I frown not sure where he’s coming from. “Tony, don’t worry about me I’m fine, always am.” I try to smile as best I can at him, but he still looks sad.
Jessie turns round to face us both. “Man you look like shit, Tony. Don’t come near me. I don’t want to catch whatever it is you’ve got.”
I shake my head, Jessie so kind and considerate as always.
“What?” she asks, shrugging her shoulders. “Just saying.”
Tony then gets up to move away. “I hope you feel better soon, Tony. Come back to me if you need any tablets or anything.”
He nods at me, smiles and walks away.
“Geez, he looks like death. Maybe he knows about you and Jake and he’s heartbroken.”
I look at Jessie in wonder. “No, he can’t know. Only you, Michael and Tom know around here and you’ve all been sworn to secrecy.”
I go back to looking at my computer when Jessie speaks. “Come out after work to Sam’s? Just the two of us. It’s been a while since we had a drink together.”
I nod and smile. I think Jake will be busy after I’ve finished anyway, and I need a ride home.
“Ok, that’ll be good.” I pull back to my desk and quickly grab my phone to let Jake know.
‘Babes, no need to worry if you need to work late. Going to head to Sam’s after work with Jessie for a quick drink. You can get on with what you need to.xx’
I put my phone back on my desk and I’m just about to start looking through my emails again when I hear this booming voice.
“Ana, in my office, now please.”
Oops, this doesn’t sound good. What have I done?
“What’s pissed him off, Ana? Are you going to soothe the savage beast now?”
I glare at her and she puts her hands up in surrender. I walk over to his office and open up the door. Jake is sitting there hands clasped together in his chair, face like thunder. This certainly doesn’t look too good.
“Shut the door please,” he instructs.
I do as he asks and sit opposite him. “Jake what’s the matter with you? You seem agitated.”
He squirms in his chair and huffs at me. “Agitated doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling now. I got your text and no, you’re not going to Sam’s bar after work.”
I stand up furious at his demands, and his sudden anger . “Don’t you tell me what I can and can’t do. Jessie misses me. She wants to go for a quick drink after work and I said yes, what’s the harm in that?”
Jake quickly rises out of his seat towering over me and presses his fists into the table. “Sit. Back. Down!”
I do as he asks as he seems pretty pissed. I don’t want to cause a scene at work but he’s made me so angry.
“You’re not going out with Jessie tonight or any other night until I know you’re safe. You got that?”
I try to protest but he puts his hand up. “I don’t want to hear anymore, that’s the end of it. I’ll be finished by 6pm and you will wait for me. Now get out of my office, as I am trying to gain every ounce of strength I have not to come over to you right now and do something I should never do at work.”
I huff at him and he waves me out.
“Go. Out now.”
I rush to grab the door and head out, closing it a bit too loudly on the way out. Everyone looks up at me and I blush.
Oops, way not to cause a scene.
Tony suddenly appears from nowhere. “Ana, what’s wrong? Has he hurt you?”
I look at Tony stunned. “Tony, no. Why on earth would Jake hurt me?”
He looks sheepish and rubs his hands on his face. “You don’t look happy.”
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Tony, we just had a bit of a disagreement about something. Nothing major. I’m fine. You should be more worried about looking after yourself. Don’t you think you should go home? You look terrible. No offence, Tony, but you look like you need the rest.”
He nods and moves away. “Maybe I will,” he sighs.
I walk away stunned at Tony’s reaction to my door slamming and head over to my desk. Jessie, as usual, is sitting there waiting to hear what had just happened.
I sit down in a huff and say, “When we’re finished after five, we will go for that drink shall we?” I put my hand up and she high fives me.
“Way to go girl! What happened?”
I told her what went down in Jake’s office and it seems to amuse her.
“I know he has a point to a certain extent, but I’ll be there and so will lots of others. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know, Jessie,” I smile. “And we’re only going for a quick one. He’s so overprotective at times.”