Jimmy

My Tuesday morning was filled with a massive investors meeting. Everyone wanted to meet to see how things were going to go this next quarter, especially with the hit the company’s image was taking in the press. I had to reassure them that their money was going to see profit and that they were not only investing in a strong company but also a strong man. I still had my wedding ring on to communicate commitment, and I had Ashley in the corner ready to rock and roll with numbers.

But what really gave me a piece of mind was Markus.

He would be the one to get them all back on track.

The meeting went smoothly, and Ashley did a fantastic job. She fielded all their questions and ran calculations in her head on the spot. She really was a force to be reckoned with, and Markus kept shooting me looks. I knew those looks.

They were looks of pride and envy, all rolled into one.

“That was a hell of a parlor trick Ashley pulled.”

Markus shut the door behind him as we walked into my office.

“I’m telling you, she’s my new secret weapon,” I said.

“Was she really doing all of that on the spot?” he asked.

“She was. And she speed-reads. She devoured the entire US tax code in a few days. Saved me millions this year.”

“She up for hire?” he asked.

“Not a fucking chance,” I said with a grin. “I’m glad you were at that meeting today, though. I wasn't sure how it was going to go.”

“I wasn’t sure either. Figured I’d finally drop by to one of those things, but you handled yourself well. You were direct and to the point and honest with your answers, even if the answer wasn’t what they wanted.”

“I still don’t know what’s taking my lawyers so long to find this.”

“For all you know, it was some asshole on the internet being stupid and making a joke that spun out of control. That’s the problem with all this technology. It links us, but it gives idiots a platform to spew stupid shit all the time,” he said.

“Well, I’m making good on my word. When my lawyers figure out who did this, I’ll be serving them with papers.”

“And what if it’s some crusty little bitch in his momma’s basement?”

“Then I’ll scare him. People need to know that their words come with weight. They can destroy things easily and all at the click of a few buttons.”

“I’m with you if you’re serious about it,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“Oh, are you free for dinner tonight? You can bring Jamie too. I was thinking of taking Ross out, but I figured Ashley would like to get out for a bit too.”

“Everything okay?”

“She struggles with her mother. Alzheimer’s.”

“Shit, I know how that is,” he said.

“You do?” I asked.

“Hell, yeah. I don’t talk about it or anything, but my mother had Alzheimer’s. It’s a shit show, especially in the later years. You know how long her mother’s had it?”

“Fix or six years, I think?”

“Damn. That’s rough. You’re giving her time off if she needs it, right?”

“That’s why she was gone most of the day yesterday,” I said.

“Good. Because her mother doesn’t have much time left. But yeah, I’ll come on out to dinner. My treat, though. You paid this past weekend.”

“I know, I know. And I don’t go back on my word. Though, I wish we could do this more often.”

“Well, you might get your wish.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I’m fielding all that shit with my company, and it’s not looking good. I mean, it is looking good, but it’ll look better if I’m down here with it. So I might end up back on this side of the country.”

“You're shitting me.”

“Nope. You know I got my main set up in Miami. Headquarters is in Alberta, but my main office that fields all types of shit is right here.”

“You’re moving back?” I asked.

“Don’t get too excited or start drawing up announcements. Nothing’s set in stone. If I can resolve the issues and stay in Canada, I will. But the more I meet with the idiots I employed, the more it’s looking like I might have to move out here for a spell.”

“Markus, I hate that your company’s struggling like that, but I can’t help but be excited at the idea that you might be coming back.”

“I know, I know. I was in meetings about it all day yesterday. Figured a meeting at another company would lift my spirits apparently.”

“Let me get a few things done around here, and then we can all go for dinner,” I said.

Markus stuck around, meandering to all the departments and talking people up. Jamie came up to the top floor around four thirty and greeted him with a kiss. I caught Ashley’s stare from her office, and I could see the light in her eyes. She watched the two of them embrace in the hallway, and the smile that crossed her face filled my heart with joy.

I wanted to give her that and so much more if she would let me.

All of us headed out to dinner again, and it was wonderful, but it didn’t stay that way for long. I followed Markus’s eyesight as we sat down and watched his face fall immediately.

And there was only one person on the planet who could suck the life out of him that quickly.

“Jimmy, can we go somewhere else?” Ashley asked.

I turned around and saw Nina, her eyes hooked on the table.

“It’ll be fine,” Markus said.

“We’ve got this,” I said.

“I’ll handle it if she says anything,” Markus said. “You’ve had enough of a presence in the media for one year.”

I heard Nina’s heels clicking over to the table, that light little sound that always sent the worst of shivers down my spine. I could feel her gaze on me as Ashley slipped her hand into mine, her arm trembling. I hated that she felt like this. I hated that I couldn't escape this woman and that I couldn’t enjoy a fucking dinner out without Nina popped up and ruining all this shit.

How did she have the money to be here, anyway?

“Hello, gentlemen,” Nina said.

“Here we go,” Ross said.

“Before you say anything, I want you to know something,” Markus said. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn around and go take your seat.”

“The last time I checked, I was free to walk up to whoever I wanted,” Nina said.

“And that’s fine, but not tonight,” Markus said.

“Just go away, Nina,” Ross said.

Markus shot him a look, and Ashley gripped my hand tighter. I watched Nina’s eyes fall to our connection as her cheeks flushed with anger. I stared her down, letting her know she couldn't intimidate us out of here. Whatever she was looking for, she wasn’t going to get tonight.

Or ever, if I had anything to do with it.

“How much is he paying you a month?” Nina asked.

“That’s enough. If you couldn’t handle the nature of your and Jimmy’s relationship, then that’s on you. But if you don’t turn around and get out of here, I’ll make you,” Markus said.

“Is that a threat?” Nina asked.

“Might be. I’d think it was more a promise, though,” he said. “Either way, you ready to find out? Because I’ve been waiting a long time to put you where you belong.”

I looked over at Ashley, and I saw her eyes in her lap, shamed into a position she should never be in. I reached over and crooked my finger underneath her chin and lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with fear. Worry. Apprehension. What was supposed to be a lovely dinner had quickly become another fiasco because of Nina.

I was ready to take out a restraining order on the woman.

“You’ll pay.”

I whipped my head up to Nina as Markus stepped in between us.

“Time to go,” he said.

“You’ll pay, Jimmy Sheldon. And if you don’t think you will, then think again,” Nina said.

“I need a manager, please,” Markus said. “Someone to get this wild animal out from underneath our feet.”

There was a commotion as a couple of people came over and took Nina by her arms. She tried to shake them off, stumbling in her heels as her hair flew everywhere. I shook my head as Markus stuck with her, making sure the two people could handle her flailing body all the way out the door. I felt Ashley’s forehead come down on my shoulder, and then a small sniffle hit my ear.

She was crying.

I had wanted to take us all out for a nice dinner, and now the love of my life was crying.