Page 58 of Half of My Heart
“Check the parking garage to see if her car is still there and if it is, call the front desk and ask if they’ve seen her walk out tonight. I’m on my way in,” Mason orders and hangs up before I can respond.
I do as he instructed and go to the garage to find her car is still here. I call the front desk, who says they have not seen her, but they did change staff over an hour ago and will pull security footage and call me back. I go back to apartment and look around for her purse and keys and notice both are gone, so she must’ve gone out, but why is her cell phone turned off?
The next person I call is Robert, who confirms that he hasn’t seen or heard from her and tells me he is coming to the condo. I text Layla and while waiting for her response, I call Chase.
“Has anyone mentioned seeing Jenna out alone right now?” I ask him when he picks up my call.
“No, but I can ask. Is Mason not with her today?”
I repeat my story of what was supposed to happen tonight, and he reassures me he will ask around, and in the meantime, go out and see if he can find her at her usual spots.
I start to pace back and forth, not knowing what to do. I keep calling and texting her, but everything goes to voicemail and the texts remain unresponsive. Layla texts back and says Robert already called her and they’re going to go out looking for her as well. I text Mason and tell him to call Robert so they can divvy up places to search. I decide to stay at the condo in case she comes back.
I feel fucking hopeless and scared out of my mind. Security at the front desk finally calls back and said footage shows Jenna briskly walking out of the lobby over an hour ago and into an awaiting taxi that drove off. I asked if they could read the phone number off the side of the taxi and fortunately, they were able to and gave me the number. I then call the taxi company and ask if they could track down which taxis were at our condo because I’m looking for a missing person. The manager said it will take some time, but he can radio all his drivers and see who was recently here and will call me back.
The minutes seem to tick by at a snail’s pace before I hear back from anyone. I tell my driver to go home since I can use Jenna’s car if I need to go anywhere. My mind races with the worst thoughts and I have to shake them all away and trust that there’s a logical explanation.
Thirty minutes later, Robert finally calls with news. “Layla just got a call from the bartender at O’Malley’s. Jenna came in two hours ago and seemed upset. She’s drunk and he’s cut her off and has given her food. We’re on our way there.”
“I’ll meet you there,” I tell him and run out the door as fast as I can. Because I’m not thinking straight anymore and just want to see Jenna, I take the elevator down to the lobby and run to O’Malley’s since it’s only a couple of blocks away. Before I can even reach there, the paparazzi see me and start following, asking questions along the way. I don’t answer them, my focus solely on getting to Jenna. I’m confused and angry as to why she’s drunk at a bar when we were supposed to be together for my last night home.
The paps follow me to the front door of the bar but have to stop since it’s a private establishment and they aren’t allowed in. I pull the door open and immediately start looking around for her. I walk around the bar to the corner and finally see the backs of Robert and Layla, who are trying to help Jenna walk. She’s having trouble walking due to her inebriation and her face is red and blotchy from crying. She looks up just as I approach and her eyes are filled with anger. I don’t know what she’s so angry about, but I’m starting to get pissed that she didn’t talk to me first about whatever has her furious enough to want to get drunk and not be found. It was foolish on her part to go out alone, despite the restraining order we have against Danny Salari.
“Jenna, it’s time to come home. We can discuss whatever you think is going on in private.” I grab her arm to help her, but she yanks it out of my grasp.
“It’smyhome! I want you packed up and gone from it. We are done!”
“And why is that?” I ask calmly, but I’m seething on the inside that she’s trying to throw away our relationship.
“Why? Because I can’t trust you! I found everything out, the stories you planted about me, how you pay Chase to follow me! How could you, Cal? Why would you?” She starts crying and I feel like a fucking bastard. I look over at Robert, who shakes his head at me, indicating he was not the one who told her. I don’t know how she found out, but it doesn’t matter. She should have found out from me in the first place.
“Everything I’ve done has been in your best interest,” I tell her, trying to quickly explain in hopes she willingly comes home with me so we can talk more in private. “I had Chase follow you to make sure you were safe before we got Mason and I asked Robert to plant those stories because you were getting shredded in the press. You say you don’t care about your reputation, but it would have affected your business and how people treated Avery. I couldn’t watch that happen.”
She shakes her head as the tears continue to silently fall and I can tell she doesn’t believe me. I stare at her, my blood starting to boil at her unreasonableness. I grab her chin and force her to look deep into my eyes.
“I will not apologize for my actions, Jenna. The only thing I will apologize for is not telling you sooner. Now let’s get out of here,” I softly growl, not wanting to cause any more of a scene as I let go of her chin.
“How many more things are there that you haven’t told me about that were done in my ‘best interest,’ Cal? I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore,” she cries, and my chest feels like it’s about to explode from the pain her words have just caused. I know she’s drunk and irrational right now, but I’m fucking pissed that she didn’t come to me first when she found out and that she’s the one deciding we’re done.
“So that’s it? You’re going to cast me away for one mistake? I think you’re just grasping for any excuse in order to protect yourself because you are too scared to feel anything. You want me gone? So be it,” I say out of spite because that’s how I feel right now. “Help me get her home,” I bark out to Layla and Robert and turn around to shield her from the crowd that has formed.
Robert stands next to me and Layla holds Jenna up to steady her. We slowly make our way to the front door and once it’s opened, we’re blinded by the flashing lights from the cameras of the paparazzi. There’s no way we can walk back to her apartment so Robert runs ahead, secures a taxi and then comes back to help. They start shouting questions at us, and I hear Layla tell Jenna to keep her eyes covered and she’ll guide her to the cab.
“Here, let me help you with her.” I see Chase emerge from the crowd and try to shield Jenna with his jacket.
“Ah, well if it isn’t my own personal watch dog. You failed at your job miserably tonight, by the way. I think Cal should deduct from your wages,” Jenna says to him and my jaw clenches in anger at my stupidity for not telling her sooner.
“Jenna, I can explain—” Chase starts but gets cut off by Layla.
“It’s you! Get the hell away from her!” Layla screams and I turn around just in time to see her push Chase away.
I frown in concern, surprised by Layla’s reaction to Chase. “What’s wrong?”
“This is the guy!” She points a finger at Chase, and I look at her in confusion.
“Yeah, it’s Canadian Chase. He’s the one Cal is paying to follow me,” Jenna sneers, giving me a look.
Layla looks at Jenna in shock, her blue eyes starting to blaze in anger. “He’s the guy who I told your story to in Las Vegas.”