always did. It was still early, so I invited him in for a drink. We sat on the sofa while we talked and laughed in between kisses for hours.

When things really started to get heated up, he started unbuttoning my blouse. “I think you should go now,” I said. “It’s getting late, and I’m getting tired.” I pushed his hands away and buttoned my blouse back up.

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “We’ve been dating for weeks now, Jerrica, and I haven’t even gotten to second base. What’s up with that?”

“I’m sorry Jason, it’s just not the right time yet. When something happens between us, I want to make sure everything’s perfect.”

“I thought everything was fucking perfect tonight,” he said as he stormed out the door.

As soon as he left I burst into tears.
Maybe I should have just slept with him
, I thought. But I was a believer in the old adage, sex too fast, it won’t last. Ten minutes later my phone rang. It was Jason. I tried to compose myself before I answered.

“Hello,” I said.

“Jerrica, I’m so sorry,” he said into the phone.

“Look, Jason. I get it. I totally do. You’re a guy and you have needs. I’ll tell you what. You swing that car around right now, and I’ll fuck you right here, right now. In fact, I’ll start ripping my clothes off while you’re on your way. I just want you to tell me one thing first. When’s my birthday, Jason?”

He was silent on the other end.

“You don’t know, do you? I’ll give you another chance. What’s my favorite color?”

He was still silent.

“That’s exactly my point. We don’t know each other. Before I get intimate with you, I want to know everything about you and your life. I want us to know everything there is to know about each other. I don’t want to just jump into something blindly. I want to fall in love.”

As soon as I said the last sentence, I wished I hadn’t. I’d put it all out there on the table and there was no taking it back.

“That’s what I want too, Jerrica,” he said. “I’m so sorry for my behavior tonight. We’ll take it as slow as you want. But just so you know, my birthday is April 21st, and my favorite color is blue. If there’s anything else you want to know, just ask.”

My heart melted when he said it. I wished there were some way I could reach through the phone and wrap my arms around him.

“My birthday is March 24th and my favorite color is purple,” I said.

“Can I come back over?” he asked.

“Jason...”

“I was just kidding,” he said. “I do want to get to know you, Jerrica. You have no idea how much you mean to me.”