Jessie Pov
I pace around the house, cleaning, dusting, scrubbing, and rearranging anything I come across. Grey said he would be here as soon as he can. It has been hours.
I start removing things from the fridge and cleaning around it. Halfway through, I realize that I bit off more than I could chew, and I am tired with no will to continue. Just then, the door is unlocked, and I rush to meet Grey.
"What is the emergency?" He asks, seemingly irritated, and it just infuriates me. I am the one who should be irritated for making me a fool every time I brought up Talia, and he would make me look crazy.
"I saw you..." I state, and I see him sigh exhausted, "At the Korean Restaurant, kissing Talia," I proceed to say, my gaze at him unyielding.
His eyes widen, and for a brief moment, a flicker of shock and fear dances across his face. His laptop bag slips from his hand to the floor.
Grey's lips part, but no words come out. The truth hangs in the air between us, undeniable.
"How could you?" I whisper; all the strength is gone from my voice.
"How..." He is still shocked.
"I came to surprise you, and Chase brought me there," I say.
"Of course, it had to be him," He mutters.
"It doesn't matter; I saw it with my eyes," I say.
He shakes his head, "She kissed me, and if you would have stayed longer, you would have seen me pushing her away," He says.
"Pushing her away...To catch a breath after such a passionate kiss?" I mock.
Grey's frustration boils over. "I've been faithful to you," he declares, his voice tinged with hurt. "But all I get is attitude and endless accusations."
"Because you gave me probable causes to doubt you," I state, confused how this is turning to be about me.
"What do you want from me?" He repeats, a question he often asks, leaving me without an answer. "... Do you want me to admit I find Talia attractive? Yes. She's smart, confident, and always cares about me. You don't. But I've never cheated on you... I do love you," he insists, and I've never despised those words more.
I love you, I sneer, hoping never to hear it again in my life. It feels like a blanket covering up the truth.
"Don't ever say that to me." I say in anger.
He sighs, frustrated, "Fine. Let's take a break. I am tired of being treated like a thief while I give everything, and you lie." He says.
Break? My brain froze at that. The fear that always followed me around is finally happening. I just didn't anticipate how the reality of it would hurt. Our years together flash before my eyes, and I want badly to hold on to them. The first man I ever loved, the first thing in my life I have ever done right. How can I just give up that?
I open my mouth and shut it. My phone suddenly rings, and when I pick it up, I am surprised by the caller. Oliver Cooper. Why would he be calling me?
I pick it up and I see Grey pick up his bag and head towards the hallway.
'Hello,' I answer cautiously.
'I need you to come to work, immediately.' He says and ends the call.
I stare at my phone confused about why I am being called back to work.
I head to our bedroom, "I have been asked to go back to work. Can we talk about this when I am back?" I say.
He doesn't respond, and I walk in and take my handbag. Grey's back remains on me, and I hesitate for a while before finally leaving.
I enter Oliver's office, the glossy floor reflecting the dim, amber glow of overhead lights. His assistant ushers me in with a polite smile and closes the door behind me. I wonder if my red, puffy eyes reveal the secret tears I shed on my way here.
Oliver, behind his sleek desk, lifts his gaze from the documents scattered before him. His sharp eyes seem to dissect me, weighing something unspoken. I take a seat in the plush chair across from him, anxiety simmering just beneath the surface.
"What did you tell Gina?" His words hang in the air, heavy with an undertone of concern.
I blink several times, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. "Nothing," I reply, my voice trembling with a mixture of guilt and apprehension.
He leans forward, his expression stern. "Did you tell her she was a wannabe Cooper? She hinted at it, and now she's gone."
"I... I'm sorry," I stammer, my words faltering in the face of his disapproval. My voice quivers as I try to convey my remorse, but the tension in the room is palpable, suffocating.
Oliver raises his pen, silently demanding my silence. His icy gaze pierces through me, leaving no room for misunderstanding. "Let me be clear. Just because I answered two of your calls doesn't give you the right to disrespect my family. Understand?"
I nod, feeling the weight of his admonition press down on me, regret racing through my mind. The sinking feeling tells me I crossed a line I shouldn't have.
"Stay out of my family affairs," he warns, his tone firm, his eyes fixed on mine. "You're just my staff; don't misunderstand." His words pierce me, and I nervously tug at my sweater's hem, trying to compose myself.
Gina, Grey and now Oliver. Today has pushed me to my limit, and I'm close to breaking.
"She..." I begin, wanting to defend myself and explain how difficult Gina is to work with. But a quick realization dawns that he doesn't care about my grievances. He only cares about one thing â his family. "I understand that," I state instead, my voice resolute, even as I swallow my frustrations.
"You will help me find her and apologize to her," he instructs, his final words leaving no room for negotiation.