Chapter 40

MELODY

Later in theevening

Clad in my favorite pajamas,I wolf down delicious food while staring at the address on the napkin.

Chewing, I ponder.

I need a PI. As tempted as I am to rent a car and run surveillance, I need more than a physical address. I need to know a lot more about his life.

My phone rings, and I glance at the time before sliding my fingers across the screen.

"Hey," I murmur, still chewing.

I need a good PI.

The thought keeps spinning in my head.

"Hi. Have you confirmed with Melissa?" Alice says, pulling me back to reality.

I fold the napkin and lean back into my pillow, stretching my legs.

"Melissa? Why?"

"You forgot about our meeting."

"Meeting? Oh, shit. Is that time already?"

"Yes. Next Friday. Hello?"

"Oh, fuck. Did you talk toher?"

"I just did, and she asked me about you. I wasn't sure whether you were coming or not, so I didn't know what to tell her."

"I don't want to come."

A few seconds pass.

"It's going to be fun."

"Not with the husbands there, it won't."

"We have all been single at some point before."

"Emphasis on before."

She laughs at the other end of the line.

"Trust me. We'll all envy you,"sheargues, but we both know it's not true.

"No, you won't. And I'm sure there won't be a meetup next year."

I expect her to argue my point. She doesn't. She can't because I'm probably right. There will be other types of gatherings, anniversaries, and birthday parties, but not the babe's club, and that"s normal.

"It's fine."

"So, are you coming or not?"

"Probably not. But don't tellheryet. I may show up. It really depends on how I feel next week."

"Uh-huh. How do you feel this week?" she asks, a smile lining her voice.

"It's not funny."

Grinning, I tell her about the apartment I saw the other day and how, despite going back and forth,I'mnot sure whether to buy it.

"Buy it," she says.

"You suck as a financial advisor."

"Seriously."

"I know. Seriously. My mother said the same thing. I said the same thing. The thing is… What if I buy it and want to move to LA next year."

"You'll never move to LA. Don't wait too long. Someone will snatch it up."

"My real estate agent said the same thing."

She laughs, amused.

"I can't have an original thought, can I?" she says.

A chuckle rolls from my lips, but it fades off quickly.

"All right," I say, pushing upright as a pause ensues.

I'm sure Alice doesn't know any private investigators.

I could ask my sister.

Her husband knowsa lot of people, but I don't want this to become a family matter.

What if I ask my landlord?He seems tobe the type who hirespeople to dig up dirt on other people.

He'll blow a fuse.

"Is everything else good with you?" I shift the topic, and she talks about her wedding dress while I think about my options.

Later, we end our conversation, and I do the last thing I should do. I call Mina.

MELODY

FRIDAY

This whole thing is surreal.When Mina said Jax London and his business partner were scheduled for a meeting today with one of our wealth management advisors, I thought she was smoking something, and she started early.

I thought she was joking, although she didn't seem in the mood. It was seven o'clock in the morning, and we had both just gotten in.

She ordered food for me while I went straight to my desk.She dropped the news in passing after the food had been delivered, and she brought it to my desk.

I still think it's a joke, but my eyes are trained on theirnames on the schedule.Jax London, and Marco Costa. Is the mafia doing legit business now?

Would that be a first? No.

Sipping coffee, Ikeep an eye onthe corridor while trying to work.

"How are things?"

A voice echoes in front of me, and I almost spill my coffee as I tip my eyes to Mina.

She seems more invigorated now. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes sparkling.

"Things are good," I say, reserved, leaning back into my seat.

We both wear pants today.

My look is complete with a fitted jacket, while she wears aloose-fit blouse with her floral pants.

I sweat a little in myjacket, but it's too late to change as I don't want to miss when Jax enters the firm.

"This is the information you have asked for," she says, sliding a sticky note across my desk.

I tip my gaze down and peruse the name. John Levine, private investigator.

Next to it, there is a phone number.

Quickly, I palm the piece of paper and drop it into my purse.

"Hecame highly recommended. Very professional guy."

"Thank you," I say, and my eyes move quickly to the hallway again.

I check the time on my watch, something telling me he's close.

Sure enough, Jax and one of the men who had lunch with him at the restaurant that day walk down the corridor.

That must be Marco Costa.

Jax has that dangerous vibe about him, while Costa looks downright scary.

Still, the man is trying to soften his image, swaggering down the corridor with a smile on his face. He wears an Italian suit, a sleek tie, and an expensive watch.

Jax looks his best in a one-button suit with a white dress shirt and a green tie.

Even so, these outfits fool no one.

They're built like brick walls, theirwideshoulders pushing against their fancy suits, their tattoos visible at their necklines.

I rise from my seat, although they're not headed this way, and Jax doesn't look in my direction.

It feels like he'smade pace with the idea that I'm a lost cause for him, and boy, does thathurt.

I fall back in my seat like a broken toy, my eyes on his silhouette, my chest tight.

It took me almost nothing to go from being pursued by him to being ignored.And he's not even ignoring me.

He gave up on me, which is so much worse.

Later, after he and Marco leave the firm, I order lunch and try to learn more about their new endeavor from my work colleagues.

Jax London and Marco Costa are the proud owners of a firm specializing in protecting personnel and assets.

Okay. That's interesting.

I spin around, return to my desk, and access their company's financial files.

Things look good.

Their firm is well-capitalized and has a strong balance sheet.

Face palm.

It might be a coincidence that he's walking into this firm with his business partner,andI happen to be here.

But some of it might be him proving to me he can be in the same league with the suckers I have dated.

‘Not everything has to do with you,'the mocking voice in my head mutters.

Yeah… Not everything has to do with me. But every interaction nudged us here.

Perhaps I'll be a fuzzy memory by the time he"d set his eyes on someone else.

Someone with fewer misconceptions and more mature––the irony––andreal.

I've played a role in his life as much as he's taught me a lesson.

"Everything happens for a reason," I murmur, leaning back in my seat and planning my next move.

Without peeling my eyes away from the view, I reach inside my bag, pull out my phone, and tap Angela's number.

"I want to make an offer on that apartment," I say when she picks up.