Tell Me With Flowers

32. Assurance to the insecurities

MILES

"Don't worry about him." I said, when Dad had gone the other way, nodding his head at another who had come to the ball. "He's been this way ever since my Mom passed away."

It was not a complete lie. He had been bitter but his resentment towards Megan was for more reasons than one. He had clearly mentioned his distress about me dating and yet I had walked over his words.

It was only a gesture of protectiveness towards me and I didn't know if I should be feeling good or be angry about it.

For once in my life, I had liked a woman and I had brought her here. Was that wrong?

But then again, I had liked Shelly once before with the same good intentions and I had been proved wrong. I knew I had to tread carefully and this time, I had everything under control.

Seeing her for the first time after four whole days was like getting oxygen back into my sore lungs. The way she looked with her dress couldn't hold me back and I went on her like a savage. The way she clung to me told me that she felt the same.

No acts.

"Yeah, I don't mind." Megan smiled at me, holding my hand. It seemed as if she was consoling me for my father's behavior.

"Come let's get you a drink." I led her to the drinks section. As we made our way there, few of my colleague stopped me on the way. "Hey, man."

"I'll just use the restroom." Megan whispered back, pressing her lips softly to my cheeks. "Be back soon."

I smiled at her gesture, and saw her walk away to the ladies' lounge.

"So, I heard about your Paris firm." Jerry said. "What are you planning to do with that, man."

"Oh that." I said, looking at the ladies room. Paris firm was not supposed to be known to others till all the formal paperwork was done. But with Jerry's connections, I could never tell. "I have some plans over it. I want to get the whole building down and get some renovations done."

"That's nice, man." He said. "Is Kevin doing that?"

"I hope he has some time to work on this." I laughed, trying not to give away anything much.

It was something I hadn't spoken to him yet and somehow, I didn't want to involve him in this project. It was my first solo project and I wanted to handle it all by myself. Something that I wanted to achieve and shove it in front of my Dad's face.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jackson, can I get a picture?" A paparazzi asked, interrupting me. I was more than happy to oblige.

"Sure." I smiled, putting my hand over Jerry's shoulder pulling him in to the picture.

Jerry walked into it, not saying anything against it. I smiled to myself. The Jerry I knew was still there, loving all the attention he could ever get.

"By the way, I heard about your girlfriend." Jerry said as we posed for the camera. Jerry turned to look at me, subtly raising his eyebrows at the media in front of us. "The same paper, I guess."

I smiled tightly. If he got the information through the newspaper, I didn't know how he was taking the situation in.

"Seems better than Shelly, Miles." Jerry said, probably looking at my tight expression. "Look, I don't know her, yet I can tell she's good news. Don't let her go."

"That's my plan." I said, happy that someone approved of my new relationships before I could be called as one of the rich playboys.

"But you should act quick, Miles." He said, looking over my shoulders. "Before things escalate."