PROLOGUE
Jensen
“So in the light of the new information we have been given, you will see how the market fluctuates in our model for the rest of the month. Any suggestions on how to maneuver through this?” Jensen looked around at his associates sitting around the conference table.
“We could add a few more colors to their advertising for the new product. It could catch people’s eye a little better.”
“No, that won’t be any good. If people look at the market and pull back, they won’t be inclined to buy, no matter what.”
“Use sex. Sex always sells.”
“Can you elaborate on that, Jack?”
“Turn the entire advertising campaign around and seduce the hell out of it. A sexy model, pouty lips, a hot car. No matter what the product, it always works.”
“You might have something there.” Jensen pulled his phone from his pocket, looking annoyed. “Excuse me.”
He turned away and answered. “This better be good.”
“We have a situation,” Black said.
“Obviously. You rang me three times in a row. I told you I am in a meeting. Can’t you handle it?”
“You need to hear this.”
“I’m listening”
“Kristina locked herself inside your penthouse.”
“You have a key.”
“She…barricaded the doors.”
“What the fuck.”
“I keep hearing things being smashed inside. I called the cops but figured you should know.”
“Thanks.” He pocketed his phone and stood there scratching his five o’clock shadow. He quickly went back inside the conference room. “I’m sorry. I have an emergency I have to deal with. Chuck? Can you take over? Get the write ups and have them on my desk in the morning. We’ll go over them then. Everyone else good?” He looked around. When no one spoke, he nodded then left.
It didn’t take him long to get to his penthouse, but when he did, he didn’t see Black’s car. He got out and fished in his pocket for his key. When he got inside he hit the lift button and it immediately lowered without a problem. He shook his head, wondering what the problem was. When he got inside, he looked around at the mess she left.
“Kristina!” he shouted. He walked in through the living room and shouted her name again. Megan slowly appeared from her bedroom, a solemn look on her face.
“Megan,” he said surprisingly. “What are you doing here? Where’s Black?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t seen him.”
“Do you know what happened here? Did Kristina do this?”
“I don’t know. I want to talk to you. Who is the blond that was here before? Is it Kristina? The woman you keep asking about?”
He turned away from her and pulled his phone from his pocket. He held it to his ear and waited, pacing back and forth and looking at the broken glass scattered across the floor. “Black! Where the hell are you? Where is Kristina? Would you call me? Please?” He pocketed his phone and kicked a piece of glass from the mirror across the floor. “Fuck!”
“Did she find out about me?” Megan asked in tears.
“What?” Jensen turned toward her. “What are you talking about?”
“Kristina. She did this, right?” she asked pointing to the mess.
“So I have been told, yes.”
“What did you do, Jensen? How could you do this?”
“Megan,” she heard the desperation beginning in his voice. “I didn’t do anything. You have to believe me.”
“How can I believe you? Are you telling me she just randomly came up here and decided to trash your place for no reason? Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“No, I didn’t say that. Kristina…she’s psycho. I broke it off with her before I even met you.”
“Yeah,” she said looking around. “It looks like you did.” She walked into the living room further. “I thought I was someone special to you?” She shook her head and held her hand up against him when he stepped toward her.
“Megan, you have this all wrong.”
“Save it! I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses.”
“She isn’t my girlfriend. You have to listen to me.”
“I think I’ve heard all I need to hear.” She ran through the living room and took the lift down to the ground.
When she disappeared, Jensen felt like someone ripped his heart out and left it there for him to watch die. He sunk to the floor and sat there trying to figure out what just happened. How did this turn around so quickly? How was Kristina still capable of doing so much damage in his life? How did he just lose someone like Megan Jenkins?
He grabbed his phone and dialed Kristina’s number.
“Baby! I was wondering when you were going to….”
“Why, Kristina? Why do you keep fucking with me?”
“What do you mean, baby?”
“When I told you it was over, I meant it. Do you want a piece of me?” His voice got angrier as it got louder.
“Oh, you know I do. I love your pieces,” she cooed.
“Why do you constantly interrupt my life? How the fuck did you even get in here anyway? You trashed my place! Not cool!”
“Let’s get together, Jensen. God I miss you. I could do things to you that most people wouldn’t….”
“Stop! What the fuck! It’s over! What part of that don’t you get?”
“The only thing I don’t get these days, is in your pants.”
Jensen scoffed.
“I’m serious, baby. I can’t stop thinking about your cock. Mmm. Let me come over. Let me take care of you.”
He felt a pain in his chest, where his heart was. He took a deep breath knowing that no matter what he said, she wasn’t going to listen. He made a final attempt anyway.
“Listen to me, and listen closely. If you don’t leave me and Megan alone, I will call the police and file a report against you.”
“No you won’t,” she said with amusement. “Stop playing around. I remember how you can’t resist me.”
“You know perfectly well that a police report will not do your modeling career any good. Don’t push me.”
“Just let me come….”
He hung up his phone before she finished her thought and tried calling Megan. It rang four times and went to her voice mail. He hung up and tried again, but it did the same thing. He waited a few minutes and then tried again. The third time it didn’t ring before going to her voice mail.
“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” he screamed as he slammed his phone on the floor repeatedly. He closed his eyes, feeling the sting of tears invade him. He looked down at his hand as he felt pain sear through his knuckle and saw blood trickling down his hand. He got up off the floor and went to the bar, pulling a bottle of Jack Daniels from his collection.
“This looks like it has too much in the bottle.” He spun the top and took his place back on the floor. As he tipped it back for the third time, he realized Megan meant more to him than he thought. His heart hurt and his head was all over the place.
The bottle was half gone when Black finally got back. “How did you get in?”
Jensen looked up at him and swayed. “What?”
“I can’t find Kristina anywhere.”
“Who gives a shit? I don’t want her. I want Megan. Find her! Bring her back to me.”
Black stood over him, shaking his head.
Jensen watched him leave again, then he finished off the bottle, passing out on the floor.