The Billionaires (#1)

39 || Chance Encounters

The next morning, on a Sunday, MJ woke up early and prepared for her morning jog. She needed to clear her head after everything that took place the previous night including Carmen’s pregnancy and Shannon’s fight.

She placed her phone on the coffee table and sat down on the couch to put on her Nike trainers. She wore a black Nike sports bra and black Adidas track pants with white stripes on the side. She tied her hair into a messy bun and grabbed her phone and earphones off the table, and then she grabbed a water bottle from the counter and left the apartment.

She wore her earphones and took off running once outside the building.

It was her first weekend in Cape Town and it had not started well. Logan’s girlfriend, Carmen, had returned and to make things worse, she was pregnant. A lot of things were going to change on Monday, and the fact that Lola would be returning too did not make things any better. Lolitta Leibrandt knew MJ and she could recognise her from a distance.

Lolitta was one of Jorge Billings’ best friends from high school and she visited him most of the time when she was in London on business, and she and MJ had had a few encounters. If MJ had known that she worked at Parker’s Enterprise, she would have most probably not taken the job. MJ was so deep in thought that she ran into someone and dropped her water bottle and phone. “Dammit!” MJ groaned and bent over to pick up her things.

“Watch where you are running to!” The person snapped.

MJ recognised the voice immediately, and she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists around her possessions. “You watch where you are going.” She snapped back and stood up straight.

“May?” He asked with widened eyes.

“The one and only.” She muttered dryly.

“I'm sorry for –”

“Look, Mr Parker, I don’t have all day.” She tried to sidestep him, but he grabbed her wrist.

“Mr Parker? You make me sound as if I bite, I told you to call me Logan when we are alone.” He said, hurt evident in his voice.

“I don’t remember you telling me that, Mr Parker. Now if you will excuse me, I have a meeting to get to.” She tried to walk off, but he stopped her again.

“A meeting?” Logan asked, his jaw clenched.

“Yes.” She gritted.

“With who?” Logan demanded in a hard voice. “Is it a man? Does it have anything to do with work?”

Where were all these questions coming from? MJ wondered, her temper rising. “Mr Parker, I think I told you before – whatever I do outside of work is none of your business. I am having lunch with a friend and he doesn’t like waiting.” MJ retorted and pulled her hand away.

She was lying about the meeting; Liam was off for the day and she did not know anyone around here that she could possibly have a meeting with.

Logan sighed and slipped his hands into his pants pockets, and tilted his head to the side and stared at MJ. Uncomfortable silence passed between them as they stood there, with MJ looking anywhere except at him.

“May, I’m sorry about last night, okay?” He threw his hands on his sides. MJ turned around and looked at him. “I had no idea that Carmen was coming back and that she was pregnant.” He said sincerely, and MJ frowned. Why was he apologising to her?

MJ was about to reply when she noticed that he was dressed up. “Why are you dressed up on a Sunday?” She gestured at his navy blue tuxedo and the red bowtie.

Logan ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I am going to a business meeting.” He cleared his throat and avoided her sharp eyes.

“A business meeting?” She asked with furrowed eyebrows. “A business meeting in a tux?” MJ asked again, raising her voice. “Baby Doll, I was not born last night.” She said slowly and calmly, closing her eyes. “I am not stupid. What the hell is going on?” She snapped and quickly reprimanded herself. Why was she angry and why did she care what he was up to on his Sundays?

Logan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes briefly as if he was in pain, and ran his tongue over his teeth. “I am going on a church conference with Carmen in Johannesburg.” He ran his hand through his hair and searched her face for emotions, but what he saw left as fast as it came, and her face remained devoid of any emotion.

“Oh well, have fun and pray for me.” She said bitterly and took off running.

“May, come on; will you run away whenever something you don’t like happens?” Logan shouted after her before he could stop himself, his words causing her to stop.

She spun around and looked at him with cold eyes, her lips closed in a thin line. The look she gave him made him realise that he had crossed a line.

MJ completely forgot herself, and for a moment, she let herself believe that they were talking as MJ Billings and Logan Parker. “I’ve been running all my life…” She said sharply, then paused and pursed her lips. “And I’m not about to stop for some rich and arrogant boy who can’t keep his pants on.” She said coldly and ran off.

Logan just stood there, shocked and hurt. Was that what May thought of him, and why did he care so much about her opinion?

A red Mini Cooper pulled up next to MJ, but she kept running. The owner of the car sped up and slowed down, trying to catch up with her. They rolled down the window and wolf-whistled at her. “Hey, May!” MJ slowed down and looked at the driver.

“Jay?” She asked, flashing him a weak smile.

“The one and only.” Jameson Petersen said, getting out of the car, and then he pulled MJ into a hug.

“How are you doing?” MJ asked and quickly pulled away.

“I’ve been good, I’ve been good. What about you?’ He asked cheerfully.

Logan was watching them from a distance and his blood boiled. A black car pulled up next to him and his driver stepped out and opened the door for him, but Logan just stood there and watched them with clenched fists.

“Oh well…” She shrugged.

“Hey, I came to the party last night, but you were gone. I wanted to ask you about lunch…you know?” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. MJ raised an eyebrow at him. “Would you please have breakfast with me?” He asked. “I could use some food before going to church, my mom did not make breakfast; she says eating food before going to church is a sin.” He gave an exasperated sigh.

He walked around his car and opened the passenger door. MJ rolled her eyes and walked around the car, and before she got in, she spotted Logan watching her, they stared at each other, and MJ broke the contact and got into the car. Jameson closed the door and walked to the driver’s side and got in. He started the car and drove, and then he pulled up within a few seconds. MJ gave him a questioning look and shook her head.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. This is my favourite café.” He grinned. The café was three doors away from Bon Appétit. “May.” MJ snapped her head to find Jay holding the door for her. She got out of the car and muttered a ‘thank you.’

The café had ‘La Café’ printed in brown. They walked into the café and MJ found it to be simple and welcoming. People were busy with their own stuff, nobody cared who walked in or what they wore. MJ was self-conscious, especially since she was in her gym clothes and was all sweaty.

“My son!” An older woman with a Brazilian accent greeted Jameson and kissed him on the cheeks.

“Sra. Dos Santos, quão bom vê-lo! (Mrs Dos Santos, how good to see you!)” He said in Portuguese, a teasing tone in his voice.

“Bom para ver você também, filho.” (Good to see you too, son.) She smiled at him and pinched his cheeks. “And who is this beautiful lady here?” She turned to MJ and smiled at her.

“Uhm…Ants, this is–”

“Meu nome é May Smith, Senhora, prazer em conhecê-lo.” (My name is May Smith, nice to meet you, Mam.)” MJ said and shook her hand.

Mrs Dos Santos and Jameson exchanged looks, impressed by her fluent Portuguese. “Você fala Português?” (Do you speak Portuguese?) They asked in unison, and their cheeks turned red from embarrassment.

“Sim.” MJ said with a firm nod.

“I see.” Antonina said and turned to Jameson. “Jameson, hou vas aan haar, praat en moenie skaam wees nie.” (Hold on to her, speak, and don’t be shy.) She said and pinched his cheeks again.

“Ants…” He groaned.

“Moenie Ants ek nie! Ek wil jou sien trou en graag binnekort kleinkinders hê.” (I was to see you get married soon, and I want grandchildren.) She scolded and then smiled at MJ. “Take that table right there, it even has a natural candlelight.” She winked at them both, and Jameson groaned and guided MJ to the table next to the window. He pulled the chair for her and sat on the opposite side.

“We lost you there, didn’t we?” He asked her and picked the menu.

“Yes, I haven’t spoken Afrikaans in a long while.” MJ admitted and browsed through the menu.

“Yeah, you haven’t been in South Africa in a long time, MJ.” He gave her a small smile. MJ dropped her menu and looked at him, her face pale. “Ha ha, you don’t have to pretend in front of me, girla, I know who you are.” He chuckled shyly, MJ’s heart sank and her throat dried. This could not happen; it was enough that Shannon knew who she was, but for another person… “You don’t remember me? Jameson Petersen? The Jay Petersen?” He raised his eyebrows at her.

MJ pondered over the name in her head; now that he mentioned it, she knew a Jameson Petersen in high school. “Jameson Petersen?” MJ asked calmly, her eyes narrowed as she repeated the name in her head, and Jay nodded. “Gay Boy?” She asked in a low voice as the name came back, and Jay smiled at her.

“And the award for the freshest mind goes to…” He whispered and clapped his hands playfully.

MJ sank back in her chair and looked at him in question. “How did you…” She asked and took in deep breath.

Jameson waved her off and smiled. “I know Sonya Smith, and I know she doesn’t have a sister.” He shrugged.

MJ sat up straight and picked up her menu from the table. “I have to admit, you look good; I couldn’t have guessed it was you. How many hearts have you broken so far?” She asked casually

“My children, what would you like to order?” Antonina asked cheerfully, her eyes sparkling in unhidden mischief.

“I’ll have the usual– coffee and an English breakfast.” Jameson said, and Antonina wrote down his order.

“Okay. May, what would you like to order?”

“I'll have the same and Rooibos Tea.” MJ said, and the woman wrote her order down.

“Okay, my dear.” She said warmly. “Spreek.” She winked at Jameson and left.

“Ants!” He covered his face.

“Doesn’t she know that you play for the other team?” MJ asked.

“She knows; she’s just messing with me.” He smiled shyly. “So, MJ, you still suck at making coffee?” He laughed at her.

“Don’t remind me. Can you believe that Logan asked me to make him coffee?”

“Blame Sonya, can you believe that she insisted to make his coffee? I mean, Logan used to order his coffee from a restaurant downtown, but because she was lazy to walk there every day, she insisted on making his coffee, and now he is addicted to it. It was one of her attempts to get back into his good books.” He said, and MJ wondered how he knew all these when he did not work at Parker’s Enterprises.

“Kiddos, here is your food. Enjoy.” Mrs Dos Santos placed their food on the table and left.

Their breakfast meeting was fun; Jameson talked too much and was a gossip. MJ smiled and shook her head. She was glad that she could be herself for a while, even if it meant spending time with her high school ‘frenemy’, The Gay Boy, Jameson Petersen.