Page 16 of Until You’re Breathless (Insatiable #1)

Bowie

W alking into my childhood home, feeling like I need to be there for some reason, I see my mom standing by the counter, putting on a pot of tea.

She takes one look at me and walks over, opening her arms to me.

I fall into them, letting myself vent, allowing myself the freedom to feel for once in so many years.

Although my mom can be judgmental at times, she always disliked Boston, and I could never figure out why.

They always say that a good mother knows, and she sure did.

“It’ll all be okay, honey. I know it.” She murmurs into my ear. “You are so strong, Bowie. Nothing can stop you.”

I pull back. “God, you are such a good mother, you know that?” I say, wiping a tear away.

She smiles. “That’s sure nice to hear, honey. But I just gave you a hug and told you things that you already know.”

“No, I mean, you never liked Boston.”

“You’re right.” She says, her tone raising an octave. “There was always something sorta off about him. I could sense it.”

“Did you feel the same way about Jagger, mom?”

Her face changes. She smiles warmly at me, like she’s about to tell me the true meaning of life.

“The love that you two had was different. It was young love. And he adored you. I still don’t believe to this day that he could cheat on you, Bowie.

I think that was all just a rumor. Someone was out to sabotage your relationship with him, and I think I know who. ”

I swallow. “You were right, mom. All along, you were right. He told me today that he never did cheat on me, but I was too stubborn and stupid to hear him out.”

“You might have been stubborn, honey, but you weren’t stupid. You were protecting yourself. It might have been foolish at the time, but you were a child. It was a long time ago. I’m just glad that the air is cleared now.”

“God, I threw such a perfect thing away for nothing.” I sniff.

Mom looks at me, searching my eyes. “Bowie, sometimes things in life happen for a reason, you know. Every experience is a building block. Don’t see this as a bad thing. Now you can put that piece of your life to rest. You know both Boston and Jagger’s true colors.”

“He hired me today.”

Mom looks back at me as she walks back to the counter and prepares us both a cup of tea. “Jagger? He hired you?”

“Yeah.” I nod as I sit at the kitchen table.

“He’s a smart man. He won’t regret it. Boston was an asshole on so many levels, but especially since he let you walk away from Kruger. He’ll miss you for it. Mark my words.”

“I don’t care about that right now, mom.”

“Good. But you should also be aware that he’s now a threat. To both you and Jagger.”

“If he’s smart, he’ll stay his ass away, but I’m sure that Jagger is taking proper precautions.”

“And what about you?”

“Well, I’m staying with Jinny, and she’s got a fantastic security system. But are you suggesting that he’d come after me physically? Because I’m not worried about that.”

“You should be, Bowie. I don’t think I have to remind you what Jagger means to Boston. He’s not only his closest competitor, but he’s always hated Jagger. That’s a lot of motive.”

“The worst I’d worry about is him trying to sabotage our suppliers or the pending European deal.

I’d expect him to sink his tentacles in there, but you forget, not that I’m tooting my own horn here, but I’m on the other side now.

And I know things that I can use to my advantage.

And Boston can’t do a goddamn thing about it.

I’m in a place of power, despite the fact that I walked away from the company.

I can muddy his waters all I want to if the shoe fits.

He’s too afraid of what I’ll do if he tries to sabotage anything. ”

“I’d still keep one step ahead of him. Do you still talk to anyone there?”

“Lots of people. Jinny is in touch with a few, too. They can keep their eyes and ears open.”

“Good. Good.” She nods and brings us both a cup of tea. After she blows on the top of her mug, takes a sip and swallows, she says. “God, this must be so exciting for you. A new beginning.”

“Mom, you sound almost envious.”

“I am, honey. At your age, you still can start over, but not at mine.”

“If you could, what would you do.”

She frowns. “Well, I wasn’t saying that I’m unhappy doing what I do. I just mean that you still have so many more opportunities ahead of you.”

I smile at my mom. She’s funny sometimes.

“So, how long are you going to stay with Jinny? Are you going to find a place of your own?”

“Not right now, no. She’s offered for me to stay as long as I want to. Hell, her place is big enough, and I literally have my own wing in the house. She won’t take a penny for rent, either.”

“Then buy her groceries for now, honey. She’s just trying to be supportive. And you know that you can always come back here if you feel like you’re starting to cramp her style.”

“Thanks, mom.”

“Fuckin’ aye.” Jinny says, doing a fist pump, when I tell her the news. “We rise again, sister.”

I can’t help but smile. “You are so great.”

“Quit making my head swell, girl. Let’s go shopping! We need to celebrate!”

“Didn’t you just come back from shopping?”

“Yeah, with my mother. Which means that we cruised the mall for hunks, not clothes. Have you met my mother?”

“God, sometimes I feel like I should live with her for a while.”

“Not without a snake bite kit, a tetanus shot, and a valid passport, or forget it.”

I snort a laugh.

She looks at me and is suddenly searching my face. “There’s something else, isn’t there.”

I give her a double take. “God, how do you do that?”

A shrug and a frown. “It’s a gift. Fess up.”

I’m sitting on the couch. I draw my feet up so that I’m sitting cross-legged, and I lean my back against the back of the couch. “Jagger never cheated on me.”

She claps her hands together once loudly and raises them into the air, shouting in a singsong voice. “I fucking knew it! I fucking knew that Boston was full of shit!”

“How did you know?”

“All that bullshit about Jagger fucking around on you when he was so drunk off his rocker, he couldn’t walk...that was such bullshit. So, how did you find out?”

“Well, basically, he called Kayla Hartman right in front of me and jumped into his wayback machine with her. I’m guessing Kayla is friends with his sister Stevie, and they’ve kept in touch. I felt like such an asshole.”

“And you know that he couldn’t put her up to that?”

“It was a spontaneous call. He literally called her a few minutes after arriving here. She was in between clients.”

“Well, now you know, right?”

“Yeah.” I say, my remorse showing. “I felt like such a shit.”

“You should.”

A ‘v’ forms between my brows. “Thanks a lot.” My voice says that I’m annoyed.

“Hey, look, I told you back then and I’ll tell you again now, Jagger isn’t capable of cheating on you.

Fuck, I was so jealous of how much he loved you back then.

It would have been easier for me to believe that he was a douche bag, but he wasn’t, and I knew it.

And he still isn’t a douche bag now, that’s why I knew that he’d hire us.

That’s why I wasn’t worried about walking out on that son of a bitch, and that’s why you and I, Bowie, are going places now. ”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what.” Her voice is flat, unimpressed.

“Stay so positive.”

“The world is our oyster, Bowie. I’m telling you, ever since I gave up drinking, I feel like I can conquer the world.”

“You gave it up in college.”

“Yeah and look where I am now. Think about how shitty my life would have been had I waited.”

I decide it’s time to change the subject. “My mom thinks that we need to worry about Boston being out for blood.”

“Well, of course he’ll be out for blood.

It’s whether or not he has the balls to go after it.

The man is a pussy. Any guy that pulls shit like that.

..there’s no other word for it. But if you ask me, he’s not going to come after you or me.

No, he’s going to go for the jugular, and try to shut Jagger down. ”

“He’ll never do that. Jagger is one step ahead of him.”

“Let’s hope.” She says. “Because we’re about to sign up to be the official targets, Bowie.”

“Good morning.” Jagger says as we walk into the office.

“Good morning.” Both Jinny and I say in unison.

“I’ve got some papers for you both to sign in the boardroom, and then I’ll show you to your offices.”

“Sounds good.” Jinny states. “How about you get your HR person to give me the lowdown while I peruse the documents. I’m a master at multitasking.”

“And I don’t really need an office if one isn’t set up yet, Jagger.” I inform. “I’m always on the run, anyway.”

“No, you need one. It shows integrity. But unless you’re meeting with just one or two people, I suggest using the boardroom. Because that shows professionalism.”

“Exactly. I’ve never done anything different.”

“Good. Okay, I’ll get you set up with Led, our CFO.” Jagger says to Jinny.

Her eyes widen. “Oh my God! Led! I totally forgot about him! I haven’t seen him in years!”

Jagger smirks. “Yeah...and he’s... thrilled to see you again.”

She chuckles. “I’m sure. You know, he had a crush on me in high school.”

“And you never let him or anyone else forget it.” Jagger snorts. “You and him can negotiate, or fight to the death, on salary. I’ll take Bowie over to meet the production and design team.” He gives me a look. “Don’t worry, they all know who you are.”

“Greeeeaaat.”