Chapter forty-five: Irrational

Chapter forty-five: Irrational

Jessica

"Don't say that, Jessica." Jeffrey walked over to me and placed his hands on my shoulder.

"None of this is your fault. He was just a little shit head who needed to learn his lesson and things just got out of hand. Don't blame yourself."

I pressed my lips but nodded, even though I still had to blame myself somewhat. Jeffrey and his company could possibly be in trouble because of this and Jorge also being upset with Jeffrey and I relationship, I bet he thought Jeffrey's career is going down the drain as we speak.

Sam left after explaining as much as he could, which wasn't that much. He mentioned that Jorge had made an appointment with Steven to meet with Jeffrey tomorrow to discuss things more professionally. It had me worried knowing Steven and Jeffrey would be alone in a room again. Jeffrey's temper wasn't very controlled when it comes to Steven even though he is related to him.

"You are going to be a bigger person, right?" I asked as I climbed into the bed, watching him take his rings off and place them in the little wooden box on the bedside table.

"Of course," he scoffed, slipping his shirt over his head and tossing it in the laundry hamper by his closet and I gave him a look.

"Jeffrey, I need you to promise me you won't do anything irrational."

"Irrational? I am not going to…."

"Jeffrey, you know how you get when he is around or even talks about him. Please promise me you won't get into deeper trouble." He sighed and crawled into bed next to me.

"Fine, I promise I will be strictly professional."

He kissed my forehead and shifted himself so he was laying down, patting the space next to him. I laid myself down next to his warm body, cuddling close and letting his arm drape over my waist. His soft breathing told me that he didn't want to discuss the situation any more and he just wanted to sleep, which I understood.

As I snuggled close to him, I still worried about his meeting with Steven tomorrow. I knew he wasn't nervous about it but I definitely was. I didn't want Steven to go blabbing about Jeffrey and I relationship and I didn't want him to put his company in danger as well.

Eventually, I managed to fall asleep but at around two in the morning, Jeffrey's soft snores and sleep-talkin woke me up.

I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock, thanking the goodness that I could sleep some more but when Jeffrey began mumbling in his sleep, I couldn't help but turn to face him and listen to his unconscious rambles.

"Um…yes I do love bananas." He mumbled to the pillow, his arms still draped over my stomach as if he hadn't dared to move since we went to bed.

"No, I don't.. the monkey can't have them."

I stifled giggles and leaned over to press a light kiss to his shoulder. I rolled back over and closed my eyes to the sound of him still mumbling, somehow falling asleep once again before waking up around five along with him.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." I said with a smile and he gave me an off look.

"Why are you smiling like that?" He rolled himself onto his side to face me.

"No reason, did you sleep well?" He sighed and ran a hand through his extremely messy hair.

"I had a weird dream last night."

"Oh, did you?" I said with a grin and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"What did you know that I don't?" I rolled onto my back.

"I heard you were in an argument about sharing your bananas with monkeys?"

"Oh my gosh." He rubbed his hands over his face.

"I can't believe that I talked about it in my sleep."

"You are quite entertaining when you sleep talk."

I giggled, slipping out of the bed and going into the bathroom to freshen up.


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Jeffrey's pov

After dropping Jessica off at the campus and refusing her offers to go with me to my meeting with Steven. Luke drove to the office while I scrolled through emails on my phone in silence.

"Mr, Craig?" Luke called.

"Yes, Luke?"

"If you don't mind me asking, you will be keeping Jessica around for a while now, won't you?"

I blinked a few times as I processed his words. Looking up at him in the rear view mirror.

"What do you mean?"

"I was just wondering, Mr. Craig." He said quickly as he turned the corner.

"She just seems good for you."

I sat back in my seat and softly smiled to myself, nodding in response.

"Yes, I will be keeping her around."

I wiped my smile off as we pulled up in the front of my office building. Putting my game face on and letting Luke open the door for me, I thanked for the first time in what seemed like ages, knowing fully well that Jessica has been changing my attitude toward some things.

I went upstairs and passed Juliet's desk and she hadn't arrived yet. So I sent her a quick text to ask her to grab me a coffee on her way here. I went to my desk and sat down, sighing heavily as I waited for Jorge to arrive so we could get this meeting done and over with.

After a half an hour of working out last minute meetings before I left the country, Jorge opened the door. I glanced up and ushered for him to come in.

"Is Juliet here already?" I groaned.

"I need caffeine."

"She doesn't come until ten, Jeffrey. It is only nine-thirty." I dropped my pen and rubbed my hands down my face.

"When is this stupid meeting?"

"This is stupid meeting is happening around ten-thirty." He tossed the folder down on my desk.

"Also, this came from Paris. It is from Davis Ibeto, they are getting everything ready for you by the time you return." I leaned my elbow on my desk, putting my face in my hands.

"I am so behind, I still have to talk to Vogue about Jessica's shoot and there are three more shoots in Paris we have to take care of prior to my arrival….."

"Wow, Jeffrey. Calm down, you have time. You still have another two weeks before you leave so chill, okay?"

"A new vice president is also coming in once you are transferred. I said to him.

"He is meeting with us sometime this week to get things sorted and then I am hoping to have you moved in as the President by next week."

He was silent for a moment but then leaned against the armchair in front of me.

"Does it get easier? You know, every time you leave a new company?"

I looked down at my desk, remembering the first day I came to this building. It was a complete shít show but I had revamped so many buildings before that, so it was a piece of cake that time. Bringing Jorge in was the best decision I ever made and he has only gotten better over time. It only made sense to promote him to my position once I left.

I stayed in the city a lot longer than I anticipated. I only planned to stay for about four to five years and then head back to Paris to get started on the next location. But when I got around to planning my departure, something kept me here.

"Well, it certainly doesn't get easier to be honest. Every new branch you create and develop is like a small part of you. It is hard to leave it all behind after all the hard work you have put in making it great."

He nodded and the door opened, I looked past him and saw Juliet walking in with a large cup of coffee in her hand and a little croissant.

"Here is your coffee, Mr. Craig." He placed the cup on my desk.

"Thank you so much, Juliet." The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filling my nostril.

"Also when Steven David arrives, let me know."

"Will do Sir, should I send him in here right away?"

"Yes, please do." She nodded and left my office, leaving me and Jorge alone again.

I set my coffee down after taking a quick sip, nearly burning my tongue.

"So, what exactly happened with this boy?" Jorge asked and I didn't think twice before rolling my eyes at him.

"He is a piece of sh…."

"Jeffrey, without being biased about it." I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath. I have to be professional.

Apparently this Steven guy had been stalking and harassing Jessica. She had texted me asking to come to her hostel as soon as possible and when I got there, he was in her room trying to force her. I pulled him off her and she mentioned to him not leaving her alone after she had told him that she wasn't interested."

"And that is when you lost it and punched him?"

I looked down at my right hand, seeing the healing cuts and faint bruises littering my knuckles.

"Maybe," my voice came out as a whisper.