12 Emily Parker

"Wait," I breathed.

With Jordan at a distance, my brain started to register logic again instead of being fogged by hormones.

"Is something wrong?" he stepped closer, concern marred his handsome face.

"No, I mean, yes—" I closed my eyes tight and inhaled. Opening them back I looked at Jordan. "I... this is going way too fast. We should stop here," I finally said.

His green eyes stared at me for a moment. "If that is what you want then okay."

I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. I needed time to process what had happened earlier. To register what had happened.

Jordan and I... me and Jordan... we...

"This wasn't supposed to happen," I stared at nothing in particular, still recovering from what had happened.

"Rose—" he spoke softly.

"We're supposed to work together," my eyes darted to Jordan who looked as confused as I felt. "This was just— how did we... Um—"

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay," Jordan's palms encircled my bare arms were just moments ago he had placed several languished kisses.

I frowned. "It might be to you but I don't do this very often. I don't kiss anybody I want to especially the person I'm working for!"

I shrugged his hands and stepped away from him.

"You know it takes two to tango, don't you?" his tone turned defensive.

"I know, but this cannot happen again," I panted heavily. My thoughts were all over the place.

What we did... it felt right. So right that it took every ounce of control in me to say that to Jordan. The look on his face certainly did not make this easier. As far as I could tell he looked genuinely troubled but then, as I watched, his expression changed and a calmer, much more composed expression replaced the creases on his forehead.

In a new york minute, he went from hot to cold.

"Well," he said and walked over to the table. Pouring himself a glass of wine he looked in my direction. "You're right. Let's get over with our deal. Take a seat," he gestured as he sat himself down on the chair.

My eyelids fluttered as I witnessed Jordan turn into his earlier self. It took nothing short of a second for him to transform himself into the arrogant man that he had been all this while. His stance was more erect, poised, radiating nothing but a cautionary vibe.

'Touch me and you shall burn' it read.

His eyes remained fixed behind me. "So. Tell me. Who else have you interviewed in your career until now?" Jordan leaned back on the chair with the wine glass in his hand. His pretense felt so real that I wondered if what transpired earlier was a part of it.

Composing my disheveled self I walked over to where he had beckoned and reluctantly sat in front of him.

"John Wilson, Fred Brody to name a few..." I gathered a response. 

If he can act un-affected then so can I. Or maybe he was just that un-affected. His reputation must have something to do with this. He must be used to getting physical with women and then meeting their eyes as though it's the very first time.

"Impressive," Jordan's lips curled. "I was at a party with Wilson's son a few days ago. Had I known about it earlier, I might have asked for your reference."

This made me feel sick.

I really wanted to go home. I didn't know how to pretend as Jordan knew, and I needed to talk to Maddy about all this.

"You should have known that already. Did you not read my resume before selecting me for the job?" I said sounding as confident and unbothered as I could.

"I do not bother myself with such things, Miss Rose. Alexander finalized you," he said.

"Right. Because as I recall, you weren't interested in this in the first place."

"I don't need publicity," he shrugged.

"Yeah, but you do need to put on a facade to compensate for all the backhand losses your company is facing."

"What?" Jordan's calm demeanor vanished.

The moment those words slipped out of my mouth, I bit my tongue. My eyes widened in response to what I had just done. Alec had specifically asked me to not let anyone know that I knew! Especially Jordan!

"I-I... I mean—" I fumbled.

Jordan stared at me for a moment as he put two and two together. "So that's how he stopped you from leaving? He told you, didn't he?" He stood up from his chair and I followed.

"Jordan— Mr. Parker, it's not like that... You have nothing to worry about. I won't add that information to the magazine. Not unless you approve of it," I tried to reassure him.

He glared at me, his forehead creased, his brows pulled together in fury. "And you would give up that saucy detail for nothing? Out of the goodness of your heart? I'm sure it'll fetch your company a lot of readers. Your boss won't like it when you omit such an enormous detail."

"My boss doesn't know," I said. "I value integrity above anything else, Mr. Parker and I can never publish something you don't approve of. Alec made sure to add that to our contract. If you had bothered to read it, you would have known."

Jordan jerked his head in my direction. "You could sell me out. I'm sure that would fetch you a handsome amount."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. I know this feeling shouldn't have mattered to me but the doubt in his voice made me feel bad. "I would never do that to anyone. Even you."

Jordan started to pace around the balcony. Anxiety radiated off him.

"I knew this was a bad idea. I should have never listened to Alec," he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" I stepped in his way and he stopped.

"I mean, I should have never tried to play nice with you. This date or whatever you call it! All a mistake!This information that you know... no one was supposed to know about it," he snapped. "And you were right, what happened earlier... it cannot happen again."

"I knew about this from the very first day that I started. If I had to tell anyone I would have done that by now," I stared at him angrily.

"Maybe it's time you get home, Ms. Rose," he said and moved away from my line of sight.

He started to walk towards the balcony door when something— someone blocked his way.

"Jordan!" A woman dressed in a sleek white gown extended her arms and took Jordan in an embrace. "How I've missed you!"

I stared in utter bafflement at the duo. She looked familiar but whether it was the alcohol or Jordan's lingering effect on me, I didn't know, but I had a hard time placing her.

"Mother," Jordan finally said and the fog cleared.

It was Emily Parker indeed!

She pulled away from him, her lips broadening into a wide smile. I stood a few steps away from where they were but I could still see her features clear as day. There was enough lighting on that balcony to put daylight to shame.

Her golden hair hung loosely from her shoulders and her white dress radiated under the moonlight. Pearls hung around her neck; a testament to her riches.

"I..." Jordan cleared his throat. "I didn't know you were in town." I couldn't see his face but he sounded as flummoxed as I felt.

"It is an impromptu visit, son. I had some urgent business town. I stopped by to pick up my dress for tomorrow's White Party at the Harringtons' and—" her eyes landed on me.

I straightened up and balled my fists at my sides. Suddenly I felt very aware of myself under her scrutiny. Her aged eyes looked right at me and I thought of how disheveled my hair might be, courtesy of my earlier activities.

I felt extremely discombobulated.

"Is that her?" her lips parted in astonishment. An amusing smile formed on her lips. "Your girlfriend?"

His WHAT?

Jordan spun around, his eyes landing on me. Wide and green.

My eyes were ready to fall out of their sockets as well. I could feel them dancing on the edges. No words could describe the absolute shock that I was feeling at that moment. I shot my eyes towards Jordan who somewhat mirrored the look on my face.

"N—" I began but only to be interrupted by Jordan.

"Yes!" he said, rather loudly, and in two long strides he was at my side.

He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I jerked my head to face him, my bulging eyes a testament to my perplexed emotions.

"What are you—"

"Just go with it," Jordan muttered near my ear, his hot breath brushed against my skin and I shuddered.

"You must be Rose," Emily Parker smiled and walked towards me.

"Hi, Mrs. Parker. I'm Skylar," I smiled nervously.

"Oh, I thought you said her name was Rose," she looked at her son.

What the fuck was going on?

"It's Skylar Rose," Jordan replied.

"Aren't you gorgeous, honey," she grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. An expensive mix of blended perfumes surrounded the air.

I returned her embrace skeptically and retained my position next to Jordan.

"Thank you, Mrs. Parker."

"Oh, call me Emily! I insist," she casually waved her hand in the air. Fine age lines could be seen on her face that was otherwise radiating beauty.

I laughed nervously and glanced at Jordan who stood next to me looking rather uncomfortable. His arms were folded across his chest as his eyes moved from his mother to me. I had never seen Jordan look as tense he did at this moment.

I didn't understand what was going on but I knew that I had to play along. The look on Jordan's face conveyed that much at least.

"When Jordan told me about you I almost didn't believe my ears," her cherry-stained lips split into a warm smile. "Who would have thought that Jordan would finally give up parading girls and find himself a girlfriend. And a keeper at that," she beamed.

I glanced towards Jordan and he refused to meet my eye. "Mother, you're embarrassing her," he said.

"Oh, dear. I didn't mean— Skylar, are you alright?" the concern in her voice forced me from staring into the nothingness to setting my eyes upon her face. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."

I had trouble manifesting a string of words to form a sentence that wouldn't attest to the shock that I was feeling.

"I don't feel quite well, Mrs. Parker," I finally said. "I'm sorry but I think I should get home."

"Oh, yes of course. It is rather late. Why don't you stay here tonight instead?" she said.

I couldn't take this anymore. I jolted my eyes towards Jordan. He wrapped his arms around his mother's shoulder. "Mother, she can't. She has prior engagements in the morning. Don't you, babe?"

"Yes," I let out a breath and nodded "I have."

"Well, alright then. It's not like I wouldn't be seeing you around or anything," she giggled.

I felt numb, yet I managed a smile for her benefit. "Of course. Nice meeting you, Mrs. Parker—"

"Emily," she emphasized.

"Right, Emily. Goodnight," I smiled and bolted for the balcony doors. I dared to not cast another glance towards Jordan.

Only God knew what lies he had concocted and fed to his mother but I, for one, was not interested in being roped into his schemes.

I had to get out of here.