Chapter 7
2098 Words
Jessica
I just finished wrapping my satin white shirt with my black blazer and was ready to walk out of my apartment. I looked at my own reflection in the mirror, repeating my mantra. “Today is going to be a great day.”
Last night, Sally unexpectedly called and invited me out to the bar. It was not something I liked, but I felt rather better by talking with her. As she promised too, she didn’t take me out too long because I couldn’t stand the place and since Sally was driving, she couldn’t drink too much and we still had to go to work today.
I grabbed my bag and keys. Drinking my milk before I departed myself from the apartment. I headed to the lobby and surprisingly, there was an orange McLaren parked beautifully in the same spot where I jumped out of that flashy car last night.
I walked slowly to the luxurious car as the window was opened, revealing the gorgeous owner inside, wearing merely a white polo shirt. I swore my jaw just dropped looking at his massive biceps. Clearly, this man worked out and paid attention to his physical body.
I had to admit, Jason looked massively edible.
“Morning, bunny doll.” Oh, sheesh! Would he just stop with that nickname? It sounded like I was going to be eaten by him. Or being played at worst.
I walked closer. “Uh, morning. Why are you here?”
“To pick you up, of course.”
“But I didn’t ask you to.”
“I know. I wanted to. Get in, Jess.” No, that was not a good idea.
“I could take a bus.”
“It’s saver with me.” I didn’t think so. Being with him was far more dangerous than being on the bus. “Please?” he pleaded and he was pouting by pushing up his bottom lip. Making him look like a kid who wanted a new toy. Good God, I couldn’t shake this aw feeling out of me. He was just too cute.
All right, I gave up.
I entered his car as Jason immediately accelerated away from my apartment. “Did you have breakfast already?”
“I had milk.”
“Is milk your usual breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“What about coffee?”
“I don’t like coffee a lot. It’s too bitter for me.”
“Well, you could add milk inside the coffee.”
“But I can still taste the caffeine,” I counter and he laughed.
“You are just too adorable,” he complimented playfully and my cheeks flamed up a bit. “I’m grateful I haven’t bought you breakfast or you might vomit the whole thing.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Starbucks.”
“I could handle Starbucks.”
“I bet you will choose the vanilla Frappuccino.”
“Yep. They don’t have plain milk.”
“They do, bunny doll. They use it to make the drink.” That was true, though. “So, do you want Starbucks? I remember your office has one on the ground floor. We could chat and have breakfast before you go to the office,” he suggested. I looked at my watch and I still had time if I wanted to eat breakfast first.
“Okay,” I answered and he suddenly whistled, confusing me. What? Did I say something funny? “What?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just,” he paused. “I didn’t expect you will accept me that easily. Usually, you will give me a million reasons before I could finally tame you. Baby steps, but it’s worth it.” Baby steps. Oh, I liked the sound of it.
This had just proven that Jason didn’t push me too much. Well, having breakfast with him was not a bad idea at all.
We arrived at Starbucks where Jason ordered Vanilla Bean Frappuccino for me while he had the Cappuccino. He even ordered a blueberry scone for me. We chose the table near the window where we began our breakfast. Jason only had a drink but I could feel the stares around us, particularly the women. They had their eyes fully on Jason and he was aware of it. He even waved his hands to them, making them scream in excitement.
“I can safely say that you have this kind of attention every day,” I said.
“You’re right. I’m just being nice just in case you’re jealous,” he said where I almost choked on my scone.
“I am not!”
“Yeah, yeah, I will leave it at that.”
I cleared my throat and drank my Frappuccino. “You’re not working today?”
“I’m on a holiday, lady,” he reminded. Oh, right, I forgot. “I’m planning to go to Cathy’s house later, to kill time while waiting for you.” I flicked my eyes to him.
“You wanted to take me to dinner again?” He nodded his head.
“And lunch too if possible.” Lunch too? Whoa, hold on. I was about to refuse until he raised his hand in front of me while taking his cappuccino, stopping me immediately. “I wanted to do this, Jess. Please, let me,” he asked while slowly pulling his hand back toward him. “I heard from Ricardo that sometimes you would skip lunch and busied yourself with your job although the boss himself admitted that he never gave you too much work. I only make it easier not just for me and you, but for Ricardo as well. Sometimes the dude told me that he felt bad.”
“What? No, I never blame him. I wanted to do all of this. I needed it to distract myself.” And his expression changed.
He smiled a bit. “It was never meant to be easy, Jess.”
“I know.”
“Has he still contacted you?” he asked and I shook my head. “Are you still hoping for him to?”
“…Maybe. But not so we could return to what we used to be, just some explanation.”
“You two still have some unfinished business.”
We were.
That night, after I packed my stuff and walked out of my room, Christian stopped me. Fully clothed with Stacey’s scent latched on him. That man was not my fiancé. He was someone else’s. Stacey’s. The second I found him cheating on my best friend, Christian was not mine anymore. I left him immediately without saying anything or even screaming in his face, playing a drama queen, and demanding an explanation. I didn’t. He was the one who started blaming me. He only said it was my fault, everything was my fault, and I left. I never bothered to ask or listen to him. Christian never had the gut to ask for forgiveness, almost like that was what he was waiting for. And he chose the perfect moment. He chose to be the victim.
Jason’s hand landed on my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze where he said,” You will be okay, Jess. Give yourself time,” he advised. I could see the sincerity in his gentle blue eyes. Making me smile a bit. “By the way, tomorrow is Saturday. Would you like to go out with me?”
“Where would you like to take me?”
“I’ll think about it. Seeing you like this; I assume you are the type of a girl who likes to go to the zoo—” My eyes widened.
“Are you serious?” I asked immediately without giving him the chance to talk. I didn’t even aware my voice came out too loud, making him shocked, surprising myself too. Damn it, I just made a fool of myself! He might be thinking I was like a child.
“Y-Yeah, I’m serious,” he replied and laughed. Great, he was mocking me. “You’re damn adorable, woman.” Oh, he was not? “I never took a woman out to a zoo before so you could humor me later there.”
“Most women don’t want to go there,” I clarified.
“I agree.”
“They think it’s childish.”
“I don’t think so. It’s been a long time since the last time I go to the zoo. The last time was when I accompanied my sister.”
“It’s been a long time for me, too.”
“Oh, let me guess. When you were still dating your ex?”
I nodded my head. “Christian doesn’t like it.”
“Christian is his name?”
“Yes. He doesn’t enjoy it and it makes me unable to do so.”
“Oh, don’t worry, girl. You can enjoy yourself with me. Spoil me, bunny doll,” he assured. I smiled and he followed. “I can’t wait for tomorrow, then,” he continued.
“I can’t wait, too.”
So, it was officially a date then? My first date with Jason? I wondered what it would feel like. I was curious how he would treat a lady. Maybe he would spoil me a lot? Because of how he looked, he was the type who would worship a woman with him. Giving her respect.
Our eyes remained locked with each other.
Until someone coughed beside us, making the two of us look to the side, and found Ricardo who was standing watching us with a tight smile, looking like he wanted to grin but he was holding himself back.
“Mr. Williams!” I immediately stood up while exclaiming his name.
“Morning, Jess.”
“Um, my apologies, sir. I’ll be upstairs right away.” I hurriedly grabbed all my stuff.
“Relax, Miss Jensen. You are not late at all.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No worries. Hi, Jason.”
“Hello to you too, Ricardo. Is my sister home?”
“Yeah. Cathy told me that you’re going to visit her later.”
“Yep.”
“Could you do me a favor and take her to the hospital today? I have a meeting I can’t cancel during lunch,” he asked, making me turn at Jason and he did the same too. Oh, right, he had a meeting today with the guy who was supposed to meet him before. I guessed lunch should be scratched from Jason’s plan because he would be accompanying his sister while I had to prepare all the documents for Ricardo’s meeting.
Jason flicked his eyes back to Ricardo. “Sure, no problem. Don’t worry about it, I can take care of my sister.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Jas. Thank you. So, Jess? Would you like to go up together?”
“Yes, sir.” Ricardo walked out of the Starbucks first as I turned to Jason again. “Well, I should be going now.”
“Yeah. Maybe today is not a good idea to spend time with you at lunch.”
I only smiled. “You should spend your time with your sister.”
“I agree. But tomorrow, I’m all yours,” he promised while winking his eye and poking my chin. My heart jumped. He stood up and placed a kiss on my cheek. “See you tomorrow, bunny doll.” I didn’t say anything as I followed Ricardo to the elevator. Greeting Sally on the way and we rode the elevator.
“You will be having a date with Jason tomorrow?”
I turned to look at him. A date? Maybe. “No, we’re just going out together.”
He smirks, almost in a mocking way. “Jason must be considered it as a date even though he doesn’t say it directly.” He definitely thought so.
I never had a date anymore after Christian. This would be my first time after a long time.
“I’m proud of you, Jess,” he suddenly said, making me look at him again. “You’re on your step to move forward. I wish you could give him a chance. I’m not saying this because I pity you or because Jason is my friend, but he’s a good guy. I can guarantee that.” I could feel the smile beaming on my face.
Yes, Jason was a good man. He was genuine in every word and action. And maybe, I should give him a chance.
- Writer
