“Is it always this exciting around here?What’s the latest gossip?Who’s sleeping with who?The lead actor is gorgeous.Has he hit on you yet?”
Estelle Fitzgerald was outrageous and lunch turned out to quite interesting.She had Jillian laughing by the second bite.The grilling Lex had predicted never happened.The only time Mrs.Fitzgerald brought up something personal was when they discussed the training Jillian had done to become a stuntwoman.She managed to stick to the training she did as a gymnast and dancer, then the training under Chris.
They were almost done when the door flew open and Margo marched into the trailer.“Jillian!I was told that you took my…” Her voice trailed off when she recognized Estelle.“Mrs.Fitzgerald.I, uh, I didn’t know you were here.”
“It is customary to knock before barging into a room, my dear,” the older woman said calmly with just a touch of condescension.
Margo nodded, her eyes volleying between Jillian, the empty lunch plates, and Mrs.Fitzgerald.“I apologize for the intrusion, but my lunch is missing.”
“Well, I do hope you find it.I picked up the first thing I found on the lunch table, and Jillian was kind enough to share it with me.Do close the door behind you, will you?”Estelle added.Margo had no choice but to leave.The look she shot Jillian’s way indicated she blamed her for the entire lunch fiasco.Working with her was going to be impossible now.
Margo’s intrusion marked the end of their lunch.Jillian walked her guest out, past the staff, who was still eating and stared after them, to the parking lot where a driver waited by a limo.
“About the dress you loaned me,” Jillian said before Estelle left.“I’ll bring it to your house as soon as I get it back from the dry cleaners.”
“Oh no, no, dear.I wouldn’t think of it.That dress is yours now.”
“But—”
“I insist.You must ask Lex to bring you home to dinner, Jillian.The girls would love to meet you.”
Jillian was sure the girls were grown women who’d have no problem asking personal questions.“I’ll talk to him.”
Estelle surprised her by kissing her cheeks.Then she disappeared inside the limo, rolled down the window, and waved again as they took off.The driver tipped his hat, and Jillian was reminded of Douglas, Lex’s driver.Douglas didn’t dress so formally.And it was time to call him.
She couldn’t procrastinate about paying off her father’s debt anymore.Things were moving fast.Soon she’d meet Lex’s family, then she’d take him to meet hers, then there was a wedding to plan…
Wedding.She’d avoided thinking about that, but the emotions that coursed through her—excitement, apprehension—were real and hard to ignore.She had to keep reminding herself it wouldn’t be the real thing.Still, walking down the aisle, the organ playing, her father’s proud smile...
Delete.Delete.Delete.It wouldn’t be real.Her incessant longing for something that would never come true had to stop.
Blowing out a breath, Jillian pulled out her phone, found the number Lex had given her, and pressed call.Douglas’ impersonal voice responded.
“It’s Jillian.Lex gave me your number.I hope you don’t mind.”
He chuckled.“Not in the least, Ms.Finnegan.”
“Please, call me Jillian.I hope you’re not too busy.”She was procrastinating.
“I have plenty of free time with Mr.Fitzgerald out of town.He left instructions to make myself available if you need anything.How can I be of service, Ms.Jillian?”
Jillian chuckled.“You sound just like Alfred Pennyworth,” she said.Silence followed.She winced.He probably didn’t get the joke about Bruce Wayne’s butler.“But I can’t see Lex wearing a suit and cape,” she added.
“No, Ms.Jillian.But he’d like the Bat mobile.”
He got it.He was also right.Lex would go for the car.“I still haven’t seen his collection.”
“I’m sure he’ll get around to showing it.”
Jillian blew out another breath and took the plunge.“Did he leave a bag of, uh…?”She couldn’t just blurt outmoney.“Uh, a bag for me with you?”
“Mr.Fitzgerald left a briefcase with instructions to bring it to you when you called.Do you want it now?”
“No, I’m still at the studio, but I should be home this evening.Do you think you could drop it off, uh, say around six?”She should be done with this nightmare of a day by then.
“Of course, Ms.Jillian.I’ll see you at six.”
“Thanks, Douglas.”She terminated the call, blew out a breath, and braced herself for a scene with Margo that was sure to follow.Somehow, that didn’t worry her as much as the thought of how she was going to hand over three hundred and fifty grand to thugs and leave unscathed.
