Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy
Written by BansheeGirl
A/N: Hiya all! Yup, here is the next chapter for you – freshly baked for your enjoyment! And this is an outstandingly fast update (for me, anyway!), no? Hallelujah for the holidays :D
Read on, enjoy, and please review when you're done! Thanks!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1 or 2!
Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy
Chapter 22: Tomorrow; A Broken Promise
It took a moment for Jessie to orient herself as her eyes flickered open to meet the soft light of morning. For a few seconds the room seemed foreign, and the huge wooden bed she lay in felt unfamiliar – as did the crisp white sheets that enfolded her. The sound of running water, however, suddenly brought everything into perspective. This was her house. Her room. Her bed. And the person showering in the en-suite bathroom next door was her guest.
Jessie turned her head on the pillow to look at the spot beside her in the bed. It was empty, but looking distinctly messed. She extended her arm and ran the back of her hand over the crumpled sheet. It was still warm. A small smile involuntarily transformed on Jessie's face.
Jessie closed her eyes and cast her mind back to the night before. Ignoring everything that had happened at Paramount Corps., she focussed in on the moment when James had first kissed her. Oh yes – she had tried to resist, but it was not long at all before she let down her defences and succumbed to his advances. And taking into consideration the series of pleasurable events that had quickly taken place afterward… Well, Jessie was now finding herself very happy with the fact that she hadn't been able to resist…
A fluttering feeling seemed to have permanently nestled itself within Jessie's stomach. Her mind felt as though it had just received an extremely concentrated injection of James – try as she might she could think of nothing else but the man showering in her en suite bathroom. It felt so long since Jessie had ever felt like this, and she never wanted the feeling to end. She wanted to reach out and grab it, hold it tight and never let it go.
The feeling was making Jessie restless. She looked to the en suite door, wondering whether she should go and join James in the shower. Or would that perhaps seem too bold? Deciding against it (for now), Jessie climbed out of bed and slipped a pink satin dressing-gown over her naked flesh. Fastening the gown, she left the room and headed for the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee.
As she passed through the sitting room on her way to the kitchen, Jessie spied the little amber light on her answering machine flashing profusely. For the first time that morning Jessie's bubble of happiness was interrupted, and she found herself sighing angrily. She cautiously walked over to the answering machine and looked down at the digital display panel. 93 messages. Jessie groaned.
Today was hardly going to be the warm, fuzzy day with James that she had ignorantly envisioned. There were going to be press conferences to be held, interviews to attend, and so much business to address at Paramount Corps. that Jessie felt a headache coming on at just the thought of it. She wanted to scream.
There, balling her hands into angry fists, gritting her teeth tightly together and otherwise utterly seething, Jessie was very suddenly shocked back into the present at the sound of hurried knocking at her front door. She swiftly made her way to the entrance, angrily contemplating whether it was going to be some irritating reporter, or perhaps an equally annoying Paramount Corps. associate. She peered through the small glass spyhole in her door, revealing a hard-faced female figure standing on the other side. Jessie sighed in exasperation. It was Sarah Morrison – Paramount Corps.' chief media coordinator.
Jessie desperately wanted to simply ignore Sarah and walk away from the door and go back to bed. Go back to James. But as the media coordinator rapped against the door again, Jessie clenched her teeth and gave in. She swung the door open.
"Sarah, please-"
"Jessica, what have you been doing? I left three messages on your answering machine this morning," the other woman interjected, and brushed past Jessie to walk into the apartment. She was holding a large briefcase in one hand.
Jessie closed the door behind Sarah, and sighed submissively. "I was sleeping, Sarah. I've had a big week, in case you hadn't heard. Can't this wait? Can't I have a few days' rest before we get into all this?"
Sarah eyed Jessie with an almost sympathetic expression, before setting down her briefcase on the back of one of the couches in the sitting room. "That's not what I'm here for, I'm afraid," Sarah replied in her distinctive gravelly voice. "You're going to want to look at this," she continued, and held out a folded newspaper for Jessie to take.
Jessie looked at the newspaper, puzzled, before finally reaching out and taking it.
"It's today's Times," Sarah said, as Jessie unfolded the newspaper.
Jessie's eyes settled on the front page, and her insides instantly sunk.
James stepped out of Jessie's en suite bathroom, clad in a pair of jeans and shirt that he'd brought along with him to Saunders City in his backpack. Jessie appeared to have left her bed, much to James' disappointment. He had rather been looking forward to snuggling up with her for a few more hours. He was confident, though, that he could convince her to return to the bedroom, and headed out of the bedroom to find her. He hadn't expected to find her with a woman who was dressed in a business suit in the sitting room, holding what seemed to be a newspaper and looking like she was suddenly very ill.
At the sound of James' footsteps both Jessie and the other woman lifted their heads to spot him advancing from across the room. James looked straight to Jessie, whose eyes appeared to be glistening with the hint of tears. She seemed completely lost. He slowed as he neared the pair of women, and looked at Jessie with a questioning expression.
"You must be Mr. Morgan," the other woman inserted, her voice stinging with accusation. James turned his head to her, his heart suddenly quickening at the feeling that something was very wrong.
"What's-"
"-You bastard," Jessie interrupted him, her words jolting James like he had just been electrocuted.
James felt his face morph into an expression of utter, panicked confusion. What had happened? How had things turned around so suddenly?
"Jessie, please. I don't even know what is going on!"
The other woman scoffed loudly, and James found himself very annoyed that she was there. He ignored her, and instead stayed focussed on Jessie in front of him.
Jessie's nostrils flared in blatant anger. "Don't give me that bullshit, James!" She cried. "You know exactly what is going on!"
"Jessie, I'm sorry – I have no idea what you are talking about!" James exclaimed, wishing Jessie would calm down. Things were becoming scarily reminiscent of their fights before.
Jessie responded by shoving the newspaper she was holding hard into his stomach. James winced and reflexively grabbed hold of the newspaper, and looked confusedly at his angry ex-colleague.
"Perhaps that will refresh your memory," Jessie spat.
James looked down at the front page of the newspaper. Hesitantly, he began to read the article:
PARAMOUNT CORPS.' INHUMANE SCHEME UNCOVERED
DESPITE last night's shock discovery of Paramount Corps. CEO Jessica Avalon's survival of several counts of attempted murder, The Saunders City Times has been given an exclusive insight into the multi-billion-dollar company's cruel plans to demolish an entire township located in the Crystal Mountains.
Head Councilman of Fieldsville, James Morgan, alerted The Saunders City Times of Avalon's company's deceitful intentions to destroy the homes of four-hundred innocent residents in order to create building ground for a new ski resort. The town leader himself was only informed of the plans earlier this week, and was left to deliver the devastating news to the people of Fieldsville.
"We were given no option, and outrageously below-par compensation. Paramount Corps. is a bully organisation that will go to any measure to make a quick buck, and this time it is four-hundred peoples' livelihoods that is being compromised," said Morgan in a media statement. "We cannot stand for this kind of atrocity."
This revelation has sparked controversy as to the legitimacy of many of Paramount Corps.' other projects and operations. Avalon's problems seem far from over – an official investigation into the company's affairs is already in motion to take place over the next few weeks. Story cont. pg 3.
James stared down at the paper in his hands, his head spinning. The words danced to and fro, taunting him. He wanted to rip the paper up, make the words disappear, and yet all he could do was stand and stare.
He had forgotten.
Amidst all the chaos of Jessie's arrival in Fieldsville, and the task of bringing her back to Saunders City and everything in between, James had completely forgotten about filing a feature story for The Saunders City Times about Paramount Corps.' plans. Using the media was going to be his way of standing up to Paramount Corps. He had been at the council offices faxing the story off during the very time in which the unconscious Jessie had been brought to the Lodging House from the helicopter wreck. And he had forgotten about it all.
"Jessie, I… I-" James stammered, not knowing quite what to say.
Jessie glared at James. "You knew about this the whole time. The whole time! And you never said a thing," she scowled.
"Jessie, you have to understand. I did file that feature story. I was trying to protect my town! But I just forgot about it! I completely-"
"-Oh please!" Jessie cried, her anger flaring higher. "You lied to me James. You lied to me again, even though you said you wouldn't."
James stood agape. He could hear blood rushing in his ears. Everything was wrong. This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. He had fixed things. After seven painful years, he had finally been able to reconcile with Jessie. And now it was all falling apart. Again. And he had the dreadful feeling that there would be no reconciliation a second time.
"I never meant to hurt you, Jessie," he said weakly.
Jessie exhaled heavily, as though she were holding back a sob. She quickly took a deep breath, however, and narrowed her eyes spitefully at James.
"You have no idea how much damage you've done, James," she hissed, leaning in close so that he could see the angry tears threatening to spill out of her stony eyes.
James looked at Jessie – close enough to reach out and embrace, and yet so far away now that he doubted whether he would ever be able to reach her again. You have no idea how much damage you've done. He didn't want to think about how much damage he'd done. He couldn't care less about the damage done to Paramount Corps. He had the feeling that Jessie hadn't been referring to the damage done to her company, anyway…
"I'm sorry-"
"-Get out. Now," Jessie suddenly spat, taking James somewhat by surprise.
He stood unmoving for a few moments, before the other woman – who had since been standing wordlessly beside him and Jessie – put her hand firmly on his shoulder. James tore his gaze away from Jessie to look into the woman's hard face.
"Miss. Avalon has just told you to leave. Now leave," she ordered.
James recoiled from the woman, clutching his shoulder where she had been digging her fingers hard into his skin. He looked pleadingly to Jessie again, but she was resilient in her malicious glare.
He gave in.
Submission seemed the only option. He didn't want to believe it, but there was nothing he could do. Quickly ducking down to retrieve his battered backpack from beside one of the couches, James headed for the door. He stopped with his hand on the golden doorhandle, and turned back to look at Jessie one last time. She wasn't facing him.
"Goodbye," he offered, and waited a few moments for a reply. There was none.
James couldn't help but slam the door behind him in frustration.
Should I… uh, be expecting death threats from you guys anytime soon?
-is scared-
I'm sorry! I know everyone was happy that J&J had finally gotten it on… But I guess this is drama for you! Heh, heh…
Anyway. There is still more to come, so never fear! Stick with me, and you'll never go hungry again! Oh – hang on… that doesn't sound right…
Till next time, my dears!
BansheeGirl.