"I was thinking that I might come back on Wednesday," Andrew's hands settled on her waist. His gentle squeeze brought Jennifer back to reality.
"Wednesday," she repeated blankly. Andrew nodded and searched her face.
"Wednesday. Think you'll be okay without me until then?" He smirked at her.
Jennifer tried to smile, but found she couldn't. Instead, she frowned. Andrew ran his thumb over her lips, and then pulled her into him for a kiss. She didn't resist, but caved beneath him, falling into the kiss that her body had silently craved for and demanded.
She really missed him and didn't even know it until just then. She didn't even understand her reasoning by ignoring Andrew all weekend. What did that accomplish?
He sucked her breath into his mouth with another strong and steady kiss. Jennifer lost herself in it this time. She kissed him back eagerly, covering her hands with hers as he cupped her face and pulled back with difficulty.
"I'm actually already late," he breathed softly. "I refused to leave without seeing you though. Just don't tell James you saw me," a deep chuckle rattled near her ear, shaking Jennifer to the core.
Her mind seemed to process that sentence and she pulled away and met Andrew's eyes again. "You're going to be gone for two weeks?"
He smiled easily. "I'm coming back Wednesday for lunch with you, remember? Just don't forget," he winked at her. "Okay?"
Jennifer smiled weakly and nodded eagerly. "Sure thing."
"Okay," Andrew kissed her again. She felt the full softness of her heart aching. Andrew hovered, unwilling to pull away. "James is going to be so pissed," he chuckled and ran his hands along Jennifer's arms. She shivered beneath his touch and watched him closely.
"How late are you?"
"I should have been gone an hour ago," he smirked. Jennifer's lips trembled. She forced another smile. It wavered and faltered, staggering across her lips like an injured stag.
"I guess just let me know when you touch down," she didn't know what else to say. Andrew's eyes ran over her face slowly.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded. It was barely a moment. Andrew hesitated, but then stood. Jennifer stepped away from the desk. He smiled at her and took a deep breath.
"Remember, don't tell Melone you saw me today," he spoke with a smile.
Jennifer nodded. Again, there was brief hesitation; but, in an instant, Andrew turned and headed towards the door. She watched him walk, feeling a bit like perhaps her heart might be breaking. She didn't honestly understand the feeling.
She really liked the fact that she didn't have to wonder with Andrew. He was always upfront with her. She appreciated that kind of thing. Except this weekend, she had really begun to question just what that looked like. James told her that he had always been in love with her. Andrew hadn't told her anything like that.
He paused at the door and smiled at her again. This time, she could tell that he had something on his mind. His smile wasn't quite as strong, and faltered for a moment.
"See you Wednesday," he whispered again.
Jennifer nodded. Seconds later, he was gone and she was left in her office alone and confused. As far as she was concerned, nothing had really seemed to bother Andrew. She had no idea what would cause him to crease his face in a pitiful little frown. A second later, her thoughts switched to Melone, and a ball of anger returned to her gut.
She looked at the portable clock on the surface of her desk and turned it towards her so she could read the time. 8:05 am. She was late for the morning briefing and Melone hadn't called her once.
Taking a deep breath, Jennifer ran her hands over her hair and smiled, remembering what Andrew had told her. In a rush of moment, she pushed herself from the desk and marched across the empty space to the door. She didn't care that she had no idea what was on the day's agenda, or the week for that matter. If James didn't call her, it was more than likely because he knew Andrew was with her.
She pursed her lips and headed for James's office. Jennifer didn't even bother to knock.
Chapter Three
Bag of Tricks
Inside James's office, Jennifer stood, feeling a bit immature and still angry. James wasn't in yet. She doubled checked the time. 8:06. He should have been there already. Instead, she heard his voice behind her.
"What are you doing in my office?"
She spun around and glared at James. He had a white plastic coffee cup in his hand. He must have helped him to something from the staff breakroom.
"You're sending Andrew away for two weeks?" It wasn't a question. Everything about the way she approached him was wrong, but James didn't seem fazed. He nodded eagerly, and motioned to the chair in front of his desk. He entered the room fully and shut the door behind him.
"So you've spoken with him then?" James asked leisurely.
"Of course. What is this about? You didn't contact me all weekend about anything."
Again, James nodded and made his way his desk. He settled himself into the chair with unhurried ease. He either didn't understand that her tone was pushing the limits of respectful confrontation, or did and simply chose to ignore it.
"First," he started calmly, "I want to start with an apology."
"An apology?" She nearly coughed on the words.
James nodded, and motioned to the chair again. With hesitation, Jennifer eyed it. She realized she was breathing rapidly. Her chest heaved and fell under the distress. Swallowing back a bit of her resignation, she moved towards the chair, but refused to sit. Instead, she stood behind it, opting to place a single hand on it instead.
"Yes, an apology," James continued. He met Jennifer's eyes with a steady gaze. "For everything. For my behavior two weeks ago right before Seogen," he paused, "and then for Friday afternoon."
Jennifer dropped herself into the seat. Was he admitting that he was completely out of line?
James shook his head and dropped his eyes momentarily. "I was completely," with a pause, he sighed hard, exasperated, "I was completely out of line." Jennifer's eyed bulged. She couldn't have opened them wider if she tried. She opened her mouth and found herself stuttering.
"So what are you-I mean, what-Friday," she paused and shook her head, confused, "What?"
James nodded again, holding up a hand as if to help her clear her mind.
"How long have we known each other?" James asked softly.
Jennifer's mind drew a blank. Was he asking how long they had worked together, or how long since their relationship had kind morphed and fused into something neither one of them could really define, other than knowing without a shadow of a doubt that they weren't together?
"You've been with me-the company, for five solid years, right?" Jennifer nodded. At least he cleared up the confusion about his question. "We've been through a lot, together, right?" He smiled weakly and nodded in agreement with his own words.
"I mean, you've seen at my lowest and at my highest, right?" He paused, searching Jennifer's face. "With this company and then personally."
Finally, Jennifer could answer. Instead of saying anything, however, she only nodded in agreement.
"Good," James's smile grew. "Then you know that I don't handle emotions very well," he chuckled something deep. It was a weird expression, however. Nothing light, but genuine. His was the true James Melone.
"I want you to know something, Jennifer," he spoke calmly, assuredly, "I meant every single word of what I said to you Friday afternoon." Her stomach flipped.
"But I was wrong for telling you like I did," James lowered his eyes and paused. Jennifer felt her heart beginning to speed. It was racing, against what? Her thoughts or logic? She didn't really know, but it was starting to hurt now. It felt like it could be doing summersaults in her chest cavity and gymnastics against her rib cage. A hand flew to her heart. She was thankful James had kept his head down.
"It was completely unprofessional," James sighed hard, "childish, arrogant," he chuckled then. "You know, all the things that people think about a tycoon." James lifted his head and smiled genially at Jennifer. "I honesty just want to see you happy. And if Andrew is the man you want to be with, I'm glad. I already told you, he's a great guy."
Jennifer blinked repeatedly. She felt a wave of something crash over her. It could have been happiness, but she wasn't so sure. Her hand was still on her heart and her mouth was suddenly parched and dry. She cleared her throat before she attempted to speak.
"You mean that?" Her voice was like broken shards of glass against the calm persona of James. He nodded.
"Every word," his voice stopped abruptly and he paused and looked down. Jennifer waited for him to say more, but he didn't. Before the silence around them could grow anymore, she decided to speak.