Page 50 of Myself

Me: I hope you have a great first day at work. Call me on your lunch break.

Then I pull up Jaycent’s number on my phone. I go to text him but remember he had a meeting this morning. I drop my phone on my chest and look up at the bright white lights hanging from my ceiling. He told me that he had a meeting on-site this afternoon as well. If I got up now and jumped in the shower, I could surprise him for lunch.

I sit up, and biting my bottom lip, I wonder if that’s a good idea. And that’s when I realize even if it’s not, I’m still gonna do it. Because I would love it if he surprised me with lunch.

Around noon, I walked out of our apartment dressed in a pair of black shorts, a red top, and black heels. I all but jumped when I saw two men standing there with their backs to me on either side of our front door. They don’t speak to me, just grunt and nod. Very mysterious. Even I’m afraid of them, and they’re supposed to be protecting us.

I walk out of the building and onto the streets of Manhattan. The horns blare, and the people rush around. Always in a hurry. This town is competitive. Something always needs to get done. To grow.

I toss my purse over my shoulder. “Ms. O’Kane,” a doorman says, nodding his head. “Need a car?” he asks.

“Yes, please.”

He whistles loudly and raises his hand. A yellow taxi cab pulls up to the curb immediately. “Thank you,” I say, climbing into the back seat.

“Where to, Miss?” the man asks with a thick accent.

“Fifth Avenue please.”

You can never be in a rush when living in this town. Not unless you plan on running to where you need to go. Otherwise, you’re gonna be sitting in traffic for a very long time. Grandmas in wheelchairs will pass you on the sidewalks.

We very slowly drive down Fifth Avenue as I look around aimlessly for the little black Ferrari. I spot it parked next to the curb and point at it. “Drop me off right there.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” I say as the cab pulls up behind it. I hand him the cash and get out, looking over the empty lot before me. The building that was once there is now in rubble. Machines and cranes sit motionless without crew members. I smile, spotting Jaycent standing with his back toward me. He’s wearing a black pair of slacks and a white button up. It’s hot outside, so his sleeves are rolled up, exposing his forearms, and his hands are in the pockets of his slacks. Another man I don’t know stands beside him. He’s dressed in blue jeans, a bright yellow shirt, and a green hard hat. He gestures with his hands to the property. Mr. Hahn’s runs across the top of the brick building in large white letters.

I walk up to him and wait for him to finish his conversation with the man next to him. “When will everything be cleared?” I hear Jaycent ask.

“Two weeks, maybe three.”

Jaycent sighs. “It was already supposed to done.”

“I know, but we have run into some complications.” He spreads his hands out wide, gesturing to the rubble and construction equipment.

“Then you can explain that to Mr. O’Kane,” Jaycent snaps.

“I spoke to him earlier today and told him it would take longer than we had originally planned.”

“And what did he tell you?” Jaycent demands. The man hangs his head, not wanting to answer. “That’s what I thought,” Jaycent adds.

The man turns around and spots me standing here. His brown eyes narrow on me in question. I give him a nervous smile since I just got caught listening to their conversation. “Can I help you, ma’am?” he asks.

I go to open my mouth when Jaycent spins around to see who he is talking to. “Babe? What are you doing here?” he asks in surprise and then takes a quick look around me as if to see if I’m alone.

“I thought I’d come and see if you wanted to get lunch?” I ask, looking back and forth between them.

He removes his hands from his slacks and starts walking toward me, smiling. “I’d love to.”

I smile in relief; I didn’t want to be one of those girls who is too clingy. Conner made me feel that way often. Jaycent comes up to me and hugs me and then leans down, giving me a soft kiss on my lips. “When will you be ready to go?” I ask as he pulls away.

He looks at the guy and orders, “Get it done, Fredrick. On time.”

Placing his hand on my back, he guides me over to the shiny black Ferrari that sits parked on the street. He opens his passenger side door for me, and I fall into his warm black leather seat, heated from the sun through the windshield. He makes his way around the car and climbs in behind the steering wheel. “You look beautiful today,” he says, pulling into traffic.

I smile and look away from him, embarrassed that my cheeks redden from his words. I love how they make me feel special. “Having problems with the property?” I ask, trying to make small talk. I don’t know why, but he makes me nervous when he tells me I’m pretty.

He nods. “Your brother purchased Hahn’s restaurant—”

---