Whore
You were warned
You’ll be sorry
Ben and Brian back us into the elevator when Cheryl and our VP of sales and marketing arrive.
“What the hell?” Cheryl asks.
“I guess we now know why the fire alarm was pulled on the eighth floor. Someone ransacked my office.” Jackson looks at me. “Are you okay?”
Tears sting my eyes. I try to nod, but I’m not sure what I’m doing. My phone rings, but I ignore it. I don’t understand why anyone would do this.
I’m moved to a Suburban and sandwiched between Jackson and Brian as we drive quickly away. I’m in a complete daze. When we arrive at Jackson’s building, I’m moved into the elevator and up to his apartment.
I’m in shock. I sit down on the couch, and someone hands me a warm drink. I hold it and sit while there is a flurry of activity around me. Who is so pissed at me? What could I have done? I’m not even seeing anyone. I watch the rainfall as it hits the windows. Gabby, at some point, arrives and sits next to me.
“It’s going to be okay,” she says.
Before I know it, the sun has set, and Jim and Detective Lenning have arrived.
“How are you feeling?” Jim asks.
“I’ve had better days,” I say.
Detective Lenning steps forward. “I’m really sorry about this.”
I nod.
“Who did this?” Jackson demands.
“That’s what we want to know from you,” Detective Lenning says, looking at me.
“I haven’t called Bobby or heard from him since the bomb threat,” I say.
“Jim, I sent you the message he left her,” Jackson reminds him.
“Have you been seeing anyone else?” Detective Lenning asks.
I snort. “Not really.”
Detective Lenning writes something down on his pad of paper. “Did you go to Hawaii with Jackson Graham?”
I look down at the dark hardwood floors. “I did.” I take a deep breath. “We were romantically involved while in Hawaii, but not before and not really since.”
“What does that mean?” the detective probes.
Why not spill all my ugly, dirty laundry out in front of everyone? I’m leaving San Francisco and never coming back. “I’m Mr. Graham’s assistant. I cover his phones; I attended a funeral with him; we eat out occasionally together, just the two of us. Because this crap started, I lived here for a short time in his guest room and went to Hawaii with him for a weekend to look over his property. When we returned, my apartment had been redecorated, but because my room was so small, it got missed, so I’ve been staying with my best friend.”
“Are you sleeping with your boss?” Detective Lenning asks.
I’m positively humiliated to have this conversation, and when I glance at Jackson, he’s not looking at me. “We slept together in Hawaii and once after we returned, but I’ve given my two weeks’ notice, and I’m moving home to Texas,” I say just above a whisper.
Gabby, still sitting next to me, begins to cry.
“I see,” Detective Lenning says. He turns to Jackson. “Have you spurned anyone recently?”
“No! I’ve not been involved with anyone for months. I go out for dinner and drinks on occasion, but that’s it. They’re only friends. No benefits. Corrine is the only woman in my life.”
I’m shocked at Jackson’s declaration. Under different circumstances, I might have liked to hear that, but it doesn’t matter anymore.
Gabby suddenly stands. “You can’t let her go back to Texas.”
I close my eyes and silently pray that Gabby doesn’t tell everyone why.
“I understand her desire to return to Houston and be far away from this fiasco, but you’re right, she’ll be unprotected there.” Jim gives me a sympathetic smile. “We have some other ideas.”
“I’ll be fine. This crazy will leave me alone, and I won’t need any security if I’m not here,” I say. “Houston is my last choice, but right now, I don’t have a lot of savings, so I may not have a lot of options.”
“No, I can’t allow you to go back.” Gabby turns to Jackson. “This is all your fault. You owe her money so she can rebuild her life far away from Houston and far away from you!”
“Anything,” he says.
“I have a solution, but let’s get through Detective Lenning’s questions, and then we can discuss options,” Jim offers.
Jackson won’t look at me and is avoiding the glare from Gabby.
Detective Lenning asks a few more questions. I tell him where the call logs for Jackson are. “I do pass along every call he gets, and while these women may feel like I’m the gatekeeper, he ultimately makes the decision on returning their calls.”
Detective Lenning takes the seat next to me and looks me in the eyes. “Whoever this is, she perceives she’s been slighted by you. We know this isn’t you, and it isn’t Jackson or Bobby. For all we know, it may be someone who has never made any contact directly with you, Jackson, or Bobby.”
“Okay.” But I’m not sure that makes me feel any better.
Detective Lenning shifts his attention to take care of a few more details with Jackson and Jim.
Gabby holds my hand fiercely. “Promise me you won’t go back to Houston?”
“I’m not sure what else there is to do,” I whisper as I bite back tears.
The weight on my shoulders is immense, and I know Gabby is right, but I’m not sure I have any other choice. All my options leave me with less control than I’d like.
After Detective Lenning leaves, Jim and Jackson sit down with Gabby and me.
“Do you feel comfortable talking about what’s in Houston?” Jim asks.
“My father,” I answer.
“Why does Gabby feel going home to Houston is so bad?” Jim presses.
I look out the window, away
