Chapter 24: No Excuse!
(Jace)
___________
For several minutes after I cut the call I had made to Casey, I held the phone in my hand, staring at it stupidly as if I had no idea what it was. The more I thought about it, the more I was forced to reconsider my words to her. I had been way too harsh when I was talking to her. I couldn't believe how I reacted.
All morning I had been trying to contact her and when she finally answered my call, hearing her voice again had caused something to snap in me. I had not expected that of myself at all.
Then you better come to my office right now!
My own words rang shrilly in my head, I shook my head sadly as I slowly lowered the phone to the desk. I was afraid that she wouldn't come at all because she was pissed at me. But then, how was I supposed to react? We had mind-blowing sex last night and she just called it off like that. I'm certain that we can have something good, but she just seemed hell-bent on stopping us both from getting happiness.
I couldn't let that happen though. One way or another, I was going to let Casey know that both of us belonged together. And while she wasn't very happy with me at the moment, I was willing to take a leap of faith and hope that she was going to come after all. I was hoping that she missed me as much as I missed her and she wanted to see me as badly as I as well. I wanted to believe that her anger against me wasn't going to stop that.
With a sigh, I hit the intercom and buzzed for Lena. When she walked in, she had her pad in her arm, she adjusted her glasses as she looked at me. When she arrived at the office this morning, she looked radiant and happy, very much like she had a lot of fun after the rehearsal dinner last night. And now, as she walked towards my desk, she had a bounce in her step.
As I stared at her, I couldn't help but wonder why Casey had believed that there was something going on between Lena and I. I remembered seeing them standing close to each other during the rehearsal dinner, I also remembered seeing them talk. Could it be that Lena was telling lies to her? Claiming that there was something between us when there wasn't?
I shook my head as I shifted in my seat, I knew Lena. She wasn't that kind of person! There had to be some other kind of explanation.
She soon stopped beside my desk, "what's up?"
"I need you to do two things for me today, like right now." I told her as I sat up in the chair, "You're going to schedule a meeting with my lawyer."
She nodded as she began to tap on the pad, "Okay. What's the meeting for?"
I paused as I glanced at her, and then I slowly nodded, "It's the contract I signed with Beacon Studios, it needs to be amended."
At that, Lena froze as she stared at me, almost not believing her ears, "What do you mean by that? It was perfect when you signed it with Kira and her Uncle Leo. Do they approve of this change?"
"Leo knows of it, I'll make him approve it. That's why I need the lawyer to draft out a possible amendment. So, set up the meeting, will you?"
Lena looked like she wanted to say something, but then she stopped herself as she tapped furiously on the pad.
I groaned as I pinched the bridge of my nose, "come on, say what's on your mind."
"What about Kira?" Lena asked, "Shouldn't she have a say in this?"
I shook my head slowly as I looked away, "The thing is, my deal is with her uncle Leo. Right now, the only say that matters is Leo's. Do you understand me?"
"Of course, boss." She said, but I noticed the bite in her words. It was as if she felt offended by my actions.
"Lena, I want you to know that I'm not trying to take advantage of Kira in any way. This is simply the world of business, and the last thing we need is to bring emotions and sentiments into it. Don't forget, in the long run, what I'm really after is the well-being of Chillz Studio. Nothing more, nothing less."
She nodded absently as she tapped some more, "I'll set the meeting up, it'll be your last meeting for the day before you clock out."
"Oh… it won't be here. I'll go see him in his office."
She raised her brows at that. She could deduce what that meant, I wanted to go alone. She sucked in a deep breath and punched the data into her pad. She then adjusted her glasses as she glanced over at me once more, "You said there are two things, what is the second one?"
"I need you to represent me at my next meeting." I said blandly.
Her eyes widened as she stared at me, "You mean the meeting that's in thirty minutes? You're meeting with the Managing Director of Wrestling Co. Why would you want me there instead of you?"
"I know." I replied, "I just can't go right now, and you're the only one I trust to handle this. You know how long we've been trying to get the streaming rights to their live matches. If this deal pulls through, we'll be able to take wrestling entirely off cable and have it on Chillz!"
"All the more reason why we shouldn't fuck this up, Jace! You should do this yourself!"
"Just handle it for me, okay?" I said. "At the very least, get a feel of him and tell me what you think. Also, if it's too much for you, just set up another meeting. But this has to be done in person. So, I'm sending you. I'll also call him to apologize."
Kira looked at me and slowly, she closed the pad. She turned to leave and only took a few steps before she stopped and turned back to me, "Jace, is something going on? You're acting really weird."
I shifted in my seat as I tried to smile at her, "Of course, everything is peachy."
She nodded, but the look she gave me told me that she didn't understand at all. I waited until she had left before I sucked in a deep breath. She was right, something was definitely going on. I invited Casey to my office and I didn't want Lena around when she came by. So, I was sending her as far away as I could, and knowing that the meeting would also take considerable time, I was sure that I would have ample time with Casey.
I looked around the office, it was clean and pristine, and nothing was out of place, exactly as I liked it. I brushed my hand over the top of the desk, wiping off the tiny speck of dust that had gathered there. I knew the moment Lena left the building, she buzzed me on the intercom and told me, she also informed me that Toni, my secretary was around for whatever I may need.
About ten minutes later, my head sprang up as my door was kicked open. I saw Toni struggling with Casey who was looking royally pissed. The more she tried to stop the fiery event planner, the harder Casey pushed her away. The moment I saw Casey, my heart melted as I realized that she had come after all. She really had missed me as much as I missed her!
"Stop!" I ordered as I got to my feet. Toni jumped off Casey as if she was a plague.
"I'm sorry, boss. This woman tried to get in without an appointment. I tried to stop her but…"
"I'm expecting her," I replied. "She's the one planning my wedding, Toni."
"Oh…" Toni muttered, perplexed.
"You can leave us now," I said.
The secretary immediately hurried out of the office, her head bowed. I didn't say anything until the door closed securely behind her and I heard the satisfying click. I turned my eyes on Casey then and I felt my breath catch in my throat. She looked so beautiful and so breathtaking, she wore a suit that clung snugly to her frame, showing off her curves. Her top jacket was open, revealing her cleavages to me and I could see the swell of her supple breasts as they rose and fell with her rapid breathing.
I got a flashback of our explosive night together, how I made her scream my name countless times in the throes of passion and I brought her to orgasm like it was no one's business. I had missed her so much!
I smiled warmly at her, leaving the desk as I made my way over to where she stood, my hands outstretched for a deep hug.
"Thank you so much for coming, Casey." I said, "You have no idea how much this means to me."
However, as I got close to her, I realized too late that she wasn't returning my smile. She was livid and mad at me, her eyes were shooting darts of anger in all directions. And the second I got close enough, I watched in horror as her hand raised up and crashed into the side of my face in a resounding slap.
For the next few seconds, all I could hear was a faint ringing in my ears.