How to Catch Butterflies (24 page)

Jackson drove towards Hammersmith to Lucy’s apartment. Normally he would have put on the music to set the mood, but he did needed to talk to her about the numerous job offers she had been made.

They drew up to Lucy’s apartment; he parked the car and turned the engine off. Jackson sat back into his race bucket seat and discussed the offers that were on the table for her from his various clients who he had contacted that day.

“And there’s always an offer from us”

“Us?” she replied puzzled.

“Yes, my partner and I want to offer you a position with us, and
I
seriously want you to think about it. You can make a serious amount of money and as you know we travel worldwide.”

He leaned back further in his seat. “There’s a solid offer on the table from us. You can start whenever you want. It’s up to you.” Jackson’s eyes were giving his best
‘come to bed eyes’
he didn’t want her to get out the car.

She sat there, he was such an outrageous flirt. For an older guy, he really had something about him. She could understand why, she could feel his eyes undressing her. She was glad she opted for the trousers of this suit as he would have no doubt been looking at her legs all night.

Rebecca leaned down, grabbing her briefcase and bag, readying herself to get out of his lovely car. She opened the door in one swift move, bringing both of her legs in unison. She swung them to the ground rising gracefully, standing tall.

She leaned into his car; Jackson was still leaning back into his black leather upholstered race car bucket seat. His arm resting on the steering wheel, he was smooth and he knew it.

“Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about. I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks for the lift Jackson.”

She turned and closed the door, walking to the apartments and she disappeared into the building.

Jackson sat there. She was amazing; brains and beauty and
he
wanted her. He repositioned himself in the seat and turned the engine back on and drove off.

When Rebecca walked into Lucy’s she was given the third degree, until she explained who had been waiting for her once she had finished her meeting. She told Lucy the offers that were on the table, and she could literally name her start date. She couldn’t wait for Saturday as she was going to treat herself to a little early birthday present.

The night was spent moving Rebecca’s stuff out; thankfully the landlord completely understood the reasons why Rebecca had wanted to move. It was his wife who had called in the other of the two calls that night to the police.

They lived right next door to Rebecca and David. They had heard everything. They liked Rebecca; they thought she was a lovely girl. And because she had the place in great condition, there wouldn’t be a problem in renting or selling. They were just sorry that she had to move. They even offered to store her furniture for her until she had found a new home. For once, Rebecca thought things were on the up and up. She wasn’t one to wallow in self-pity, her cup was always half full.

She had made a decision regarding the job offers; they were all very attractive, with excellent packages. She had put Jackson off with an answer, saying she had a lot to think about, which he completely understood. Rebecca told him she would give him an answer on the Monday for all the positions she was offered not just his.

When Saturday came, Rebecca was up and in Lucy’s shower, and had the coffee travel mugs filled ready for the trip to ‘George Bone’ in Hanwell. It was one of London original tattoo artists. Lucy and she set off.

When they walked into the studio and were met by George Bone, who went through all the designs Rebecca was interested in.

Rebecca had made her choice, and she made for leather massage type table. In fact,
it looked more like an examining table at the doctor’s office,
she thought while dropping her trousers reveling her black thong, and lay face down on the bed ready for her inking to begin as Lucy held her hand.

She walked out, although sore, she was very pleased with herself. The old Rebecca would never be like this, her tattoo represented her. She had it placed in a private place, the center of her right bottom check, and she loved it.

She felt like she was like a butterfly flying. She had spent so many years trapped in a cocoon, and now she had emerged as a glorious butterfly.

Her tattoo signified it all for her. It was the new her, the new Rebecca.

Chapter 16

‘Everything Counts’

They sat there as she talked to Lucy about her exciting day. Lucy had opened a nice bottle of
Chateauneuf
-
du
-
Pape which had been waiting with its other du-Pape friends in Lucy’s wine rack.

She had stayed with Lucy for the night, she was making some major changes in her life; tattoo, home and job and in that precise order.

“Rebecca what’s the rush, you don’t have to move out. You have the spare room for as long as you need. I know you want your own space, but with a change in job as well? I just think you’re putting too much on yourself, any news from Jason yet?” She asked wanting to change the subject. She had meant Jackson but Jason’s name had come out instead. “Sorry hun, I meant to say Jackson,” she sat there feeling awkward for a moment.

“No nothing, but I’m not surprised, would you? I keep replaying it over and over in my head; do you think I should call him?” She asked staring at her phone, in the hope that she could miraculously make it ring and Jason being at the other end.

Lucy shook her head no. Lucy looked at her noting Rebecca’s actions.

“So when are you going to call Jackson with your decision? Actually, what is your decision?”

Rebecca leaned forward and picked up her coffee
;
using both hands to cup the massive bowl. She sat back and sipped on her coffee cup. Lucy added, “You have to admit he is gorgeous.” She purred. “And he has experience.” She laughed
.

“He’s not that old. What 34, that’s not old. I’m nearly twenty four, so there’d only be a ten year gap.”

Rebecca laughed nearly causing Lucy to spit the mouthful of wine she had over the laptop which was on the table in front of them.

“I’m speaking to Jackson late tomorrow afternoon. I’m interviewing for clients tomorrow so I won’t get to speak to him till then.”

“But have you made up your mind?” Lucy sat perched on the edge of her seat, waiting for Rebecca’s answer.

“Sort of, I think. I don’t know if I could work with him. He’s just so full of himself; he’s like full on.” Rebecca was now biting the inside corners of her mouth.

“Still, I wouldn’t mind him being full on with me,” Lucy chuckled. “Oh Lucy, you’re so funny.” They both fell about laughing.

That night they watched Beaches, ordered Chinese and finished the bottle of
Chateauneuf
-
duPape. By the end of the film, both girls were pooped, each headed for their rooms shouting
goodnight they would see each other when they got home from work
.

As usual Rebecca opened her building up for the day’s trading. She was halfway up the stairs when Judy came in behind her gushing about her weekend. Rebecca’s landline rang, she answered it was another company who wanted to arrange a meet with her at lunch time.

They had asked her not to make a decision about her various offers until she had met with them. It would be very beneficial to her.

Intrigued she agreed to the meeting in the very same hotel she had met with Jackson Harvey. By 9:30 a.m. they had a steady stream of people that were there to be interviewed by either herself or one of her team.

It was from a huge advertising drive they had done. It was at 10:30 when she heard a commotion in the reception.

She could hear the familiar voices of the three secretaries and the two receptionists starting to raise their voices. By this stage, Rebecca was on her feet apologizing profusely to the gentleman she was interviewing.

She left her office heading down the stairs to the noise in the reception area. Rebecca recognized the girls’ voices, but she also recognized another.

It was David’s.

Rebecca stood in the doorway. She looked at Stacey who was now standing at her desk with the phone to her ear. Stacey was looking for the nod from Rebecca to call the police, which she gave while walking to David who was being extremely loud and belligerent.

She spoke very calmly as she took his arm, leading out to the hallway and away from the packed to the brim reception.

Stacy was quick off the mark and was already in conversation with the emergency operator. In no time at all, the police had arrived arresting David again with him screaming, “It’s not over it’s not over.” as he tousled with the officers.

They escorted him down the stairs and off the premises into an awaiting squad car. This caused much to the amusement of one chap in reception, who was filling in his application form. He leaned into the person next to him, but loud enough for the whole room to hear, “Bloody is for him, the guy is nuts.”

Rebecca serenely walked back into the busy reception, apologizing to everybody for the disturbance. She asked the girls to make teas or coffees, while the people waited to be seen. Once everything was back under control, she headed back to her office and finished off the interview that had been so rudely interrupted.

After such a busy morning Rebecca didn’t really feel like going to the appointment, but she still wasn’t 100% sure on the decision she was going to make.

She liked the idea of the overseas travel with Jackson’s company; they had a very good reputation in the industry. But she didn’t trust herself with Jackson; there was definitely chemistry between them.

She shook it off; she wasn’t fully over Jason and couldn’t think of replacing him so quickly. Rebecca had still hoped he would ring and it was nearly a month since she had last seen him. He obviously didn’t care now. She knew she had said some hurtful things. It had been done in the heat of the moment; surely he would have forgiven her by now?

Rebecca stopped just before climbing the few steps again to the hotel entrance. She took a long deep breath and exhaled slowly, before ascending to the revolving doors and into the lobby.

She scanned the foyer, searching for her contact, but she had no clue as to whom she was meeting this time, only a name.

She stood there for a second, seeing the young ladies at the reception and proceeded towards them before a familiar face stepped forward.

“Rebecca, so glad you made it,” he said as he pushed his hand out to greet her. She was quite taken back.