"Are you sure this is going to work?" Erica asked uneasily as they rode the elevator up to their office.
"No, not really," Jack answered, "and believe me, it's not what I want but I think it might be the only way to get to the bottom of this whole thing."
"Alright," Erica sighed. "For the record, the only reason I'm doing this is for Bianca and Miranda."
"I know that," Jack said softly. "Just remember—I love you."
Erica nodded. "Well, here goes–" She walked off the elevator away from Jack, then turned back and gave him her angriest look. "This is so typical, Jackson Montgomery!" she shouted. "It's perfectly fine for you to have lunch–and dinner–with someone else but I'm supposed to just sit home and wait for you."
"Wait for me? You couldn't even wait five minutes before you were kissing someone else in the parking lot," Jack retorted. He peripherally noticed his secretary stop typing in mid-sentence as their voices rose.
"Well, maybe it's nice to have someone actually be interested in what I have to say for a change," Erica fired back "someone who actually wants to spend time with me."
By now all activity had come to a halt as Jack and Erica's voices filtered through the outer offices. Faxing and photocopying ceased, emails went unread and phones were abruptly returned to their cradles. Ryan walked around the corner and approached them with a concerned look on his face.
"Hey, look you two, maybe you should–" he began.
"Shut up Ryan!" they turned on him in unison.
"I just thought–" he tried again.
"Actually, Ryan, you can help me move my things," Erica said. "I'm not spending another minute in this office with you," she said to Jack.
"Fine," Jack replied angrily. "Is it any wonder I'd rather spend time with someone else? I've had just about enough of this myself." He opened the door to their office and Erica stormed past him with Ryan at her heels.
Knowing they still had an audience, Erica started throwing the contents of her desk into a box. "Well, consider yourself free to do whatever you want with whomever you want," she said furiously. "After all, it's not like we're married–or even engaged. In fact, we're not anything, are we?"
Something in her voice made Jack narrow his eyes. For a minute, he could have sworn she wasn't acting and then it was gone. She flung the box at Ryan, who narrowly escaped dropping it, and turned back to Jack. "I'll have my things out of the loft by tonight," she informed him icily. "And as soon as things are straightened out here, I'll move back to Enchantment."
"Great—can't happen soon enough for me," Jack said as he held the door for her. Erica walked past him without a glance and disappeared down the hall with Ryan following.
Jack shut the door and leaned against it heavily. He knew that all eyes and ears had been on them and he was pretty sure that they had pulled it off. In fact, he thought Erica had been a little too convincing.
He walked over to his desk and sat down. He hated the idea of Erica moving out of the loft and all that entailed but he knew he had no chance of gaining Mariele's confidence while he and Erica were together. Bianca had trusted him with the future of Cambias Industries and he couldn't let her down. He knew that she was using the profits from the company to fund her various women and children's programs and the solace she had found in that was unquestionable. He was also worried about what would happen to Enchantment and Fusion if Cambias went under.
The thought of not being with Erica troubled him. They had been virtually inseparable since she had returned from Vegas. He realized that she had regained a great deal of her strength and confidence but he still had the overwhelming desire to make her feel safe and secure. That was going to be next to impossible considering the ruse they were undertaking.
Frowning, Jack recalled her earlier words about their relationship. He opened the drawer of his desk and took out the black velvet ring box. Gazing at it reflectively, his thoughts drifted to the night that Erica had given him back the engagement ring. Since her return, he had purposely not brought up their engagement. He was determined to give her plenty of space and not force her to commit to anything until she was ready. Had he somehow misread the situation?
Sighing in frustration, he placed the box back in the drawer and closed it tight. He picked up the phone to call Mariele, thinking that the sooner he could end this charade, the sooner he and Erica could get back on track.
———
Erica emptied the contents of the box and began arranging them on her desk in the small, dimly lit office. The reality of the situation was inescapable now that the plan had been set in motion. She missed Jack already and the thought of working in this office every day and going home alone to the penthouse each night was pure torture.
Ryan cleared his throat and Erica looked up impatiently. "Oh, Ryan, thank you for helping me but I really want to be alone right now," she said dismissively.
"Uh, OK," Ryan said. "I'm sure things will work out with you and Jack. They always do." Erica said nothing. "I guess I can get back to you on the Splash," Ryan continued.
"Yes, it's going to take me a while to get settled in here," Erica replied. "Was there something else, Ryan?" she asked as he hovered in the doorway.
"Uh, no, not really," said Ryan. He started to leave and then turned back. "Erica, when you were starting out in business, did you ever feel that you had messed up somewhere but just couldn't put your finger on it?"
"Ryan, everyone makes mistakes when they're first starting out," Erica said. "The important thing is to learn from them and not keep repeating them."
"Yeah, you're right," Ryan said. "I've got some great ideas when you have time to listen."
"I'll call you," Erica affirmed as he nodded and headed out the door. She barely had time to straighten out the desk and make sure the phone and computer were working when the door flew open and Kendall came in.
"What on earth is going on?" she demanded. "The whole building is talking. Half the staff is saying that Jack is seeing some Nordic princess and the other half is saying that you're dating a building contractor. I don't know which is more ridiculous–well, you and the building contractor, I guess, but–"
"Kendall," Erica interrupted. "Is there a point to this?"
"Yes, Mother, there is. What is going on?" Kendall repeated.
"Jack and I are history," Erica said, hating the way it sounded even when she knew it wasn't true.
"Yes, I know, over and over again," Kendall said. "But you can't expect me to believe that you and Jack have broken up–not after everything you've been through together."
"Well, we have and I don't want to talk about it," Erica replied. She dreaded facing Bianca's disappointment and Greenlee's anger, not to mention the thought of Reggie and Lily, but she could see that Kendall's suspicious nature was going to be a problem.
"Look, every time I see the two of you, you're all over each other," Kendall said. "Not to mention how wonderful Jack has been ever since you got back. Even you wouldn't be stupid enough to just throw him aside for some building contractor. No, something else is definitely going on."
Erica walked over to the door, holding it open. "Kendall, I'm really busy here and I need to get this office operational, so if you don't mind…"
Kendall moved toward the door. "Alright, I'll drop it for now but don't think for a minute that I'm buying this." She vanished down the hall with one last dubious look in her mother's direction. Erica's phone rang as she went back to her desk and she answered it with more than a tinge of annoyance in her voice.
"Hey, you," Jack's voice made her sigh in relief. "How's it going down there?"
"You mean besides Ryan wanting all of my time and Kendall not believing me?" Erica answered. "I guess it's OK. I miss you," she added wistfully.
"I know, I miss you too," Jack said huskily. "I don't know how I'm going to make it through the days–not to mention the nights–without you."
"How long do we have to go without seeing each other?" Erica asked, thinking that any answer would be too long.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Jack said, chuckling softly.
Erica immediately felt her spirits lift. "What kind of plan?"
"I'll tell you in a minute," he replied. "Look, I'll try to smooth things over with Reggie and Lily as best I can. I'm just going to tell them that we need a little space. Hopefully, they won't hear anything about what happened here today. It's probably a good idea for you to pick up your things when they're not home."
"I'll make sure they're not there," Erica said. "I don't want them upset."
"I'll take care of it," said Jack. "I just got the background checks on your boyfriend," he continued. "He was definitely roommates at Stanford with this Protevi guy. And guess what–Mariele was a huge proponent of Andrews taking over from Zingani."
"I just don't believe that John is involved in any of this," Erica stated. "He seems very genuine to me."
"Erica, you spent a couple of hours with him," said Jack. "You only saw what he wanted you to see. Remember what I said–public places with this guy. No more car rides with someone you don't know."
"I know–I'll be careful," Erica replied.
"Please, sweetheart," There was no mistaking the urgency in Jack's voice. "I don't want to have to worry about you more than I already do."
"I promise," she said. "Now when am I going to see you?"
"I think it's best if we don't see each other for a few days," Jack said. "I don't think we should call each other either."
"Well, what then?" she pouted.
"Check your email in a few days," he said and she could sense the smile in his voice. "I have to go sweetheart. This will all be over soon. I love you."
"I love you too," she hung up the phone slowly, wondering how she would get through the next few days without him. Loving him this much would have terrified her at one time but now she reveled in it. She was finally ready to spend the rest of her life with him and she was determined that nothing would stop them this time.
———
Erica logged on to her computer with bated breath. The past three days had seemed endless. Surely there would be a message from Jack today, she thought. She had caught a glimpse or two of him in the building but their offices were far enough apart that they didn't have to cross each other's paths. Jack had rescheduled all of his meetings so that they were never in the same place at the same time and any issues that they both needed to address went through their secretaries.
Erica had thrown herself into her work, ignoring messages from Opal and Myrtle and anyone else that she knew would want to discuss Jack. The days went by quickly but the nights alone at the penthouse were agony. Why had she never noticed how cold and empty it was? She missed the warmth of the loft and Reggie and Lily's youthful exuberance, but most of all she missed Jack.
Her pulse quickened when she saw the email from him. Before she could read it, a sudden movement in the doorway caught her attention and she looked up to see Mariele Girtz standing there. Erica quickly closed the message and managed a semblance of a polite smile. "May I help you?" she asked coolly.
Mariele sauntered in, looking around in amusement. "Well, this is certainly a step down from your previous office," she commented.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Erica asked again.
"I was just on my way back from Jack's office," Mariele said, "and thought I would stop in to tell you that your space on the second floor will be ready next week. I had John put a rush on it."
"How thoughtful of you," Erica said with only the slightest hint of sarcasm.
"Yes, it was," Mariele agreed. "I realize you don't have a very high opinion of me," she continued, "but you were totally off base about Jack and me."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," Mariele replied. "I don't make a habit of pursuing men who are in a relationship, however attractive I may find them. I respect those boundaries." She paused but Erica said nothing.
"However, things have changed," Mariele said. "Jack tells me that the two of you are no longer involved."
"Yes, that's right," Erica said casually while fighting the urge to pull Mariele's hair out by its platinum roots.
"I can understand why Jack felt he had to let you down gently," Mariele went on while Erica listened incredulously. "After all, it's no secret that you've had a pretty rough time of it recently and Jack obviously felt some sense of –responsibility–toward you when you came back. Thankfully, he seems to have realized that his feelings for you are a thing of the past."
"And that, of course, is where you come in," Erica observed wryly.
"Yes, it is," Mariele said. "I find Jack incredibly attractive and he has made it more than obvious that he finds me very attractive as well." Erica gritted her teeth at the smug tone in Mariele's voice. "In fact, we're having dinner tonight. I just wanted to make sure we were clear on all of this."
"We're very clear," Erica said, standing up to end the conversation. "I couldn't care less what Jack does or with whom."
"Wonderful," Mariele moved toward the door. "I do hope you enjoy your new office."
"I'm sure I will," Erica replied sweetly. "I hope you enjoy your date."
Mariele laughed softly. "Oh, I most certainly will," she said, leaving with a triumphant smile. Erica closed the door, leaned against it and briefly contemplated various ways to inflict harm on Mariele. Deciding that none of them were painful enough, she walked back to her desk and opened the email from Jack.
Sweetheart,
To say I miss you is an understatement. I honestly can't tell you how unbearable the past few days have been. I miss the sound of you laughing with Reggie and Lily when I come home to the loft, I miss the way you look working at your desk when you don't know I'm watching you, I miss the sound of you breathing next to me at night. I miss touching you, kissing you, making love to you. Meet me at 2:00 at 88 Pine Ave. Don't tell anyone where you're going. Just say you'll be gone–oh, at least a few hours…
Love,
Jack
Erica tried to stop her heart from racing but it was impossible. God, she missed him and she was thrilled that he felt the same way. She glanced at the clock, silently willing the hands to move faster. Just a few more hours, she thought, until we're together again.
———
Erica pulled into the parking lot and parked several cars away from Jack's blue BMW. She still couldn't believe the neon sign flashing in front of her–Pine Cone Motel. She understood the need to meet at a place where they wouldn't be recognized–but here? She got out of her car and walked over to Jack, drinking in the sight of him standing there in sunglasses and a gray suit, his hair shining in the sunlight. He smiled as she got closer and reached out to grab her hand.
"Hmmm, you look beautiful," he said, leading her toward the motel office.
"Jack, I'm not sure about this," she said. "I mean, the Pine Cone?"
"Sweetheart, I know but we can't go somewhere where you're going to be recognized," said Jack. "Speaking of which, keep your head down while we're in here," he said, opening the door and ushering her in.
Erica studied the squares on the floor while Jack signed the register and got the key from the clerk. "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Bastille," said the balding middle-aged man with a knowing smile. "Enjoy your–afternoon." Jack smiled slightly and pulled Erica out of the office.
"Jack, this is just too embarrassing," she said as he led her to a room at the end of the building. "Did you see that man? God only knows what he's thinking–" She hesitated in the doorway as Jack opened the door and stepped inside. "I really don't think–" She stopped when Jack pulled her into the room, shut the door behind her and pressed her against it in one smooth movement. "God, I've missed you," he breathed into her mouth, kissing her passionately. Her lips parted as he deepened the kiss and she quickly forgot her misgivings. They devoured each other for endless minutes, lost in the taste and feel of one another. Eventually Jack dragged his mouth from hers and left a trail of heated kisses down her neck. Erica opened her eyes and, looking beyond Jack's shoulder, was horrified by what she saw.
"Jack," she moved away from him into the tiny, dingy room. "This is terrible! We can't stay here."
"I realize it's not The Ritz, sweetheart, but our choices are pretty limited," Jack said. "It's not like we could meet at the Valley Inn."
"True, but this is the kind of place that people come for only one reason," said Erica.
Jack came up behind her and pulled her back against him as he kissed her neck. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought we were here for that reason," he said huskily, his breath on her neck sending shivers up her spine. "But, if you insist, we can always go back to work–" He released her and stepped away.
Erica turned and grabbed his tie, pulling him back to her. "Ha, ha, very funny," she said. "I guess I can get past our surroundings–as long as I don't have to touch anything."
"I promise the only thing you have to touch is me," he said, taking her hands and placing them on his chest.
"Well, I think I can manage that," she said, running her hands up the strong muscles of his arms until she reached his tie and starting to loosen the knot. "I've missed you so much, Jack," she whispered, unbuttoning his shirt and slipping her hands inside against his warm skin.
"Not half as much as I've missed you," he told her, backing up toward the bed and drawing her down on top of him. Erica placed several small kisses on his chest, working her way up to his mouth. He met her lips hungrily, running his tongue along her lower lip and using it to gain entrance to her mouth. They were both breathing heavily by the time his fingers found the zipper on the back of her dress.
"This might be challenging if the only thing you're going to touch is me," Jack said with a wicked glint in his eyes, looking up at her.
"Don't worry," Erica said with a seductive smile. "I'm sure I'll think of something."
———
Erica repaired her hair and makeup in the dimly lit bathroom while Jack got dressed. The past few hours had been heaven but they had gone by much too quickly. After making glorious love, they had talked about Reggie and Lily, as well as the situation at Cambias and how to resolve it.
"If I can just get Mariele to slip up and give me one piece of useful information, I'll be able to turn this whole thing over to the authorities," Jack said from the other room. "But so far she hasn't revealed a thing about Thorquist or Zingani."
"Maybe you're losing your touch," Erica said lightly, reapplying her lipstick.
"I think we just demonstrated that that's not the case," Jack said smoothly, appearing in the doorway to the bathroom. "But if you insist on another demonstration–" He reached out to pull her closer but she managed to dart around him.
"Oh, no, you don't," she laughed. "It's taken me 15 minutes just to look halfway decent again."
"Hmmm, I didn't notice you complaining earlier," Jack said, turning on the water in the sink.
"No, I wasn't," Erica said with a smile, walking back into the bedroom. "I guess you'll have to really turn on the charm tonight," she added, seething at the thought of Jack having dinner with Mariele.
"I guess so."
"I'm warning you, Jackson Montgomery, if you so much as lay a hand on that women–"
"Sweetheart, I promise, not a finger." Jack replied from the bathroom.
"It's not your fingers I'm worried about," Erica muttered under her breath.
"Did you say something?" Jack's voice carried over the running water.
"Not a thing."
Jack came out of the bathroom as Erica picked up her purse. "OK, you leave first," he said. "I don't want you here by yourself."
Erica walked over to him and laid her head on his chest. "I don't want to leave," she said with a sigh. "When are we going to see each other again?"
"Let's say in a couple of days just to be safe," he said, kissing her lightly and leading her to the door. "I'll email you."
"I love you," she said, reaching up to kiss him.
"I love you too," he said. "I promise–this won't be for long." He kissed her gently as she walked out the door.
———
Jack watched Erica walk to her car, thinking how much he loved her and wishing that this charade was over. Dammit, he thought, why did this have to happen just when things were going so well? He was determined to get this over with–and quickly. At least everyone seemed to have fallen for the breakup. Now if he could just get Mariele to let down her guard…
He waited a few minutes and then headed to his car. As he rounded the corner of the building, he almost knocked over the person approaching from the opposite direction. Preparing to apologize, he looked down into Kendall's jubilant face.
"I knew it!" she said gleefully. "Since Erica won't tell me what's going on, Jackson, maybe now you will."