“Do you think what went on to get this loan pulled was ethical, Gertrude?” I ask not letting her eyes evade mine.

She takes a deep breath. “Ms. St. Claire put in an application to have the loan decision reconsidered. I’ll call her and give her the good news I was able to approve the application on reconsideration.” She smiles.

“You’re the best, Gertrude.” I stand and reach over the desk, planting a kiss on her cheek. She blushes and smiles as she picks up the phone to call Lily.

Chapter 29

Lily

Day fourteen post Jackson Knight and I’m no better off than I was two weeks ago. In fact, I think I might be worse. I find myself thinking about him all the time. The first week he was relentless in his pursuit to win me back. But his multiple calls and deliveries each day have slowed. And now I find myself wondering if I’ve lost my chance to change my mind when I don’t hear from him for a full day. When I ended things, I was so angry to learn he hadn’t been honest with me about his interest in Ralley’s Gyms, I couldn’t see past the cloud of infuriation that engulfed me.

But for two long weeks I’ve replayed our time together over and over in my head. Like a record stuck in a skip, I see his eyes as he hovers over me. I could swear they’re filled with real emotions. Real feelings. Something so deep and intensely genuine, it couldn’t possibly be an act. Or perhaps I’m projecting my own feelings onto what I thought I saw in him. Is it even possible that everything he said is true? That once he realized how he felt about me, he didn’t want to cloud my and Joe’s business judgment when it was time to decide on accepting the investors’ offer? Is it possible the timing was really a coincidence and the bank deciding to pull our loan had nothing to do with him?

Even if I did forgive him, a relationship that starts on a lie is riddled for failure. My father taught me that since the day I was born. Trust was everything to him. Heck, the man didn’t even believe in contracts. Everything was done on trust and handshake.

At least things seem to be looking a bit more hopeful at work. I appealed City Bank’s decision to close our line of credit and was shocked they actually reconsidered. Their relenting makes me question if Jax was truly involved in the decision to pull the loan in the first place. I just don’t know what to believe anymore.

Either way, it made me realize we needed to take a look at all of our expenses Our cash flow has all but dried up even though we’re billing out more membership fees than ever. We never used to rely on the bank so heavily. It’s time I pull back the reigns and figure out where we can cut costs.

Reed comes over after work and we settle in for another Haagen-Dazs and movie night. Our third one this week. He always suggests them, feigning an urgent need to see some movie, but I know it’s his way of making sure I’m okay. I really don’t want to be alone, although my ass is going to be twice the size if I don’t find a way to kick this bad case of melancholy I’ve come down with.

He doles out a full pint of ice cream into two heaping bowls and sizes up the contents. “Here you take this one. It has less.”

“What if I want the one with more?” I pout, teasing.

“I’m celebrating so I get the bigger one this time. Plus, I’ve given you the bigger one the last five times. You better cheer up or you’re going to look like your stepfather is an Olympic track and field gold medalist.” He grins.

I smack him playfully. “Hey, your ass is…wait, what are you celebrating?” I’ve been so selfishly consumed with sadness, for a moment I panic and think I may have forgotten his birthday. Luckily it’s not for another three weeks.

“I got my sales statement and commission check today from my first gallery showing.” He takes out a plain white envelope from his pocket and fans his face with it, showing off proudly.

“Oh my god! How many did you sell?” I ask excitedly. It’s the first thing I’m genuinely happy about in weeks.

“All but one!” Reed exclaims obviously ecstatic with the results.

My eyes bulge. He would have been thrilled to sell one. But he had thirty one paintings on display. I’m not surprised though, he’s extremely talented.

My face falters. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. Am I the only one that didn’t sell?”

“No! The one of Kane didn’t sell.”

“Is Kane the nineteen year old whose shoulder blades jutted from his skin?”

“Yes.”

“It didn’t sell because he looks like a skeleton and it’s scary.”

He shrugs smiling. “I don’t care. I’ll keep him. I think he’s hot.”

“You would.” I crinkle up my nose.

“Sit,” Reed orders. “I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“You’re painting sold for the most.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Hesitantly he adds, “You know sales were done through a silent auction. Each one had a reserve and as long as the reserve was met, the painting went to the highest bidder.”

“Okay…”

“Your reserve was five hundred. But the bidder paid more.”

“How much more?”

“A lot more.”

“And that is…”

“The winning bid was twenty thousand dollars.”

“Twenty thousand dollars?” I inhale sharply. “That’s awesome, Reed! I’m so happy for you.” I pause for a moment. “Although it’s kind of weird to think my picture could be hanging in some rich serial killer’s living room.”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“Because the winning bidder was Jax Knight.”

***

Luckily there is a week’s worth of work to be done in the two days before we leave for the MMA Open, otherwise the tremendous yearning I feel thinking about Jax would have me rocking back and forth in a corner somewhere.

“I spoke to our advertising rep, they have some open air space on channel seven they can give us on short notice if we have a winner at the Open. Capitalize on the publicity of a weight class champ to increase membership. Might help cash flow.” Joe informs me as he walks out the front door carrying boxes we need to ship to Las Vegas for the Open.

“Great idea, Joe. Now we just need to win fights at the Open.”

“I’ll take care of that for you,” Caden’s voice surprises me, but it’s the arm he wraps around my waist that brings me to an abrupt halt.