That right there made me fall way more deeply in love with him.
Today, there’s a small get-together at Jameson. It’s not going to be the whole Pittsburgh team, but it’s enough to get me some solid introductions into what Cage calls, “the work-family.”
He had said last night, “Now that you’re officially and truly mine, every person at Jameson will have your back.”
I’m a little concerned when we drive into one of the bad sections of Pittsburgh with abandoned buildings, drug deals openly made on the streets, and prostitutes hanging out at alley corners. Cage’s car attracts attention, and everyone watches as we glide by.
I’m shocked when he turns into an underground parking garage of an abandoned warehouse. The brick is aged, the windows are so filthy I can’t see inside, and the lower portion is covered with graffiti. There’s a steel gate at least eight feet high with barbed wire on top blocking the entrance.
“Um… Cage… where are we?” I ask hesitantly.
“This is Jameson.” He grins as he rolls his window down, then holds a fob up to a box that emits a blinking red light that turns green after a few seconds. The gate rolls slowly open, and Cage drives through.
He turns left, drives past several spots, and then pulls into a space next to a big Chevy suburban. It’s dark down here, the only light filtering in from the openings in the concrete barriers that separate the building from the garage.
We exit the car, and Cage locks it. He leads me to a steel door with a panel beside it. He lifts a plastic covering, leaning his face close to it, and I gasp as a green laser light streams out and focuses right on his eyes. There’s a beep, and a woman’s voice says, “Welcome, Cage Murdock.”
“Did… did that thing just scan your eyes?” I ask incredulously.
“Just one of Bebe’s many tricks,” he says with a laugh.
I’m not sure what I expect when I enter, but it’s not an empty, cavernous room with a dirty concrete floor, trash strewn about, and more graffiti on the walls.
“It’s highly unlikely anyone would get into this building, but if they did, they’d see nothing but what looks like an empty building.” We head over to an old freight elevator. After he closes the gate and hits the button for the fourth floor, he continues to explain. “I’ll give you a grand tour later, but right now we’ll just head to the top communal area where everyone will be.”
I’m excited to see the rest of this facility. Cage has told me there’s an indoor firing range and a sub-basement technology division that looks like it’s straight out of Black Panther or something.
But I know enough from what he’s explained that the top floor is the communal area where everyone is free to hang out. It’s also where he kept an apartment, something he had to come clean about and also something he’s already moved out of. While I’m comfortable where we are, he’s already been looking online at places to buy.
When we reach the fourth floor, the sound of laughter and booming voices hit me. We step out of the elevator, and I’m a bit overwhelmed by the number of people there. Cage told me it was just an impromptu get-together, which they often do, but part of me thinks it’s a chance to introduce me to everyone as well.
This is confirmed as the sound dies down and everyone turns to look at us—well, rather me—with expectant and interested expressions.
“About time you got here,” a man calls, but I can’t tell who.
There’s a moment where I’m struck by nerves, and I move slightly closer to Cage as we head into the room. It’s a massive living area with couches, chairs, and a gigantic TV, which flows into a huge kitchen with an enormous island that can seat ten.
Anna suddenly appears with Malik beside her. She gives me a hard hug—something that is not surprising to Cage since I told him about her visit last week. It doesn’t seem surprising to Malik either since he gives me a nod and a smile after Anna releases me.
“Heard you weren’t gay,” I tease him.
“Heard you decided to forgive this guy for telling you he was a car salesman,” he zings back.
“That I did.” I laugh, and Cage slips his arm around my waist.
It doesn’t stay there long as Anna grabs my hand, informing Cage as if he has no say in the matter, “I’m going to take Jaime around and introduce her.”
“Oh-kay,” he drawls, as if he knows better than to cross his friend.
Malik puts his hand on Cage’s shoulder and says, “Let’s go get a beer.”
For the next half hour, Anna drags me from person to person, introducing me as Cage’s wife. Not one is surprised by the word “wife,” which means everyone knows, but I suspected the news had already spread.