The open refrigerator door illuminated the dark condo as Chase opened a beer and took a healthy swig. Nothing about his day had gone right, but Bailey Gallup's visit topped the list of most interesting events. No one but his father had stood up to him the way she had in his entire life.
He flexed his sore foot and winced before taking another drink to dull the ache. At least she wasn't pregnant, and Reyes had dropped his threats after Chase admitted to eyewitnessing the incident. It helped when Ren provided the security footage as additional evidence. Even if Bailey wasn't willing to file charges against Reyes, Chase had enough to ruin the man's reputation.
Why was he so relieved that Bailey wasn't pregnant? It wasn't his hypothetical child. He didn't understand why he was so adamant about retaining the services of The Happy Homemaker. The show was barely a blip on the conglomerate's financial radar. No one would question him if he released her from the contract the way she wanted, but something about her had him immediately disagreeing with whatever came out of her mouth.
He had to admit, though, it was a nice mouth.
Chase stuck his head in the fridge in search of dinner. Besides beer and bottled water, he found two leftover chicken wings, a celery stick, and an apple. He'd forgotten to leave the housekeeper a shopping list or a menu. The woman was great at cleaning, but cooking and reading his mind wasn't in her job description. He'd give a month's salary to go an entire week without eating out or ordering in.
He knew how to cook, sort of. Well, he could make eggs and bacon, and he could grill about anything, but after a long day at the office, grilling was one of the last things he wanted to do. It was also predicated on having food in the house to grill.
Chugging the rest of the beer, Chase grabbed a fresh one and took it into his office. Taking work home came with the job title. He pulled up The Happy Homemaker files and debated the merits of putting the spitfire back to work early. Considering all the trouble she had caused since her suspension, it was in the company's best interest to put her back to work. After all, busy hands were happy hands. Besides, her visit to the office today had gotten out of hand. He wasn't quite sure why, but he was willing to admit, at least to himself, that it was partially his fault. He would never admit it to her. That would be akin to handing her his privates to crush in her vicious little hands.
With a sigh, he called Ren. "Call the sister and give her the go-ahead to return to production."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. And, Ren, don't mention the fiasco in the office."
"You are, in essence, rewarding her for bad behavior."
"Why do you care?"
"Chase, that girl is a bomb waiting to explode. Why not unload the show while you can still recoup most of your investment?"
"All of this because she embarrassed you?"
"Not totally. Look at the damage Bailey did today alone. If she'd behaved like that in public, she would have dragged you into the gossip columns with her."
"To be fair, I wouldn't let her leave the office until she took a pregnancy test in front of two men she doesn't know. How would you feel in that position?"
"I would never have ended up in the press as an adulteress, to begin with. I'm careful who I spend my private time with."
"That's why you're alone."
"Look who's talking."
"Just do it."
* * * *
Bailey stared from the chessboard to the directions on her phone and back again. She couldn't believe she was twenty-six and had never learned to play chess. Everyone with an IQ over one hundred who was worth knowing knew how to play chess. At least that was how it felt now that she knew the basics, thanks to Jeb and her undying desire to avoid going home.
Who knew he kept a chess set for slow times? Bailey was still trying to figure out how she ended up at the convenience store again. The coffee was nothing special, and the atmosphere was on par with a high school locker room. But Jeb was there. That was a bonus. He was the only person in her life who didn't judge her.
"So, are you ready to tell me what's up?" Jeb asked as he fingered a white knight.
"Why do you think something is up?"
"I don't see you making habit of hanging out in a place like this, and I'm not conceited enough to believe you're here because you have a thing for me." Jeb brushed his dark, curly hair out of his eyes and moved the knight.
"It's a good place to think." Unfortunately, the one thought that kept crossing her mind was how it felt to have Chase Meadow's arms around her. They had been strangely comforting, especially considering the circumstances, like she belonged there. Which was complete nonsense because she hated him. Didn't she?
"Sometimes it helps to think out loud. I'm can listen, if it helps."
Bailey considered her shaggy-headed friend with thoughtful blue eyes. This was only the second time meeting him and yet she knew without a shadow of a doubt she could trust him with as many of her secrets as she could stand to share. Why him was anyone's guess. She knew nothing about him beyond the obvious. He could be a freelance reporter or a henchman. His family could be wealthy or poor. He could have a horrible rash in some unmentionable place or a bad habit of stealing grapes at the grocery store. He could just as easily be a seminary student looking to devote himself to the church.
"Have you ever met an arch-nemesis?"
"No, I can't say that I have. Most people like me."
"I can't say that. I feel more like this queen here that everyone is maneuvering to take down. Today, I had a meeting with the king of the opposing team. He was just as cruel and dangerous as I imagined."
"But?"
"But I felt some weird kinship to him. Like we understood each other even if we didn't like one another. I mean, he totally infuriated me. I would have left with blood on my hands if I'd had a gun, but if we met under different circumstances, I think maybe we could be friends or at least frienemies."
"Well, you know what they say. Love and hate are related emotions separated by a very fine line. It could be there some chemistry there that is running counterintuitively to your sense of self-preservation."
"That is way too astute for a convenience store clerk. Are you a university student by day and a clerk by night? Superhero's alter ego? What gives?" Jeb had hit way too close to the idea that was niggling in the back of Bailey's brain. It was time to shift the focus away from her.
"Nah, man. Nothing nearly so interesting. A structured education has never been my thing, but I like libraries, and if you weren't here, I'd be upfront propped up on a stool with a book in my hands."
His smile was dazzling and demanded an answering smile from Bailey.
"What do you like to read?"
"Everything! Currently reading something by Nietzsche, but tomorrow, it might be a western by Zane Grey. Next week, I might run across a four-ingredient recipes cookbook that grabs my attention."
"Any ambitions beyond store clerk?"
"Sure! I'd like to travel. I do travel. Building up a fund to take a walking European tour. And one day, I want a small ranch where I can raise goats, ducks, and children."
"Wow, really? How interesting. So, city life is a means to an end?"
"You could say that. I have a few commitments here before I'm free to move on."
"Anything I can do to help?" Not that Bailey had any idea what she could do short of throwing money at him.
"Oh, no. Thanks, though. I got this. It just takes time." Jeb was looking everywhere but at her.
"Why do I feel like you aren't telling me something?"
"Hey, we all have our secrets. Maybe on our third meeting."
"Deal."
They returned to their games as the dusk settled into a drizzly evening. She couldn't put off going home much longer, but she would at least finish the game. She was almost positive Jeb was taking it easy on her. She couldn't imagine professional chess masters allowing do-overs or giving lessons during the match.
Judy wouldn't be as kind. Judy was likely to meet her at the entry and attack before the door closed behind her. But to what end? Bailey couldn't undo what was already done. And Chase had made it clear he intended to put The Happy Homemaker back to work. They owed the company.
Maybe she would get lucky and have a car accident on the way home. A nice week's stay in the hospital might give Judy a chance to cool off. At least Judy couldn't yell at her while she was in the hospital.