GRACE.
“Gracieeee” Jody’s voice rang out from outside my house. She did that all the time, so I wasn’t startled. Considering the sort of mood I was in at the moment, I wasn’t really curious about whatever made her yell my name like that.
What I wanted was staying somewhere where no one would see me and cry in silence. I wished with all my heart I could skip work tonight.
I was on permanent night shifts for NAs Daily, a small scale newspaper company I managed to secure after rigorous job huntings, so as to garner more funds for Laurel and I, not to mention few other freelancing jobs I was doing here and there.
On most days, I took Laurie with me, and on others, she stayed with NK and her kids or Jody helped me babysit her till I returned in the morning.
There was nothing I could do. Securing a good job in central London required connection with insiders or a recommendation from top people, especially from high ranking wolves like Alphas, Betas and Gammas.
Jody’s grand-father was a Beta before he passed on, that was why Jody had a comfortable life growing up. And now she was working for one of the largest, toughest and highly competitive magazine companies in London.
I opened the door for her as fast as I could so she wouldn’t wake Laurie who only hadn’t been sleeping too long.
“Bring your voice down JayD, Laurie is napping.” I said in a whisper. She nodded enthusiastically and brushed past me into the house.
“Guess who I saw now?” she asked with an exaggerated whisper. She looked really excited and out of breath.
I wasn’t interested but I knew she wasn’t going to let me be until I corporated with her. She hopped onto the sofa giving me an excited puppy look.
I folded my arms and looked down at her. “Who did you see, Jody?” I asked, irritation slightly building in my voice, but I knew she’d be too thrilled to notice.
“You won’t believe it Gracie. Now wait for it,” she inhaled and exhaled dramatically like she was trying to control her excitement. “I just saw Alpha Connor Shelby! He was outside the building. Did you see him? DO you know why he is here?”
Oh, I thought, naturally not disappointed because I was not expecting anything grand from her spurringness.
“He looked so dashing! Oh my ghaad, I think I can die in peace now! I just saw Connor Shelby and it’s not within the pages of a magazine.” she shrieked loudly, then suddenly remembered that Laurie was asleep and lowered her tone.
The look on my face answered her questions, so she went silent, waiting for my answer.
“He bought this house recently, Jody.” I sighed and sat beside her, folding my legs on the couch and hugging a prop pillow lying close.
“And…” I muttered wondering if I was ready to reveal such important information. But I also knew if I didn’t tell her now, I may not have the will to tell her again.
She was my best friend after all.
“And?” her interest piqued instantly.
“And he is the person I saved last week.” I started, looking down at my thoughtlessly bitten nails. “And he’s Mr. Chardonnay from seven years ago too.” I breathed, feeling partially relieved after letting the words out.
Jody’s jaw dropped, her amber eyes bulging like they were going to fall off. Then she started waving her hands down like she was trying to process the information she just got.
Then she brought out her phone and started dialing. I knew who she was calling instantly. “NK” she said hoarsely into her phone.
“How fast can you get here?” few seconds pause with a flustered demeanor.
“Okay, come right to Gracie’s place after work tomorrow. Okay?” longer pause.
“No one is dying NK, everything is great.” she concluded like a skilled actress and ended the call. She looked shaken. Her face contorted in an expression I couldn’t read.
She got up and started pacing around the room. “Oh my god, Gracie,” she muttered covering her face with both hands. Then came to where I sat and hugged me for few seconds then withdrew reluctantly.
“How are you feeling, babe?” she asked, staring at me with watery and genuinely concerned eyes.
I wish she wouldn’t react this way, but that was Jody, the most expressive person I had ever met. I forced a lopsided smile over my lips to put her at ease.
“I’m fine Jody,” I lied, holding her hands to reassure her while I continued to burn inside, my heart sinking into a depth I wasn’t sure I would come out from. “Besides, it’s past six now, I need to start getting ready for work.” I said and let her hands drop before getting up.
“Yes work,” she replied, looking disconcerted as though she hadn’t expected me to bring up the issue of work at this moment. “I’ll take care of Laurie, okay? You just take care of yourself and… be fine Gracie. We’ll talk about it when you’re ready.” she volunteered without waiting for me to ask.
“Thank you so much, Jody,” I hugged her fiercely, letting the tears fall on their own accord. I felt loved, and I knew that no matter how hard my life was at the moment, I wasn’t alone.
My mobile phone rang, breaking our emotional moment. I picked it up from the couch where I’d dropped it earlier, sighing when I saw the caller.
“Who?” Jody mouthed without making a sound. She seemed to have recovered.
“Director Lance,” I whispered back, making a funny face which she returned with a shake of her head.
Director Lancelot Howard, the director of my company and also a thirty-nine years old serial divorcee who had been trying to woo me since the first day I started working there.
“Call me Lance,” he said suggestively, the first day I was introduced to the workers.
He was proudly and openly flirtatious, great with words and actions. He even started working night shift because he wanted to be closer to me, according to him, even though he could work at any hour of the day he chose because, well, he was the co-founder of NAs Daily and the son of a senator.
He was undeniably good-looking, filthily rich and influential but continued to whine at anyone who cared to listen that he couldn’t understand why Grace, my humble self, wouldn’t accept his gesture of love.
Love indeed. People like him are only looking forward to seeing what was within your skirt, then they’ll move on to other skirt owners without batting an eyelid. I couldn’t bring myself to give him the slightest chance. I made it clear to him over and over again. Michelle my colleague at work once said with a sneer that she’d be carrying his baby already if he did as little as wink at her.
But I didn’t want anything to do with a man as long as possible, not to talk of someone like Lancelot. I had too much responsibilities to take such risk.
“Are you picking the call or not?” Jody jeered jokingly.
I knew why he was calling, why he had always called by this time every single day. He begged to drive me to work but wouldn’t give up as much as I turned his offer down. He was extremely resilient, I would give him that.
I picked up the phone, deciding to perhaps, our of courtesy, give in to his incessant offers of driving me to work. It wouldn’t change anything. “Good evening, Director Howard.” I greeted formerly.
“It’s Lance, baby. I’m outside your house,” he announced zealously.
“I know,” I replied.
“How did you know?”
“You’re always outside my house?”
“Oh,” he said, as if I’d just accused him of a crime. “Well…’
“I’ll join you in twenty, Lance,” I replied, enjoying his confusion from own end of the line. I seem a little excited though, sounding like someone else in my own ears and I guess in that of Jody’s, owing to the way she glanced at me in awe.
“Sure, Grace. I’ll sleep here if you want me to.” I couldn’t see him yet, but it was obvious he couldn’t believe his ears, and I was sure he’d be feeling like he had finally gotten through me.
Unfortunately not. I just needed anything that would distract me from brooding about Alpha Connor today or as long as possible.
I had no idea how to react after his explanation
It obviously wasn’t his fault as well, but I was too scared to make any decision at the moment. It wasn’t just about me anymore, whatever I decide at the end of the day was going to affect my child’s life one way or the other.
I don’t need a man anymore, but it took all the willpower in me to turn my back on him after seeing the looked in his steel-grey eyes, and how bloody handsome he looked without a winter jacket.