Another update for you. To whoever is reading , enjoy
She didn't sleep that night, but not from a lack of trying. After tossing and turning for hours, she threw back her covers in frustration and went into her kitchen making a beeline for the liquor cabinet and picked her poison: A fresh bottle of Jack Daniels.
She watched the sun rise, peaking over the Staples Center and drank until she was simply too drunk to drink anymore, passing out around six a.m. and was jolted awake by her phone ringing. Her head threatened to explode as she checked the caller I.d. G it read. The memory of yesterday came rushing back to her. She tossed it away like it had burned her. Gordon Cozier was the last person she wanted to talk to. If she saw him too soon, she just might make good on her threat to kill him. He had lied to her. The man who she considered to be a father figure had led her to believe that the man she was in love with was dead for five years. If he had lied to her all this time, how did she know the others didn't know? No. She would not think about this. Her phone kept ringing but she ignored it, going back into the kitchen. She would drown herself in liquor all day if it meant erasing the memory of Ghost out of her head. It was a dream after all, right?
She woke up from her second black out to pounding . She winced as her head began to mimic the ruckus being beaten on her front door. She threw her robe on and went to the source of the noise, swinging it open
"WHAT?!" she spat viciously
AJ stood before her, dressed in a designer button down shirt and slacks, his signature fedora on his head. He looked like every bit of the Princeton frat boy he was
"You haven't been answering your phone." he stated, ignoring her rude greeting as he let himself in.
Julia rubbed her bloodshot eyes "Why are you here AJ?" she asked him tiredly
"We have a meeting with Scott. Did you forget?" he asked scanning her condo.
Her shotgun was still in the middle of living room floor and there was a variety of empty liquor bottles scattered on the floor
"Must have slipped my mind." she muttered
"You've been drinking." he said, picking up one of the discarded bottles
"You didn't answer my question." she said, changing the subject
AJ came over and sniffed her "You smell like booze. We're meeting Scott in..." he checked his watch "thirty minutes. Go shower and get cleaned up so we can go."
"I'm not going." she told him
"And why not?"
"Because I'm hung over and I really don't want to." she said smartly, turning her back to him. All she wanted was her bed, not to sit at the same table with a man who had lied to her. If she despised anything in life, it was a liar. And they never asked for her opinion or thoughts anyway so why bother to summon her?
"Well tough. G wants you there, so either you're going to suck it up and get dress or I'll make you." AJ growled, grabbing her by the arm to stop her
She couldn't help but to fly off the handle "What makes you think I give flying fuck about what Gordon wants?" she spat, snatching her arm from him "And don't fucking touch me again!"
There was a thirty second stalemate between them.
AJ took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair "What is this about Jewelz? Is this about Jake? Is that why you don't want to go? Because he'll be there?"
She scoffed in disgust. To hell with Jake. She couldn't think of why she wanted him in the first place. Not after that dream...
"No. This isn't about him." she assured him bitterly
"Then what is it then?" he demanded
Tears pooled in her eyes
"Julia." he said softly. He only used her whole name when he was being serious with her "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing, just... Forget about it alright. Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready."
She was glad when he nodded and she went into her bedroom to get ready. This was going to be one hell of a day
Forty five minutes later, she was dressed in her usual business attire and on their way to the meeting. She lowered her dark large frame Gucci sunglasses over her eyes as they went out to the deck of the restaurant where Gordon, Jake, and John were already seated, talking to Scott. AJ pulled out her chair for her , opting to lean on the railing, overlooking the water
"Ah, there she is." G greeted her
"Julia." Jake greeted
"Attica." she said just as formally John stood from his chair and she allowed him to kiss her cheek. Always the gentleman, John was. She ignored Gordon completely as the waitress came over and asked her what she wanted to drink. "A Mimosa please." She was already hung over, why not?
"She'll have water." AJ corrected her
She sucked her teeth but didn't argue. She didn't have it in her this morning
"I've been calling you all morning. Care to explain why you've been ignoring them?" G asked her
She fought the urge to pick up one of the knives on the table and slit his throat "You should know by now that I am not a morning person." she said lamely
They talked business. She was a prisoner in her own head, her memory playing last night's events over and over again. She zoned in and out of their conversation. Why was she even there? They never really included her in these particular convos.
"Yeah, but the way markets keep jumping around man, in another four to six weeks, who knows what the rates will be." she heard AJ say when she zoned back into what was going on around her
"And have you seen the latest Bloomberg report. Shit is bleak out there." Jake said
"Bloomberg report. Are you kidding me?" Gordon laughed "Come on college guys, there's no over thinking it."
"Come on. Dutch Antilles want to pay us more money. Its a no brainer." John said
"I like the Dutch Antilles as long as the bank doesn't pack up and take my money overnight." G joked
"Of course." Scott agreed
Julia remained silent, not giving any feedback. That's what they wanted right? For her to be quiet and let the big boys talk anyway.
"Of course. Ten percent to usual charities?" Scott asked
ke nodded "Absolutely."
"Cool by me." AJ agreed
"I charted a jet. Its taking off from Van Nuys airport tonight. Anyone wants to come, I've got your private parking passes right here. It'll be sweet. Scot told them, putting the slips of paper down on the table
"Man, life is looking pretty good from right here." AJ said cooly
"I'll let you know later." G told Scott.
"We done here?" Julia asked rudely, getting up and dropping her napkin down on the table "Nice doing business with you Scotty. Gentlemen." she said coldly. She wished Gordon could see the glare she was giving him through her dark sunglasses. Lucky for him, he couldn't. If only looks could kill.
Looks like Julia is harboring some anger towards Gordon. Thanks for reading. Should I even bother to finish?
