“I promised Alice I wouldn’t,” he stated in a serious tone.
Sadly Marvin seemed to believe what he said. But Jordan knew his words were empty. It was Marvin’s actions that reflected who he really was. It’s getting harder and harder to even call Marvin a friend at this point. How can you be friends with someone that you barely respect?
Jordan needed to change the subject because this one wasn’t going anywhere. “How long are you going to be in New York?”
“Got some business to take care of. A few legal matters.”
And maybe meet with a divorce lawyer?
“Next time you ask me for a drink, let me pick the place,” Jordan stated. “What hotel are you staying at?”
Marvin chuckled. “I was hoping I could stay with you. You know, catch up on what’s been going on.”
There was no way in hell Marvin was staying with him, not even for a night. “I’m still working at Lawson Steel. There. All caught up.”
“You’re really not going to let me stay at your place?” Marvin asked.
Jordan shook his head. “I like my privacy.”
“I see some things haven’t changed in all these years. I guess you can drop me off at a hotel. Want to grab dinner first?”
He shot him a look, and then shook his head. Marvin looked rough. It was obvious that Marvin had consumed plenty of alcohol prior to getting one poured on him. They’d been in contact over the phone, but over the last few years, they were distant. Marvin seemed to be spiraling out of control. If he wasn’t out doing something stupid, he was running off at the mouth and making enemies. If Marvin wasn’t careful, he might find Jordan adding his name to that list.
“I’ll pass,” he replied.
Marvin laughed. “I get it. Not until I have a shower and a change of clothes. You never know who I’ll meet while we’re out.”
Yup, some things never change. Always looking for the next conquest.
“Let’s make it lunch tomorrow. Maybe by then you’ll be…” Sober. “ready.”
“Ready for what?” he asked.
For the warning that’s coming your way. “To eat.”
Jordan dropped him off at a hotel and drove off. Marvin had been swaying a bit, but he didn’t need assistance. He wanted to be happy to see Marvin again. That’s why he agreed to meet him at the bar. But he also had gone because he knew there could be trouble. That bar was Gianna’s old stomping ground and it pissed him off knowing that Marvin was out trying to find Gianna.
Jordan had no control over what Marvin did, but knowing he was back in New York for Gianna twisted his gut. The only good thing was Marvin didn’t know where to look. But how long was it going to be before Marvin found her right there in the city? And what the fuck are you planning to do when you do find her?
It wouldn’t surprise Jordan at all if Marvin tried getting back with Gianna. Marvin and Rhonda had broken up, married, divorced then dated again. Rhonda wasn’t the nicest girl in the world, so Jordan didn’t feel too badly for her. Gianna, on the other hand, even though she still harbored resentment towards Marvin, he doubted she’d be prepared for Marvin’s next game.
It wasn’t like Gianna was all sweet and innocent. He’d kept an eye on her over the years. She dated, but no one ever seemed to come close to sweeping her off her feet. Instead she seemed to focus on one thing. Her career. It’d be a fucking shame if Marvin showed back up and ruined it all for her.
Jordan fought the building urge to call her and give her the heads up. But she’d made it clear she didn’t want him in her life any more than she did Marvin. That meant he was going to need to do this without her knowing the information was coming from him.
What am I thinking? She has to know.
Marvin said it was Mary-Lou who had confronted him. There was no way she didn’t reach out to Gianna and tell her what happened. And if he was right, Mary-Lou was bragging, not apologizing.
This should be a good thing. He didn’t need to worry about Gianna. But that also eliminated the reason for needing to see her. Jordan didn’t to pick up the phone and call her, or drop in at her office. That would start up a longer than needed conversation. He just wanted to…see her.
He laughed to himself. Thoughts like that sounded creepy even in his own head. There was no logical reason to be in contact with Gianna and from everything he knew, she really had moved on and didn’t let her past stand in her way. Jordan had even overheard Rosslyn talking to Charles about Gianna. Apparently Rosslyn was equally impressed.
It was time for him to take his own advice and stay out of it. He’d given Gianna his phone number years ago and she chose never to use it. It was ridiculous for him to even think she might need him now.
Jordan knew he wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight. That was okay, because with Ethan in Tennessee enjoying his new baby girl and Gareth in Tabiq, things were piling up at Lawson Steel. He couldn’t remember the last time his desk wasn’t covered in files. He kept meaning to put them away, but something pressing always seemed to stand between him and that task.
Maybe what I need is a temp.
That really wasn’t a half bad idea. Lawson Steel never used them before, but times had changed. All of his brothers now have families of some sort. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to be the one left picking up the slack. He needed to follow protocol. But utilizing Gianna’s agency was definitely going to be brought up in tomorrows executive meeting.
Since they had taken over the company from their father a few years back, business boomed. It also didn’t hurt that their cousins, the Hendersons, were recommending them as well. They had achieved their goal and were now one of the top steel businesses globally. There was only one way to stay there and that was for the manpower to grow with the demand. This pitch to his brothers couldn’t be about files on his desk. They’d laugh his ass right out of the conference room if he pulled that shit. Jordan needed to think of the business as a whole. It was overdue and he felt as though his brothers would agree. But none of this was going to be as easy as calling Today & Tomorrow and getting a few temporary employees. They needed a long-term solution.
His cell phone rang and he checked the caller ID. Answering it he asked, “How do you do that Charles?”
“Do what?”
“I was just thinking about you. There’s something I want to discuss at tomorrow’s briefing.”
“Then you might want to put it on hold, unless it’s urgent,” Charles suggested.
“I take it that means Penelope isn’t feeling any better.”
“Spiking a fever again tonight. Rosslyn has several meetings tomorrow that she can’t miss. That means it’s…”
“Daddy’s turn. Hope she feels better soon,” Jordan said.
“Mother said she’s probably just teething. Rosslyn isn’t so sure. Penelope doesn’t want to slow down long enough for us to figure it out. Since she started walking, there’s no stopping her. You’d think picking her up was some form of torture. God, I have no idea how Mother did it with six children. Some nights, I think I’m going to lose my mind,” Charles admitted.
Sounds like tonight is one of those nights.
“Guess I should count myself lucky that I only have work to keep me up at night,” Jordan stated.