32. Hartley

32

HARTLEY

I had another employee to add to my payroll. Orders were coming in; people were learning about my business. I was able to make money. Good money. The kind I dreamed of before I met Jordan. No, not everything was because of him but he definitely helped. If my designs and finished products were shit, no one would buy them. Now I was clothing the wealthiest men in Dremest.

I let out a little squeal of delight, unable to hold it in as I looked at the order on my screen.

“That good?” Hazel asked. Her arms were full of fabric that arrived today. She was in the process of putting it away. Hazel pitched in where she could.

“Good? No, this is amazing. I’m firmly in the I can hire more people stage.”

“That’s great. Make sure they like to carry shit because my arms are tired.”

I turned to look at her. “You’re right. I’ll keep a broad range for the job description. Maybe they can deliver orders too, so I don’t have to keep doing it.”

“You don’t like running all over the city to dress sexy men?”

“I didn’t say that, but I have my own at home. I don’t need to look at others.” I lifted my chin like I was above such things. I wasn’t. With the people I dressed, I couldn’t help but appreciate their form. That was as far as things went though. I wasn’t about to cross a line with my clients. Again, that was. I did it once. Jordan and Vail were it for me. No one could compare to them.

The bell above the door rang, drawing my attention. Sometimes we had customers who walked in off the street. A few thought I was a boutique, while others had heard of me and were driving by. One day, I’d like to offer my fashion in a storefront, but I wasn’t close to achieving that yet. It was one thing to hire more employees and quite another to have enough stock on hand and employees to run a store.

JJ strode toward me with his deep blue eyes and blond hair that hung past his chin. He was in a pair of black slacks, a button-down in a sweet shade of baby blue that did nothing to soften him, and a solid black tie.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked.

“My suits are getting snug. The old man said I should stop by and talk to you about possibly making me some.”

Jordan and JJ were making strides in their relationship. Every time they saw each other, their bond strengthened. Greer was even moving up from I hate you and wish you would die to you’re not completely awful . Jordan didn’t have an issue with Dexen, except when he tried to tell him what to do when it came to us visiting Vail at Untouchable. Jordan didn’t like that so he bought him and me memberships, so Dexen couldn’t give him shit.

Poor Dexen was reluctant to let Jordan into his club. I was liked by many of the members and dancers. Jordan would growl when they’d greet me and not him. The most Jordan got was a firm nod. From a respectable distance. And that was where Dexen’s issue lay. His members were intimidated by Jordan. I’d made it my mission for them to see him as a regular person and not a man with an arsenal of weapons who knew how to use them.

“I can do that. I’m a bit backlogged though. How urgent do you need them?” JJ was a priority client, although I didn’t relish putting myself behind on other orders.

“I’ve got a bit more mileage in these. Greer has me working out all the time with him. It’s his fault I need new suits. I should make him pay for them.”

I chuckled. “That’s for you to take up with him. Let me set up an appointment with you to take your measurements. I worry if I do it now, you’ll gain more muscle before I can start on them.”

“Thanks, Hartley.”

“You’re welcome.” I didn’t say what I thought out loud because JJ didn’t want to hear about me in bed with his dad, but Jordan was going to be very happy that I was working with his son. Also, because it was obvious JJ loved working at Perry’s company, PJS. If he didn’t, he would have left by now. Jordan wanted his son happy and thriving. JJ was doing so. At PJS, he was safe.

A few days ago, Jordan was on his way to a meeting when a car began following them. Albert and the SUVs with them, led the other vehicle to the more run-down area of the city where the man behind the wheel fired at them. Albert put a bullet in his head. Jordan was a little upset he didn’t get the chance to. It could have been a man after JJ. A bullet meant for him or any of us. It just happened to be Jordan that time. But there was no way to know when someone would come for us.

Jordan was slowly, and within reason, telling Vail and me about the other side of his life. He told us about the incident because the police had been alerted and showed up within minutes of the altercation happening. Of course, it also took place outside a building Jordan owned that had cameras on it. Jordan handed over the footage. Albert was legally carrying his weapon. It made the local news. Jordan told us before we could find out.

It was an example of the threats to his life. Events that made me sick every time I heard about them. The more Jordan let us in, the more we realized how dangerous the life he led was. I wouldn’t change what we had with him for the world. I hated the threats and violence. Vail did too, more than I did. After what happened with Gil, Vail wasn’t the same in certain aspects. He understood why Jordan did what he did. Given the opportunity to do it again, Vail wouldn’t have changed how Gil left this earth. As much as Vail didn’t want Jordan to shed blood, he had to in the end. That time it was for Vail and his family. For every other person Gil came in contact with.

The three of us had a slow growth in this area. We took what Jordan did and learned more about it. Never the minor details or the transactions. We didn’t want to know, and Jordan was firm on not involving us. If shit hit the fan and he ended up in jail again, he didn’t want us in there with him. While I loved that man with every part of me, I wouldn’t do well in jail. I preferred to keep my ass on the free side of those bars, thank you very much.

JJ thanked me and left. I had the appointment scheduled with him.

My phone rang ten minutes later. Jordan’s name appeared on the screen.

“Yes?” I answered sweetly.

“My son visited you.”

“He did. I’m guessing he told you since I didn’t notice Rory placing a call.” I winked at Rory where he stood near the front of my studio.

“He texted me to let me know I found a good man in you. Of course, I already knew that.”

“Of course.”

“How busy are you?”

I glanced at my computer screen, at the list of orders to be completed. “Maybe I can take a break in a few months.”

“Hartley,” he growled. “If you need help, I’ll hire it for you.”

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t care how busy I am or how many hours I put in; I’m not taking more of your money. You already gave me the store and the apartment. You paid for what I have inside. That’s more than enough.”

Instead of commenting on that, he asked, “How’s your grandfather’s house coming along?” We didn’t speak about it much. Partly because I was determined to drag it out of the debt he’d incurred on my own.

“I still have a bit to go but I was hoping to persuade you into a trip.”

“Didn’t you just say you were busy?”

“Yes, but I can get away for a weekend. Leave Friday night, fly back Sunday night. I’d like to go down there and check the place out. Make sure it’s still in one piece.” I had no family left who lived near there. Vail’s parents were still in North Carolina, but given the strained relationship he had with them, I wouldn’t ask them to look in on the house.

“I’ll contact my pilot and find out his schedule.”

“Wait, you have a pilot?”

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Who the fuck has a pilot?” I meant that to be a thought, but I said it out loud.

“I have a plane.”

“You have a plane?” I yelled.

“Repeating what I say isn’t helping us here. What good would a pilot be without a plane?”

I stood and went into the back as Hazel quirked an eyebrow at me. At least in the break room I could close the door and not have Hazel hear me yell about the money Jordan had. “Were you ever going to tell us about your plane?”

“It hasn’t come up. Hart, I have a plane. A private jet really.”

“How much money do you have? Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. I’m still in shock about the plane.” You think you know someone and then find out they have their own fucking plane. I almost scoffed out loud. Almost.

“I’m sure I have other investments you’re unaware of that I can shock you with.” Jordan and the way he spoke… Like he was talking about what he had for lunch and not about the vast amount of money he amassed.

“Nope, I’m good. So, we’re going to take your plane to North Carolina?”

“Yes. With tomorrow being Saturday, this weekend is out and next weekend might be too soon. I’m not sure what Vail has planned. How about two weeks from now?”

“That will work. I can get anything finished I have to and be ready to spend the weekend staring at my grandfather’s run-down house.” Seeing it would remind me of the work that needed to be done. The money still owed as well. At least I was making a dent in it.

“Barry’s calling me. I’ll see you when you get home tonight.”

“Love you.”

“I love you too, Hart.”

Jordan and Vail had told me countless times how much they loved me. I still smiled when I heard it. They couldn’t say it too much. The words went right to my chest.

Hazel wore a grin when I exited the break room.

“What?” I asked.

“How did you not think he had a plane? He’s wealthy as hell.”

“He’s not this super rich guy to me. He’s just Jordan.”

“Just Jordan,” she scoffed. “You go to bed every night with one of the most powerful men in the city.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that. He thinks he’s more powerful than Dexen and Perry.” He probably was. It wasn’t a fact I disputed with him. Then again, it would depend on what his definition of power was. Wealth, scariness, business savvy, the most contacts, how influential, and more. He won for scariness though. Hands down. Dexen could be intimidating when he wanted to. He had nothing on Jordan. And Perry couldn’t hold a candle in that department.

“I’m not scared of him.”

I was about to tell her she was lying but she really wasn’t. She also knew Jordan wouldn’t do anything to her because she worked for me.

Back at my table, I looked over my list of projects and started figuring out what I could reasonably finish before we left for our weekend away. That was why I only suggested two nights. More than that and I’d be severely behind. Once I hired additional staff, then I could hand some of this stuff off to them. Until then, it was on me.

The studio, the client list, I was so happy with how far I’d come. I was pretty damn proud of myself too.