Chapter Five
Days passed. Valentine’s Day came and went. She hadn’t seen Jackson since the night that he helped her decorate the restaurant. It was a Saturday morning, and later that day she was due at the restaurant again. She should be there now, but she just couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed and go.
Jackson had missed Valentine’s Day. He’d been called away on a business trip, some kind of problem that needed the boss’s presence.
It was strange. She had never been close to him, like she had the couple of days they had fucked. She actually missed him.
She didn’t call or text him, nor did she email or video chat with him.
Leaving everything blank, she stared up at the ceiling, and wondered what the hell she was doing.
This was not the first time she had thought this.
When there was a knock on her front door, she glanced at the clock. No one came to her apartment on a Saturday. Climbing out of bed, she padded her way toward the front door, opening it up, and staring at Jackson in shock.
He looked … a little messy. His suit was wrinkled, his jacket creased, and there was a couple of days’ stubble on his chin.
“Jackson.”
“I’ve been gone a couple of days, and you’ve not even bothered to call.”
She was surprised.
He brushed past her, and she closed the door, turning toward him.
“Look, I know we’re keeping this from my daughter, I get that, but for me, we’re dating, and with dating comes certain obligations.” She folded her arms, prepared for what he was about to say. “When we’re apart it is customary for people who care to keep in touch, call, text, whatever you want. Mainly call. I hate texting. It’s fucking useless, and why the hell do people not spell shit out anymore? It’s why the world’s tumbling into chaos.”
“Because no one spells anymore?” she asked.
“No, because no one cares about the small details.”
“I wanted to call and I wanted to text, and email. I didn’t know how you’d handle that.” She kept her arms folded, staring at him. “It has been a couple of days, a few random hookups. We’re stumbling around this dating as if we’re kids that have never dated before.”
“I don’t want to do it anymore,” he said. “No more stumbling. When I’m away, I want to hear from you.”
“That’s good to know.”
She watched as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a wrapped gift. “I had made plans for Valentine’s Day. I had a table set up, candles, romance planned, and then someone fucked up one of the software applications, and I just had to be there.”
“You’re big boss man. Of course you needed to be there.”
“I had to leave on one of the days that you loved. I’d have taken you with me, but I saw how much you were loving the restaurant, and I didn’t want to take you away from that. You’ve not been finding all that much enjoyment in it. Happy belated Valentine’s Day,” he said, handing over the gift.
“I didn’t get you anything.”
“I don’t need anything. Open it.”
She took the gift, and removed the wrapping. It looked like a journal, but when she turned it over she saw that it read “My Recipes”.
“I think it’s time you found that enjoyment again. Cooking was never a chore, and you treat it like it is. It’s time for you to find that passion again, Rebecca.” He stroked her cheek.
“I hate the restaurant.” She spilled the words that she had been keeping locked up for so long. She sighed, and tears filled her eyes. “This is actually really sweet. Probably one of the sweetest gifts I’ve ever been given.”
She opened the page, and saw it was blank. An endless list of possibilities. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Coffee if you have it.”
She nodded, waiting for him to take a seat. Entering the kitchen, she made them both a coffee, and joined him on the sofa. He’d opened the curtains, and the rays of sunshine came through the room. She pulled her knees beneath her, and rested her head on her hand. “Did you resolve your problem at work?”
“I did, and no one has been fired. They probably should be, but I’m too nice. I can’t just get rid of people that piss me off.”
She chuckled. “The staff at the restaurant, they are all amazing. They work so hard.”
“Oliver told me that they all adored you.”
“That’s good to know.” It filled her with warmth to know that her staff liked her. It was a tough industry. “A good restaurant is down to the team of chefs, waiters, barmen, you name it, all working together to be the best.”
Jackson reached out, moving some hair off her shoulder.
“I’ve only just got out of bed.”
“I can see that.”
“Have you ever thought about quitting?” he asked. “Opening up your own place, or turning that into your own place. Talking to your staff?”
“My parents own that restaurant. This was their agreement. They would pay for my restaurant, but I had to follow their rules.” She had succumbed to their pressure.
“You’re not happy. I really don’t like to see you not happy.”
“Is that what you did? Pulled away from your father’s business, and made your own path?” she asked.
“I wanted to be known as my own person. I’m not the kind of man who can take orders. I’m the one that does the ordering.”
She laughed. “I can see that. You’re the man that always has to be in charge.”
“Which I get from my dad. He was annoyed with me, I know he was, but I knew he was proud of me.”
“Ah, you’re the son. To my parents, I’m supposed to love fashion, luncheons, and being a kept wife, while my husband has a mistress or something like that. You know, drama, wine, and more drama.”
“You never wanted that?”
“Never. It always seemed dull to me, and shallow. Either that or I’m the dumb, shallow one.”
“You’re anything but shallow. I thought you were a bad influence on Bella, and I’m pleased you two got along.”
Rebecca couldn’t help but smile. “Even though we got into some trouble?”
“It was irritating, but I know for a fact it could have been worse. You were the one true friend to my daughter, so thank you.”
“I adore Bella. She’s like the sister I never had.” She giggled. “I guess that makes you my daddy.” She winked at him, and he groaned.
“That is wrong, so wrong.”
“Why? You could be my sugar daddy.” She put her drink on the small coffee table, and took his from him. Straddling his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you want me to pay up, and show you how grateful I am, Daddy.” She wrinkled her nose, and laughed. “Wrong.”
“Totally wrong.” He gripped her ass and pulled her close.
She rubbed herself on his rock-hard cock, and they both moaned. “The last thing I think when I’m with you is anything parental,” she said.
“The same applies.”
She leaned down, and pressed her lips against his.
Jackson ran his hands up her back, sinking into her hair.
“Should you be at the restaurant?” he asked.
“Yes, I totally should.”
“Do you need to be there right now?”
“I probably should.”
“You’re late already. What’s another ten minutes?” he asked, to which she burst out laughing.
“You think this will take ten minutes?”
“The longest we’ve lasted has been thirty. I’ve not seen you for nearly a week, and right now, I’m ready to blow and neither of us are naked.”
She kissed his lips, gasping as his cock pressed against her pussy, hitting a spot that aroused her even more. “I want you, Jackson.”
Running her hands down his body, she cupped his cock. At the same time, he slid his hand into her pajama pants, and touched her pussy.
She was on fire for him, and with how hard he was getting, he was clearly feeling the same.
“The restaurant can wait. I need you.”
It had been too long, and having him now beneath her was all that she could think about.
****
Jackson sat in his office reading through a report. It had been two months since he’d come back from his trip, and all but ordered Rebecca to keep in constant contact with him. Every now and again, his cell phone would beep with a text, or a smiley face, or a picture of what she was doing.
The recipe journal he’d gotten her seemed to have inspired her, which he was glad for.
Rubbing at his temples, he stared at the words, and they all blurred together. Pushing back from his desk, he stood up, and stepped up close to the window. This had been his office for many years now. A lot had happened in these very walls. He’d discovered that he was going to have a daughter, had conquered more business deals than he could remember. He’d had a mental breakdown here not long after his wife had died.
His entire world had been consumed within this one office. It was a large office as well, spacious as he loved to think. One of the reasons he’d kept the large house was because he liked space, and he liked to think.
Rebecca’s place was a little on the small side for him, but he kind of loved it. The apartment was all her. Every single inch of space oozed Rebecca, and he found when he was there, he could forget about everything else.
Sitting back down in his chair, he stared at the contract in front of him. It was for another takeover bid, and his heart wasn’t in it.
Moving his mouse, he watched the screen of his computer go from black to his sign in page. Signing in, it showed up the last item he was searching for.
The building was an old café that was across the city. It was in a thriving location. According to the pictures, he saw it was in need of some serious decoration, modernizing, but with the right touch, would be back to being perfect once again. This was what made him so good in business. He was able to see beyond the crap that everyone else saw.
Something rundown that needed a bit of care, or something that wasn’t doing its best, and he knew how to bring it back up to being perfect.
He had the money, the skills, and the people on hand.
This would be perfect for the vision that Rebecca had admitted to him one night.
Opening up his desk drawer, he stared at the drawing that she had made. They had both been drunk on too much wine and sex, and yet she’d been able to visualize her dream.
The drawing itself was basic, just an overrule outline of the kitchen, the seating room, and what she hoped to create. He really thought it was a fantastic idea. He was surprised her own parents hadn’t seen the potential in her plans.
Staring at the building, he saw there was a chance to view it. Picking up his phone, he dialed the number, and decided to make the decision himself. Once he’d arranged a booking, he got his PA to cancel his afternoon appointments.
The real estate man, who told him his name was Ben, was waiting.
“Hello, sir. You’re Jackson Reed?”
“I am.”
“Excellent. This is a fine establishment that with the right touch will bring so many fun memories.”
Jackson listened to him prattle on as he looked at the outside. There was plenty of space for parking, and simply standing there, he felt that it had so much potential as a family spot. Rebecca said she wanted to create something for families.
“Was this a family café?”
“Yes, it was. I believe the main cook took ill, and no one could cook as well as she could, and after a few years of failing, they had no choice but to cut their losses and go,” Ben said. “I remember coming here as a child—”
“I don’t need a fake story to try to sell me this.”
“I wasn’t faking a story. My family booked a table every Sunday. They would make the most delicious pot roast, or even meatloaf. Even now remembering, my mouth is watering. I tried to come as often as I could growing up, but once the food was no longer the same, it lost that edge, you know?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“So, will you be reinventing it? Do you have a cook in mind? Or are you thinking of knocking it down, and rebuilding it as apartments, which seems to be the in thing?”
“I have a friend who loves to cook. She’s trained, and I think I’d like to find something that could inspire her. Right now, she is anything but inspired.” The moment he walked in the doors, he took a quick inhale. The air was musty but not damp. He’d hire a builder, and all the relevant people needed to get this place back to being perfect.
This was going to be a surprise for Rebecca, so right now it was going to be top secret.
“What is the state of the building? No bullshit either.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the building. It looks a little rundown simply because it has been standing for a long period of time. By the time they closed, they were struggling, and keeping up the paint work, and other works didn’t make it into the budget.”
Jackson looked at Ben. “Okay, you’re being really honest here, and I find there’s always a catch.”
Ben held his hands up. “I guess I’m not doing my job properly. I’ve found that if I don’t lie, people have a tendency to come back to me, or to recommend me personally. I know this place. I have history here. Made out with my first girlfriend, all that kind of stuff. I want to see it go to a good person. Not all of us are after the bottom line, and yes, I will earn a killing from this place, but, I’m not someone willing to give in to greed.”
“An honest estate agent, you should have that as your motto or something. It would work.”
Ben lifted out his card and handed it to him. “Already have it.”
Jackson laughed, and pocketed the card. They walked behind the counter, and then into the main kitchen. It would all need to be redone. He would find a way of getting Rebecca to tell him what she’d want without giving the game away.
“When I sign the papers, how long before I can start getting work done in here?”
“Everything is ready, and if you’re happy, it could all be processed within two weeks,” Ben said. “Another buyer pulled out of the venture.”
“Any reason why?”
“I don’t know. Does this mean you’re taking it?”
Jackson looked around. He was getting a good vibe from the place. “Yeah, I’ll be taking it.” He shook Ben’s hand, signed the necessary paperwork, and gave him the details to be in touch with his lawyer.
Heading back to the office, he felt good about doing something like this, doing something that would inevitably bring Rebecca happiness. She couldn’t stay working in that restaurant. He had seen her love for cooking in her own kitchen, and whenever she left the restaurant, she always looked depressed.
The thought of her doing something she hated filled him with an anger that was rather unusual for him.
Entering his office, he saw that Alaric was waiting for him. “You’ve not hurt my girl again have you? I can have you killed easily.”
“Nothing like that. I thought it was time we got to know each other.”
Jackson nodded, and then smiled at his PA, asking if she would mind bringing him coffee.
“Not at all, Jackson.”
Entering his office, he moved toward the sofa and took a seat. “I did wonder when you would pay me another visit. I hear everything is going wonderfully with my daughter.”
“I want to marry her.”
“That is a step up from wanting to break her heart.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So, why are you asking me?”
“I don’t want there to be any bad blood between us.”
Jackson stared at the man that was pretty much the same age as he was. He didn’t like that his little girl was in love with this man. Alaric had a reputation for breaking things apart, not making them better.
“I will always believe that Bella can do better. It’s her father’s prerogative. Kind of like no woman will ever be good enough for her son, you will never be good enough for my daughter. I have nothing against you, Alaric. Nothing at all. When you have kids, then you will understand.”
Alaric agreed. “Again, I wanted to apologize.”
“I find it … funny, that you for a second thought I was in a competition with you. I don’t run my business as such. Never have. This is my life’s work, and I pride myself on being a good, respectful, and reasonable businessman.”
“I see that now. Let’s just say I let my emotions get in the way, and I only saw the competition. I wanted something, and you took it for me.”
“Yes, the modeling agency, which I got as it was something my late wife would have loved, as I loved her.”
“Why did you buy it?”
“My wife was a full-figured woman. I like to think she was healthy. The modelling world back then wasn’t exactly welcoming to the idea of a woman with curves. Times have changed.”
“Do you miss her?” Alaric asked.
Jackson thought about his wife, and he shook his head. “I used to miss her, but that changed over the years. I can’t love a ghost, and one cannot keep me warm at night. I had a good marriage.”
Rebecca got him fired up, yearning for stuff he’d thought was well past his time.
“Do you think you’ll ever find someone else?”
“Yeah, I hope I do.” He had a feeling that he may have already found someone.