Stolen, page 12
“You have a job?” Janie asked incredulously. “When did you have a job?”
“I worked as a waiter – why are you asking me this?” he demanded, taking a step back. “I saved every cent.”
“I think I am asking a reasonable question,” she defended herself.
“Of course, but it’s your tone,” he responded. “I feel like I am being accused of something. Like it’s too weird I could do something smart.”
Janie was getting turned around. He was turning this around on her when her question was totally legitimate. All the pieces were starting to fit. His coming and going, his not helping with transferring to Stanford and the weird appearance of blue diamond earrings she had never seen or heard of until now. She thought it was time to confess her suspicion.
“Harry,” she said quietly.
She touched his arm. He waited for her.
“Harry,” she repeated, sympathetically.
She had to tell him because it would be in the way of whatever they had, if they still had it after she came clean.
“Right before you mom popped in, right after I met with the college about Allegra being in your room and all of that, right before I met Colin – “
“Get to the point,” he snapped in the style that was like his mother’s.
“Someone came into my room,” she said. “Took your mom’s earrings and – “
“And?” he demanded sharply.
“And kissed me,” she said. “I mean, really kissed me.”
“Did you report this?” he asked, not catching on, or pretending not to.
“Harry,” she said with a scold.
“What?” he asked.
“When Mark Miller got busted, I figured it must have been him,” she said. “Even though he didn’t fit.”
“You were looking for the guy?” he nearly shouted. “You didn’t call the cops and say hey someone robbed me and molested me?”
She shrugged.
“It wasn’t like that, I mean it was, but it wasn’t,” she said.
“What were you doing? Playing robber?” he asked nervous laughter.
She looked him in the eye as best she could in the darkness.
“Were you?” she asked.
He staggered as though she wounded him.
“What?!” he called out. “What?”
Janie was now officially pleading.
“The way you kiss me, the way you sound when you whisper in my ear, the way you can afford this place – “ she said. “I have to know.”
“And do you? I mean I’ve been kissing you and whispering in your ear for some time now. You mean to say before I showed you my surprise that you thought I was the guy robbing all of Woodside?”
“No, not all,” she began.
“NOT ALL?” he mocked.
Now he was in full-blown Wyler mode. There was no trace of the wonderful Harry that she crushed on like crazy. She hoped that she hadn’t pushed him indefinitely.
“Harry,” she said rationally. “I took the inventory of the house and the earrings that were taken from me were in the drawer where they belonged. No one, not even another burglar, could make that happen.”
“Every penny that I put into this house, I saved. Not one cent was stolen,” he said.
“I believe you,” she said.
“Are you saying that because it’s true or because you need a ride home?” he asked.
“I do believe you,” she said.
“Good,” he said tersely. “Because we’re leaving.”
For the first time since they kissed, Harry and Janie walked without holding hands. Oh, she needed him now. He marched ahead of her, leaving her to stutter-step in her ornamental shoes to at least keep up with him until the streets were better lit.
She thought better of calling out to him, urging him to talk this thing out. She came by her suspicions honestly, he had to see that. The intensity of his brooding wafted off of him. Janie was just wanted to go home and follow through with the epiphany she had at dinner: she had to move on.
Chapter Nineteen
The next few days for Janie were like a horrible post mortem. What had been some of the most glorious moments of her life, were tarnished and she was completely ghosted by Harry. She owned that her suspicions were wild but the fact that he wouldn’t even talk to her, made her feel somewhat righteous. When all was said and done, Harry Wyler was first and foremost, a Wyler.
The blessing in all of it for Janie was that it motivated her to formulate a plan. Stanford was just down the street, more or less, and instead of telling herself she couldn’t, she was thinking, she could. She scoured the search engines and college job boards for university jobs and found some that she would definitely qualify for. Janie knew that a job at Stanford meant free classes. She was just going to find a new job, she was going to be Stanford college student.
The problem was that the school would check her references before she was ready to give notice to the Wylers. She couldn’t afford for the school to tip them off because if she lost her job with them because they, she lost both her home and her job. She decided to put down her direct dial to her office space in the main house. She would simply answer and give herself a good reference. It was dishonest but these were extenuating circumstances.
Next on her agenda, was to check out rooms for rent near Stanford. She was on her way out to go to the first place on her list, when a car rushed up her drive and came to a screeching halt. It blocked her in. Janie hovered near her door way. She didn’t recognize the driver even as she emerged from the driver’s side, dramatically. The long flowing mane and the statuesque form told Janie the young woman could only be one person. Allegra Morrissey.
“Where is he?” she hollered.
“Who? Your dad?” Janie replied, knowing full well she meant Harry.
“Harry!” she screamed.
“If you don’t calm down, I am calling the police,” Janie warned, as she lifted her phone and speed dialed security.
“Answer me,” Allegra demanded as she stepped menacingly towards her.
“I have no idea where Harry is, if that’s who you mean. I have no idea who you are. Harry when he is here, lodges at the other end of this estate,” said Janie coldly.
Allegra’s eyes narrowed.
“You went away with him so quit playing like you’re just acquaintances,” she said. With a wicked smile, she added, “Wonder how Lola will like this? First her son drops out of school and now he’s sleeping with the help.”
“He isn’t sleeping with me and I am not the help,” she said. “Not for long. Now you’re blocking my way. I’ve let security know.”
“Oooh security,” mocked Allegra.
“Oooh consequences,” countered Janie, mimicking her. “Like you know what those are.”
Allegra took a swing at Janie and knocked her back. Her fist made perfect contact with Janie’s eye, and the blow knocked her back so that she collided with the brick and the wood casing of the cottage. She almost stumbled into the window but she managed to brace herself. Her wrist was going to smart.
Security swarmed from nowhere. They cuffed Allegra as she squawked and struggled. Janie was still as stars circled her head. One security guard called the police and the other made Janie follow his finger.
“You don’t look so good,” he said. “I think you should get checked out. You’re going to have a shiner for sure.”
“No,” she said. “I can’t. I have to be somewhere. It’s over by Stanford. If you want to drive me. I don’t feel like driving but I can’t miss the appointment. It won’t be very long.”
The security guard hemmed like he was on the spot but he relented. Janie waited while he locked up. The police were on the scene right away. All she wanted to do was go check out the apartment and now the drama of the Wyler household was getting in the way of that. She had to give her side of the story before she could leave.
“I stepped outside and this woman showed up,” said Janie. “I am going to be late for an appointment.”
The security guard chimed in.
“This woman attacked Ms. Jordan,” said the security guard. “Punched her, made contact, which then shoved her against the wall. I think she should be checked out.”
“Did you hit somewhere?” asked the police.
The cop took a closer look and made a face.
“I see,” he said, checking out Janie’s eye.
“She’s faking it,” shouted Allegra from the backseat of the police car.
“Mind if I take a look?” asked the cop.
Janie pointed to the back of her head and was still while the cop took a picture.
“I think your employee is correct,” said officer.
“He’s not her employee,” Allegra blurted. “She’s like the janitor or something. Harry used to call her Hazel.”
Janie knew that Hazel was a reference to a very old TV show maid. It sounded like a joke Harry would make. Every time Allegra referred to him or the time they spent together, it cut a little deeper. That hurt worse than her head, which was mildly aching.
“Ma’am, we have to know if you would like to press charges,” asked the cop.
Allegra beat her to the punch.
“I’m already going to have my father destroy the little agreement he made to keep darling Harry out of prison,” she bellowed.
Janie did an about face to the cop.
“How much time could a person like her get for coming onto my premises and attacking me like this?” she asked.
“It depends,” said the cop. “I am guessing anywhere from community service to a couple of years.”
“A couple of years?” squawked Allegra.
“How long do I have to press charges?” asked Janie.
“There are a number of different charges,” said the cop.
“Well pick one,” she said.
“You have at least a year,” he said. “If that’s what you’re asking.”
The cops spinning lights were sure to be attracting attention. Janie could see curtains lift across the street. Harry probably wasn’t home since she was sure he would have joined them by now.
“Fine,” she said. “Hey Allegra, the second I hear Colin has reneged on the deal, I am pressing charges. If anything happens to Harry or his reputation, I will press them six ways to Sunday. I will also report you to the school. And anywhere else I could think of. I’ll post a blog about a stalker.”
“You wouldn’t,” she said.
“Don’t you ever come near me again,” Janie ordered. “A restraining order isn’t going to look to good on your record. Especially not if I tell Harry. If you think he avoids you now –“
“Whatever,” she said.
“No charges?” asked the cop with disbelief.
“For now,” said Janie.
The cops were frustrated, as was the Wyler security guard, that Janie wouldn’t have Allegra arrested. They all waited as she got in her car and drove away. Janie talked the security guard to drive her to Palo Alto which with the lack of traffic for the time of day, was only about ten minutes away.
The apartment space was much like the space she lived in at the Wyler’s. It was located in a granny suite above the garage in the upscale section of town, not far from the Morrisseys. The space was mercifully affordable and ideal and the landlord was a white-haired widow. It could not be more perfect. Janie could ride a bike to work and school, if she got the place.
The security guard waited for her while she met her potential landlord. When she emerged from the interview, the security guard was visibly concerned.
“You better clear your day,” he said. “If you aren’t going to go get checked out, you should at least get rest.”
Janie felt banged up. Her face hurt when she talked but the steps she was taking to reclaim her future, were incredible medicine. She took the guard’s advice. She snuck a bag of edamame from the main house freezer and went back to her cottage, to lay in bed with the icy vegetables on her head.
Chapter Twenty
Janie stayed close to the guest house for fear she would run into Harry in the main house. She was going through her stuff, weeding out what she would take with her to whatever new place she moved to. She didn’t have any furniture; that was all the Wylers. She started a load of laundry.
As she reached for the bag she took to go to Sonoma, she saw Harry’s blue diamonds on her desk. How she had not thought to give them back to her before the broke it off, she did not know. The thought of facing him was something she could hardly stomach. Sometimes she loved him and sometimes she could not stand him, and wished she had never met the Wylers.
Just as she was getting worked up, she got a notification she was invited to interview for one of the jobs at Stanford. Right after she got that notice, the widow called her to say space was hers if she wanted it. Janie jumped for joy which was a terrible move; her body was tender from Allegra shoving her.
“I accept,” Janie told the widow. “I can deliver a cashier’s check for first and last if you like.”
“A check is fine, dear,” she replied. “We can sign the lease when you arrive. It’s a standard one-year lease with an option to renew.”
Janie tried hard not to squeal while she was still engaged on the call. It was such great news amid the crappy turn of events. summoned the courage to travel to the main house, to her office space where she kept her own checkbook under lock and key and envelopes.
She would grab what she needed and while she was anxious, chances were great she wouldn’t run into Harry at all. She was almost right. Janie fished around in her workspace; she saw the myriad of emails from Mrs. Wyler, one or two from Colin but she would get to those once she returned from securing her new place. And then she would give notice.
Janie turned around, all set and was met with a very dark and brooding Harry Wyler. Like so many other times, he suddenly appeared with skillful stealth that she hadn’t heard him.
“You should really announce yourself,” she snipped. “And that reminds me, I have to return your earrings.”
“Okay,” he said.
As she looked him in the eye, his face flared. She had never seen such fury in him before – his mother was a different story but not him.
“What the hell?” he demanded. “What happened to your face?”
Janie rolled her eyes. She hadn’t thought to put cover up on the black eye that the security guest accurately predicted. She hadn’t checked it out for a day or two; all she knew was the color peaked and now it was fading, though not much. She was afraid he was going to press her about it.
“What did you do?” he asked.
“I can tell you about it later,” she said. “I have to go drop something off. Follow me to my room so I can give you back your earrings.”
“Jane,” he said. “What happened?”
“Thanks for respecting that,” she snipped. “I got jumped by Allegra Morrissey. I am surprised someone hasn’t called you to notify you the deal is off.”
“The deal?” he clarified. “They’re going to call off the deal? When did this happen?”
“Harry,” she said gripping his arms firmly. “I have to go. I’ll be back in an hour or so. But I am not missing this appointment. Now stop asking me questions.”
Janie realized she was being overly dramatic when she brushed past him. He followed her as she wanted. She didn’t have a set time to meet the widow so she relaxed a little but she wasn’t about to get drawn into a conversation with him. It wasn’t the time.
Harry waited at the doorway while Janie retrieved the earring for him. Even as she barely brushed his palm with his fingers, their chemistry lit her up. She thought she would sob. In a split second, she thought through why it wouldn’t have worked between them anyway and it was best for her to quit him cold turkey.
“Here,” she said. “Thank you.”
She closed the door and quickly dashed into the bathroom to cover up her bruise. She did the best she could. She winced as she dabbed the cover up; she was still tender. If she didn’t want nothing more to do with the Morrisseys, she would an example out of Allegra. When Janie emerged to get in her car, Harry was waiting for her.
“Promise me we’ll talk?” he asked.
She tried her best not fall for him; her heart wanted to cave but her head wouldn’t let her. He wouldn’t have a conversation with her when she needed him to, the answer had to be no.
“I am late,” she said and she got into her car and drove off.
The widow was all set up and waiting for Janie when she arrived. Janie tendered her the check and sat down to read the lease. She basically skimmed over it and saw that it was indeed standard. She signed it joyfully.
“Thank you,” she said, genuinely happy about this one positive thing.
But her happiness was short lived.
“You know,” began the widow. “I forgot to ask you this and I really apologize. But I didn’t get the name of your employer or your landlord. It’s just a formality since I want you to be my tenant.”
Janie tried not to flinch. She thought it was all a little too easy. She hated like hell putting down a Wyler name out of a mix of pride and fear. It would let the cat out of the bag in a way she didn’t want to. But she had no choice; the widow could say no deal.
Janie quickly scrawled Harry’s name because he was the safe bet. He would understand, even if he was annoyed with her. She checked her phone for his number since she hadn’t committed it to memory, and saw his texts. She hadn’t found the heart to delete them, even though there weren’t a lot. Sharp emotion jabbed her and she had to suppress her tears.
“There you are,” she said to the widow. “This is Harry Wyler’s contact information. Feel free to call him.”
“Thank you, dear,” she said with a smile as she held out the keys. “Welcome.”
The sight of the widow dangling the keys played in Janie’s mind as she got into her car, clutching her copy of the lease. They reminded her of the earrings. The sentiment was too much. She let the tears fall as she hopped took the scenic Sand Hill Road route to home.
