that one again. I deliberately placed the receiver back into its cradle and turned in my chair to face him. “What?” I demanded, my tone way too venomous for the situation. But really, the nerve of him! To sit down in my cubicle at work and insist on more talking? What, was he going to try to apologize? Say he didn’t mean what he said? Well, I would have none of that.
“Yesterday, I—”
“Listen, Jamie,” I interrupted. I was going to nip this in the bud. Right now. “I’d prefer if we didn’t rehash this weekend’s conversation all over again, no offense. I think you made yourself pretty clear, and I can accept how you feel. I’m sorry I was angry, but I’ve thought a lot about it and I believe it’s all for the best.”
There. That told him. I was firm. In control. He’d see that I wouldn’t stand for his hot and cold bullshit. That I wasn’t pathetic and desperately in love with him.
He frowned. “Maddy—”
“Oh, and if you’re worried about me telling Jen, don’t be,” I continued with a bitter laugh. “You guys can live happily ever after and I’ll never tell. Okay? As far as I’m concerned, it’s water under the bridge. And anyway, it’s not like I ever had any deep feelings for you.” Okay, now the words were spilling from my lips like a cauldron bubbling over. I knew I should turn down the heat and simmer, but I couldn’t stop. “You were just something to pass the time. A minor amusement.” I paused. “I mean, just so you know.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I guess it’s good to know where I stand,” he said in a quiet voice. “But if you’ll let me get a word in …”
I held up my hands. “Go right ahead,” I said. “Say what you came to say. I just wanted to let you know where I was coming from. I am not at all upset about your decision to stay with Jen. I hope you have a long and happy marriage with many babies. And live to a long age and … stuff”
“Uh, right. Okay. Thanks. I appreciate those, um, well wishes. Now, as I was saying …” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it out to me. I frowned down at it, not willing to accept whatever peace offering he’d come up with.
“What is that?” I asked with disdain.
“The property record for the oil refinery,” he said simply.
Oh, dear.
My face burned as I stared down at the paper. This is what he was trying to tell me the whole time? And I had gone off and said … Oh, man! I seriously contemplated crawling under my desk and dying on the spot.
Misunderstandings That Murder: Tonight at 11.
I looked up. “Jamie, I—”
He offered a small smile. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I understand.”
I stared back down at the property record. It was so nice of him to have gotten it. For an utter jerk, he sure was thoughtful. Or at the very least, way dedicated to his job.
I, on the other hand, was a major bitch. And a sucky producer to top it off.
“I was going to give it to you in the car yesterday,” he informed me. “But I knew you were keeping the drug tunnel story a secret. Wasn’t sure if Jodi was in on it or not.”
“Thank you for getting this,” I said, not knowing what else to say. I wanted to apologize for my tirade, but wasn’t sure how. “I mean, it was really, really great of you. It would have sucked to have to go all the way back, and, well …”
“No prob,” he said with a shrug, looking a bit embarrassed.
I cleared my throat. “Look, Jamie, I’m—”
“So, uh, it says that the refinery is owned by a company called Reardon Oil,” he interrupted, effectively giving me an invitation to change the subject. I stared at him for a moment, unable to read the emotion behind his beautiful eyes.
At last I gave up, keeping that last shred of dignity intact. I glanced down at the letter, forcing my thoughts to focus on more important matters than my doomed love affair.
“Reardon Oil, huh?” I repeated, giving it the old college try. If Jamie could be professional, so could I. “Never heard of them.”
He shook his head. “Me, neither. But then, I’m not really up on the whole oil industry, obviously.”