Chapter 12 - Money issues

Jack woke up around six am. He turned on the bed and looked at the pretty woman lying beside him. He moved the hair that laid on the side of her face backward as he stared at her. She had been his fantasy, he couldn't believe he had finally gotten in bed with her. He got up from the bed and put on his clothes, picked up his phone, and stepped out of the room. he walked out of the house silently and got into his car.

Once seated inside the car, his mind flashed back to the night he spent with her. Her sexy moans that filled his years, her soft skin that pressed against his own. She looked like a goddess, like the only one that could match him. He shook his head gently, trying to clear his thoughts of her. He didn't love her and never would. She was just one of his conquest, he assured himself. He drove off and arrived home. He walked into his room, his mind still clouded with thoughts about her. He fell on the bed, went under the blanket, and slept off.

He woke up to the loud ringing of the doorbell. He groaned slightly as he cursed under his breath. He opened to door to reveal a very pissed looking harry.

"Guess who is still alive." Harry exclaimed sarcastically, walking into the sitting room.

"I'm so sorry for ditching you last night, something came up." He apologized, looking very sorry.

'What could possibly come up? You told me you were on your way." He argued feeling betrayed.

"I got into trouble with some lady, it's all settled now." He answered, feeling the need to keep out talking about how his night truly went. "So, how did you get home?" he asked after his fiend had visibly calmed down.

"I ordered a ride. I left my car on the road, on the fucking road." He added for emphasis.

"There's no problem with that, your car can't get stolen here." he replied. They chatted for minutes before going over to play video games. It was a Sunday, Jack spent most of his weekends at home, playing games or working on documents.

"I'll be going back to Chicago by Friday." He stated and jack spun to look at him.

"Why so quickly?" he asked

"I'm done with the business I came here for and besides, my baby needs me." he stated making Jack huff.

"You know you need a woman in your life right?" harry asked, making him scoff. "No thank you." He replied.

After Karen told Ciara about the money and wanting to reject it, Ciara almost blew up in anger. "why do you say you don't want the money?" she asked, already red from the anger she was feeling.

"I don't want it because he might see me as a whore that he slept with and paid off." She replied and Ciara gasped.

"Are you for real?" she asked. "Do you think he cares about what you are or give two fucks about you?" she added, running her hand through her wig in annoyance.

"I know, but I have my dignity to protect." She argued

"we all do." Ciara responded "But I think that is already protected."

"I thought you had money issues?" she asked, trying to win her over. After Karen had told Ciara she lost her job, they had both been searching for an opening for a worker.

"This money can help you get some things until you get yourself settled up." She urged and Karen nodded slowly, finally seeing the ligt her friend was showing her

"But, if you feel you wanna be more of a one-night thing, I guess you know what to do." Ciara added.

"What do you mean?" she asked

"From the way you were arguing about protecting your dignity and how he sees you, it seems you wanna be around him often?" she stated raising an eyebrow.

"No, you misunderstood me." she started. "I meant that LA is a small place, we might get to see again, I don't want him to have that thought of me." she argued.

"You've spent all the years of your life here and this is the first time you are meeting with him, it might take another thirty years for that to happen again." Ciara countered. "besides, I thought you never cared about what people thought of you and definitely not rich boys. What changed?" she questioned

"Nothing." She responded quickly and her friend shrugged.

"I'm just saying, if you want him, you should get him." Ciara encouraged and she smiled.

The sun rose gently from the east across the city. The streets of Los Angeles were busy with human and commercial activities, from Griffith Park, the largest park in the country where the Hollywood sign was hosted, to Venice Beach and to the tall beautiful buildings that decorated the city. It was a beautiful Wednesday morning. Jack arrived at his office more punctual than the previous days. He responded to the greetings of some of his staff, ignoring others as he made his way to his office. It's been three days since the night he spent with Karen, but she still occupied a major part of his thoughts.

Before leaving that day, he had decided to drop a check for a thousand dollars for her. He did this for his personal justification, so he could end whatever he had with her that night. "I wanted her for her body and I got it, so why am I still thinking about her?" he questioned himself. The previous day, he had visited the club and hooked up with a random lady, they had spent the night together but still, she wasn't clouding his mind like Karen. Sad thing was that he didn't know her name.

As scheduled, his interview with JB media happened on Monday. He had dressed up in one of his best designer suits and curled his hair neatly before he set for the media company around one in the afternoon. He always loved being at the center of the media and even though he was a very private person, he always managed to keep the media talking for long after making a public appearance. Being one of the most eligible bachelors in Los Angeles, he was always sure to leave the crowd bussing. After his interview ended, he walked out of the building, going towards his car.

"Thank you for your time, sir" the manager in charge thanked him as they shook hands. "The print magazine would be available soon." He added and Jack nodded. He drove back to his office.

"Zack holdings are threatening to pull out of the partnership." Lisa informed him immediately he walked in.

"What? Why?" he questioned in mild shock.

"They sent this mail as a response. They want the terms to be reviewed to favor them." She informed him and his eyes darkened in anger.

"Set another meeting with their CEO." He informed, walking into his office.