Chapter 4

"Janet may I please talk to you?" Jason asked pointing towards his office.

"Of course," Janet answered unable to believe her hands were still holding the flowers she was previously rearranging. She could feel her face turn a scarlet red, even though she wasn't sure if it was due to the major embarrassment she had to go through or the bad mood Vicky had just gotten her into.

Mr. Crocket closed the door behind them and asked Janet to have a sit. Janet was preparing to give him her most sincere gratitude for giving her the job and letting him know she understood that her personal life would somehow get in the way of her new job.

"I am very sorry about Mrs. Tripper." He started off slowly and in a very soft tone, almost a whisper.

"It's not your fault."

"I know but this is not the first time this has happened." He took a sit himself, "and I can promise you it won't be the last."

Janet looked up at him with a questionable look on her beautiful eyes. "Janet, I am not so sure in what way is it that you and Mr. Tripper are tied to each other. He did mention that you two used to live together. And-"

"We did but it's not like it sounds. I don't know if Jack mention that our living arrangements were strictly platonic and that all we shared was the apartment and the rent and-"

"You don't have to explain it to you me. Even though it does help," he chuckled, "I thought maybe you two were once married."

Janet just looked at him with a worry expression, 'Just let me go and let's finish this so I can get out of here.' She thought to herself.

"By they way you two embraced this morning I knew it had to of been more then just a simple friendship."

"Well we lived together for eight years before I finally got married and Jack and Vicky got together. Eventually we lost touch and I suppose that is when he and Vicky decided to marry as well."

"Unfortunately for him." "What do you mean?" Janet asked curiously. It just seemed to her that they had the perfect marriage. When they were dating nothing could possibly separate them she thought sadly. "Well Janet, see," He crossed his arms across his chest, "Vicky has several jealousy issues. Their marriage has not been a good one. I've been working for the family for several years now almost seven, and I've never seen them act like a normal couple would. Mostly not like one in love. About two years after we opened this store, Jack started seeing one of our employees, she used to work upstairs." Janet listened carefully, "They started dating. Until Courtney found out Jack was a married man. He apparently did not bother to tell her and was heartbroken when she saw them together. I asked Jack why he never mentioned it to her; he said 'It would have ruined everything.' "That Jack." Janet said somewhat upset. She couldn't believe that after being married to Vicky he still hadn't lost his skirt chasing obsessions. "Actually I was glad he started talking to someone. I've never seen him happier….well until now." He said causing Janet to blush. "Then time went by he became more dedicated to his job and spend all his time here, at his office or at the different restaurants. He just wanted to stay away from home, he hated going back there. It bother him so much to go back home he bought an apartment in Beverly Hills, just so that he wouldn't have to be around Vicky." "I never would have thought." Janet said softly. "At first it was hard to tell, I was his only friend or at least I felt like I was. Then not so long ago we had hired Ann, he liked her from the beginning. As a matter of fact he was the one who hired her. That is probably one of the reasons Mrs. Tripper asked me if Jack asked me to hire you. To make a long story short, Jack was honest this time, he told her that he was married, but that his wife refused to sign the divorce documents, he informed her about their marriage problems, and Anne accepted him." "What happened?" "Jack finally decided it wasn't fair for Ann to take the humiliations Vicky made her go through. She would come here to scream and yell at her in front of our customers. It wasn't good for business and most important it was breaking her self esteem apart. Jack liked Ann but he said he never actually felt he loved her. He enjoyed her company and loved making her laughed," he paused and look Janet straight in the eyes, "he said she reminded him of an old friend he used to live with for almost eight years." Janet tried to avoid his look, "Which now I am one hundred percent sure he was referring to you Janet." "Ann brought back your memory and that made Jack happy. Now I understand why he was so excited to see you." "Why?" She ask wanting to hear it from him. "Because he longed to be with you, I am not necessary talking physically or romantic like. But just having you around. Ann was a very special person in his life but he let her go because he wanted her to be happy, always saying he would never actually see himself with her as serious partner. Vicky would probably kill him before she would let him be happy with anyone else." Janet sat still for a few minutes, neither said a word. She couldn't believe that neither Jack nor she had found what they once thought was love. Poor Jack, she felt sorry for him. Philip was never what she imagined to be the perfect husband but he certainly tried. He truly loved Janet and she knew it. "My point exactly is that Vicky will be jealous of any woman in Jack's life. No matter how beautiful or unattractive she is. Vicky knows she lost Jack years ago and any woman is a threat to her. Jack is very excited about having you as part of our staff. He is excited about you being part of his life again personally, as a friend of course. So please I would consider your stay. She may find you a threat today and find someone else tomorrow and we would hate to loose you as part of our team because of her. So if you were considering a different path please give us a chance. I don't know how much you need this job but we know we defiantly need you." As soon as Vicky left the lobby, Janet's first thoughts were that she needed to find a different job, she would hate to be the cause of any matrimonial problems but she really needs the job. So she came to the conclusion that as soon as she found a different job she would leave 'Bradford and Company'. "I am sorry Jason, but I don't think I could stand the accusations or even worst knowing I maybe the cause of someone else's suffering. I believe the best thing for everyone would be for me to find a new job. I won't make it my final decision because I really need the job but I will start looking for a new job tomorrow." She said not looking forward to reliving what she had gone thought trying to find a job. "Wow," Janet smiled glad the day was over, "we got busy there for the last two hours." "Yes, normally that is our usual day, the morning starts out somewhat slow, lunch time is very busy, mid afternoon is dead and our last three hours are even busier then lunch time. That is when you know American men are in trouble at home and need to cheer up the wife." They both laughed.

"Don't forget your roses." He reminded her as he gave Janet her beautiful dozen of red roses Jack gave her earlier that morning. She took a moment to admire their beautiful rich red color. She smiled to herself remembering her reunion with Jack earlier that morning. She took the rose he had placed on her ear and put it with the rest of the roses making sure it wouldn't fall out. "Thank you." "Your welcome, now are you sure you don't need me to take you home?" Jason asked. "Totally sure. I will take the bus; will give me time to think." She said thanking him for offering. "Okay Janet. See you tomorrow morning," he said almost in a questionable sound. "Bright and early." She smiled, "And Jason," she whispered almost reaching the door, "Thank you for this afternoon." "Anytime." Janet made her way out the door, aside from Vicky's rude behavior she had a great time on her first day at work. She finally reached the bus stop when all of a sudden she heard her name, as she turned; she felt this feeling of fear set in her body. "Vicky." She said firmly. "What? Was the flower shop not enough?" After meting with her friend Diane, Vicky decided she took this the wrong way. She needed to let Janet know Jack's was hers in a softer way. That way if Jack ever found out he would have no reason to be upset at her. She wouldn't make a big scene or yell her emotions out…she would talk just like any other human being, but at the same time let Janet know Jack was her husband and only death could do them apart. "Actually I just came to apologize." "Apologize?" Janet asked surprised, not believing her. "Yes, I am sorry I got upset. It's just that many other women have tried to come between Jack and myself. But we have a strong relationship and love for one another." "Then what are you so afraid of?" Vicky's hands turn into fists, "I am not afraid; I just am aware of the relationship you and Jack used to have. And even though you two were just good friends and that was all, I wanted to make sure it was clear he is my husband. You two had seven years to give each other a chance of any romantic relationship but apparently he was never interested and it was never meant to be. That is why you married Philip and Jack asked me to marry him. Because we loved each other." Janet swallowed the words crossing her mind, "I know that Vicky, and I happy for you and Jack. He and I go back a long time, longer then you and him ever will but we only have respect for each other. I see him like a brother and he sees me like nothing more then a younger sister." Janet assured Jack's wife, "That is the way it's always been, trust me. And if you and Jack love each other you must be aware of his feelings and sure of his love for you. Now if you excuse me I have a bus to catch."

"Hope he wasn't much trouble." Janet said to her neighbor, "and again thank you for babysitting.' She was lucky enough to have found a tenant in her building who had a child attending the same school as little Jack. They were a grade apart but seem to get along very well. "Did you miss me honey?" She asked kissing her small boy. He nodded his head. "How was work?" He asked. "Great." She said weighing life's surprise of finding Jack verses the incident with Vicky. After Janet helped her son with the small homework assignment his teacher had issued they had dinner. It was time for bed and Janet couldn't be any happier. She was exhausted. "…and they lived happily ever after." She said as she finished the small bedtime story. She watched Jack snuggled into a cozy dream. She smiled with joy as she caressed his little boy's face and kissed him goodnight. "I love you." She whispered. After brushing her teeth Janet made her way into her oversize lonely bed. She started flipping through channels hoping one would catch her interest. No good luck for everything reminded her of Jack and Vicky. She hated the idea of having to start her job search process again. It had taken her a while to finally get employed and she had to let it go but she didn't regret it as much as having to let Jack go once again…. Flashback Janet closed her eyes as she remembered the day of her wedding to Philip, her heart started beating a thousand miles an hour as the preacher asked her the million dollar question, when she heard Jack's voice. She slowly walked outside with him, hand in hand. It was a norm they had grown used to ever since their silly roommate Chrissy used to share the apartment with them. With hope in her heart she watched Jack let her go. Even though she had agreed to marrying Philip her heart belonged to her roommate Jack. When she finally thought he would take her away and love her for an eternity he just made things worst. She had accepted the fact that he could never be hers but when he interrupted the wedding she actually thought she had a chance for true love. After his unneeded interruption he asked to kiss her and wrapped around his arms she wished he would do nothing more then to take her away far away from that little apartment, from the wedding, from everyone. She wanted the world to disappear and it just be the two of them. But it was never meant to be she thought returning back to the small living room with tears on her lovely eyes as she closed the door behind her. Not losing faith she turn back once more waiting for Jack to come in through the door and stop the ceremony but it was useless, who was she kidding. After she finally accepted the fact that she could spend the rest of her life crying over someone she would never have, trying to make something that wasn't there work out she said 'I do' . 'I do', she though accepting the fact that she would have to settle for someone else who loved her even if she didn't deserve that wonderful feeling because she await someone else's heart. End of Flashback Janet could still taste that earth-shattering kiss every time she remembered that painful day. And as she savored Jack's soft lips she closed her eyes and fell into a restless sleep.