I finished off my day and was flanked by the security guards down to the office lobby where I scanned for Jacksons car. I spot his Lincoln and thanked the guards before making my way out of the building and into the waiting SUV. His driver was ready with the door open making my transition easy from the office to the car.
"So how was your day?" Jackson asks once I gave him a quick kiss and buckled myself up.
I sigh heavily, as I relax into the plush leather seats breathing in that new car and leather scent. Even with the scent of leather heavier in the air, the scent of Jackson draws me to him as I rest my head on his shoulder.
"It was chaotic and busy. My eyes are hurting from staring at my computer screen for so long and my neck and back are stiff. However," I turn my face up to softly smile at him, "it's better now that I'm with you."
Jackson eyes warm with the smile that spreads across his dazzling smile. He leans over and gives me a soft peck on the lips before leaning his forehead to mine and nuzzles my nose back and forth.
"Would you like to stay with me for a week or so? It's completely up to you, but if you do, we need to get your stuff from the house right now." Jacksons tension is growing as I chew on my lip.
"Sure, but won't they just follow and catch us after dropping me off at work or picking me up?" I ask.
"Well, we won't be staying at my main residence. I was able to acquire a temporary apartment that is in the heart of the downtown historic district. No one will know we are there."
"What about following us from work?" Jacksons face pinches lightly before he takes my hand and kisses it.
"You may not know this, but I have an excellent driver who knows how to shake a tail. You may have to tighten your seatbelt but he knows what he's doing."
I chuckle at his admission and agree with a nod.
"Melita, let's get your things, as quickly as possible, get to the apartment and we can go from there. Would that be okay?" His brows are raised as he drags his lips over the back of my hand, kissing it once more before placing our hands in his lap.
"Alright. Time is not on our side at the moment. Let's go get my stuff. What about yours?"
"Already taken care of." Jackson reassures me as we pull in front of my home. We head inside with his driver waiting to load any bags we bring them down.
"How long should I pack for?" I ask as I pull out my suitcases.
"I'd pack for a few weeks to be honest, Melita. It's going to take a few weeks for this to die down, mainly because they don't have someone alive that they can hassle or take to trial. So pack whatever you need and think you may need. I can always send someone over to pick stuff up you may have forgotten. I promise this is just temporary." Jackson takes one of the suitcases and opens it to start helping me.
"Put just shoes in to that one and I'll take care of my work outfits in this one." We quickly get to work, filling another suitcase with miscellaneous clothing, belts, and jewelry. I quickly pack my toiletries and makeup before trying to think if there was anything else that I would need.
"You want to bring your art supplies with us?" Jackson asks motioning to the canvas and easel.
I nod and gather up the smaller items to place in the suitcase with my toiletries. "I think we're good to go now. Let's get out of here." I take the suitcase and carefully hold one end of the easel as Jackson takes the other end and the canvas. We barely are able to make the easel fit in the front seat while the canvas is placed on top of my suitcases.
We head out after I closed all my curtains and locked everything up. His driver suggested we get some takeout for dinner and he would come back later tonight with groceries for the apartment.
When we got to the apartment, I was surprised at the private garage parking available and the elevator from the garage. We take the suitcases and food up, using a key that Jackson pulled from his pocket to take us to the top sixth floor. He hands one to his driver and one to me.
"Please don't lose them. They get you access to the floor and the apartment. Other than the building owners copy, these are the only other keys there are to this place. Now, thank you David. Send us a text when you're here and we'll help bring in the groceries. "
"No problem, Mr. Morgan. Is there anything special you would like me to pick up?"
Jackson shakes his head and turns to me.
"Um, David could you pick up some English breakfast tea and hot cocoa mix please?"
David, Jacksons driver nods, "Yes, ma'am. I will. I'll see you both in a little while."
Jacksons phone goes off and he quickly answers it, "Hello? Ah, Mr. Holcomb. Yes.. Yes... Your friends apartment is perfect. The private garage should help us out in this situation." He starts to walk away on the phone talking with whoever had helped him get this place so quickly.
I take my suit case and make my way to the bedroom. I find the obvious guest rooms and bathrooms before I find the master. It's huge and amazing. Nice clean lines give it a minimalistic look, but the silver wall colors give the room a sense of power and strength I didn't think a paint color could do by itself. The bathroom is done well with lighting and layout. Whoever designed these had an exceptional eye.
I check the large walk in closet and see Jacksons clothes already hanging up, his shoes on a built in shoe rack on one wall. Everything seemed to have a place with long thin drawers for ties and jewelry. I start hanging up my clothes when I hear Jackson still on the phone but bringing another suitcase into the closet.
"You don't say? Sarina Huller? Yes, I know who she is. She's friends with Melita. I thought the address was familiar... Fancy that."
His words have me raising a questioning brow his direction.
"Yes, it is a small world. Thank you Mr. Holcomb... Alright, John. We're going to get settled for the day, once again thank you. Bye." Jackson hangs up the phone and smirks at me, "Sarina's shop and gallery are on the ground floor. She's the owner of these apartments and is the one who agreed to let someone rent this out for a few months. Who would have thought?"
I laugh at the coincidence. "Oh I feel bad though. She just had her babies and was bothered."
Jackson rubs the back of his head, "I'm pretty sure she just gave approval. He's the only one I've spoken to and interacted with since I was introduced to this morning. Still, we will want to make sure we show our appreciation to her and Brian."
Proud of the fact that this place belongs to my friend and Jackson approves and is grateful about it, I beam at him as I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him.
"I'm sure we can think of something to show our thanks."
He leans down and gives me a quick kiss before we finish unpacking my suitcases. Once we've finished, we head to the living room and turn the TV on.
"It already has service?" I say curiously.
Jackson shrugs, "Apparently. I was expecting to just use my phone and cast to it."
We start to look through the guide when Jacksons phone starts going off again. He picks it up, lets out a heavy breath and sighs, "Hello, Sawyer. If you're calling me, you must be done distracting the vultures."
I can hear Sawyers voice come through but can not hear what he's saying clearly. Jackson makes some agreeable noises and pauses.
"I'll make sure we watch it. Thank you Sawyer." He hangs up and lets out a heavy breath as he bends over and places the phone back on the coffee table.
The take out we had bought sits on the table in front of us and to help with the heavy silence in the room, I pull it forward.
"Ready to eat?" I ask, pulling the cartons of our food out and handing one over. Jackson takes the carton and thanks me, but sets it back down on the table in front of him. "Are you not hungry?" I ask him, using my chopsticks to pick up a piece of broccoli from my broccoli beef.
"My appetite is just not there at the moment. Sawyer told to me to watch his press conference that he held not long ago. Apparently the press were very resilient in their questions." He flips through to the news channels and attempts to see which one would be covering it. He stops when he finds the news, going on about the weather at the moment.
"Melita."
"Hmm?"
His voice pulls me from me stuffing my face just as a I slurp a chow mien noodle that flicks up and hits me on my nose. I flinch from the sauce that bounces off of it. I clear my throat and set my food down as I reach for a napkin. I wipe my face and turn my attention to Jackson who's covering his smile with the back of his hand, suppressing his laughter.
I give a guilty grin and shrug, "Oops. Did I get it all at least?"
Grinning widely he shakes his head, "No, you still have some sauce under your eye."
I wipe under my eye with my napkin and Jackson shakes his head, "Come here, I'll help you."
I scoot closer handing the napkin to him as he tells me, "Look up." He gently dabs the napkin and pulls it back showing me the sauce that he just cleaned off.
"Thank you." I take the napkin and set it on the table.
"Come here, let me hold you." Jackson leaves an arm up for me to lean against him.
I'm still hungry but I see it in his slouched posture, his lack of appetite, his tired eyes, he needs me right now. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean against him. The second I've found my comfortable position next to him, I feel the tension that was hidden behind his demeanor. He pulls me closer, breathing me in as he kisses my forehead.
"Thank you." He whispers, the weight of his stress is palpable in his tone and I squeeze him harder to me.
"Good evening to all of our KDFW Flex News viewers. International business owner Jackson Morgan of Morgan Corporation who was held in the UK last week for the murder of a London council woman was released and has returned to the states a free and innocent man. His lawyer earlier gave a statement on his behalf, this is what he had to say."