Chapter 5 – Case of the X

Jack had never woke up in a worse position; his feet were hanging over the edge of the couch and head had somehow got shoved between the cushion and back of the couch. Standing up it took a moment before he got complete balance. His neck hurt as well as his back and shoulders. Someone was going to pay for his discomfort and it was going to be a specific woman asleep in the very comfortable bed he paid for.

Thoroughly annoyed now, Jack walked into the bedroom and stopped when he saw her asleep. Her hair was in her face and she wore a thin black nightgown that looked extremely smooth. Moving closer to her he brushed the hair from her face and a fleeting thought of how beautiful she was entered and exited his mind. Early in the morning was not the time to lust after one of the most annoying women he had ever met; besides, she was only here for the ride…unwillingly.

Rubbing at his eyes, Jack opened the dresser and took out a towel before going into the bathroom to take a shower.

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The steady sound of water flow woke Elizabeth and she cuddled into the feather soft pillows that she had been sleeping on. Stretching her arms above her head she sighed and looked at the clock. 6:30 in the morning. Ignoring the sounds from the bathroom she closed her eyes and tried to fall back asleep.

The water stopped some time later and almost instantly after the bathroom door opened. Elizabeth rubbed at her eyes a little before opening them to see Jack Sparrow in nothing but a towel that he held together at his waist. She thought for a moment at what a sight it would be if his hand happened to slip.

At the thought she shut her eyes hard at the image and waiting until she heard him retreat back into the bathroom, never knowing she was awake.

Hearing the hair dryer turn on Elizabeth got the courage to get out of bed and get ready for the day. She picked out a black top with spaghetti straps and some flare jeans that fit her nicely, her shoes were fashionable sandals that were quite comfortable.

Trying to figure out what she was going to do with her hair Jack came back out of the bathroom wearing a pair of kakis and a white polo shirt.

"At least you can dress yourself in the mornings, and I'm glad you dress up nice because we're going to meet some very important people. While we're out we need to get you a dress and some sort of bathing suit. I'm not sure if you would have liked to go to a nude beach but I highly doubt it."

Elizabeth grinned at him and started filling one of the Gucci purses with necessities. "I'm glad you know me so well Mr. Sparrow."

"It's just Jack. Don't worry about our names, there has to be hundreds of married people with the names Jack and Elizabeth. Ready?"

Again he didn't really give her much of a choice to be ready or not, they were out the door of the hotel five minutes later and heading for a small café.

"Who are these people we're meeting today?"

"Some old acquaintances. Don't worry, they won't bite."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and Jack led her to a table where two women sat. One was significantly older then the younger more beautiful one. Getting closer beautiful, she noticed was definitely the understatement of the world, this girl was the gorgeous blonde bomb-shell she had to watch guys fall over for in school.

"Hello Estella, Marianne." Jack said looking at the mother then the daughter, Elizabeth thought it odd that he didn't take the time to stare; maybe it was another one of his relatives.

"Jack, you don't have to be so formal." The beautiful Marianne said. "And who is this?" She asked looking Elizabeth over then smirking to herself. "She's…cute."

Jack put his arm around Elizabeth's waist and Marianne then noticed the matching rings they wore.

"This is my wife, Elizabeth."

Her smirk faded almost immediately. Elizabeth took her seat then positioned her silverware while contemplating what to do in this somewhat awkward silence. "I'm happy to meet you both." She said and looked to Jack. "But I have a feeling you know my husband from somewhere else?"

Marianne took the time to openly glare at Elizabeth. "I was Jack's fiancé." She said and took a sip of her water.

Elizabeth was sorry she asked, her stomach tightened and she knew that a silent war was going on. Two women were apparently fighting over the man seated on her left but for her it was just to prove that she could be just as beautiful and sophisticated as this hussy.

"Well I can't say I'm sorry it didn't work out." She said and sat straight when a waiter came over to their table. Jack was itching to finish the meeting as soon as possible.

"What can I get you folks?"

"I'll have the roast duck with marinade sauce, but not too much, you people always add too much." Estella said and handed the menu back to the waiter.

"I want the chicken creaser salad with fat free ranch please, also a strawberry banana smoothie but I want a fat burner booster in it also, and make sure you add more strawberry this time, last time the banana flavor was too strong."

Elizabeth watched as Marianne's mouth moved when she ordered it was petite, like her, in shot choppy movements, like her, and way to thin, like her.

"And you mam?"

Elizabeth was going to beat this woman rather it took one meal or one year she didn't care. "I'll have some raspberry tea and a garden salad, no dressing." She said and Jack looked at her.

"Give me the chicken cordon blue with a side of mozzarella sticks." He said, not taking his eyes off Elizabeth.

"Marina sauce also sir?"

"Yes please."

The waiter left and Elizabeth took a tiny sip of water before letting her hair down over her shoulders.

"I thought it was going to be a lot hotter today. Oh well, the cool air does good."

Jack looked to Estella before he saw a cat fight. "Estella how are you?"

"Let's just cut the crap Jack." She said and the other women looked at her. "What do you want?"

"I came here to invite you to the party tonight; perhaps we can all get better acquainted."

Marianne was about to protest about how she wouldn't want to go to some stupid party but thought better of it.

"Since this is to get better acquainted, I would like to bring my brother. Mom, why don't you call Tyler now?"

Jack felt hot, he hated Tyler, and Tyler made it perfectly clear he didn't like Jack. "No need to get nasty Mary."

"Nonsence, I have a feeling that your wife would love to meet him."

Jack didn't like that idea either, he knew Tyler's way with women and getting Elizabeth back home and away from him could prove difficult, never mind making their 'relationship' even more difficult to fake.

"That sounds lovely." Elizabeth said and touched Jack's knee when she saw cat woman looking at him. "Darling what's the matter, didn't her, I'm assuming, big brother like you too much?"

Jack looked at Elizabeth briefly. "Something like that."

Elizabeth moved her hand to his and gripped it, making sure she had Jack's attention.

"Understatement of the century Elizabeth, obviously Jack left out some important details of our relationship. You see we were two weeks away from our marriage when he had his bachelor party. One of the strippers he met was an ex. Never trust a man around the ex."

Elizabeth looked at the other woman and dropped Jack's hand instantly, what did she care about him anyway, she was just playing along. She didn't say another word the entire time.

When they left the café Elizabeth let herself breathe. Jack didn't say anything but they got into a cab.

"She lied you know."

Elizabeth was too busy looking out the window.

"What?"

"Marianne, she lied, I never even had a bachelor party."

Elizabeth looked at him and nodded. "Good for you, not that I care. Why didn't you correct the beauty then?"

"We made a deal that that was the story we were telling her mother and the rest of the family."

"So what's the real reason there was no wedding bells, sex was that bad?"

Jack smiled a little at that but offered no comment.

Feeling disgusted Elizabeth looked back out the window and watched the buildings go by.

TBC