Chapter 15

Jack and Robert arrived at the place of the accident 15 minutes later. Emma was being checked by a medic, and Robert ran to her as soon as he stopped his car. Jack got out too and felt panic rise in him while he searched the crowd for Maggie.

 As soon as he spotted her there, not far from the wrecked car, he ran to her and not minding the police officer she was talking to, engulfed her in his strong embrace. Maggie was startled by his action, and it took her a second to respond, but when she did wrap her arms around Jack's torso, he felt relief wash over him, and his rapid heartbeats slowed down a little.

"Are you ok?" Maggie heard his whisper.

"Yeah." She answered shortly and pulled away from him to return to the police officer who was taking her statement. But she stayed close to Jack, enjoying the sense of security he was giving her.

Jack waited patiently the next few minutes, and as soon as the police officer excused himself, he grabbed Maggie by her shoulders and asked again what happened. He could see that their car was being picked up by the service vehicle, crushed from behind and on the driver's side. What the hell happened here?

"Please, let's talk at home," Jack nodded but didn't miss Maggie calling his villa a home. It felt strangely good to hear those words from her mouth.

They both walked to the ambulance vehicle, where Robert and Emma were standing.

"You should go to the hospital for a detailed check-up. We will catch a taxi on the way back." Jack said.

"You don't mind getting a taxi? I need to make sure they're fine."Robert asked his friend before he noticed Maggie standing next to him, "Hi, you must be Maggie. Nice to meet you," he offered his hand for a shake, and Maggie accepted it. "I'll see you guys later." He said before he stormed out towards his car.

Jack and Maggie stood on the sidewalk, watching as the couple drove off before Jack waved his hand and stopped the taxi. They silently got in, and Jack gave the address to the driver.

"I hope you don't mind that we stop by my office for a minute. I left my car there, and I have one more thing to finish before we head home." For some reason, ever since Maggie came to live in his house, she noticed that he never used that commanding tone with her that she knew him by, from the first moment she met him. She has noticed it a moment ago when he 'ordered' Emma to go to the hospital, but with her… he talked differently.

"Sure," she nodded, not looking at him but straight ahead.

About 20 minutes later, they stopped in front of the high building in the Chicago business center. Jack paid the driver, and they got out. Maggie felt Jack's hand wrap around her waist before they got to the front door.

"Rick, this is my wife, Margaret. She will be coming here more often in the future." Jack said to the man in his 60's that was working as the company head of security.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am. I didn't know you got married, sir. Congratulations."

"Nice to meet you too, Rick," Maggie said politely.

They went inside, and Jack introduced her to the receptionist too. Maggie noticed that his voice was different when he was addressing his employees than when he was talking with her. That was understandable, and it made her glad to know that he treated her differently than the others. She honestly hoped that it would last, that he won't return to the way he was in the beginning. She had to be truthful to herself… she like this Jack, thoughtful and gentle.

Jack led her to the elevator, and they went up to the last floor. They passed a few people that watched them with interest before they got to Jack's assistant's desk.

"Simone, this is my wife, Margaret. In the future, if she calls or comes here, she is the priority. No matter what I do." Jack stated and waited for confirmation from his assistant. Simone, a woman that looked like she was in her mid-thirties, attractive blonde, glanced towards Maggie with evident distaste on her face. "Bring me the documents for signing." He added a second before he opened the office door and went in. Maggie followed.

His office was spacious, and Maggie could notice that it was designed by the professional, just as his villa was, not a single detail that could indicate a personal touch.

A minute later, Simone walked in, bringing a folder. Jack signed a few papers quickly, returned the folder to Simone, picked up his wallet and car keys from the desk, and was ready to leave. All along, Maggie was standing next to the window, admiring the view.

"Let's go home," Jack said, gaining her attention. They took the elevator to the underground garage where Jack's car was parked.

"What are you thinking about?" Jack asked when they both in the car. She seemed distracted.

"Oh, it's just the girls in your company don't seem to like me that much," Maggie muttered, and it caused Jack to laugh out loud.

"Who cares what they think? I like you, and that's enough for me." Before he even had time to think about it, those words escaped his lips, and when Maggie said nothing in return, he stayed quiet for the rest of the ride home.

Mary greeted them with the baby in her arms, and little Eric showed all the happiness a human being could after seeing them. Jack took him the next second, and again, Maggie felt a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach seeing their bond and how they were reacting to each other. She never knew her father, and every time she would see a man with a kid, being all playful and cuddly, she would remember all the times from when she was a kid when she missed the man she never knew. Looks like some things you just never get over.

"Would you mind keeping an eye on Eric for a little longer? I need to have a conversation with Maggie." Jack asked Mary, and Maggie didn't miss the conspiratorial look that Mary was too slow to hide from her face.

A few moments later, when Mary was out of sight, and the two of them in the home office, Jack started his questioning.

"Do you mind explaining what happened today?"

"Emma came here earlier today and dragged me to some mall for shopping, and on the way there, she was driving like a maniac so after we found the dresses and were about to head home, I insisted on driving, and thank God I was! There on the traffic light, when I stopped on the red light, a car from behind hit us from behind. I thought it was an accident, but then he changed the track and passed on my left and hit my door… anyway; he left before we could even call the police. Emma, and let me tell you, she's a piece of work! She said it was probably some guy that Robert pissed off in court, and she didn't want to involve the police or the ambulance, but I called 911 and insisted on a medic to check on her since she's pregnant and all. And I gave the officer a description of that guy that hit us as best as I could since I saw him. And I don't know what else to tell you." Maggie finished her story.

Jack stood there looking at Maggie amazed. She seemed so brave in his eyes. Each thing that he learned about her, and he learned something new every day… every single thing about her just added to his fascination with her, and he realized just now that for him, it was already too late. There was no going back.

"Were you scared?" he asked. He will have to get to the bottom of this. Things like this can't happen again.

"Of course I was…" but her answer was interrupted by the phone that buzzed in her pocket. She wiggled it out, and it was an unknown number. Again, after she answered, she got no response from the other side. On Jack's brows raised in question, she said: "The wrong number again, I guess…"

"What do you mean?"

"There is an unknown number calling me since early morning, and each time there's no answer." She sighed.

The next thing she knew was Jack's strong arms wrapped around her body. He engulfed her in his strong embrace, and she felt him sigh before she heard his whisper: "I was scared like never before until I saw that you're fine. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you." It was so quiet Maggie thought she imagined it but nodded her head either way before she returned the hug and relished the feeling he was giving her… the feeling of safety and protection from all the bad things in the world.