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annnnd I
will talk to you soon." I heard him say my name before I hung
up.
    Yes, I need to celebrate.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
Uncharted Territory
     
    I met Jackie for dinner and drinks at one of
her favorite nightspots. I replayed my call from Evan, and she just
grimaced. Nope, she didn't really like him. I could remember the
distinctly plastic smile that she reserved just for him whenever
she came to Miami.
    We decided on hitting a few bars and then
headed to Echo. Tonight the club was just as packed as last week's
special event. We went straight to the VIP section and ordered
drinks. Thankfully there was no sight of Julian, and Jackie assured
me that he didn't usually come to Echo. He preferred another lounge
that he owned, and that the last party was a fluke.  
    After we had a few drinks, Jackie wanted to
check out another after-hour spot to see if it could be used for
one of her events.  When we exited Echo, Julian and Edward
where outside waiting next to a limo. After I recovered from my
surprise, I looked at my devious cousin, and shook my head.
    "No," I spat out. Jackie tried to give me
that - eyes wide, I don't know what you're talking about look, but
I wasn't falling for it. I began to walk past the limo to hail a
cab home, but was stopped short when she grabbed my arm.
    "Oh come on Jade. He's my boss, and his
family has done a lot for me. We work together on a lot of
different projects, so sometimes he's going to be around," she
pleaded.
    I didn't know what to say. So I said
nothing. Just stood there folding my arms, trying to act like I
wasn't excited to see Julian. He was now leaning up against the car
enjoying our little show.
    "It's not a big deal Jade. We ride over with
them, I do a little business and then we go. It's not like he can
force you to do anything you don't want to do," Jackie
reasoned.
    See that's what I was afraid of. I
remembered, very vividly, how my own body turned against me that
night. I wasn't as sure of myself as my cousin seemed to be.
    Defeated, I headed over to the limo, nodding
politely to both men before we all got in. Part of me was excited
at the idea of spending more time with Julian, and part of me
wanted to turn and run for a cab home. Jackie didn't seem to care
one way or another. To her this is what men were for, to make sure
we never spent any of our own money. Julian sat across from me and
I tried not to make too much eye contact, but I was very aware of
him staring at me the entire time.  Julian was handsome,
powerful, and hypnotic. I sat stewing in a prison of his radiating
sensuality as Jackie chatted and laughed with Edward the entire
ride
    The driver pulled in front of a place called
VI. It seemed tiny in comparison to the extra spacious Echo. We
walked in and were seated at a small table by a hostess who seemed
to know both Jackie and Julian. She was a petite Latina with the
sexiest eyes I had ever seen.
    Next to Julian's, of course.
    She was dressed in a black skintight dress
with spaghetti straps that stopped mid thigh. Her wavy black hair
hung over her shoulders and rested right above her perky breasts
that were pushed out of her dress. Julian ordered drinks for our
table, and she responded to his request in Spanish as her cat eyes
studied me curiously. His response was a curt thank you. She smiled
and left our table to return to her duties.
    Did he do this to all women?
    The club was dimly lit with red and purple
lighting, and the music was a mixture of Latin and Caribbean
tunes.
    I like!
    Our drinks arrived and we all toasted to
enjoying life. As he clinked my glass Julian gave me a gaze that
was so hot I felt the familiar goose bumps pop up on my skin. There
was so much to that look, and I wasn't sure how to take it. Jackie
went off to do her business with the owner of the club, leaving me
with the two men. Against my better judgment I knocked back a
couple drinks to ease my nerves. I couldn't help but to respond to
the sexy rhythms of the music that thumped all