Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 4.5: Well Played, Jack

Together, Jack and Julie went out to the hall and down all the way to a set of stairs. He led her up the stairs and then down another hall. Opening a door, he guided her into the dimly lit room.

"Wait here," he said and opened the curtains. It wasn't a lot of light, but it was enough light. A giant old map hung on the wall. It was of Endil during the time of the Great Divide.

"Maps like these are rather rare, but you can come by them sometimes. This one I got at an auction. A good deal of six-hundred fellings," Jack explained, "and when you look here, you can see the name of the cartographer. Daniel Kristlend. Well known, and I'm sure you know him, but he was known to have made the entirety of Endil here, documenting its history during the Great Divide. Some people just don't understand the value of maps and cartographers. I view it as an art, almost. Don't you think?" He turned to Julie.

How handsome, she thought. "Inspired! I-I mean," she stammered, "I feel like I want to pursue it still. Thank you for showing me."

Jack smiled and went over to brush her hair from her face. "One day, someone like me, perhaps, some art lover will see your map and your name and praise your legacy. Charming thought, isn't it?" He tipped her chin up.

"Charming," she said, and he was certain that was about him and not about what he said. Adrenaline rushed through his body. He decided to play her. He grazed her lips with his finger. She gazed up into his eyes. He leaned forward.

"Jack," she breathed out his name.

We're not on a first-name basis though. He could smell the scent of her rose soap and her citrusy perfume. She leaned into him, closing her eyes. Lips puckered expectantly.

That's quite enough. He smirked and pulled back suddenly, startling her.

"Pardon me, miss, I must return to the gallery," he said hurriedly. He stood for just long enough to see her face go from disappointment to shock.

What was I about to do?! Her eyes were wide, and she held her hand over her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I—"

"Don't worry about it." Jack left the room and went down the stairs at a run, so she would hear him. Then he slipped into the washroom and laughed in the stall.

You're such a tease! He praised himself for his act. He still had it. The teasing charm, the girl-swooning techniques, all there. He just liked to test it out now and then and it was always good to try it on young naïve girls. 

Eli wasn't naïve, though she was young, and it had to be a girl that would probably not tell anyone about the incident afterwards. He didn't trust Eli to not babble about it. Julie had just enough humility and insecurity left to have her heart played and realize that maybe the older guy she wanted, didn't really want to have her. And then be too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened.

Or maybe I did want to have her? Jack grinned and came out of the stall, still beaming ear to ear. Not my type of girl though.

Since he was in the washroom, he relieved himself and went back to the gallery. They were still dancing, so he asked another girl to dance with him. Julie returned and saw that. Tears appeared in her eyes. Jack left the other girl's side and went to her. She ran out to the hall.

"Julie!" he called, and she stopped, hope in her eyes. Jack went up to her. "Julie, listen to me, please," he whispered.

A visual thought of him and Julie embracing and kissing appeared in his mind. Jack grimaced. She was so naïve.

He led her by the arm and turned a corner to a hallway. "I'm sorry about before. I was rushing things too much."

"It's okay. It's..." Julie bowed her head, biting her lip. Don't cry, Julie, cut it! she scolded herself. Jack smirked and bent over to kiss her on the top of her head. She glanced up at him. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"M-Mister Ogswold?" Julie whispered.

Jack, with his lips near her ear said, "You little rebel."

"W-What?" She blinked at him, tears welling in her eyes.

Jack scoffed, no longer hiding himself. "What would your parents say?"

He's going to tell! she thought. "Please, don't tell them! Please!"

"Your father is rather conservative, is he not?"

Julie visible turned as white as paper. "Please, don't, I-I'll do anything."

"Anything?" He grabbed her waist and pulled her close. Licking his lips he whispered, "Anything, Julie?"

I'm caught! She gasped and nodded her head furiously. Tears glossed her eyes. "Anything."

"You will soon inherit the land."

Julie widened her eyes. How did he know?

Jack smirked. The Jones had this vast empty land they did nothing with but waste. He knew Julie would inherit that being the only child. "You sign it up to me, and I will convince Ann to support you.

"Together we will get into the airship business. Me as the pilot, you as the explorer, you'd make millions, I take most of it, of course, because it was my idea." Jack had known about the Jones' family for a while now. It was a matter of how to get in touch with them through Ann. Their tremendous land was going to be a good asset to him. It was one of the main reasons he befriended Ann. Jack had waited so long.

"Or I tell your father you're a shame to the Jones family line of automobiles. What would they think of their ungrateful daughter going off to cartography? You will work for me and I will ensure you will not suffer under their scrutinizing gazes. I will protect you, but you will give everything to me." He tipped her chin up and lightly planted a kiss on her lips. "For me only, Julie. And call me Jack, but only when we are alone."

My first kiss to a scoundrel! Julie's bottom lip trembled, and her cheeks reddened. "Y-Yes, Jack," she said.

Jack smiled. At long last he was finally getting the things he wanted. Although, going after the Jones wouldn't have to have happened if his father had just forked over the farmland.

But at least naïve Julie could be of use. She would do anything to please him, no doubt. Girls, even women like her were always good at missing the plot holes in his propositions or catching the lies. 

Both Ann and Julie had been played. He was just that good.