Jordan continued to stare unwaveringly at the brown paper file seated on the desk in front of him. He had been experiencing an inner battle between both his heart and mind since the day the file had been delivered to him.
Formerly, he had been able to dodge its existence by busying himself with work and leaving the office way earlier than usual in anticipation of what the night held for him. But now that he wasn’t looking forward to anything, he couldn’t escape its claws anymore.
The file contained all information there was to know about Emerald Pearce. This wasn’t the first time he had asked for the data on someone’s life but this was the first time he was hesitating.
He was curious, even more than curious, to know every single thing about her. To know if she had always been how she currently was or if something had happened and had shaped her into what she was today-just like him.
For some reason, he wanted to know her pasts, her fears, the dark secrets that were hidden securely behind her barely expressive green eyes. Jordan wanted to know it all and the thought was driving him crazy but he had only summoned the courage to have a glimpse of some of her recent pictures.
‘What is wrong with me?’
He ran his hands down his face, releasing a heavy sigh as he looked down at the file again. Now, he had the opportunity to know all he wanted to but a part of him was hesitating so stubbornly, almost drowning out the voice of the other part that encouraged him to open the document and get it over with.
Finally succumbing to the part whose words seemed to feed and expand his curiosity even more, he moved his itchy and suddenly, heavy hands towards the brown paper.
But as he made a move to open it, his door suddenly burst open, making him snap his head up at the abrupt disturbance. Who dared to-Oh. . .
He groaned loudly when he saw who it was. His one and only sister, Carol had barged right into his office without bothering to shut it back and was now standing in front of his desk with arms crossed and a disapproving look on her face.
Jordan didn’t have time for this but seemingly, that was his punishment for not immediately returning to work after he had just concluded a meeting with some landowners who were more than willing (they had no other option) to sell their land to him for the expansion of his clubhouses.
Jordan could very well, just claim the land and take over it but he was a businessman and there was a thick line between being a multi-billionaire businessman and being the Don of a Mafia empire. He was just and lawful with his dealings in the business world and he was very meticulous about following the right procedures.
He had diverse other files scattered across his desk of which had utmost importance, he had to do an overview of their contract agreement and get back to the landowners as soon as possible, he had to go through the sales data of the new Cabernet that had been released about two to three months ago and many many more things he had to control as the CEO.
But he had been consumed by the thoughts of the woman in whose house he currently abided. Looking down at his wristwatch, the clock’s hands displayed 8:00 as the time-two hours thirty minutes later than the time he normally left work since they began having dinner together.
It seemed as though his body and heart knew that he wouldn’t meet his gemstone at home so they had both shut down immediately after the meeting.
Emerald had informed all three of them that she would be going to Boston for a few days for her mother’s birthday party and she had even gone as far as inviting all of them, including him.
He had been surprised that she had extended an invitation to him even after knowing who and what he was. But he knew he wouldn’t attend the event. He couldn’t. Not for his sake but for hers. Almost everyone, if not all of them, knew who he was. How monstrous and deranged he was. He wouldn’t want to ruin her mother’s party.
So he promised to stay away. No matter how much he yearned to see her, weirdly enough, he would stay away.
“Jordan? Jo? J!” A slam against his desk jolted him back to reality as he stared blankly at his sister whose hawk eyes were now scrutinising him scrupulously.
“What?” his voice came out gruffly.
She narrowed her eyes at him as she leaned closer to him over the desk, causing Jordan to furrow his eyebrows. “Are you ok?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.
“I am,” he cleared his throat. “Why?”
“You zoned out? You never zone out, J.” She observed.
“Well, there’s always a first time for everything. Besides, if zoning out is the only way to escape the reality of having to face you and your questions that are sure to come, I would do it. Gladly,” he gibed.
Carol only rolled her eyes as she got comfortable in one of the black plush seats, much to Jordan’s dismay. “Well, there would be no need to escape the reality of me and my questions if you have nothing to hide, J. Unless. . .” she taunted. “Are you hiding something, J?”
He could only react by rolling his eyes as he leaned back into his chair, completely masking his expressions. His sister was on to him.
“Why are you here, Carol?” his eyes moved to see that the door had been shut, probably courtesy of Skull.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
He frowned, “What do you mean?”
“You know very well what I mean, J. I came here at least three times last week just to hear from Owen that ‘you just left the office’,” she air quoted, “at around 4:30p. m. 4:30 in the evening, J.
And then, I went to your house and found it basically empty, other than a few guards here and there. I then called Keel who said that you haven’t visited any of the clubhouse for close to a month now. He said he was just about to call me to ask if there was something wrong.
Call me! Who also is completely clueless about what the hell is going on with you. So please, big brother, could you perhaps shed some light on what is happening?” she concluded.
Moments of silence slithered across the room before Jordan spoke. “It was 5:30p. m, Carol not 4:30. Do not exaggerate.” He said no more.
“Is that all you have to say?” Carol clenched her fists, already feeling her anger rising. She was as impulsive as her brother.
“What else is there to say? I see no reason behind these suspicions or worry, Carol.”
“No reason? No reason? Everyone knows you basically spend your entire life commuting between only three places – the company, your house and sometimes, the clubhouse. Hell, you don’t even visit my house,” she stated before taking a deep breath, willing herself to calm down.
“Clearly, you haven’t left the city recently, J, so what have you been up to?” she squinted her eyes at him again, almost as if compelling him to spill his guts. It didn’t seem to be working though, seeing as Jordan remained quiet.
“Alright, if you choose to be headstrong, I’ll prove to you that I can be as headstrong as you, if not more,” she relaxed into the seat and crossed her legs over his desk, intentionally annoying him.
Jordan groaned and ran his hand over his face as he closed his eyes. “Leave, Carol. I have work to do.”
“Then let’s do them together,” she said before Jordan heard her pick up a file from his desk.
The exact moment he opened his eyes, Carol was opening the brown paper that contained all of Emerald’s information.
His eyes widened, “Carol, don’t-” Before he could stop her, all the pictures the file contained came tumbling out onto Carol’s laps while some fell to the floor.
With furrowed eyebrows, Carol picked up a photograph and examined it. Jordan watched as his sister’s eyes widened to the size of saucers before her head snapped up to meet his gaze.
“Jordan, w-what is this?”
▬▬▬▬▬●●▬▬▬▬▬
Translations
Mi sei macanto così tanto – I’ve missed you so much.