"Well you look like shit." 

"No kidding. What are you doing here Paul?" Jason asked, wincing as he lifted his torso off the arm chair he was lounging on. 

​​

Paul eyed the empty bottle of bourbon by the side and the half empty on right beside it. If that plus the heavy smell of spirits hanging over the room didn't convince him he was speaking to a drunk man the half empty glass he was nursing would do it.

"Taken to the bottles again I see." Paul said approaching the angry and sad drunkard before him.

Jason sighed heavily, struggling to get up. But the weight of the spirit from the first and second bottle had him head first heading straight for the ground. Until Paul leaned downwards and slung on arm around his shoulder, supporting Jason's weight. "What are you doing here?" Jason asked again.

"This is crazy, you're not slurring but you can barely stand? I don't understand, did you somehow miraculously become alcohol tolerant?" Paul wondered out loud, stretching his neck over Jason shoulders to make sure he saw the bottles well enough. 

"The first bottle was already almost empty don't stress yourself. I still can't drink for shit. Now if you allow me I would like to go back to my wallowing... I'm sure I would find some relief at the bottom of that bottle." He stated. 

"The only thing you are going to find at the bottom of that bottle is a nasty headache and lots of regret." 

Jason chuckled "gee that sounds exactly how I feel right now, I've got nothing more to lose. Gonna tell me why you're here?"

Paul frowned walking Jason back to the armchair. 

"Katherine is bothered about Jessie. I hear you hurt her?" Paul said, tugging his pants before he sat. 

"You don't know the half of it." Jason groaned rubbing his face. 

Paul head tilted in slight confusion. "Is that regret I sense?" He asked.

Jason remained silent. 

"Hey, Jason do you really regret pushing her away?" Paul asked again, more forcefully this time.

"Like hell I don't. Of course I do, I love her Paul." He stated grimly.

"You really aren't drunk enough. I know I should ask why you pushed her away if you knew you would regret it but I know you are all messed insides so I'll skip that." Paul sighed. 

"Damn. I really screwed up this time. Real bad, she's never going to forgive me." 

Paul nodded. "But then she would. She's in love with you too. I'm not sure why but that seems to work, love is your greatest advantage and your biggest demise I guess." 

Jason shifted in his seat to face Paul, his brown hair falling to his face. "You think so? Do you know what she said to me? That if I walked away she would never forgive me again, she would forget everything that happened between us and she would forget that she ever loved me. And do you know what I did?" 

"I'm guessing you walked away?"

"I walked away. Wait, how did you know?"

"Because sir, you are drunk out of your ass and feeling sorry for yourself. Oh how the mighty have fallen, I'd like to say karma, but I do not think I have the right to judge you." Paul shrugged. 

"I deserve it all, everything I just want her back. I want her with me. I can't stand her being with someone else, I thought could but leave it to Jessie to find another guy within days worse" he laughed ruefully. "That George Lee." He spat.

Paul's brow rose "she is with George Lee?" 

"Yeah, apparently. I saw them earlier, I cannot believe she with that she would settle for trash like him." Jason stated. 

Paul shook his head. "Can you not see?"

"See what?" Jason asked.

"She's trying to find dirt on him. If I were to make a wild guess I'd say she's probably looking for the auction house."

Jason sat up.

"Mercy..." he whispered. "How did I not think of that?" 

"I'm pretty sure you head was too far up your ass for you to realise." Paul stated. 

"Jessie is serious danger if she thinks she is going to get that information from George." Jason stated. 

"Yeah, also I need invitations to the fundraiser on Friday." Paul said. 

"Is that really what you should be talking about right now? Jessie's life is in danger." Jason growled. 

"Yeah, and I'm doing this because Katherine's life is in danger herself. So can you get me in." 

Jason glared at his friend for a long while before he sighed. "Fine, but on one condition." 

**************************************************

"Last year you were the host. How about being my date this time?" 

Jessie stared, blinking at the surprising view before her. Why did this suitclad men insist on wearing clothes like jeans? It was just plain unfair in her opinion. Now she had to keep her wits and thoughts on sharp with George looking like a he belonged in a museum besides those greek sculptures. 

"I... uh can't." She shook her head, not remembering why couldn't at first but when his gaze narrowed and he frowned she came back to her senses. "You know very well that I can't go out in public." She said.

"No" he refused. "I don't know. I mean, you're in public right now and I don't see what wrong so what is the problem?" He asked.

"You know it's not the same thing" Jessie sighed. Looking away. 

"Hey " George started softly placing both hand on her arms. "Look at me." He ordered and she did. "You did nothing wrong, you have committed no crime so you won't cower or hide." 

Jessie didn't know if it was weather or the fine dust in the air today. Maybe it was the pasta she had... in morning time. But she felt such an urge to whack someone on the head. And maybe it was the angle the sun hit her face, or the irritating sounds of honking but she knew was going to act on that impulse. So help her, she would smack the hypocrite of a man!