Time After Time-5

by Annie

“One. . . two. . . three . . . four . . .” Counting, Jax tired to concentrate on the feeling of the barbell in his hands and the pain of his muscles straining as he lifted the weight above him. He tried to clear away the emotions churning inside him; pain, sadness, anger. Jax had never felt anger toward Brenda before, but after their phone conversation today, he couldn’t help it.

She spoke as if they were long lost friends, as if there was no reason for bad feelings between them. “I miss you, I want to see you.” She had said.

“She didn’t want to see me when she was screwing Corinthos in his car.” He thought to himself. “Dammit!” He yelled. He had lost his concentration and let his grip slip. The barbell nearly fell on his chest. He placed it back on his cradle. Maybe something more repetitive would help clear his head. He looked around the J&J Jacks gym. . . Sit-ups.

He reached behind his neck, pulled his sweat-soaked t-shirt over his head and ran his fingers through his damp hair. The flow of air from the vent above him made his hot moist skin tingle. After a few stretches, he sat back on the inclined board and began doing crunches, not even counting, just waiting for the burning to begin as his abs contracted over and over.

Part of him wished he hadn’t agreed to have lunch with her, but part of him was glad. The part that missed her brown eyes and bright smile, the feel of her hand in his. “Oh God!” Jax leaned back on the board, breathing heavily. Would he ever get over this? Right now he’d settle for just not thinking about it.

He spotted the rowing machine across the gym. “Yeah, something more aerobic.” He climbed on and began, focusing on his breathing and the sounds of the machine as the sweat trickled down his neck and chest. All other thoughts began to clear from his mind. It worked.

******

Jennie Walked into the lobby of the J&J Jacks New York office. “Is Mr. Jacks in?” She asked the receptionist.

“May I ask who’s inquiring?”

“I’m Jennie Jacks.” she answered, a little intimidated. Maybe she shouldn’t bother him at work.

“He’s in the gym at the moment. You may wait in his office if you wish.” Jax had instructed her to add Jennie’s name to the list of the few people who were always to be immediately welcomed.

“That would be great, thanks.” Jennie followed her through the door into Jax’s office.

“You may help yourself to something to drink.” She said, gesturing toward the bar. “Mr. Jacks should be with you soon. Please make yourself comfortable.” She turned to go back to her desk.

Jennie thanked her again. Looking around the room she mused to herself, “So this is the world of high finance and hostile corporate takeovers.” It was a long room completely lined with windows on two walls. At one end was a large mahogany conference table, scrupulously clean and ready for the next strategic planning session. In the middle were two leather sofas on either side of a coffee table. At the other end was Jax’s desk, holding the latest in state of the art electronic equipment and toys, and scattered with printouts and file folders. It looked like he had left suddenly.

One of the printouts caught her eye and Jennie couldn’t help leaning over the front of the desk to take a peek. It was a long list of dollar amounts. Some of them had 9 figures. Her eyes widened. “Holy moly!”

Amused, Jax watched her from the doorway, noticing the fabric of her skirt straining against her steadily increasing waist line as she leaned over the desk. She was going to look darn cute in maternity clothes. “Aha! I caught you!”

“Oh Jax! I’m sorry! I wasn’t being nosy, I was just curious!”

“You’re a corporate spy aren’t you?" He accused her ad he entered his office. "Only pretending to be my friend until you could get the information you needed. That’s why you started talking to me at your wedding, it was the perfect opportunity.” He tried to keep a straight face but the startled ‘deer in the headlights’ look on her face made it impossible for him to keep one corner of his mouth from curling up.

Jennie caught on right away. “Yes, my code name is Mata Hari. And soon you will be ruined.”

Jax burst out laughing. “Is that the best you can do?”

She punched him in the shoulder. “Hey, I never claimed to be an actress.”

“ True. So to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” He asked, still chuckling as he sat on the edge of his desk.

“Well, you said that your peons . . . er, I mean employees,” she grinned, “could ship my furniture back from England as soon as I got an address. Soooo . . . here it is.”

“Already? Today was your first appointment.” He took the slip of paper she handed him.

Jennie shrugged. “Mrs. Blanchard showed me three places. I loved the first one so much I told her I didn’t need to see the others but she insisted. I still took the first one. It’s incredible, a loft with two huge bedrooms great big windows in the living room and access to the roof. How cool is that?”

“Very. So it’s on the top floor?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Then it’s a penthouse.” Jax’s grin returned.

“Not quite! I was surprised that it fell in my price range though. Mrs. Blanchard checked to make sure and it was, so I grabbed it.”

“Well I’m glad. I will contact my very well paid peons and your things will be here by the end of the week.”

“Thank you very much.”

“You’re very welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you today, Ms. Hari?”

“Yes, you can tell me you’ll come to Sharon’s with me for dinner tonight.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m leaving tonight for Vancouver. I’ll be there a few days in endless meetings.”

Jennie crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head. “Nope. I’m sorry you can’t go.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll miss you too much. I’m used to you being at my beck and call.”

Jax smiled. “I still will be. All you have to do is dial the phone.” He held out his arms. “Come here.”

She stepped toward him and let him enfold her in his arms while she leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He knew that although she pretended to be joking, she meant what she said. “I’ll miss you too.” He meant it as well. They had seen each other almost everyday since they met. He wasn’t sure if she realized that he had come to count on her as much as she did on him. He pulled away a little. “What if I promise to call you everyday. Then can I go?”

“Oh all right, if you promise.”

“I promise.”

“Then have a good trip.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled up at him. “You’re the best, Jax.”

“I know. So are you.”

They walked arm in arm to the door. “See you in a few days then?” She asked before heading down the hallway.

“Absolutely.”

*******

Jennie sat on a stool At Sharon’s kitched counter, slicing carrots, telling her about Jax’s travel plans.

“You seem a little down about his leaving. You’re gonna miss him, huh?” Sharon asked.

“Yeah, a little.”

“You two have grown pretty close.”

“Well, he’s really easy to talk to and he always seems to understand how I’m feeling. Sometimes he just knows without me even saying anything.”

“Man. Gorgeous, a sweetheart, and a billionaire. Why did I have to fall for a teacher?” She moaned. “How in the world is it that Jax isn’t attached?”

“He was until a few months ago.”

“Oh really.” Sharon was intrigued. “What happened? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“Let’s just say, he’s the one that wound up with a broken heart.”

“You’re kidding! Well, she must have been on drugs or totally braindead to let him go.”

“Who? As if I don't know.” Sharon’s boyfriend popped through the kitchen door. “Hi Beautiful.” He kissed Sharon on the cheek. “Hey Jennie, how’s it going?”

“Hi Billy. I’m hanging in there.”

“Good.” He gestured toward Sharon, grinning and whspering loudly to Jennie. “Does she still have Jax on the brain?”

Jennie laughed out loud, “Totally.”

“I do not!” Sharon protested.

Billy flinched as a red bell pepper bounced off the back of his head. “Hey!” He turned to see Sharon standing with her arms crossed in front of her, smirking. “Aw, Sweetie.” He sauntered over to her. “You know I’d be jealous if I wasn’t so sure you’re almost as crazy about me as I am about you.”

“Billy,” She sighed.

With that he took her in his arms for a long romantic kiss.

Jennie had seen scenes like this between her two friends dozens of times, and was always glad to see them so happy. But tonight there was a different feeling. She got up and went into the living room.

A couple minutes later Sharon found her standing at the window, wiping tears from her eyes.

She spoke softly, “Jennie, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I’m fine really. “I just miss Charlie. Sometimes more than others.”

Sharon put her arms around Jennie’s shoulders. “And this is one of those times?”

“Yeah. . . . I’ll be okay. Go on. I’ll be back in to help in a minute.”

“Are you sure?”

Jennie nodded.

“Okay.” Sharon gave her a hug, “I’m always here if you need me,” turned around and went back into the kitchen. Jennie lingered at the window for a few moments, let out a deep sigh and followed her.

**********