"Thanks for the ride, Ray. Can you pick me up at quarter past three this afternoon?"
"Sure."
"Great. See you then."
Jess turned and walked into the building. She got to the elevator just as the doors were closing. She dashed towards it and caught the doors as they closed. She slipped inside as they opened again. She hit a button and the doors slid closed once more. By the time she had reached her floor, the elevator was empty. The doors opened and she stepped out of the lift. The room was unusually quiet. She looked around and saw every eye in the room on her. She stood tall and said firmly, "As you were."
Jess strode purposefully towards her office. As she passed her personal assistant's desk she said, "Linda, meet me in my office, please." Only when she was safely inside her office did she lean her head against the wall and sigh. She stayed there until Linda knocked and entered carrying a notebook and a folder containing several sheets of paper. She then moved to her desk and sat behind it.
"Good morning, Jess."
"Nope, just a morning, Linda. Tell me, what rumours are flying around the office?"
"There's quite a few out there. There's one saying you were abducted, which I believe has just been crushed. There's another saying that your car got stolen, another one about you being raped..." Jess eyes widened at the last rumour. "There are more..."
"Spare me, please. You didn't..."
"No, Jess. I neither confirmed nor denied any of them. Frankly, I don't know the story. Would you care to enlighten me? Your choice, of course."
"As long as you promise me that whatever I now say remains within these walls, between you and me."
"As you wish."
"Last night, or should I say this morning, I was attacked."
"Oh my God, Jess. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Just a little shaken, that's all. Anyway, what's in store for us, today?"
"It's not too bad, today. James Wallace wants to speak to you about an upcoming seminar that he wants to attend. He wants your approval before he accepts the invitation. I put him in at ten, it shouldn't take long. You know you're having lunch with Michael Parkes don't you?" Jess nodded. "He's meeting you here at twelve and then taking you out. Don't forget that Anderson wants you to attend their AGM at four."
"The one at the Drake?"
"That's the one."
"Have the financial reports come in yet?"
"I've got the Balance Sheet with me." She handed Jess the folder in her possession and continued. "You should have the others by the end of tomorrow at the latest. When you've approved all the reports, they'll be circulated among the partners."
"Great. Thanks, Linda. Remember, it doesn't leave this room. I want the whole thing to be kept low profile. Oh, and any calls from the Chicago Police Department are to be directed straight to my office." Linda nodded, then turned and left the office, shutting the door behind her.
Jess glanced at the pages in her hand and then laid them on the table. She turned in her chair to stare out the window.
Michael Parkes arrived promptly at twelve.
"Michael!"
"Jessica. It's nice to see you again." They gave each other a hug.
"It has been too long this time, Michael." The pair left the office, arm in arm. Jess and Michael were old friends. He had started his own brokerage around the time when Jess had started her accounting firm. They had become each other's clients, Michael handling Mitchell McGrath's investments and Jess handling Morgan and Parkes' audits. Jess and Michael usually met for lunch once a month but last month, Michael had been out of town and he had failed to keep his appointment with her. Consequently, they hadn't met for the past two months.
Upon reaching the lobby, Jess spotted Ray and Ben, giving them an acknowledging nod and receiving one in reply from Ray as she passed them. Jess and Michael walked to a nearby café. Jess watched from behind her menu as Ray and Ben came in five minutes later and sat down at a table behind them.
Jess' lunch appointment had been uneventful. Jess and Michael conversed through their meal about various investment opportunities and shared some stories about their past. At the end of their meal, both stood and Michael gave Jess a kiss on the cheek before leaving the small café. Jess turned around and headed towards Ben and Ray's table.
"So, any news?" Jess asked Ray, pulling up a chair.
"Well, we still don't know what he looks like. We only have a physical description. We're pretty sure that he'll strike again, though."
"Is that supposed to give me comfort?"
"No, it simply means that you should be careful and alert at all times."
"I will be, Ben. I just don't like this feeling. You know, having to depend on other people, putting my life in other people's hands. It scares me. Don't get me wrong, I trust you guys whole-heartedly but I'm not used to being taken care of. I've spent so much of my life being independent. This isn't easy for me."
"We understand that, Jess but you're just going to have to trust us. Now, on a different note, did something happen last night that we should know about?" Ben glared at Ray.
Jess sniggered. "Something did happen last night, but I don't think I want you to know about it." It wasn't a blatant lie and it gave Jess an opportunity to tease Ray. She could see why Stan took pleasure in it this morning. She watched as various facial expressions formed on his face, one after the other. First there was satisfaction as he glanced at Ben, then came bewilderment which finally gave way to shock. She smiled. She didn't want to tell him what actually transpired last night. Not yet, anyway.
"Well, I have to get back to the office. Are you going to follow me back?"
"You bet. Kowalski's going to take you to the meeting later, right?"
"Right. See you this evening, then." Jess picked up her coat and left the café. Ray and Ben followed moments later.
"That's one amazing woman, Benny."
"What makes you say that, Ray?"
"Look at her. It's almost as if there's two people within the same body. She's walking down the street as if everything is perfectly fine. You know, I know and she knows that things are definitely not fine. This whole situation has her freaked. I mean, you saw it yourself. Back there in the café, one second she's telling me how intimidated she is and the next she's playing games with me."
"Perhaps that's her way of dealing with the circumstances. She trusts you, therefore, she feels that she can tell you certain things. When she goes out to face the world, however, she puts on a mask so she appears strong and unafraid. Although, I have no doubt that she's strong without the mask."
"I agree with you, Benny." Ray watched as Jess entered her office building and made her way to the lifts. "I suppose you have to get back to the Consulate."
"That I do, Ray. But first, do you mind if we stop at a liquor store?"
"You?! Buying alcohol?"
"Oh, it's not for me, Ray. Inspector Thatcher asked me to pick up a bottle of scotch on my way back to the Consulate."
"She's still a slave-driver, Benny. I thought you said she'd changed. I don't see why you can't just tell her to shove it up her-"
"Ray! That would hardly be appropriate. After all, she is still my superior officer."