Page 29 of Alluring

My baby (sigh), a girl could get used to that.

As she laid in bed, snuggled against Jack, she thought about everything he'd said. He was jealous and didn't like her parading around half naked. Hell, she didn't like it herself. She always felt overexposed.

She had once toyed with the idea of selling cars (those car salesmen made some serious money on commissions) but was always afraid that if she didn't sell any cars one month, she wouldn't be able to pay her bills. But now, she'd be willing to take that chance, for Jack.

She remembered him telling her, when he meant something to her she would want to do something for him. Well, he did mean something to her. And, she did want to do something for him. So, she would try to sell cars, give up her night job, so she didn't have to run around half naked, and work fewer hours, so she would get more rest. All that should make Jack happy. She fell asleep with a smile on her lips. Making Jack happy, made her happy as well.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next morning at work, she got started on her plan. She talked with her manager, and he was trilled she wanted to be a salesperson. For some strange reason, he was convinced she would be their top seller. He guaranteed, he could find a replacement receptionist in no time, and because she already knew so much about Mercedes, she would need only a few hours of training on the sales floor before she could go out on her own.

The call to her manager at Allure, to inform her she needed to quit, for personal reasons, was harder. Patti was always good to her, and she felt guilty, leaving on such short notice but this was for Jack. Patti assured her there were no hard feelings and that she would be missed. She also said that if she ever needed her job back, her door was always open. Alexis thanked her and told her she would be missed as well.

So now, at seven o'clock on a Friday evening, Alexis found herself officially off for the weekend. She was excited to see Jack's face when she told him her news. She texted him on the way to the hotel (she still had her driver, so she was not texting and driving), but he didn't reply back. Which, she thought was a bit odd because he always returned her calls right away.

Jack still hadn't returned her text by the time she arrived at the hotel, and as she had no idea what he did when he wasn't with her, she wasn't sure where to start looking for him. She figured, he probably had an office around somewhere, but she didn't know where it was. She decided to go up to the penthouse first, to drop off her bag, before continuing her search and maybe by then, Jack will have texted her.

The place was quiet and had an empty feeling when she stepped off the elevator. She took a quick look around anyway, ending in the bedroom where she dropped her bag on the bed.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in here?"

Alexis jumped, startled and turned. Standing in the doorway was a very short,verystern looking, silver-haired lady. She wore a brown, silk pantsuit with a cream, silk tank. She had a chunky, gold necklace around her neck that was so large, Alexis wondered, with her slight frame how she stood upright. She had a stack of folders in her arms and an eagle eye on Alexis.

Alexis hadn't changed from her work clothes when she'd gotten home, so she knew she looked nice. She was in black heels with a cute bow at the toe, a short (but not too short), black skirt, and a burgundy, short-sleeve, silk blouse that had a row of ruffles down the front. "I was looking for Jack."

She gave Alexis one of those one eyebrow raises (something Alexis always envied people being able to do). "How did you get in?"

"I have his key." If possible, her look became even more stern. God, she was scary.

"And, who did you say you were?"

She was such a ninny. This lady had her all flustered. She took a few steps forward, holding out her hand. "Sorry, I'm Alexis, Alexis Taft."

The lady's face broke out into a smile as she took her hand. "Alexis, my dear, it's so wonderful to finally meet you. I'm Becky, Jack's PA."

Um, could someone say bipolar?

Becky was still holding her hand and not showing any signs of letting go. "Um ... It's nice to meet you, too, Becky."

"You said you were looking for Jack." It was more a statement than a question.

"I tried texting him but he hasn't returned my text yet. I wasn't sure where to look, other than here."

She was nodding her head. "He's in a meeting right now. Come, I'll take you to him."

"Oh, I don't want to bother him if he's in a meeting." Damn, Jack went to a lot of meetings.

"Oh, it's no bother. Let me just drop these folders in his office, and we can go."

Becky led her to a part of the hotel Alexis had never been to before. A long hallway, off the lobby, opened into a huge space holding several offices and a large conference room. The conference room was made of glass, the inside, clearly visible. Around a large table, sat four men with Jack at its head. He spoke, jabbing his finger at a paper that laid on the table, clearly making a point.

He must have seen something in his peripheral view because his head turned to her. His angry expression turned to one of confusion and then concern before he turned back to the seated men. He stood, said something, then walked out the door.

He walked straight to her and captured her cheek with his hand, tilting her face up. "Alexis, what's wrong? Why aren't you at work?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to you."

He nodded his head. "Give me a minute to wrap things up. Wait for me in my office."

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