Jean felt completely miserable as she made the journey back home.
She had been played, and more than feeling miserable, she felt like a complete idiot.
Her life was ruined, and so was Jeff’s, possibly, unless she accepted what Michael was offering, which was completely ridiculous.
There was no way she could marry him; Jeff wouldn’t even agree to that, and then if they could not do that, the only other alternative was to fish out forty thousand dollars or spend a long, long time in jail.
Jean had no idea what to do or how to even break the news to Jeff, but she had to do it.
Maybe they could run away, but with Michael’s status, she was certain that they would not escape him for long.
Jean eventually arrived at Jeff’s apartment, but Jeff wasn’t home, so she decided to collect her thoughts and think of the best way to break the news to Jeff and also think of possible solutions.
She ended up falling asleep shortly after sitting down.
* * * * * Jean let out an incredulous scoff.
She wanted, desperately, to believe that she was not hearing correctly at the moment, or that she was still sleeping and at any moment, she would wake up and tell Jeff about what had happened at Michael’s office.
“Listen to me, babe, this is great for us.
So what if we stole for him?
He’s willing to marry you; the guy’s a freaking billionaire.
He’s stacked, and you’ll probably have to bear with him for just a little while before you can get your hands on some of his money, and we’ll leave.” Jean shook her head.
She did not want to believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.
“You’re joking.” She said, taking a step back and away from Jeff.
Jeff let out a frustrated sigh.
“Think outside the box for once, Jean, and try to see the bigger picture.
The guy’s probably some rich idiot and could not get a woman for himself, or he probably has some infidelity problem and knows that no woman would ever want to marry him.
There are countless people like him.” “No!” Jean yelled, blocking her ears with both hands.
She did not want to hear anything Jeff had to say.
“I’m not marrying him.” “So what then, you want us to spend the rest of our lives in jail?
Huh, is that what you want, Jean?” Tears started to pour from Jean’s eyes.
“I… I want us to be together.” “That won’t happen when we’re both in prison.
Look at me…” He placed both hands on her neck and forced her head so that she was staring into his eyes.
“If you marry him, we’ll still keep in touch.
He’s a billionaire, and he’s popular too.
He won’t keep his wife locked up in his house; people will talk.
You’ll come visit, and we’ll be together.
I promise you’ll only have to do it for a little while.
Whatever you can get your hands on, you bring to me, and then I’ll keep it for when we have to run away.” Jean still shook her head as she cried.
Jeff was frustrated, and she knew it, but she needed to make him understand that Michael was not what he thought he was.
“He won’t let me… He’s cruel and smart and…” Jeff silenced her with a kiss before digging his hand into his pocket, going on one knee in front of her and presenting her with a ring.
Jean’s breath caught in her throat as she beheld the ring and the pretty diamond that sat on top of it.
“I’ve been meaning to give you this, but I was waiting for the right time.
I love you, Jean, and this will serve as a promise that I’ll be here when all of this is over.” Jean’s tears flowed more freely, and she wrapped her arms around Jeff’s neck, pulling him into a deep kiss.
“I love you too.” She whispered as he slid the ring onto her finger before kissing her again.
“Marry the guy, steal from him, and when we have enough, we’ll run, far away from New York, far from this country.
We’ll go anywhere you want to go, and we’ll have kids and a house.” Jean started to smile at the thought of that, despite her tears.
The image of her and Jeff in a house with little children that looked like both of them sounded surreal.
It was all she had ever dreamt of ever since she met him, and it was the belief in the actualization of that dream that made her agree.
“I… I’ll do it.
You have to promise, though.
We’ll go to Athens; I’ve always wanted to live there.” Jeff’s face broke into a huge grin as he pulled her in for a long, sloppy kiss.
“Anywhere you want to go, babe.”