22. The trip

GIANNA

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“Do you have anything against LA?” Jack walked into my office without knocking.

I hissed, not bothering to look up at him. “I could be naked.”

Jack scoffed. “You have a bathroom right there. Why would you be naked in the office?”

“I knock before I enter yours.”

“You don't have to.”

“That doesn't matter. Start knocking or I'll start locking my door.”

I didn't look up but I could feel him staring at me. “Fine. I'll try to cultivate the habit of knocking before I enter an office that is supposed to be open in the first place.” He relented sarcastically, then paused. “Wait, you distracted me on purpose right?”

I didn't respond because it was true.

“This makes me even more curious.” He sat on the seat opposite mine. “Is something chasing you in LA? You were always uncomfortable in public and you hurried to come back to San Diego.”

“You're overthinking.” I tried to dismiss his suspicions but Jack was smarter than that.

“Don't try to gaslight me. If you don't want to tell me, it's fine.”

I bit down on my bottom lip, finally looking up at him. Jack was a very good friend and he never pried into my life. He knew I wanted to keep my past as that so he didn't ask many questions. He cared for my kids like they were his but he didn't even know who their father was. It was easy for him to find out if he wanted to but he didn't.

I'd kept my past away from him for more than five years and I intended to keep it that way. I didn't like thinking about what happened back then. Even more so, I hated talking about it. I had a new and different life now. It was a lot better than what I had. I was a better woman. There was no need to reopen old wounds.

“Is it because of that pervert who was recording you?” He questioned.

I chuckled. That man wasn't a pervert. He was rather respectful when I told him to delete my pictures. He was most likely someone who knew me as Mrs Baker. I was used to being photographed in public. He wasn't the first. “Of course not. If I was that bothered by him, I would have handed him over to the police.” I smiled, reassuring him that he was nothing. Despite how big our company was becoming, Jack wasn't used to the paparazzi. He was most especially uncomfortable with being recorded randomly.

Well, I suppose everyone was.

He opened his mouth to speak again but I beat him to it. “LA is a big place where many celebrities reside so they're used to taking pictures of them. Maybe they recognized us or something. I saw your picture in his phone too when I was asking him to delete them.”

“Really? Why didn't you tell me? I would have handled him myself!”

“I think you're missing the point.”

Jack kissed his teeth and took a deep breath. “That doesn't explain why you're uncomfortable with the place.”

“I'm not.” I lied through my teeth. “It's just quite hard to adjust to a new place.”

“Are you sure? Cause we'll be going back next week.”

“What? Why?” By now he had all my attention. “Was the client not satisfied?”

“He was. He was so satisfied to the point that he referred us to his buddy even if we haven't carried out the plans yet.”

I let out a huge breath. I had just lied to him that I wasn't used to LA which was why I was acting weird in the city. How the hell was I supposed to decline to go with him? “Why do you need me there with you? Why do they even need physical meetings? What happened to online meetings?”

“Come on, Gianna. That's what the client wants so we have to deliver. Besides, you're better at handling clients than I am. They like to walk all over me.”

“So you know?” I glared at him. Clients loved pushing him to find out how much they could get away with and he always allowed it.

Jack scratched his head sheepishly. “I'm quite self-aware.”

I kissed my teeth.

“Gianna…” he tried coaxing me. “We're going to branch out there anyway. It's better if you get used to the environment now.”

I frowned. “Me? Why do I have to get used to it? Why can't you send someone else there?”

“And let them ruin everything we've worked for? No way!”

My tongue poked the inside of my cheek. “Can you all even do anything without me?”

“Not at all.” He grinned. “You're the best.” When I stared at him blankly, he continued speaking. “Olly and Bella would appreciate the trip. They seemed to like Los Angeles a lot.”

They did. It was a new place for them and they got to experience a lot of new things there so they were excited while we were in Los Angeles to the point that they didn't even want to leave. Both of them were crying when we were flying back. To get them to stop crying, I had to promise them we would be coming back soon.

It seemed like I was going to fulfill my promise after all.

“You're the best, Gianna.” He repeated when he saw the defeat on my face. He knew my children were my weak spot so he didn't hesitate to use them whenever he wanted something from me. “I'll take my leave now.”

There was a certain bounce in his step as he walked out of my office, knowing he had gotten what he wanted. I shook my head fondly and went back to my work.

I wouldn't lie and say I wasn't worried. The more time I spent in Los Angeles, the more likely it was to run into someone from my past. I had successfully evaded everyone the last time. I could only hope this time wouldn't be different.

There were a lot of people I hadn't talked to in years. It would be a bother if I were to run into them. I was sure most of them hated me by now. I wouldn't be able to face them so I'd rather just avoid it.