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Her first order of business was to learn the ins and outs of this new project and then begin staffing and training for the theme hotel’s opening in a few weeks. She grabbed an information packet on the project details and capabilities, promising herself she’d study them tonight and be overly prepared for her first official day of work.
Jessica stopped next at the shiny, new-looking Enclave Bank. She opened a checking account, a savings account, and acquired a safety deposit box all in record time with help of a very efficient bank officer named Abigail Washburn, according to her name tag.
Once alone in the safety-deposit box room, Jessica opened a dirty, pink, beat-up-looking canvas bag she’d once used for her gym clothes. In it she’d shoved her passport, birth certificate, and every other official paper and important document from her life.
The hastily recruited old bag had been used during her quick departure from the apartment she’d already given notice to give up in order to move in with her ex-fiancé. They’d already rented it by the time she found out her ex was marrying someone else.
She’d had to put her things in storage with only two days’ notice. Her moving and packing competence had been reduced to crazed and disorganized, when normally she would have very proficient. She’d gone back to work with the intent to take a little more time to look for an apartment only to discover she no longer had a job.
In retrospect, at least she hadn’t signed on for another year-long lease only to discover she didn’t have a job to pay for it. Her glass-half-full side was making an appearance. With today’s new job acquisition, the only feeling coursing through her was gratitude. Things were looking up.
Jessica upended the contents of the bag into the shiny new safety-deposit box. With all of her things also came a brown carved wooden box, which landed on top of her papers, crumpling them. What is this?
Jessica reached for the box, removing it from her stack of important papers. Once in her hands, she turned it over and realized exactly what it was. The memory hit her like a shovel to the face. It was Chucky’s box of sacred stamps. She breathed in, held the pain of the recollection tight, then released her breath, allowing the hurt to go with it.
She didn’t have to worry about him any longer. Or his stupid fucking stamps He could no longer hurt her. He didn’t want her. In fact, he had never wanted her. His eyes had been firmly locked on Mr. Barrington’s daughter all the time they’d dated and been engaged. It was funny, she already had deeper feelings for Seth and Garrett after one night than in all the time she’d spent with Chucky.
Which was a very dangerous way to think. Now that she had a new start with this premium job opportunity, perhaps she should review any further sexual contact with them.
Her relationship with Chucky had been a fast, whirlwind affair without much substance. While at the time she’d loved the idea of getting married and settling down to complete the life she’d enjoyed, truthfully, there were times even then that she’d had doubts. Not only about Chucky’s love for her, but also her feelings for him in return.
She’d ignored those misgivings and forged ahead.
With her crushing workload through the holidays and into the new year, she’d never taken the time to stop and delve deeper into her qualms. Even worse, she’d ignored all the signs she normally would have paid attention to.
Every aspect of her wedding planning had been difficult and arduous. That alone should have warned her about the impending doom ready to befall her. But she’d ignored any and all negative signs as contrary to her desired strategy to get married and pressed forward to enrich her life.
Jessica learned a hard lesson in the very hardest way. She promised herself that if she saw any further negative signs pop up in the future that she’d immediately take note and change her direction.
She’d certainly never thank Chucky for what he’d done to her, but there was a certain sense of relief not to have gone through with a questionable and very expensive wedding only to have him reveal his true intentions and promptly turn on her like he ultimately had.
Her singular consolation in the whole sordid affair was that for her, it would have been so much worse to have been left at the altar in front of a church full of people.
