Chapter fifty-six: Meeting Avery

Chapter fifty-six: Meeting Avery

Jessica

"Here we are."

Jeffrey said, opening the bedroom door and immediately my eyes landed on the small bed in the corner of the room with a band poster on the walls surrounding it. I realized this was his childhood bedroom.

I walked inside, my lips parted in awe. This was a real glimpse into his past, it went farther than the picture albums could even explain. My eyes landed on the pictures of the famous artists decorated the wall by the small wooden desk across from the bed.

"You must have really loved music when you were younger." He shrugged as he walked up behind me, examining the walls himself.

"I was in a school band actually." I swiftly turned to face him, my eyes widened.

"A band?"

"Yes," he sheepishly nodded.

"Yes, Jeffrey Craig, the famous designer in a band group?"

"I was the lead singer." He said proudly and puffing out his chest.

"We were called Shuga Eboni and we won the best band contest during that time."

"I would have never guessed that you of all people were so into bands."

"I auditioned for the X-factor when I was fifteen but it didn't work. The judges thought I was too young for the role."

"I am sorry but I think it is pretty brave of you to do that. I have terrible stage fright."

"It was exciting," he beamed as he reminisced.

"But things happen for a reason, it is okay. I am successful now, I am not so sure how successful I would have been if I had made it through to boot camp."

"I have only heard you sing once."

I remembered when he sang the Micheal Jackson song in his office. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I would love to hear you sing again." He looked down at me with rosy cheeks and an embarrassed grin.

"Oh, I didn't know, I usually just joke around when I sing now. I haven't tried singing properly in such a long time."

"Well, you will have to sing properly for me sometime." He pressed his lips and nodded.

"Okay, I promise one of these days, I will surprise you with my sick singing skills." I giggled and smiled.

"Sounds like a plan."

James came back home a few minutes later, we ate and talked about the holidays. Jeffrey and I discussed a little about the places we would be traveling while we were in France. Since he was starting a new project again, he had a few more weeks before he had to go back to work. That means I have him all to myself of which I was so happy about.

"I would absolutely love to visit Loire Valley again." I said and Amber nodded.

"I have been there so many times, I am sure you would love the place. The weather is so cool and beautiful there."

"Oh, Jeffrey." Bianca called.

"You should really go see Nadia before you leave town. I am sure she would love to see you."

"And I am sure Jessica would also love to see where you used to work before you got all big and famous." James added with a smile.

Jeffrey nodded and continued eating, he didn't seem too keen about it but I didn't want to stay at anything because we were at the dinner table. It wasn't until we were in the bedroom, getting ready to bed that I brought it up.

"You seemed a little unhappy about visiting the bakery." I climbed into bed with him.

"It is not like that, sometimes they call me famous and I don't really like that word."

"Why is that?" I rollee to face him, my head propped up by my hand.

"I felt like it takes away from who I am as a person. If people always say, 'oh yeah, he is famous,' then they won't remember me as who I was before. Maybe I was kind, funny or caring but no, they all think of me as famous. That is not how I want to be remembered." I never thought of it that way.

"Anyways, are you excited to go to France?" He changed the topic.

"I am beyond excited." I grinned and I could feel the butterflies forming in my stomach.

"It has always been a place I have wanted to visit."

"Why are you people really that fascinated with some countries?" He smirked and I shrugged with a sheepish grin.

"Hey, I don't really travel that much so getting to explore Paris is probably the most exciting thing to happen to me."

"More exciting than being with me?" He raised an eyebrow.

I giggled and rolled over so that our chest was pressed together and wrapped my arms around his torso and nudged my nose to his.

"Nothing will ever be more exciting than being with you."


*****

The next morning, Jeffrey and I left for Marseille with Luke as our chauffeur. I asked Jeffrey if Luke has always been his driver and he told me that Luke had been a family friend for so long that he couldn't imagine anyone else taking his place. He always takes him to whichever county he is going to and also assured me that I could have my own chauffeur all to myself when I returned back to my country after the new year since Luke would be staying with him.

We stepped at the bakery he used to work at so we could grab some sweets for the ride into the city. It was a small and adorable bakery and many of the ladies who were currently working there remembered him from his teenage years. Nadia, whom I assumed was his former boss, was the highlight of the visit and she was probably just as cheeky as he was.

It wasn't until we were about to leave that a young woman, maybe a little bit older than me, walked into the shop. Her eyes landed on Jeffrey and soon widened.

"Oh my goodness, Jeffrey Craig. Is that you?" He turned around ajs was just as baffled to see her.

"Avery?"

"What are you doing here?" She asked, smiling and went in for an embrace that he happily obliged. I, on the other hand, felt immensely awkward.

"I am back in town for a few months." He responded, stuffing his hands in his pocket and shrugging.

"Business is business."

"Oh, right." She smirked.

"You are a businessman now. How did the latest expansion work out?"

"Great, now I am working on expanding to England and possibly another country."

"That is amazing, I am so happy for you."

I subtly nudged him and he looked down at me, suddenly realizing that he hadn't introduced me to his friend yet.

"Oh, Avery. This is Jessica, my…girlfriend."

As I shook her hand with a smile, I noticed that he had hesitated a little when he had mentioned we were dating but I brushed it off.

"It is nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

She said and then I noticed that her entire demeanor changed. She was very perky while talking to Jeffrey and as soon as she knew we were together, her attitude seemed too dull.

"Jeffrey and I actually used to date as well." I looked up at Jeffrey with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" I feel extremely awkward.

"Yes, umm just for a while." He said.

"A while? We dated for more than four years." She added and I instantly bit my cheek.

"Yes, well. Anyways, Jessica and I should get going. We have to get to Marseille today but it was lovely seeing you again." She nodded.

"Nice to see you too, maybe we can get together and catch up sometime while you are back." He nodded with a slight cringe.

"Yes, maybe."

"It was my pleasure meeting you, Jessica." She said with a small wave as we passed her towards the door.

"My pleasure meeting you too." I replied.

Jeffrey practically pushed me towards the car and drove off, continuing our journey. I waited for a few minutes before speaking.

"So….Avery?" He sighed heavily through his nose.

"Four years, huh?" I added and he turned his head to look at me.

"Jessica, please don't start anything."

"I am not starting anything. I just think it is funny how she acted differently after you told her I am your girlfriend."

"She didn't act differently." He furrowed his brows.

"Yes she did, Jeffrey. It was obvious."

He didn't respond and I knew he didn't want to discuss it anymore but I don't know what else to make of it. I didn't want to seem jealous but I knew I was. I was hardcore envious of their four years togetherness and I desperately wanted to know what went wrong for them to break up. She is an extremely beautiful, strawberry blonde, petite girl with beautiful eyes. I wanted to crawl in a hole.