The Arrangement (JenLisa)

Chapter 23

LISA

"Wake up, gorgeous."

Lisa feels Jennie's warm lips on her cheek. She loves it when the Korean wakes her like this. She crashed hard after their "bath". She is not sure if it's all the sex or the events that have happened over the past few days, but she was exhausted. Maybe it is a little bit of both. Lisa can't remember how they made it to the bed, or how long she's been asleep. Reaching out, she tries to pull Jennie to her, but the CEO resists.

When the Thai open her eyes, she can see the worry on her lover's face. It's such a big change from the woman Jennie was when Lisa met her. Instead of ice-cold indifference all the time, Jennie lets some of her feelings show. Maybe Lisa just learned to read her better, but either way it warms her heart to have that now.

"What's wrong, babe?" she questions, sitting up in bed. The soft light flooding the room indicating she's only been asleep for a little while, because the sun is just setting.

"They found Hank. He's fine," Jennie finishes before she can ask if he's okay. But the old man can't be fine from the look on Jennie's face.

"What's wrong then?"

"They said someone knocked him on the back of the head. He's been in the hospital and just woke up. They had no idea who he was because he didn't have anything on him."

"Oh shit. But he's okay? Was it a robbery?" She peppers with questions as she tries to get up from the bed. "We should get to the hospital and check on him."

"Lisa, it's okay, he's fine, like I said. It's just, I should go see him and—"

"Then let's go. What are we waiting for?" she says, rising from the bed in search of clothing. The Thai put on a pair of sweat pants and grab one of her sweatshirts before slipping on some crocs. When she turns, she sees Jennie sitting on the bed watching with a worried look still on her pretty face.

Cupping the CEO's face gently, Lisa tries to reassure her. She knows Hank's been with Jennie forever. "Jennie, you said he's fine. There's no need to worry."

Pulling Lisa closer, Jennie buries her face in Lisa's stomach.

"It's not just that. I don't want to take you out of here, after what happened, and I also don't want to leave you alone." Lisa tries hard to understand where Jennie's coming from, but she's a big girl and can also take care of herself.

"Jen, listen to me, okay? I promise I won't run again." She feels the Korean's body stiffen at her words. She knows they still have so much to work through, but Lisa wants Jennie to know that she won't do that to her again. It only makes her miserable, being without Jennie. She ran because she thought she couldn't fit into Jennie Kim's world but Lisa doesn't care if she does anymore. They can live in their own world if that is how it has to be. She'd rather stay in the bubble the CEO made for them, than live outside it without Jennie.

"You're never leaving me again," Jennie grumbles, tightening her hold onto Lisa's waist and she can't help but smile by the act of possessiveness from Jennie.

"Never," she promises. Lisa has never felt so sure of anything in her life. If Jennie truly wants her there, then she'll be there. After her confirmation, she feels some of the tension leave the other woman's body.

"You can't keep me trapped up here forever, Jen."

"I know. Trust me, I've thought about it enough times," Jennie says, pulling back and looking up at Lisa before standing up. Serious catlike eyes search hers as if gauging Lisa's reaction. What kind of reaction, she's not certain, but Lisa does know Jennie's not kidding.