Page 42 of Jordan

The butler greeted him with a slight smile and took his coat.

"Where's everyone?"

"The master and mistress are out since early this morning. Your sisters and their husbands are on some kind of retreat."

Jordan lifted his brows at that, but did not comment.

"I'll be up in my suite."

"Should I ask the chef to prepare something for you?"

He hesitated at the base of the spiral staircase. He had hoped to catch his parents and have a conversation with them, but that was going to have to wait for another time. Besides, it was not apriority. He had made his choice and nothing they say could ever make him change it.

"Yes, thank you. I'll be out on the terrace."

Climbing the stairs, he made his way towards his suite. He was going to be cutting ties, and it felt damn good.

*****

Joani wished she could tell him to go straight to hell. After ignoring her for almost two weeks, with his bitch of a wife giving her grief over the slightest thing, she had thought about just giving up everything and getting out of town. A fresh start would do her good. She had enough money saved up. Harry Wainwright might be a son of a bitch, but he was a generous one and her bank account was fat. Besides that, she had the pieces of jewelry he had given her over the years.

She could go someplace else, possibly West Palm Beach where she had a brother and start over. She could find her own place and maybe meet a man worthy of her. She was wasting her time with this bastard.

But he had come back. Just strode into the apartment while she was having her breakfast as if he had not ignored her and stayed away.

She held out for a few minutes, just sitting there sipping her cup of piping hot coffee and enjoying the grits and shrimp she had made for breakfast. Her hair was in some big rollers and she had not had the time nor the inclination to pretty herself up.

The man had caused her to be at the beauty salon every goddamned week, perming the hell out of her thick dark hair, a proud heritage of her African descent. And vainly covering the grays. Betsy, the woman who owned and operated the salon was her best friend and was the only one she had taken into her confidence. Her friend had warned her that the bastard was never going to leave his wife.

"He likes the idea of screwing you sideways to next Sunday, because he's not getting any from that ice cold bitch. But to him, you're just the help and will always be."

She had tried to dismiss that, telling herself that she was different.

"Want an apology?" he asked gruffly, pulling off his lightweight jacket and tossing it on one of the stools around the granite counter.

She wished she could tell him to go straight to hell.

"Not if you don't mean it and seeing the look on your face, tells me clearly, you don't." She eyed him over the cup.

"You pissed me off."

"Welcome to the damn club. What are you doing here?" She held up a hand. "Don't tell me. You own this place, so you're free to come and go as you please." Sliding off the stool, she went to pour more coffee she didn't need.

"I did not come here to fight."

"No?" Hitching a hip against the counter, she gave him a saucy smile. "You came here to have sex of course."

His mouth tightened and she could see the anger brewing in his eyes. She should stop while she was ahead, but something, some demon inside her was out for blood.

"I want to make things right, Joani," Harry said, his voice strained. "I know I've been a jerk, but I want to make it up to you."

Joani laughed, a brittle sound that echoed in the quiet apartment. "Make it up to me? How exactly are you planning to do that?" She was tired of his empty promises and his sporadic attempts at redemption.

Harry took a step towards her, his eyes pleading. "I miss you. You're the only one who understands me."

"Understand you?" Joani's voice was sharp and cutting. "Is that what you think this is about? Understanding you? I'm tired, Harry. Tired of being your secret, tired of waiting for scraps of attention. You come and go as you please and expect me to be here, waiting."

Harry's face twisted with frustration. "I'm trying, damn it! You don't know how hard it is for me."

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