Jill knew exactly why Alice hated her kind. Hell, Alice hated her the most and the feeling was more than mutual. “Have you been in their so called halfway house?”
A haunted look shadowed his eyes. “Yes, and do whatever you can to stay out of there. It’s a nightmare.”
“What do you mean?” Jill pushed. “Are they being mistreated?”
When he didn’t answer, Jill straightened up, trying her best to keep her anger at bay.
“Just stay away from there,” he warned. “I did my best to stop it, but I’m only one person and this is way bigger than me. She has hired a bunch of…well, I don’t know who they are, but they are a cruel looking bunch who does her dirty work.”
“I have friends in there,” Jill lied, but then again, she realized she may not be lying at all.
George looked at her with pity. “I’m sorry.” He sighed, “Really I am.”
Glancing at Damon and turning to take a peek a Duncan, Jill made a decision that probably wasn’t hers to make. Her eyes went back to Damon and he narrowed his eyes at her as if he knew exactly what she was about to do.
“Jill?” Slade’s voice filled her ear. “What are you doing?”
Ignoring his voice and Damon’s stare, Jill looked back at George. She better not be wrong on this, but so far, she had been dead on. “What happens if the Mayor and his fiancée go down? Do you take over as Mayor?”
His eye flashed to hers. “Yes, but−”
“Listen, I may know someone who can help you, but you have to help them.” Jill tried to read his reaction, but couldn’t. “Would you be willing, even knowing the risks? Do you really want to make a difference or is that just you talking through your Jack and Coke?”
“Son of a bitch!” Sloan shouted in her ear. “Jill, stand down. You do not have authority…”
Jill acted like she was fixing her hair, but pulled the small hearing device out of her ear. Glancing at Damon, who she could see better than Duncan, he leaned back in his chair rubbing his ear clearly indicating that Sloan was telling him to warn her to put it back in so he could bitch her out more. She opted not to do that. This time, Jill took a big swig of her drink; she was going to need it.
“There is no one who can help me,” George said, but held a glimmer of hope in his gaze.
“Actually, you’re wrong, but it’s your call.” Jill shrugged as if she couldn’t care less what he did. “I think it would be wonderful if someone actually stepped up against the Mayor and his fiancée, but unfortunately, proof is what they need and can’t get, but you can.”
He sat back in his chair, staring into the distance. Jill allowed him to soak it in. Hailey walked over at that moment. “Mr. Groper, is there something wrong?” She cast Jill a dark look. “I can get you another girl if you’d rather. Lola is new.”
George snapped out of his daze. “No, she’s absolutely fine. Thank you.”
“Oh, okay.” Hailey smiled first at George and then at Jill. “Just wanted to make sure my best customer was being treated fairly.”
Once she walked away, George turned to Jill. “You’re not really a stripper, are you?”
Knowing that even though she took out her earpiece and couldn’t hear anyone, they could all hear her. “No, I’m not.” She looked him in the eye. “But I do know someone who can help you.”
“Give me a lap dance.” He scooted away from the table.
Okay, now that confused her. “Ah…what?”
“In my right suit pocket is my card.” He fanned his suit jacket out, plastering a fake smile across his lips. “I think my cell is tapped, but if you call about decorating my house, I’ll know it’s you and the bastards listening will ignore the call.”
Jill finished off her drink and then grabbed his, finishing his off, numb now to the burn. Standing, she walked toward him, straddling his legs. She began to move her body, touching him. Her hand slipped into his pocket feeling cards, taking one, she pulled her hand out, but crumbled the card as small as she could to hide it in her hand; she had nowhere else to put it. Glancing sideways, she saw Duncan head her way, and brought the card up to George’s shoulder, waiting for him to pass, knowing what he was doing. He stumbled right when he got to them, running into the chair. Their hands touched and the card disappeared from hers.
“Hey!” She tried to right herself. George’s hand kept her steady. “Watch it.”
“I’m sorry,” Duncan replied drunkenly, but kept on heading toward the men’s restroom.
Jill continued her dance. Leaning down close to George’s ear, she sighed, “You really need to stay out of places like this when you become Mayor.”
“Can I really trust you?” he whispered back as she started to pull away.
“About as much as I trust you.” She smiled down at him. “Trust goes both ways.”
Jill headed toward the car barefoot. Those damn freaking shoes were going to burn the first chance she got. Putting her earpiece in, she frowned; this was going to be painful.
“Hey,” she said, waiting for the fallout.
“Hey? Hey!” Sloan yelled, making her grab her ear. “That’s all you’ve got to say is fucking HEY?”
Swallowing hard, Jill glanced around the parking lot, digging in her bag for her keys. “Actually, no.” She opened the door, getting in; okay, she actually fell in. Maybe those last two drinks with the girls in the back was a bad idea. “I don’t think I should be driving.”
“Jill, what’s wrong?” Slade sounded pissed, but not as pissed as Sloan.
“I’ve got a slight…buzz going,” she giggled. What the hell, she didn’t giggle…ever, and why she found that funny was beyond her.
“Shit,” Slade hissed in her ear, but he sounded funny.
“I got her.” Sid’s voice interrupted more cussing. “Jill, you see that dumpster to your left?”
Jill looked, rising up to see over the car parked next to her. “Yup.”
“Pull up next to that. I’m going to slide in,” Sid ordered.
“Roger,” Jill snorted, wondering what the hell was wrong with her. She’d pissed Sloan off. Slade didn’t sound too happy, yet she was giggling like a girl. She had never been drunk before and it wasn’t like she was stumbling drunk, but she felt pretty damn good and kind of funny; ha-ha funny. She laughed again.
“Jill, how much did you have to drink?” Jared chuckled.
“Only a glass and a half.” She started the car, putting it in reverse. “Of Jax and Coke.”
“Jax?” Sid replied, his voice muffled, indicating he was on the move. “What the fuck is Jax and Coke.”
“I think she means Jack and Coke,” Jared snickered.
Jill pulled up to the dumpster, slammed the brakes too hard and waited. Her door opened, causing her to jump. “Shit, Sid, you scared me.”
“Scoot.” He used his butt to push her over and took off. “Got her.”
“Everyone, get your asses back to the compound, now.” Sloan’s order was harsh and loud.
Jill pulled out her earpiece, closing it up in her palm. “Why is he such an asshole?” Jill frowned.
“I can still fucking hear you. Goddamn people! Learn how to quiet your mic before you start insulting me,” Sloan growled loud enough that she heard him through her hand where she held the earpiece.
Jill’s eyes shot wide open as she looked at Sid in shock, pointing to her hand in disbelief. “How did he hear me?”
Sid was laughing so hard he couldn’t answer, but pointed at her neck. When she raised her hand her fingers touched the choker and her face comically shifted to horror as she realized what she had done. Reaching around, she pulled off the choker, shoving it in her bag.
Pulling into a gas station, Sid looked over at Jill who had laid her head back on the seat. “I would suggest you not do that. You need to stay awake and alert.” He grinned, shaking his head. “I’m going in to get you some coffee so you can fully understand the ass-chewing you are about to get. Lock the door.”
Jill raised her head as soon as Sid spoke. Once he slammed the door, she locked it. “Drinking is way overrated.” She rubbed her head, which was starting to hurt. Taking her wig off, she shoved that in her bag also. Lowering the sun visor, she pulled out the hair clips Caroline had used, and then peeled her fake lashes off. “And dammit, it hurts being a woman.”
She hit the unlock button for Sid. He slid in, handing her coffee. “Drink up.”
“Where’s the cream and sugar?” Jill opened the lid, blowing on the coffee.
“Black is best.” He grinned at her as he backed out, and pulled onto the road.
“I have to have sugar.” Jill went to put the lid back on.
“Jill, I’m telling you the truth here. You want to be sober and on your toes, because Sloan is pissed.” Sid laughed when she groaned.
“I hate coffee without sugar,” she griped, but drank it anyway.
Pulling into the compound, Jill sighed. “How bad is it going to be?” she said once they got out of the car.
“You just better hope that this works out with Georgie boy.” Sid shook his head. “Took balls doing what you did, that’s for sure.”
Jill headed up the walkway to the door, but stopped. Slade leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as only Slade did as he waited for her. She took another sip of her coffee watching as he nodded to Sid, but his eyes never left hers.
“You okay?” His voice was deep, without emotion.
Nodding, Jill slowly walked toward him. “Are you mad at me, too?”
His lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. “We’ll talk about that later.” He reached out, lifting her chin up, kissing her softly. “Let’s get this over with first.”
“Okay.” When he turned to open the door, she stopped. “Did he really hear me call him an asshole?”
Slade’s face turned grim. “That’s the least of your problems, Jill.”
“Dammit,” Jill cursed under her breath. Slade opened the door for her and she walked in, weaving a bit to the left.
“Have you ever drank before?” Slade steadied her so she didn’t run into the doorframe.
“Not a drop. I’m still a little fuzzy.” Jill grinned up at him. “Fuzzy. Fuzzzzzy. That’s a weird word.”
As soon as they entered, the women ran out into the entryway. “How did it go?” Nicole grinned.
“Did your wig stay on okay?” Caroline frowned, looking at her wigless head.
“It went great.” Jill grinned real big, then swayed when she held up her coffee as if saluting.
Nicole leaned in and sniffed. “Are you drunk?”
“Maybe a little,” Jill whispered. “I only had a couple.”
“You said you had one and a half.” Sid frowned with his hands on his hips.
“Well, Dad,” Jill frowned back, “I forgot about the two I had in the back before I left, but they were little.”
“Shit. Those were shots, Jill,” Sid cursed, glancing at Slade, then Nicole. “Go make up some more coffee. Has she ever drank before?” Slade just shook his head.
“And bring the sugar.” Jill nodded, pointing at Nicole with her coffee. “Lots of sugar.”
“Hey.” Damon stuck his head out of Sloan’s door. “Come on, so we can get this over with.”
“This is going to be ugly,” Sid said, looking at Jill. “How drunk are you?”
“I’m fine.” Jill grumbled. “I just feel really relaxed and want to smile a lot, but other than that, I’m fine. What’s the big deal? So I had a few drinks. Performing barely dressed in front of a bunch of men isn’t easy. I’d like to see you do it without drinking, Sid.”
“Come on,” Damon called out again. “I want to get this shit over with.”
“Okay, grumps.” Jill headed that way. “Geez, stop being so grumpy all the time.”
“Jill.” Slade stopped her. “You need to get ahold of yourself. Sloan…”
“Needs to take a chill pill.” Looking up at Slade, she smiled. “You are a hot-ass man, you know that, Doctor Slade Buchanan. How about me and you forget about all this nonsense and−”
“Now!” Damon shouted this time.
“Okay!” Jill shouted back with an irritated frown, turned and headed toward the office, but was stopped this time by Nicole and Pam who were trying not to laugh. Nicole poured more black coffee into her foam cup.
“Be careful, Jill. It’s hot,” Nicole warned.
“I just want to tell you both that Damon and Duncan never once looked at one of those women. I mean they looked, but they fake looked. You two should be really nice…” she slyly gave them the most awkward wink, “to them tonight.”
“Jill,” Damon growled.
“Damon,” Jill growled back and started walking again. “A little thanks goes a long way. I’m helping you out here, buddy.”
Everyone became quiet as soon as Jill walked into the room, except for Sloan who was on the phone. Seeing Steve and Adam against the wall, she raised her cup of coffee to them with a goofy grin, then headed their way, squeezing herself between them. Raising the cup to her lips as if hiding what she was saying, she whispered, “What did I miss?”
“Are you drunk?” Adam frowned down at her.
Jill huffed. “No.” She held up her cup. “Coffee.”
“She’s shitfaced,” Steve laughed.
Sloan hung up the phone, his eyes going straight to Jill. Okay, that sobered her up a little and actually worked better than the nasty non-sugared coffee she was drinking. He continued to stare at her to the point where Steve started sliding away from her.
“Do you want to explain what the fuck that was all about?” Sloan didn’t yell; he didn’t growl; he just asked the question with a calm, cool demeanor that scared the shit out of her.
Jill opened her mouth to answer, and then slammed it shut. Looking away, she tried to make the words she wanted to say form in her head so she could answer the question with her numb lips. Looking back, she opened her mouth again and everyone in the room watched in anticipation of what she was going to say. “Ah, which part?” finally came out of her mouth.
“Which part?” Sloan sat back, his stare becoming more intense.
“Yeah, which part?” Jill took a step forward, but when the floor shifted suddenly, she retreated to the wall. She felt herself sliding toward the left, but Adam used his arm to slowly slide her back up. “Why do you always answer a question with a question?”
“What the fuck you doing?” Steve whispered, pushing away from the wall, bending his head to her as he looked at the ground. “Shut the fuck up, Jill.”
Anger hit Jill right in the gut, swishing around with the nausea she was feeling, and it wasn’t a great combination. “No, I won’t shut the fuck up.” This time when she pushed herself away from the wall, she walked slowly with concentration to the front of Sloan’s desk.