Page 48 of Drunk In Love
As soon as we begin descending in the elevator, we stop one level down, and Jacob Reyes walks in.
“Sup, guys?” Jacob says as the doors close. He takes the empty space on the opposite side of where Kamaya and I are standing. “You heard about that arrest at the college?”
“Yeah,” Kamaya says. “We saw it earlier. My sister is a student at City University and told me about it.”
Jacob shakes his head. “It’s crazy that Harry guy is my boss’s son. I’ve never heard anyone mention him since I started working at FJ.”
“From what we know about their relationship, they are definitely not close,” I add.
“Cecily was just in the office not too long ago. Never seen her in here so late before. She and Zach were very dressed up.”
Kamaya and I exchange a glance. “Is that so?”
“I couldn’t hear much from where I was working. I had so much going on today setting up for new employees coming later this week. Anyway, they were both here maybe an hour ago, and I could hear them saying something about a party.”
Interesting. Wonder why they bothered coming to the office dressed up if they had somewhere to be? It would be coincidental, but something was gnawing at me that Jacob might be revealing useful information. Once Kam and I were alone, I’d tell her what I was thinking.
“Did you ever track down Franco?” Jacob asks, directing his question to Kamaya.
“Yes, we did,” she says before the doors open to the building lobby. “Thanks to you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jacob says, but I see the slight smirk on his face, confirming that he did help us but wouldn’t admit it. “Anyways, you two have a good night.”
Kamaya and I say our goodnights to Jacob, and neither of us speak until we’re in the safe confines of the SUV.
“That was weird, right? It wasn’t just me?” I say to Kam once we’re seated back in the car.
“I don’t know. I guess Jacob decided, in the end, that he wanted to help us. Maybe he thinks by helping us out, he’s helping his friend.”
I start the drive downtown towards Columbus Park. “I meant about Zach and Cecily. What do you think they were doing in the office so late?”
“I’m surprised she even came in after the news about Harry today. She’s been so embarrassed of him before,” Kam says, taking her phone out of her pocket. “Let’s see what is going on with all that now. I’m going to see if there’s been any updates.”
At the stoplight, I turn to her, looking down at the phone screen. “Have you heard from Daniella?”
“No, not since earlier. There’s nothing new posted about Harry or the school.” I watch her search Cecily van Zandt’s name and select News.
“Oh, well, now we know why she and Zach were so dressed up. Tonight is apparently her annual charity gala. Get this. They are raising money for underprivileged students for their education.”
I release a guffaw. “She and her son are more alike than they realize.”
“Yes, they just go about their causes for different reasons. Harry actually seems to care, though he does so in an extreme way. Whereas his mother is all for show.”
“What a wild pair they make,” I say, merging into the right lane to make the turn for the park.
“Have you heard from Zach at all since Friday?” I ask Kam.
“He did text me saying that he had a good time, and we should get together again.”
I grimace. “What did you say?”
Kamaya sighs. “I had to lie and say that I had fun as well but wasn’t sure when I’d have time again. I didn’t want to mention you and me, since I’m certain we’ll be meeting with Zach and Cecily again, and I don’t want to alienate him.”
I nod. “That’s smart. Hopefully you won’t have to keep up pretenses much longer.”
“Hopefully not,” Kamaya says.
I park on the corner of Mulberry and Worth Street. I turn to Kamaya for what happens next.