Chapter 3
1812 Words
Jessica
Projector, check.
Whiteboard, check.
Drinks, check.
Air conditioning, check.
Ricardo said he was going to have a meeting with James but as a precaution, he asked me to prepare one extra drink. I thought I knew who he was referring to; Jason. I didn’t know but he always appeared whenever Ricardo had meetings with James. Jason was also his partner. The three of them were friends and business partners.
The last time I communicated with him, Jason was in London. Busying himself with the new office he just built in Scotland which was amazing. He might appear easy-going and look dumb, but he was so smart. I should give him a point for that.
He was actually…really nice.
Ricardo told me before that Jason was popular and ladies were swooning over him, but he was no playboy. On the contrary, he treated them gently and respected them, so opposite of my ex-fiancé.
I shook my head. “Forget about him, Jess. I deserve better,” I told myself. I wanted to focus on my career first. Love could come later.
I inhaled and exhaled and stepped out of the meeting room, heading to my table where I heard the office phone ring. I immediately went to it and picked it up. “Mr. Williams’ office, Jessica speaking, how may I help you?”
“Hi, Jess,” Sally, the receptionist greeted me.
“Hi, Sal. What’s wrong?”
“Just want to inform you that Mr. Greene is on his way to your floor.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you, Sal.”
“He’s hot as always. Jesus, Jess, that voice of his. I swear I could orgasm just by listening to him. If he’s doing an ASMR, I would gladly buy all of his collection.”
I chuckled. Well, I had to admit that. James was literally…hot. But, “He’s taken, Sal. Not a Bachelor anymore.”
“Sheesh, I know that,” she sighed in disappointment.
“Well, thank you for telling me, Sal. I’ll see you later.” I hung up and get all the documents needed for the meeting.
A few minutes later, the elevator door was opened and the man came out with Christine, his secretary and he immediately strode his legs toward me. Wearing a dark blue suit jacket with the same color vest and crispy white shirts underneath. Jesus, this man was way out of this world.
“Afternoon, Miss Jensen.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Greene, Christine.”
“Hello, Jess.”
“Please follow me.” I led them to the meeting room. I didn’t expect Christine would be here too. I should add one more drink, again, as a precaution. Or maybe I was slightly hoping… No, I hoped I did not.
James and Christine entered the meeting room as I went back to Ricardo’s office. I knocked on it and let myself in. “Excuse me, Mr. Williams. Mr. Greene is here,” I informed and saw Ricardo was on his phone, his mobile. He turned at me and gestured his finger telling me one minute. I could only smile and closed the door.
I knew my boss’ habit. If he was using his mobile phone, it meant he was talking with Cathy. She was now pregnant and Ricardo’s protective instinct had reached another level. He wouldn’t let Cathy out by herself anymore.
I remembered a week ago, he immediately abandoned the meeting he was supposed to attend just to accompany his wife to the hospital for a check-up. Maybe it would sound ridiculous, but to me, he was so sweet. On that day, Ricardo was so busy even though he had promised Cathy. I talked with her because Cathy thought she didn’t want to bother her husband and always asked if he was still busy. Because I kept giving her the same answer, she asked me to not tell him that she was on her way to the hospital. I couldn’t let her because if I did that, Ricardo would go insane and in a foul mood for the entire week. So, I helped her by informing my boss who almost attended the meeting and he immediately asked me to reschedule everything. Good thing the potential partner was kind enough to let him.
I headed to the pantry, grabbed the glass, and filled it with water. Heading to the meeting room and my heart just jumped.
Jason was sitting beside James and they were talking. They hadn’t noticed me standing dumbfoundedly at the door. He was wearing a dark grey suit jacket with light blue linen shirts. The man looked gorgeous as usual. His brunette hair was properly combed back.
And his blue eyes flipped to me and completely turned his attention to me, ignoring what James was saying to him.
Our eyes met. We were completely still. No communication. Almost like we were admiring each other. The room went in complete silence. Focusing on one another. Only the two of us were here.
And as James realized what Jason was looking at, he turned his dark blue eyes to me as well and I flinched. Pulling me out from this world where only Jason and Jessica existed. Calm yourself, Jess, and act normal. But how was I supposed to do that knowing the glass I was carrying was for Jason? Oh, Lord. I pushed my legs towards him. I could sense his eyes following me. My breath stuck. Hoping Jason would stop looking at me and continue his conversation with James.
I arrived and stopped beside him. Flicking my eyes at him, but he was still staring at me. Why he was looking at me like that? And why I didn’t look away? Be professional, Jess.
I put on my best smile and put down the glass. “Your water, Mr. Ross,” I said as Jason’s eyes were on the glass until he lifted them back to me, carrying on with the staring show. I must admit Jason had pretty eyes. Just like his sister, his optics were alluring, inviting, dangerously addicting. I could stare at them for the entire day. Until the side of his lips twitched up and I blinked. Oh, my God. What did I just do? I looked behind him as James and Christine were watching us. This was embarrassing.
“Thank you, Miss Jensen. I didn’t see you walking in,” Jason said.
“Mr. Williams asked me to add one more drink as a precaution.” Because I thought Christine wouldn’t be here. She rarely accompanied her boss but I should include her too. Why didn’t I think of her first? It should be her, not him. My mind was only fixed on Jason because he always crashed the meeting whether in the plan or out.
“Precaution, huh? I’m honored. Will you be joining the meeting too?”
“Um, no.”
“I see. That’s disappointing. I was hoping you will join so I could look at you,” he flirted while winking. My cheeks slightly flaming and I cleared my throat.
“Please don’t do that.”
“Why?”
“That could count as s****l harassment.” What the hell was I saying to him? Good job, Jess. You just made yourself look dumb.
“It’s not. I haven’t touched you yet.” Oh, this guy had nerves.
“Excuse me,” I immediately ran away from that flashy Prince, heading to the door where I almost bumped into Ricardo. “Oh! I’m sorry.”
“Ah, Jessica. Good timing. You should attend to.” Say what?
I looked up at him and even though I couldn’t see Jason’s face, I was sure he was grinning as wide as Joker. “Um, I don’t think that’s a great idea. I’ve—”
“I need you to listen to the meeting, too,” he cut me first. Nope, he was definitely lying about it because he had seen Jason was around. Maybe he was trying to play as a cupid but then I remembered what he said yesterday.
You don’t want to give Jason a chance?
And he was my boss and I couldn’t exactly say no to him.
Defeated, I nodded my head as Ricardo turned me over and closed the door.
He sat opposite his guests and I landed myself beside him, as usual. Opposite of Christine. I couldn’t stand sitting in front of Jason knowing he would be looking at me. The whole time. Well, he would still be looking at me but it would be dangerous if we were facing each other.
“Thank you for coming, guys. How’s Linda, James?”
“She’s doing good. Still in recovery but her parents told me she could talk properly now even walking,” James explained.
“That’s good to hear.”
I remembered the accident. Linda, James’ cousin had an accident. A terrible one. She was hit by a truck resulting in her losing her voice and having a broken leg. And she went missing. They found her two weeks ago, and yes, she was with Alex, and James brought her home. But the next day, James took her back to Dutch for recovery purposes. She was involved with a movie project with Alex and I met her before when I was looking for a dress for the introduction party. She was nice and so helpful, and strict, also straightforward just like James. Well, she was Greene too. I hoped she would recover soon.
“Let’s begin the meeting,” Ricardo said. “And Jason? Behave yourself.”
I glanced at him. “What do you mean by that?” he asked innocently. See? The nerves.
“I know what you wanted to do. We are on a business meeting, Mr. Ross. No flirting.”
Jason laughed. “If you don’t want me to flirt with your lovely secretary, you shouldn’t take her with you.” For that, I agreed with him.
“She has a great idea for our next project and she is my valuable secretary so I allow her to speak up her mind, especially for my business,” he stated. He turned to me and smiled. “I love every idea you always told me, Jess. And I’m hoping you can let out your brilliant ideas in this meeting.” My eyes slightly bulged. I always listened to him complimenting my good work. Ricardo always did that. He always gave me credit whenever I gave him a proposal for his project. He never forgot about my influence. But now, I was so happy when he complimented me openly in front of his partners.
“Thank you, Mr. Williams,” I smiled and thanked him.
This was definitely the answer.
Love was not the answer to my healing.
My job was.
- Writer
