She never received a reply.
“Etta,” she growled, putting her phone away. “I swear…”
Without knowing what awaited her, Jamie shuffled back and forth in her seat, playing on her phone, trying to read a book like she usually did in the car, and begging the driver to tell her anything. Finally, she called Natasha and asked if she knew what was afoot. “Unfortunately, Amanda probably knows better than me,” she said. “She’s the one who sets things up. Not me.”
“I know, I know…” Jamie had Amanda’s number, as was customary, but she wasn’t about to call and ask for deets. They weren’t friends. Not by a long shot.
The car acted as if it were going to the penthouse. Yet it passed by the residential building, instead heading for the commercial district. The driver pulled up alongside a busy plaza and helped Jamie get out of the car. She clutched her purse to her side and looked around.
“What’s going on? Seriously, now.”
The driver gestured to someone sitting on a bench near the plaza fountain. “I’ll be nearby. Have a pleasant day.” He disappeared into the car. Jamie’s phone buzzed immediately.
“Are you coming over or not?”
She looked up. Monique sat on the bench, her stomach bigger than her handbag.
“Don’t you work on Saturdays?” Jamie asked the moment she approached close enough to be heard. “It’s your biggest day…”
These shrugs people kept giving her drove her up the wall.Why won’t anyone speak to me directly?Did Etta put them up to this? Probably. Her influence knew no bounds. At least she couldn’t pay Monique to keep quiet… although Etta and Monique were incredibly close, so odds were good one would heed the other’s wishes, even if she thought they were stupid.
“I am heading back toward the Manoir after you and I are finished.”
“Finished?”
Monique stood, her center of gravity something to behold as she debunked everyone who ever told Jamie that first-time mothers didn’t usually show as much. Monique was only in her second trimester and already looked like she was inflating a beach ball beneath her dress. Sometimes, Jamie got brazen enough to ask to touch the pregnant woman’s stomach but knew better. Oh, did sheknow betterby now.
“Etta has asked me to make sure you are ready for your date tonight. Actually, I volunteered. This is going to be fun.”
“Get ready?” Jamie paled. “Oh, no, she doesn’t want to do some crazy BDSM thing, does she? Because she did not go over that with me first!”
Monique muffled herself. Even so, Jamie could still hear the laughter bursting out from beneath. “Goodness, no. Perfectly vanilla, I assure you.”
“So you know what’s going on?”
Monique pulled another card from her bag. “I’m supposed to give you this.”
Jamie was quick to snatch it.
I’m leaving you in her hands.
Have fun but be at the penthouse by five.
You need to get ready.
I have big plans for you.
Enjoy your afternoon.
“I am starting to worry about what’s going on.”
“Don’t,” Monique reassured her. “You’re going to remember today forever.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ah, I said too much already.”
Monique hooked her arm around Jamie’s and led her across the plaza. Since they were in the middle of the shopping district, it was a quick jaunt to everyone’s favorite boutique, The Ruby Peacock. It had recently been remodeled, now sporting its namesake above the sign. Theinside was as usual, however, and Jamie was glad that the likes of Gladys the shopping assistant recognized her and knew her by name because Jamie was not dressed to shop at the most exclusive place in town. This shop was not afraid to turn away customers, as their small sign by the front door said in five different languages.
