Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson by Chiquita Dennie (rooftoppers TXT) đź“•
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- Author: Chiquita Dennie
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“I feel we should talk about the elephant in the room. Are you sure it’s over between you two? I’d rather know up front before feelings get involved,” Lauren replied as the waitress brought out our food. I didn’t order anything, but from the looks of things Lauren took charge and made sure I was taken care of without knowing if I was staying or leaving with Angela.
“Since you ordered for me already, I guess you know the answer to that question.” Chuckling at her blushing, we both start to eat and finish our date.
“ANGELA, WHAT DID YOU expect him to say? You’ve juggled that relationship in his face for over five years.” I stood up to pour another glass of wine and pass the bottle to Angela then Emery as we catch up with each other.
“He could have waited before making a huge leap like this and with that Lauren slut. Ohhh...I hate her.” Angela rubbed her temples as she paced the room in anger.
“Why? Because she’s going to give Brent what he wants and you’re feeling inadequate?” I questioned to hopefully get her to start opening up about her parents’ abandonment.
Angela stopped in her tracks to turn and flip me off. She took the bottle out of Emery’s hand and guzzled it down.
“Hey, I was still drinking that,” Emery says and tries to take the bottle back. They’re both standing and playing tug of war with a bottle of wine like two teenagers fighting over a boy.
“Really, you’re both going to sit here and fight over a bottle of wine?”
“She started it.” Angela drinks the last of the wine and sticks her tongue out playfully.
Emery rolled her eyes and sat back down.
“How have you been Emery? How’s everything with Jackson?”
“Fine.” She shrugs and picks up the remote to turn on the TV. DJ runs out of his room and runs toward Angela and wraps his arms around her legs.
“Auntie GiGi, can you take me to Tessa’s house?”
She bent down to pick him up and playfully kissed all over his face.
“Who’s Tessa baby?” She playfully tickled him on his stomach and he squirmed around in laughter.
Seeing the smile on his face makes all the late hours’ worth it seeing him safe, fed and happy with my family. When the weather gets better, I’ll visit Devin’s family in Washington, so they can spend some time with him.
“Baby, you’ll see Tessa tomorrow.”
“She’s my friend at school Auntie and her dad’s nice too. He even took mommy and me out for ice cream and dinner.”
“Did he now, is this mommy’s friend DJ?” Angela tried prying information out of my baby with offering him cookies and hot chocolate.
“Are you trying to give my child diabetes?”
Angela ignored my comment and continued to entertain DJ and a few minutes later let him down, and he ran toward me. After kissing his forehead and cheek, I sent him back to his room to play before bedtime.
“I don’t want to hear it. It was just ice cream for the kids. So, Emery, tells us about this new guy in your life Jackson Pierce, the billionaire CEO of NASCAR.
“A billionaire? Please tell me he has a brother,” Angela joked while plopping down in-between us on the couch and picking up the bowl of popcorn and eating.
“First off, he doesn’t have a brother, and second, he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Will you guys go with me to teepee Brent’s house and take all the air out of his tires?” Angela asks with a straight face not worried at all about getting in trouble.
“I do pray for you and the child that ends up with you as the mother. I can see it now, you stressed and calling every five minutes needing bail money.” Emery gets up and stretches and grabs her purse and steps back into her shoes.
“You’re my best friends. What happened to ride together no matter what happens?”
“Not if it’s going to end up with us in jail I’m not. You’re an adult Angela and decided to leave Brent hanging, and he decided to teach you a permanent lesson. Either step up or move on.” I informed her as I stood to gather the dishes and clean up.
“Jordan’s right Angela, Brent’s been chasing you for over five years, including high school. Take some time to find out what you want and let him do the same. I must deal with Anthony popping up at my home and job every other day and Jackson barging in at my grandparents’ house. Men are the last thing we need right now.”
“Ohh... he lets you call him Jackson and not Mr. Pierce now?” Angela asked.
Emery stops at the door and grabs her jacket and turns around with the door slightly opened.
“Mr. Pierce at work and Daddy at night.” Emery winked, and we all burst into laughter at her statement.
Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I wave Emery goodbye as she leaves and notice Damon’s name across the screen.
“Hello?”
“How are you and the little man doing tonight, Beautiful?” Damon asks on the other end of the line.
Seeing Angela engrossed in the TV show, I walk toward my bedroom for some privacy.
“I’m fine Damon, is there something you needed?”
Hearing a grunt coming from the other end of the phone made me smile in appreciation for his efforts for putting up with me.
“Have dinner with me, just the two of us?”
“Why?”
“Because I see what you’re trying to hide from and I get it. Not that I’ve had someone die on me. But a loss, in general, is a tough thing to hold onto. Besides if you have a terrible time, I’ll never bother you again.”
“Something tells me that’s a lie.”
“You’re right. I’m never giving up.” The both of us burst out in laughter at his acknowledgment.
“Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and I’ll pay for my food.”
“That’s never going to happen, baby.”
“Ahhh, I’m baby now. It seems we’re jumping ahead of ourselves aren’t we Damon.”
“Nope, I’m just getting you used to the word.
“Anyway, I have to get off this phone and give DJ a bath and ready for bed. I’ll talk with you this weekend.”
“Goodnight, Jordan.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Adams.”
“I see you got jokes. Okay, well give DJ a dap for me and tell him Tessa is ready for another playdate.”
“I will and thanks for being patient, Damon.”
“Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
Hanging up, I checked in DJ’s room and noticed he’s passed out laying on top of his bed with all his clothes still on. Not wanting to disturb him, I place him under the covers and decide to bathe him early in the morning.
SIX SHOTS AND TWO MARGARITAS have me slowly walking into work with a hangover; not one of my best ideas. Especially with the new medication, the doctor prescribed. I decided to tell my family and Jackson this week before things got further along. No telling if I have another situation with no one around to help me.
Waiting for the elevator to go upstairs, I notice Dominique running to catch the elevator. Knowing if the shoe was on the other foot, she’d let the doors close on me. Being the bigger person, I held it open, and she surprisingly says thank you.
“Nice shoes Emery, are those from two seasons ago from Marc Jacobs.”
“I’m not sure Dominique, they were a gift from my ex.”
“Interesting, well did you hear about my date with Jackson? He couldn’t keep his hands off me. I can’t wait for my debut with him at the NASCAR Fantasy Fastlane Pre-race.
“I didn’t hear anything about a date. Just remember Mr. Pierce is your boss at the end of the day and you’re representing Townsend Advertising. I’d hate for anything to jeopardize our chances at keeping him a client because of a lover’s quarrel.”
Finally getting off on our floor we both walk off heading in the same direction as our offices.
“Jackson said he’d be more than happy to bring a date for you if you need it. I mean it’s a big event and media showing up. I think it would look bad if the Vice President of his account never showed.”
Reaching my office and opening the door we both stand in shock at the room filled with flowers. Closing and opening the door again, I continuously blink thinking this couldn’t be real.
Dominique pushes me aside gently and walks into the room ahead of me.
“Who sent you flowers? I mean did somebody die or something?”
“What, no of course not.”
“Ohh, thank God you’re finally here, Emery. I’ve tried to turn every delivery guy away and even sent flowers to other tenants in the building,” My secretary stated.
“Ummm, do we know who they’re from?”
“It says anonymous on the clipboard. Check the card and see.”
Picking up the card and seeing Dominique staring, I turn with my back toward her to read the card. Seeing Jackson’s name displayed I bite down on my bottom lip thinking of a way out of this. He wants to meet me for lunch, and if I decline, he’ll meet me in person.
“So, who’s the secret admirer, Emery?” Dominique tried looking over my shoulder to sneak a peek at the note crumbled up in my hand.
“Uhhh, Brent sent them, as a thank you for all the hard work the team has done on Mr. Pierce’s campaign. Dominique if you would excuse me. I need to make a call.”
Watching her grab her briefcase, purse and yank my door open to walk out, I release the breath I’ve been holding since we walked into my office. I decided to call Jackson to give him a piece of my mind.
Dialing his number, it goes straight to voicemail. I try again, and his voicemail pops back up. I can’t believe he’s ignoring me, thinking about our last conversation. I knew I was a little harsh but with me, with my diagnosis, and my grandmother being in the hospital plus Anthony still calling and chasing after me, I couldn’t bring my baggage into a new relationship.
Deciding to talk with Brent about my problems, I place my things down and head over to his office before things got too busy. Telling my secretary to hold all my calls. I notice Brent escorting some woman out of his office holding her hand.
“Hey Emery, I’m glad you’re here,” Brent smiled and extended his arm around the woman’s shoulder and pulled her close into his body as though she needed protection.
“I
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