Chapter 7 Nosy CEO

• Jessica
• "Jessica, I missed you so much! how are you?"
• I was meeting Amanda for a Sunday lunch, we would meet up a couple of times a month. I know Amanda felt bad about what happened to me and she was making sure that I was getting better.
• She recommended me to my psychiatrist, Dr. Sheridan, she even accompanied me to my first visit. Amanda takes care of me to the point that I wanted the room to breathe.
• And as for our lunch dates, I was satisfied with the intervals and she can be very good company.
• "I'm good, how are you? how's little Mable?"
• "Mable is lovely as always, I'm great! and I'm pregnant."
• "Oh my god, Amanda! congratulations! I wasn't sure...you know, I thought..."
• "Nooo... you think I'm fat? I should kick your ass, but I'm too hungry to do it." She laughed and told me to start choosing our lunch while telling me, that the baby was making her starve. We laughed and we decided to get the cheesy, greasy burger with fries.
• It was a breezy Sunday afternoon and I was enjoying my day off out of my apartment.
• "The buy-out went great, the Richardson even gave me a place to stay..."
• I haven't finished my sentence when Amanda stared, she freezes looking straight at me to the point that I thought she was going to jump me at any second.
• "What?"
• "The Richardson? you're telling me just now that Dale's family bought out your company?"
• "Dale? I thought his last name is Griffin"
• "That's his middle name, he doesn't like to be associated with his wealthy lineage." Amanda rolled her eyes, making me smile at her.
• "If it's the same Richardson, you'll be in contact with one of his younger brothers Tyler or Larry."
• "I'm working with both, I'm currently working from Larry's office while he's taking over mine, smoothing out the operational side for the corporate transitions," I explained after taking another bite of the fries.
• The greasy fries and cheeseburger suddenly didn't taste so delicious anymore.
• "Hey, you're in good hands."
• "I know, there's nothing more I can do. At least this way my employees get to keep their job and feed their family."
• Amanda drinks her ice tea, then puts her hand on mine. I could already see the pity look in her eyes, but I force myself to finish my meal and try to get out of there as soon as possible.
• We caught up and talk for another hour then she was on her way to another meeting with her doctor, while I decided to go to a local coffee shop rather than going straight back to my empty apartment.
• I was quietly sitting in the corner reading my Kindle when the nosy CEO greeted me.
• "Jessica?"
• "Tyler?"
• I mimicked his tone adding an annoyed look, but then feel more irritated when he smirked and sits to my front.
• "What are you reading?"
• "Why are you sitting?"
• He dared laughed at my question rather than dismissing himself from my view.
• "I'm trying to have my alone time," I stated, wanting him to leave me alone.
• "I'm buying coffee, I'm on my way home."
• Then I really look at his appearance, his wrinkled shirt, his unshaved jaw. He must've gotten back from one of his girlfriend's place.
• "Right, must've been a long night," I smirked and he didn't look please at me.
• But he still wouldn't leave me be and actually had his coffee delivered to my table.
• "...so, why are you still here?"
• "You really want to get rid of me, don't you?" he chuckled, and I finally look up and see his warm expression.
• The feeling made me stare back at my kindle and try to focus on the last paragraph of the book that I was reading. But I fail miserably when he was to my side and peek at my book.
• "What do you think you're doing?"
• My heart started to race when I felt his arm grazing mine, and the warmth of his body next to mine. It was a weird feeling. It was not intimidating but still made me restless.
• "You're studying?"
• "Why not?"
• "Well, I just assumed that you're reading some girly book." He rests back to the seat, his long legs stretch and bumped mine, his arm grazes my hand and I felt the warm fuzzy feeling.
• I was not liking the sudden invasion of my personal space, yet he was not retreating and I don't think I wanted him to.
• Such a weird feeling.
• He was still sipping his coffee when I finally decided to get out of there. But then like a leech he was to my side asking if he could give me a ride.
• I was tired and he was being obnoxious to the point that I finally agreed to his offer.
• "Aren't you going to offer me a drink as a thank you?" he asked the moment he put his car on park and I was about to get out.
• "Seriously, Tyler? you just had coffee, I think you're hydrated enough?"
• "I could drink some water? maybe I'm parched from the short drive."
• His eyes twinkle, thinking he must've thought he's being cheeky. To which I think he was, and I kind of liking it, and that fact bothers me.
• And that's when I sighed exaggeratedly, deciding to play along, somehow, I also still wants him around.
• "Bottled water in the fridge, make yourself at home, I'm just going to put my stuff away."
• I was still holding onto my purse and walked to my bedroom and put them on my bed.
• It took me a couple of minutes to go back out and joined him in the kitchen. He was resting his back to the counter browsing on his phone after drinking the bottled water.
• I still don't know why he was staying around. I was still wondering when he put his phone away and I reached his side.
• "What now?"
• "I don't know," he shrugged and put his drink down.
• "...I was heading back from my parents, felt truly bored about going back to my place. So, I thought I get to know you better?" he gave me a look, it was not flirtatious, it was as if he really wants to know more and in some ways, the knowledge troubled me more.
• "I don't think it's a good idea," my voice came out too croak as he stepped closer and put his hand onto my neck.
• It was a very delicate hold as if I was a very fragile art piece, and I couldn't get away from him. I still didn't want to get away, when he lowered himself and softly put his lips on mine.
• "I shouldn't do this. This is wrong." He whispered between his kisses, while I was still stunned yet didn't pull back away from him.
• He's my first kiss, the realization hits me and I backed away instinctively putting my fingers on my lips.
• I was bad at it, he must've felt it and he did not protest when I told him to go.
• *****
• What the fuck was I thinking, I let the liquor burn my throat when I suddenly felt my body was touched by the coldness of his invisible hold.
• Troy had died, yet his memories still made me shiver. The way he kept on telling me that I was his whore, that I was born to please him. It was all coming back to me.
• "Fuck..."
• It was hours later when I cut myself from cleaning the shattered glass that I managed to drop.
• I should've to call Kayleigh but I was too stubborn to do so and there I was minutes later crying on my sink, my hands trembling but finally able to pull the glass from the palm of my hand.
• "Becca, can you come to my place. I'll text you the address." The cut was deep and I know I need stitching, and Rebecca has been my doctor friend since my issues with Troy.
• "Jessica? shit, I'm on my way."
• It was late but she was there half an hour later, she looked relieved when  I opened the door and she saw the kitchen napkin with my blood on it.
• "God, Jess, I thought you're in trouble. Have you clean the wound?" I nodded when she came into my living room and was quick to unpack her kit.
• She told me to sit and spray my palm with a numbing agent then expertly stitch the gaping wound.
• "Lay off on the writing for a couple of days, you can type but it'll hurt for a day or two, it's deep, Jessica."
• I sighed and rest my back on the sofa.
• "I'll leave you with some pain meds, but I assumed you've been drinking, so start tomorrow, twice a day..." her words soothed me just like always.
• Rebecca was my doctor when I was admitted to the hospital because of Troy, and she has been my friend since then.
• "So, how are you? sit, I'll help you with the mess." She took over my sweeping and clean my floor.
• "What's with the drinking?" she sits to my side and does her follow-up questions.
• "Becca, don't do this, I'm fine."
• She smiled and spend the next hour talking to me, making sure that I was fine before leaving my apartment.