Page 4 of Half of My Heart
ChapterTwo
I stareout the window of my office, my mind a million miles away from the present. My sister, who also happens to be my personal assistant, is here going over the schedule for the next couple of months. I should be paying attention to this important information, but I’m distracted by the fact that it’s been three weeks since I’ve heard from Thomas and I’m growing restless. While he never told me the exact date of when he was traveling to Chicago, I automatically assumed it would be sooner rather than later.
“Wanker!”
That jolts me out of my thoughts, and I look at my sister in surprise.
“Excuse me?”
“So, you hear that loud and clear but you’re a daft cow before then?” I blink at her, not confirming or denying her claim. “That’s exactly what I thought, so yes, you’re a wanker.”
“I’m sorry, Bridget.” I exhale out my apology because there are no good excuses that would be acceptable for ignoring her. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Yeah, well I have a lot on my mind and my plate, so I don’t need to be wasting my time or my breath if it’s only going to fall on deaf ears,” she scolds, and I feel like we’re children again and I’m getting into trouble for something I didn’t do.
Bridget has been my personal assistant now for two years when I could no longer trust my former assistant, Valerie. Valerie almost cost me a job due to her jealousy of other women. I never knew she had feelings for me—our relationship was strictly professional on my end. It’s been a breath of fresh air not having to question my sister’s loyalty or trust like I had to with Valerie.
“Again, I’m sorry. I promise you have my full attention this time.”
“No, I don’t think so. I think you need to tell me what’s going on that has your focus somewhere else.”
I narrow my eyes at her, trying to gauge if she’s genuinely concerned or just wants something to gossip about with my other sister and parents. Bridget is notorious for not keeping secrets and would always rat me out when growing up. But since she’s now my personal assistant, I feel it might be best to tell her what’s going on, especially so she won’t be surprised when getting the invoice from Thomas.
“I’ve hired a private investigator and I’m waiting to hear back from him.”
Now it’s her turn to narrow her eyes at me. “Why did you hire a private investigator?”
“To find somebody.”
“Well, no bloody shit.Whoare you trying to find, Cal?”
“A person from my past.”
She rolls her eyes and sighs before gathering her papers off my desk and standing up to leave. “Ring me when you’re not distracted anymore andmaybeI’ll be available.”
“Sit down, Bridget.” I sigh in frustration. We have a staring contest for about ten seconds before she reluctantly sits down again. “I’m sorry for being a prick.”
“Thank you, but you’re not forgiven until you give me more specific details.”
I shake my head, grab the bridge of my nose, and silently count to ten before continuing. “I’m trying to find a woman I met over four years ago. She lives in Chicago, and I would like to get in touch with her to see if we can meet up when I arrive.”
She tilts her head to the side, her eyes burning with questions. “Why do you want to meet up with her?”
“Just to catch up and see how she’s doing.”
“Is she young or old?”
“She’s in our age range,” I answer, not understanding the point of the question. “Why does that even matter?”
“Because you don’t just casually want to see people unless they serve a purpose,” she says in exasperation.
“That’s not true.”
“Is so. What’s her name?”
“Jenna.”
Her mouth drops open in shock at my answer. “Oi! Is this the chick you shagged for a week and after a month of long distance dating, she ghosted you?”