had a hunch he was letting her deal with her feelings and come to the conclusion he wanted. That they made sense together, at least sexually. Or maybe he was willing to go back to being her best friend. Whatever the reason, she was concentrating on the present.
This weekend was the baby shower Chloe had planned at the country club the Kingston family belonged to. Jordan had never been comfortable at the club during the times she’d been invited to events there, but thankfully she didn’t have to attend often. She wasn’t intimidated by the clothing, handbags, and shoes the women there owned, but they made sure to let her know her designer choices weren’t up to their standards. If not with words, then with a sneer or a distinct way of looking her over and finding her lacking. Especially the women in Linc’s family’s social circle.
Although this was a party in a separate room, the rest of the club was open to members, so Jordan was prepared to run into the women who resented her friendship with Linc and always had.
After a morning of work, Jordan decided to eat at her desk today. She wasn’t in the mood to go out. Linc was still meeting in the conference room with Brian and a private investigator who he’d hired to look for Wallace. The man was still missing.
Linc also had upcoming meetings with banks and lenders to cover the money needed for the deal with Beck. Anything not to lose a portion of his beloved company to the man he had long-standing issues with.
She walked to the kitchen, pausing to say hello to Suzanne and some of the other women who worked in the office. After taking her yogurt out of the refrigerator, she returned to her desk to find a female with long jet-black hair and a fitted dress tapping her foot impatiently in front of Jordan’s desk.
As she drew closer and she saw the woman’s profile, Jordan recognized the visitor. Angelica Winston, Linc’s ex. One Jordan had never gotten along with, not for lack of trying on her part.
Jordan strode around her desk before acknowledging the clearly impatient woman. “Angelica.”
“Jordan. I’ve been waiting,” she said, pursing her red lips in annoyance.
Settling into her seat and placing her lunch on the desk, she met the woman’s gaze. “I wasn’t aware you had an appointment.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I shouldn’t need one. I knocked on his door but he didn’t answer. Just let him know I’m here,” she said.
“Please would be nice,” Jordan muttered. “Linc is in a meeting, and I have no idea when he’ll be out.” Ignoring the woman, Jordan opened her yogurt container and picked up her spoon.
Angelica cleared her throat. “Again, if you would do your job and tell him I’m here, I know he’ll come out to talk to me.”
As she spoke, Linc approached his office from behind her. “Angelica, what are you doing here?” Linc asked, sounding tired from the day he’d already had.
“Linc, I missed you and I wanted to talk. She wouldn’t let you know I was here.”
The woman ought to consider herself fortunate, because without him there, Jordan would have ripped into her about how she wouldn’t do a damn thing for someone so rude.
“Because I told her I didn’t want to be interrupted by anyone.” He shot Jordan a grateful look, which Angelica caught.
Unfortunately the woman didn’t take a hint. “I’m not just anyone. Now that you’re here, we need to talk.” She hooked her arm in his and directed him around Jordan’s desk and to his office. Short of shaking her off, he had no choice but to deal with her.
Maybe Jordan ought to feel bad for him, but he’d chosen to get involved with a stage-five clinger. What did he expect?
He opened the door to his office, and Angelica pushed them inside. Jordan couldn’t help but watch, and as she attempted to shut the door, Linc flung it open again, making his point.
Despite Angelica’s proprietary action, Jordan knew he hadn’t been involved with the woman for a long time, but they had been in an on-again, off-again relationship, and based on his past behavior, Angelica had every right to think she could talk him into another go-round.
“Angelica, stop. No. We need to talk.” Linc sounded pissed.
Jordan cringed at the thought of her touching him, admitting jealousy had crept up on her the minute Linc was alone with the bitch.
“But Linc, it’s been so long. Neither one of us