Jack (Secret Revenge #1) Read online

  “Sean Martin band, no.” Sean feigned laughing. “What position did I play in little league?”

  “How should I know?”

  “Because, I played right field.” Sean said. He was starting to get annoyed.

  “Where is this coming from? Is it because I went out to lunch with Luke? Because Luke is a nobody, we just work together.”

  “It’s not. It’s not about Like. Anyway, I’m sorry.” Sean said exasperated and he kisses her.

  “I know, let’s watch a movie to clear our heads.” Beth suggested.

  “Okay.”

  That same evening, on the other side of town…

  Feeling lonely and envious, Bridgette decides to open up her laptop and write to her secret admirer: Why I am a complete loser…

  Remember me?

  “Ugh don’t do this to yourself.” Bridgette says to herself before she clicks the SEND button.

  The next morning…

  Sean calls Patrick early in the morning and asks him to meet him at they sat at many times critique women and their lunch options.

  “This better be good for an early in the morning, weekend wake up call.” Patrick says when he arrives at the bench where Sean has been sitting for the past hour with his dog, Corey.

  “Guess who I received an email from?”

  “I don’t know.” Patrick shrugged.

  “BJohnson.”

  “Beth? That was your big Saturday emergency?”

  “I never gave Beth my email, for obvious reasons.”

  “Whatever, why did she email you?”

  “I don’t know. She ended it with internet me because she was into the real me and now she emails internet me again.”

  “She’s cheating on you with you.” Patrick laughs.

  “It’s not that funny.”

  “It kind of is funny. Why happened?” Patrick asked.

  “It was a small thing. Certainly not a deal breaker?”

  “Maybe not to you. Look, you have to meet BJohnson and nip it in the bud before you lose her entirely.” Patrick urged.

  That night, unable to sleep Sean decides to reply and suggest meeting up like Patrick and him talked about that morning: B, it’s great to hear from you. I think it’s time for us to meet in person. Please say yes.

  After clicking send, he gets a response right away: Okay, let’s do it. How about 1pm at the tables at the marketplace.

  Monday morning…

  “So you guys don’t think I’m crazy?” Bridgette asked Monica and Beth.

  “You’re meeting him in a crowded place in broad daylight. It’ll be fine.” Beth said.

  “If he looks at all crazy, then you scram.” Monica suggested.

  “You know it’s crazy to think that you still don’t know what he looks like.” Beth mulled over the thought.

  “Well, none of us wanted to send photos of ourselves to each other.” Bernadette said.

  “What the heck…I’ll go with you. I want to see this guy.” Beth suggested.

  That afternoon, Beth went with Bridgette to the market place to meet her secret admirer.

  “So, what’s your mental picture of him.” Beth asked.

  “Tall, a little scruffy with kind, soulful eyes. Oh, I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” Bridgette said nervously.

  “If he’s half as great as he seems to be, you should have met him a long time go.” Beth said.

  “Oh now. What if he’s here right now? I don’t want him to know you’re my body guard.” Bridgette gasped.

  “I’ll just casually go over to the boutique over there and then casually sit close by. If it gets uncomfortable, sneeze twice and I will call your cell phone with a fake emergency.” Beth hugs Bridgette. “Good luck.”

  Fifiteen minutes pass while Beth is casually sifting through the racks of the outdoor boutique near the marketplace dining area. Bridgette sat there waiting for her secret admirer who hadn’t showed up yet.

  “BJohnson?”

  A familiar face spoke behind her. It was Sean.

  “Sean? It’s you?” Beth said confused.

  “Yes, BJohnson it’s me. Sean.” He said as he kissed Beth lightly on the lips.

  “What brought that on?”

  “The sum of all of our online experience. You know, I feel like it is the first time I kissed the real BJohnson. I thought you were going to be at the tables. Are you okay?”

  Beth was horrified as the realization of what was happening hit her. Sean thought she was Bridgette! “Yeah”.

  “It’s just the picture coming clear huh?” Sean suggested.

  “Yeah, you can say that.”

  “You really didn’t know?”

  Beth told Sean that she wasn’t feeling quite herself and he took her to his office nearby to the marketplace and had her sit in his office. He quickly made her a green tea.

  “Here you go, I made you green tea. It’s kind of hot. I also ordered lunch.” Sean said.

  “Thanks. Sean, how did you first get my email address?”

  “I overheard you giving it to Allison and I wrote it down. I know that’s crazy and it is wrong but I don’t regret it. We got to meet each other. Beth, when I first saw you in the park, I was taken. Your blonde hair and yellow sundress were just flowing in the wind. To me, you looked like an angel.”

  “Sean, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  The phone rings and interrupts their conversation. When answered it, Sean found out that an important package had arrived and he had to go downstairs to sign for it.

  “I’ll be right back, I have to sign for the delivery. Five minutes and I’ll be right back. Keep drinking the tea, you’re looking better already. I’ll be right back.” He kisses the top of her head and runs downstairs.

  Beth hops quickly on his computer and emails the real BJohnson.

  Dear B,

  I’m sorry, I didn’t show up today. I know it was wrong. I apologize if I hurt you but I realized that all we had was a fantasy. It was foolish to think that it could ever be matched in reality. Please know that you will always live in my heart and know that no one can take away the joy we shared.

  “Beth, where have you been?” Bridgette asked her as it was some time since she last saw her at the marketplace.

  “Oh, Vince had some questions. So did he show?”

  “No, warm heart but cold feet.” Bridgette said and shows Beth the email.

  “I’m so sorry.” Beth apologized.

  “It’s not your fault. You know, even though I didn’t meet him. I really felt like I knew him because we talked about so many things. Like those little life things. I’d like to think at least that part of the experience was real.”

  “Ladies, meeting in the conference.”

  The women were surprised by the impromptu meeting but Monica quickly finds out it is a going away celebration but the announcement of her replacement. The girls were rooting for Bridgette.

  “Monica is leaving us for the windy side of Chicago. Here’s a winter jacket from all us.” Vince said handing over the big box to Monica. She opens it and it’s a thick and poofy winter coat.

  “I also wanted to give a shout out to Monica’s replacement and despite talented people applying from the outside, I decided to promote from within these walls. So put your hands together for our new Director of Marketing, Luke Burke.

  Beth, Bridgette and Monica are speechless while the rest of the office cheered and high-fived luke.

  Sometime later while in Monica’s office, Monica consoles Bridgette.

  “Vince is an idiot and he doesn’t deserve you. You deserve better. I was going to wait but they said, I can bring someone to run my office.” Monica said.

  “In Chicago?” Bridgette asked.

  “I’m not gonna lie, it’s very cold there but if you are up to the challenge, please think on it and get back to me okay?” Monica said hugging Bridgette.

  A few hours later, Bridgette runs into Beth.

  “Hey Beth, still work
ing?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Trying to impress your new boss?”

  “You should have gotten the job.” Beth said.

  “It’s actually quite refreshing, not getting what your heart is set on twice in a day. Frees you from all expectation.”

  “Listen Bridgette, about the internet guy.” Beth said

  “Last thing I want to do is talk about that man.”

  “Bridgette…”

  “I refuse to dedicate one more minute on that man. But I will say this, I got to him. That much I know.”

  Meanwhile, Beth confused decides to avoid dealing with Sean. He wasn’t quite sure what to do about him or Bridgette and despite his calls, she never picks up:

  Beth, its Sean. I think we should talk. So uh…just call me whenever you’re ready. Okay, bye.

  That weekend, he decides to meet up with Bridgette and Kyle to teach him how to play basketball until Sean is worn out and takes a break to see on the bench next to Bridgette.

  “He’s going to really miss it here when we leave.” Bridgette says .

  “What are you talking about?” Sean asked confused.

  “Chances are that I’ll take that job in Chicago.”

  “Wait, you might be moving?”

  “I haven’t told anyone yet, not even Kyle. But I’m just waiting for it to actually happen first.”

  “Right…okay. That’s uh, quite a surprise.”

  “I’m not exactly loading up my trailer just yet.”

  “Yeah I know. I’m gonna really miss that kid.”

  “Yeah, he’ll miss you too.” She said.

  “What’s the job?”

  “Maddison Hotels.”

  “What? We just did a proposal for them recently. We may get the gig.”

  “Whether or not I’m up there, I’ll be sure to tell Monica about it. I’m sure she’ll help you guys out.”

  “I meant that if I got the job, we may end up in the same city you know.” Sean said as he held Bridgette’s hand subconsciously.

  ………….

  After their Monday mid-morning meeting, Luke approached Beth and Bridgette.

  “Hey Beautiful.” He said.

  “Are you talking to me?’ Beth asks.

  “There’s a table waiting for us at lunch time.”

  “Nice. I’ll meet you downstairs”

  “Great! Looking good, Bridgette.”

  “Thank’s Luke. Hey, what’s the deal with you and him?” Bridgette asked.

  “I don’t know. He likes taking to me lunch and he’s kinda fun.” Beth replied.

  “More fun than Sean?”

  “Bridgette, about Sean. I think he’s meant for someone else.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, what if a guy never really sees the real you, because he doesn’t want to ruin the fantasy he created.”

  “Who are you talking about, Sean or my secret admirer? I’m sorry to bring it back to me, but you know Sean is really special, right? Men like him don’t come around every day. I’d just hate to see you do something you regret.” Beth pleaded.

  “Yeah, I’m trying not to.”

  Few minutes later, when Bridgette reached her cubicle after the meeting she contacted Monica who was now in Chicago and took her upon her offer in joining her there.

  On the other side of town, Patrick finds out that they got selected for the Maddison Hotel marketing campaign. Patrick told Sean excitedly and strongly urged him to thank Bridgette. Sean wanted to thank her in person.

  When he arrived at the office building, he found Beth talking with Bridgette who was now holding a box full of her belongings.

  “So you’re actually leaving?” Sean asked.

  “Yeah, when they throw you a going away party, there’s no turning back.” Bridgette joked. “Oh, hey guess where I’m taking Kyle.”

  “Where?”

  “Water Zone, for his birthday.” Bridgette said excitedly.

  “Oh my god, he’s going to flip there. Man, I wish I could be there to see that excitement on his face. Anyway, safe travels. Tell Kyle I said goodbye. He’s going to be a ball player in no time.” Ben says and hugs Bridgette goodbye.

  “Goodbye, Sean and thank you Beth for the great going away party. Good luck around here.” Bridgette says before she leaves the office to her car.

  Later that afternoon, while Kyle and Bridgette were finishing up loading the travel before they left for Chicago for good, Bridgette sees Beth running to her quickly.

  “Beth, what is it?”

  “I know who your secret admirer is.”

  “What?”

  “Bridgette, it’s Sean.”

  “Sean?”

  “Everything he loved about me, was actually you the whole time.”

  “Does he know about this?” Beth asked.

  “I wanted to tell you first.”

  “Um, can we just keep it that way. Look, there’s so much I gotta do so I’m going to say goodbye.” Bernadette’s eyes start tearing up as she hugs Beth goodbye and walks back into her house.

  Desperate, Beth drives to Sean’s house to tell him the truth.

  “So I was emailing Bridgette the whole time? How’d that happen?”

  “You know, for a guy that’s interested in all the little details, there’s one you didn’t notice. I spell my name with an e-n not an o-n. Like Bridgette does.”

  “BJohnson…” Sean whispers to himself.

  “Look, Sean. I don’t mean to be mean or anything but we don’t exactly belong together.”

  “Yeah I know.”

  “That’s not to say that you’re not the nicest guy I have ever dated or that I didn’t enjoy the time we spent together, but I need to be with a guy…well, like me.”

  “And I need to be with a woman…”

  “That knows your favorite color, likes cheesecake and Chicken Alfredo and most importantly, someone who believes in true love. Who’s probably pulling out of her driveway as we speak.” Beth pleaded.

  “Oh my gosh.” Sean stands up quickly and runs calling for his dog to tag along. “Corey! Corey!”

  While on the road, Bridgette and Kyle stop by a diner and celebrate with a hearty lunch and a birthday cake where the waiters and waitresses sang him a happy 11th birthday.

  “Do you know what I wished for?” Kyle asked.

  “If you tell it, it won’t come true.” Bridgette advised him.

  “Says who?” Kyle challenged.

  “I don’t know, but that’s what everyone says.” Bridgette shrugs.

  “Tell me what you would have wished for mom, you can tell me.”

  After lunch, they hit the road until Kyle noticed that they were on their way to Water Zone.

  “Mom, look its Water zone! Thanks, mom. This is the best birthday ever!” Kyle shouted from the back seat.

  Thirty minutes later they arrived at the entrance.

  “Kyle, sweetheart. I just want to make sure that since you built this place up in your head for a long time that you won’t get disappointed.”

  “I won’t! Come on.” He said running towards the entrance until he runs into an all-white dog barking at him. “Mom look!”

  “Don’t tell me you saw a shark.”

  “No mom, come here. It’s a dog and all white one.”

  Bridgette catches up with Kyle to see him on his knees petting an all-white dog. She wondered where she heard of it before and as she glanced up she saw Sean standing there at the entrance.

  “Sean!” Kyle shouted as he ran to hug Sean.

  Hugging Kyle and then lifting him high in the air before putting him down, “Hey, kid. Sorry for crashing your birthday but I do remember that you had invited me.”

  “Okay cool! I’m going to go play with the dog.” Kyle said and ran after the dog.”

  Sean turned to look directly at Bridgette as he approached her. He then said, “So…do you believe in true luck or true love?”

  “I’m starting to think I believe in a litt
le bit of both?” She guessed.

  “Good.” Sean said in a hushed tone and pulls her into his arms and kisses her for a long time. It felt right.