Jessie's POV
"Jessie," my name is called. I turn to see Nick, my father's driver and right-hand man, walking toward me.
I pay the cab and stand to wait for him. "Hi," I say.
As he gets closer, I notice details I missed during our initial reconnection: the grey strands in his hair, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. But one thing hasn't changedâthe large scar on the left side of his face, a scar I gave him.
I look away, since that day, he told me i never speak of it. I don't but i always wondered. The car i drove with him inside. He warned me, I told him not to get in, but he couldn't leave me alone. Careless, reckless. In a blink, the car skidded off the road, rolling down a cliff. What if he never made it? His children? His family?
"How does it feel to be married?" He genuinely enquires.
"Tell me it gets better," I state, half-joking.
"You remember what I always told you: life experiences make people strong. But youâyou were born strong. There's nothing that is beyond you, Jess," he says.
"Thank you, Nick."
"Anything for you,"
"Can you convince my father to go back home?" I state as a joke but i desperately wish he can say, he will try.
"All i can say, things aren't as they seem," He says as his phone rings.
He answers immediately and know it is my father.
I watch him speak, then end the call. "I have to go. If you need to get anywhere, call me. No need to use cabs," he says, handing me his card.
Oliver did have two cars delivered to my house, but ever since the accident, I've been afraid to drive.
"I will," I assure.
As he walks away, a concern surfaces in my mind. "Nick," I call, and he turns back. "Is Iris okay?"
His smile as he leaves is enough to know that he knows her whereabouts and she is okay. It was his special power to find me despite trying so hard to hide.
I follow him inside La Cooper, though we head in different directionsâhim to my parents' suite, me to Oliver's office. I can't help but notice how people, especially the workers, stare at me and move out of my way as if I weren't one of them just a week ago.
I should find another job, i can't work here anymore and can't just stay at home doing nothing and being Mrs. Cooper. A placeholder in his lifeâsomeone he keeps at arm's length, just far enough that I can't see the full picture. But close enough that everyone else can see me playing the part of his wife when he needs me to.
I am about to get into the private elevator when i see Gina, she seems to be arguing with someone, He has her back on her. The person shifts to look at her and see his face. Theo Nickel. He runs a hand through his hair. Whatever they are talking about seems too heated.
Theo throws his hands up in frustration and turns to walk away. Gina spins around, her eyes finding mine. I see her angrily striding toward me.
I should get out of here.
Too late.
"Mind your business," she snaps.
"That was intense, what have you done?" I decide to annoy her by minding her business.
She smacks her lips together, "You know, i change my mind. I am happy, Oliver married you. I am loving watching him make you suffer because you deserve every pain you feel." She says shutting me.
She smiles at my defeat as she walks away. I know she's connected to room 350, and for my satisfaction, I'll uncover it. After all, I have no job and nothing else to keep me busy, and Grey isn't here to remind me that I can't play detective anymore.
Once i get off the elevator i match to Oliver's office. As i get there the secretary stands to meet me. Just then a man in a suit walks out, he looks to be in his fifties, in his arm he is carry a black box that resembles a toolbox. He walks past me and i immediately get inside Oliver's office.
I stop in my tracks. He's half-naked. When he sees me, surprise crosses his face. "Damn it, Jessie, can't you knock?" He pulls his trousers up, and now I am left with the image of his toned thighs.
Without thinking, I stride to his side and slap his arm. "You stood me up yesterday, had me worried thinking you were..." I stop, meeting his gaze.
"Dead? Because i am sick. You would really have loved that. You have a penchant of finding dead men," He says.
His words cut deep and i take a step back. Unbothered by what he just said, he takes his pristine white shirt and wears it.
Layla was right. I was worried yesterday more than I was angry about him standing me up. Here I am again, in his office, concerned, yet he still manages to hurt me.
I take steps back until i am on the other side of the table. I reach for my ring finger and pull off the ring, tossing it on the floor.
He is taken back by the action, " I am done with you Oliver Copper, fuck you and everything. To think you, i thought you were a decent man, when my parents told me about Iris, your sickness. I thought, why him? But now i am glad my sister left, she is a saint to be tied to you, i am no saint, i am just as bad as they say and that's why i will tell you this with no remorse, you deserve everything you are suffering from," I state.
I feel my legs tremble with every word that leaves my mouth. How was it that, in the past, I could be twice as cruel and feel nothing? Yet now, even being only half as heartless, guilt claws at me.
He is rooted on his spot his eyes wide.
I reach inside my bag and remove the house keys and car keys, tossing them on the desk with shaky hands.
"You're free from me," I state and take my leave.
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