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I collapsed on the bed and let my mind run wild. Nick was trying to take over my business, and I couldn’t even bring myself to care. My mind continued to turn back to only one thing: Alissa Allen. I couldn’t wait to see her again. I felt so relaxed with her; it was like nothing else in the whole world mattered when she was around. I was beginning to worry though, about how she would react when she knew the truth of who I was. I wasn’t going to be able to keep it from her too much longer. She had a right to know. If I wanted her to be in my life, then I needed to know that she could accept me, and that meant being honest about myself. I just hoped that she would understand. I never expected to feel this strongly for her. I never meant to deceive her either. I just wanted her to get to know me without all the hype. That was okay wasn’t it? She was strong. She would understand. I would tell her tomorrow. I would go and buy a change of clothes, take a nap, work my shift at the bar, and then I would meet Alissa first thing in the morning and tell her everything.
God, please don’t let her hate me for this.
Chapter 14: Action and Reaction
Lexy
“Well, it’s about time.” Alissa finally accepted the warm washcloth in my hand and wiped her tear stained face.
She groaned.
“Are you going to explain to me what that massive over-reaction you just had was all about?” I asked.
“Over-reaction? You can’t call it an over-reaction when you have no idea what’s going on.”
“Silly Alissa. Of course I can. Number one, I know you, and I know how you over-react.
Remember that time in high school when you hid in the janitor’s closet for two days because you thought Eric Lerner was going to ask you to that dance?” She shot me a death glare, but she kept her mouth shut. She knew I was right.
“Number two, I spoke to you three days ago, and at that time Jackson Hayes was not in the picture, which means that you met him either today or yesterday. Nothing could have possibly happened in two days to merit that kind of reaction. You’re freaking out over nothing.”
“I am not freaking out over nothing,” she defended. “I am freaking out because I just discovered that everything I know to be true about that beautiful, funny, warm, thoughtful, homeless, superhero is a lie. I wanted it to be true, Lexy. I never wanted anything to be true so badly in my life.”
I rolled my eyes. What a drama queen.
“Listen to me, Alissa. If I hadn’t walked in here and told you who he was, you would be busy gushing over him right now. The only thing that has changed is that you know he has money. I know you well enough to know that the money doesn’t matter to you, which means that it’s fear that is driving this reaction. You’re afraid that you won’t be good enough for him, because you have always felt that way about yourself. So what if he’s rich? Clearly you had a good thing going, and I’m not about to let you screw this up just because you’ve decided that he’s out of your league. Now get your damn ass out of bed and explain to me how in the hell you met Jackson Hayes.”
Alissa
God she’s pushy. She’s probably right though. I am being a bit on the over-dramatic side.
I just… well, I don’t even know. I had no idea that one person could have such a strong effect on me. What is wrong with me?
My head hurt from the crying, and I felt more tired than I should. I asked Lexy to get some coffee, and then I settled in to tell her the whole story. She remained pretty quiet through the whole thing, which surprised me, and then she studied me carefully for a few minutes after I finished.
“That has to be the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard,” she finally said. “Jackson Hayes in dirty clothes, smelling like a homeless shelter, and looking like he was in a fight. That makes no sense at all.”
“I know, right?” I said. “He’s a total stinking mystery. I was completely convinced that he was a homeless bum until you waltzed in here and told me that he was a billionaire.”
“And he came back to go to the market with you today?” I nodded my head to show that she had it right.
“Well,” she said thoughtfully, “there’s only one logical explanation. When he met you, he was behaving like someone else – only God knows why - and he liked you more than he thought he would. He’s afraid that he’ll lose you if he tells you who he really is, so he’s keeping up the pretense. He wants you to like him, and he’s afraid that you’ll reject him when you find out the truth.”
I looked at her like she had grown a second head. “Lexy, that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. First of all, why would he be pretending to be someone else? Secondly, he does not like me, he likes my French toast, and he probably feels sorry for me. And third, he can’t possibly fear rejection. He could have any woman he wants.”
“I’m telling you, Alissa,” she said. “He would not have come back today if he wasn’t interested in you. There are a lot of pieces to this story that don’t make sense yet, but there’s only one way to separate the truth from the lies. You have to make him be honest with you.” I stared at her dumbfounded. My head was spinning. Lexy thought he liked me, but what did she know? I couldn’t just call him out on it.
“So here’s the plan, Alissa. You’re going to go downstairs and finish your lunch service.
After that, you’re going to let me dress you, and then you are going to march right over to Hayes Industries and demand to see him. If he can come to your business, you can go to his. You’re going to walk right into his office and tell him to lay it all out on the table.” She was completely nuts. I couldn’t do that. Could I?
I made my way back down to the kitchen with Lexy on my heels. The lunch prep was well underway thanks to Ty’s leadership, and I was glad to see that someone had chosen a lunch special based on the available ingredients. I was still unsure of what I had purchased this morning.
Jackson had certainly done a good job of messing up my head. I couldn’t devote any more time or energy to this. Lexy was right. I was going to have to face this straight on. As soon as lunch was finished, I was going to find the infuriating man and demand an explanation. I had let him into my life, and now he was going to let me into his. If he didn’t want to see me again, then so be it.
I fell into my usual easy rhythm of cooking and directing. The mood was a little more subdued than was typical for my kitchen, but thankfully none of my employees felt the need to ask about my melt down this morning. The time passed quickly, and before I had a chance to blink, the lunch crowd was on the way out.
Lexy reappeared as I was making my way upstairs to change. She dressed me in a black pencil skirt, button down shirt, and a pair of three-inch heels. It was one of the nicest outfits that I owned. I didn’t usually have a need for more formal clothes, but I was glad that she insisted on this. These clothes made me feel stronger and more mature. I might not be in his league, but I wasn’t about to show up at his corporate office in my fish-gut shoes either.
I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. Fuck, I sound like the little engine that could.
As she was doing my hair, Lexy gave me directions. His office wasn’t that far from here, but I didn’t want to risk getting sweaty on the walk over. I would take a cab.
I took a deep breath and tipped the cabbie. I couldn’t help but look up at the building as I stood on the sidewalk. The entire place screamed intimidation. The building was massive, and looking up at it made me feel about as big as an ant. So much for feeling powerful in this outfit.
I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.
My hands were shaking as I walked in the front doors. There was a receptionist at a huge wooden reception area. That seemed like an acceptable place to start.
“How can I help you?” she asked coolly.
“I’d like to see Mr. Hayes,” I said.
“Which one?” Oh, right. Lexy said that his brother worked here, too. I wondered if it was a whole family affair.
“Jackson Hayes,” I clarified. I was really hoping that it wasn’t a family name. I had no idea if he was a junior or the seventeenth.
“He doesn’t see anyone without an appointment,” she said. “and he’s out of town until the end of the week.”
“Out of town?” I asked rather abruptly. “Where did he go?” She gave me a glare that stated it was none of my business. “He’s been vacationing in Hawaii. If you’d care to leave a number, I’ll see that his assistant receives it.”
“He can’t be in Hawaii,” I said. “He was just here this morning.”
“I’m sorry, Miss,” she said, clearly dismissing me, “He’s been out all week.” She turned to the next person in line behind me and went on with her job.
Hawaii? What the hell? Apparently I wasn’t the only one he was lying to.
