The three friends went to Luxury Palace—a fast food and soft drink joint—and talked about their lives, experiences, hopes, and ambitions over some snacks and drinks.
“How is your brother? Arnold, was it?” Gail asked Roxanne as she sucked some orange smoothie through a straw. Their sitting style formed a triangle.
“He’s fine. He’s a big boy now in high school,” Roxanne replied as she bit a French fry.
“Really? The last time we saw him he was a cute little 9 year old,” Sarah said. Gail nodded her agreement.
“They grow up so fast. He’s aiming for the ceiling in height and can get quite irritating,” Roxanne said, and looked at her watch, then added, “Listen, guys, I have to get going now.”
“Already? Come on, Rox,” Gail implored her friend, who was already on her feet.
“Yeah. This is a special girls’ reunion after such a long time,” Sarah added. Roxanne groaned.
“I’m sorry, guys. Things are no longer the same. We are no longer students who have all the time for idle banter,” she whispered wearily.
“At least grant us a party night for a few hours over at Big Kev’s,” Sarah suggested, then looked at her friends in turns.
“That’s an awesome idea! Come on, Rox. Pleeease,” Gail begged.
“But guys…” Roxanne started, but they were not willing to listen to her protests.
“Pleeease,” they begged in unison.
“Alright,” Roxanne said in a defeated tone.
“Yay!” Gail squealed, then she and Sarah got up and gave Roxanne, who laughed weakly at their energy, a group hug.
“Great. So at what time shall we meet?” Sarah asked after the hug.
“I was thinking…” Roxanne started.
“Eight p.m. is perfect. Okay, see ya, Rox,” Gail cut quickly. She did not give Roxanne the chance to speak because she did not want her to change her mind, especially since it had already been decided. When Roxanne hesitated to leave, they shooed her away.
“Bye, Roxanne,” they said, prompting her to leave while accepting the set time for their night out.
The urge that Jack Al had to go and see Roxanne was weighing down heavily on him, and he couldn’t take it anymore. He changed into a short-sleeved shirt, calf-length shorts and open shoes, then appeared before Lilly. She was outstretched on a seat reading a novel with Bud seated beside her.
“I’m going out for a while,” Jack Al said to her, then pocketed. She stopped reading and sat up.
“Do you need some company?” She asked. Bud barked to oppose her suggestion. He didn’t want her to go.
“No, it’s okay. Maybe later,” Jack Al started, then paused to look at Bud who stared at him while Lilly stroked him, Bud, to calm him down, and continued, “besides, Bud needs you.”
“Alright. See you later,” Lilly said reluctantly, then once again spread herself out on the seat. Jack Al waved at her, then left. She sighed, then continued with her novel.
By the time he arrived at Wise Enterprises, it was 5.00 p.m. Employees were arranging their desks, ready to leave. He scanned around frantically for Roxanne’s familiar face but it was nowhere in sight. He only saw two familiar faces: Trish’s and Bree’s. Trish was finishing up a report while Bree arranged her desk while a hairy man of medium size and height and a square jaw waited on her with folded arms. He was Keith.
Jack Al chose to consult Trish. He liked her reaction to his natural charms better.
“Excuse me, Trish,” he said to her. She looked up at him with a stone expression, but smiled in surprise on seeing it was him and stopped writing.
“Jackie. What a pleasant surprise. Please. Have a seat,” she said while eyeing him, then indicated the seat of the desk beside hers. He scratched his head slightly then smiled.
“Maybe later. But as for now, I’m looking for Roxanne,” he said. Trish’s smile faded.
“Oh. Her. She’s not here,” she said flatly as she concluded her report.
“Where is she?” Jack Al asked her as she got up with a smile, report in hand.
“That’s for me to tell and you to listen. Don’t move a muscle. I’ll be right back,” she whispered to him, then swayed to her boss’ office in the manner she knew always made men’s minds to be filled with lustful thoughts. And it worked.
Jack Al eyed her as she went, and when he saw Bree staring at him while shaking her head, he smiled at her in an embarrassed manner.
“Hi…Bree and…” he started as he approached her, then studied Keith.
“Keith,” Keith offered.
“Yeah, Keith,” Jack Al repeated, then they nodded a greeting to each other. “I am looking for Roxanne,” Jack Al said softly to Bree.
“Roxanne or Trish?” She returned, while scanning him with folded arms, wondering what her friend saw in that shameless womanizer.
“Baby, ease up, come on,” Keith said to her, then rubbed her arms.
“She went home,” Bree breathed involuntarily.
“Please tell me where she lives. I really care for her. Please,” Jack Al begged her. She was hesitant, but he insisted so much that she just had to.
“323 W 80th St, New York, NY 10024,” she mumbled moodily, then turned to Keith and said to him, “Let’s go.” He nodded, then they left without saying goodbye.
“Thank you!” Jack Al shouted after her.
“For what?” Trish inquired as she came down the stairs, then looked to the direction he was facing.
“For wishing me a good evening. They wished me a good evening,” Jack Al replied quickly to avoid arousing any doubts that she would have of his answer.
“Right. So anyway, does the name detective Jillian Green ring a bell to you?” Trish asked, then took her purse from her desk and put it on, then turned off her computer.
Jack Al’s mind flashed back to the numerous times her and her boss jailed him for his countless misdeeds, but he managed to escape.
“Judging from your silence, it does. Let’s go,” Trish said. They walked side to side, with Jack Al walking as if he had stones in his pocket.
“Why do you ask me that?” He finally managed.
“She was here today investigating. Picture this, Jackie: You arrive yesterday, Roxanne leaves, you toy with her computer and the next thing, detective Jillian comes snooping around in the name of theft of cash from the company’s records, from Roxanne’s records?” Trish explained, while looking at him for a confession.
“What are you insinuating?” He asked casually.
“Don’t play daft with me, Jackie. I know that it’s you who transacted that money, not Roxanne. I saw you,” she started, then when he wanted to speak, she continued, “And I can keep your secret if you keep mine and repay me for shutting up. The truth is, I hate Roxanne and she can remain outside the locked doors of Wise Enterprises for all I care.”
“How can I repay you?” He asked her. She smiled at him, then her eyes traveled around his body.
“Spend the night with me, and I swear I’ll put a lid on it,” she replied easily. Jack Al hesitated.
“What?” He said in astonishment. He would have loved to, but not on that day when he hoped to visit Roxanne.
“It’s my way or the highway,” Trish replied calmly while admiring her fingernails.
“I can’t. Not today. Please,” Jack Al said softly.
“Oh well, when Jillian comes tomorrow, I guess I just have to speak the truth and…” Trish started.
“Alright. Alright. Let’s go to your place,” Jack Al said impatiently. He knew where she was going.
“Good. Now we’re talking. Let me phone my chauffeur to come pick us up,” Trish said with a satisfied smile then took out her phone and made the call. Jack Al studied her from top to bottom. Never underestimate the strength of a woman, he thought as he did.
Arnold felt that his hands were clammy with sweat. He was walking beside Rebecca. They were heading to her place. She looked at him and smiled.
“You nervous?” She asked.
“Yeah. I’ve never met a girl’s parents before—I mean the parents of the girl I’m dating,” he replied with a shy smile.
“Relax. They’re not monsters. They won’t eat you up. I promise,” Rebecca assured. When they arrived, Rebecca led, and unlocked the front door and came in shouting, “Mamma! Papà! I’m home!” In her strong Italian accent. Arnold followed while looking around his new environment like a lost puppy.
“Un momento!” Came a reply from another end of the house.
“Sit. Make yourself comfy,” Rebecca said to Arnold after turning to him. He took one of the four seats of the humble dining table and rested his hands on the table, with his heart in his mouth.