Jessie places two fingers down her throat and pretends to gag. “See, I told you the flies would come.” She looks at me, and Tom just stares in bewilderment. “Anyway, Tom, it would seem Ana has found herself someone who can keep her warm at night a lot better than you can.” I blush a scarlet red.
“Yes, so I’ve gathered.” He picks up his coffee and walks out the door. “By the way, Ana, that color suits you.” I realize he’s talking about my blush, and that makes my cheeks flush even further. Is it really that obvious?
We get back to our desks to find a flurry of people coming in and out of Jake’s office. It makes me smile inside to know he’s trying his level best to get this psycho caught. I also know he’s deliberately keeping me well away from it all. It’s then I remember Matthew, so I pick up my phone to text Jake.
Me: Did Matthew get to school OK?
I’m booting up my computer when I get a text back.
Jake: Yes, he’s fine. Miss you.
My heart explodes, and I can’t escape the stupid grin on my face.
Me: I miss you too. Do you want me to come into the office and show you just how much?
I wait for a response, and it soon comes.
Jake: You’re going to get a smacked ass if you’re not careful. Now get back to work! xx
I giggle, loving the fact he told me off but then left two kisses at the end of his text.
I sigh but proceed on with my schedule of things to do. I’m so engrossed in reading my emails, when I feel a hand upon my shoulder. I jump, looking up to find Tony.
“Hi, Tony. Are you okay?” I ask, noticing he doesn’t look it.
He nods, grabbing a chair to sit with me. “I haven’t been feeling very well lately. I must have caught a bug or something.”
I reach up and place my hand on his forehead. As I touch him, he closes his eyes. Maybe that was a little too informal of me under the circumstances, but I can’t help but care. “You do seem to be running a temperature. Have you taken anything for it? I may have some Advil in my bag if you want it?”
He shakes his head before slumping in his chair. “You’re always looking out for other people, but no one is looking out for you.”
I frown, not sure where he’s coming from. “There’s no need to worry about me. I’m fine … always am.” I try to smile at him as best I can, but he still looks a little sad.
Jessie turns round to face us both. “Man, you look like shit. Don’t come near me. I don’t want to catch whatever it is you’ve got.” I shake my head. Jessie’s being her kind and considerate self as always. “What?” she asks, shrugging her shoulders. “I’m just saying.”
Tony stands up to move away, so I call after him. “I hope you feel better soon, Tony. Come back if you decide you want the Advil after all, okay?” He nods at me, smiling before walking off.
“Jeez, he looks like death. Maybe he knows about you and Jake, and he’s just 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 turn back to look at my computer when Jessie speaks. “Come out to Sam’s after work? Just the two of us. It’s been a while since we had a drink together.”
I smile, thinking I could do with a couple of drinks with Jessie. I’m sure Jake will be busy after I’ve finished anyway, and he is my ride home. “Okay, that’ll be good.” I pull back to my desk and quickly grab my phone to let Jake know.
Me: Hey, babe. Don’t worry if you need to work late. Going with Jessie to Sam’s after work for a quick drink. xx
I place my phone back on my desk, and I’m just about to start looking through my emails again when I hear his booming voice. “Ana, in my office. Now, please.”
Oops, that doesn’t sound good. What have I done this time?
Jessie turns to face me. “What’s pissed him off? Are you going to soothe the savage beast now?” She arches her brow at me.
I shake my head with a smirk and walk over to his office. When I open his door, Jake’s sitting there hands clasped together in his chair, face like thunder. “Shut the door, please,” he instructs.
I do as he asks, sitting 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. I got your text, and no, you are not going to Sam’s after work.”
I stand up, furious at him for his demand. “Don’t you dare tell me what I can and cannot 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 rises slowly out of his seat, towering over me as he presses his fists onto the table. “Sit. Back. Down!” I do as I’m told because he seems pretty pissed off. 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 any more. That’s all there is to it. I’ll be finished by six, and you will wait for me. Now, get out of my office because it’s taking every ounce of strength I have to not come over to you right now and do something I should never do at work.” I huff at him, and he waves me out. “Out. Now.”
I rush to grab the door but close it a bit too loudly on the way out. Everyone looks up at me, making me blush. Oops. Way to cause a scene.
Tony suddenly appears from nowhere. “Ana, what’s wrong? Did he hurt you?”
I frown at Tony, stunned. “No, of course not. Why on earth would Jake hurt me?”
He looks sheepish and rubs his hands on his face. “I thought I heard shouting, and you don’t look happy.”
I place my hand on his shoulder. “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 offense, 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’s just happened.
As I sit down in a huff, I say, “When we’re finished after five, we will go for that drink.” I put my hand up, and she high fives me.
“Way to go, girl! What happened?”
I tell 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,” I smile. “And we’re only going for a quick one. He’s so overprotective at times.”
Jessie rolls her eyes at me. “Yeah, I can imagine that would be a bitch.”
My mouth drops. “Are you taking the piss?”
Jessie snorts. “No, of course not, but what woman wouldn’t want to be made to feel wanted, special, and protected?”
I throw my hands in the air. “Hey, whose side are you on here anyway?” I grumble.