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“What about you and your girlfriend?”
“I don’t have any girlfriend.”
I chuckled, adding, “Very funny.”
“I am serious.”
“So, what about that blonde who came out of your office with her lipstick smudged and all?” I related what I had seen that day in his office.
“Oh, that…she was just a one-night stand, nothing else. I don’t do relationships, it’s not my thing,” there was something about the way he spoke those final words that hinted at sadness. Those words carried a deeper significance.
And I am too obstinate to simply forget about Julia. I want to know everything.
“Thanks for the lunch,” I said Jaxon, and he nodded as we left ways and headed to our various offices.
I settled down and beckoned Jona in.
I was calm by this point, and I didn’t want to talk to him about it anymore. I am meant to concentrate on my job rather than other issues.
“Ask Mr. Dan for the sales report,” I said Jona as soon as he entered my office, as I focused on my laptop screen.
He had a sorrowful expression on his face; he knew I was unhappy with what he had done, but when I didn’t say anything to him and only asked him to fetch me a file, his mouth opened and closed in astonishment.
“And get a meeting fixed with Mr. King for tomorrow after clarifying it with Jaxon and…”
I looked up at him, and his expression was blank, so I paused in between.
“Did I say something wrong?” I asked him.
“N-no, of…of course not.”
“That’s it. You can leave.”
“You don’t want to say anything else?” Perhaps I wasn’t as composed as I thought, since the instant he said that, I lost my cool.
“What else should I say? That how you went against my orders and instead of sending them away you were having lunch with them?! You were supposed to support me, you are my friend.”
“Let me get this clear”, replied the man, “you are my friend and I will support you but only when you are right. If you are doing something wrong then I am not going to support you at any cost.”
“You think I am doing wrong?”
He pondered for a second before responding, “Yes.”
“Please elaborate.”
He went silent, and the only sound was my hard breathing from yelling.
“I gave them a date. They are supposed to wait till that date and if I don’t meet them then, then they might come bang my office door, I don’t care. But when I have given them a specific date then they need to stick to it”, I said with as little emotion as possible.
He tilted his head sideways, pressed his lips in a tiny line and pushed his spectacles up his nose.
“Will you say something?!” I demanded.
“There’s nothing to say; I’ll schedule the meeting for tomorrow,” he remarked before moving towards the door.
“What did you talk to them about?” I said, causing him to halt.
“Nothing that will destroy your company,” he said before opening the door, but I wasn’t finished.
“Jonah! What did you talk about?!” I asked, jumping up.
“I said nothing!” he cried, which shocked me.
He recognised it and quickly collected himself before speaking in a much calmer tone, “Nothing…just about our friendship and your well-being. That’s all.”
“Woah, woah! What’s all this chaos about?” Kena appeared unexpectedly.
I sighed deeply and sank back in my chair, as Kena strolled in and sat in the chair opposite me.
“I didn’t mean to intrude but I knocked the door twice and no one answered it and then I heard you shouting so, I decided to intervene before you kill anyone. Sorry”, stated the gentleman.
“It’s okay,” I murmured, reclining back in my chair.
Jona, who had been silent, decided to leave the office again, but was stopped this time by Kena, not me.
“Hey, Jonah. You guys had a fight?” Kena asked, looking at him and then at me, but I simply returned my focus to my laptop.
Jona was ready to leave the office when Kena jumped up and grabbed his arm, dragging him inside.
“Okay guys, I don’t know why you had a fight but right now you both are going to say sorry to each other and become friends again”, Kena said. This made me scoff.
“Vivian, get up,” Kena said, to which I answered, “I’m busy.” Jona folded his arms, indicating that even he would not apologise.
He stated to both of us, “Your ego will cost you a friend for a lifetime”.
Kena’s comments hit me. Your ego will cost you a buddy for life. Well, I believe I understand how it feels to lose a buddy, because he was the one best friend I had right now.
He has been with me for the past two years, supporting me through thick and thin.
I finally got up and stood in front of Jona.
I extended my arm for a handshake, saying, “Sorry.”
Jona stared at me first, then at my hand. I swear, if he does not shake my hand, I will murder him.
Slowly, he extended his hand and shook mine, murmuring “Sorry.”
A smile slowly emerged on my face, which proved contagious as Jona smiled as well, and I pulled him in for a hug.
“Me too!” Kena cried, joining us for a group embrace.
The following day…
Standing by Jaxon in the meeting room, I saw everyone leaving. The meeting went well, and it appears that we will be closing the transaction soon.
The last person to go was Mr. King, the owner of King Industries and a calm, attractive man. He was a few years older than me and had lovely green eyes that drew you in. He also had a powerful figure.
Instead of exiting the room, he approached us, shaking hands with Jaxon. I expected him to shake my hand as well, so I stretched it out, but instead, he took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. Well, it made me flush.
“You are the epitome of beauty with brains,” he remarked, giving me a dazzling grin.
“Oh, thank you so much,” I murmured, withdrawing my hand.
My hair was in a sloppy bun, with a few strands hanging out, so he delicately brushed one behind my ear.
Oh, God. It felt nice.
What? It’s okay to feel that way. I’ve never been romantically connected with someone, so I don’t know how it feels to snuggle with your partner or anything like that.
Someone cleared his throat loudly, and we turned to face Jaxon. Oh, I had entirely forgotten his existence. Oops.
Mr. King walked out of the room, leaving me with one final smile.
“Do you think we can close this deal?” I asked Jaxon as I collected my laptop.
“What do you think?” I said again, facing him because he had not spoken.
His jaw was clinched, and his fists were fisted, as if he was attempting to suppress his wrath.
“Fine, don’t answer”, I rasped. “You are really bipolar, you know that? One moment you are fine, the other moment you seem as if you want to murder someone. Get yourself a therapist, Jaxon.”
Saying that, I exited the room. He is insane; what caused him to alter so quickly? I mean, he appeared to be rather delighted after the meeting, while he never says it, you can tell by his look. He has a peaceful expression and appears comfortable, indicating that he is content.
I’m pretty observant.
After a completely silent supper (as usual) with Jaxon at home, I lay on my bed leisurely, doing nothing.
Sometimes it’s best to do nothing.
Lying there, I was ready to fall asleep when my phone rang.
“Hello?” I replied casually.
“You got to be kidding me?!”
“Are you mad? What are you talking about?” Jona seemed to have completely lost his head.
“Why did you cancel the deal?”
“What deal?!”