bChapter /bb443 /b

    85%

    Sana looked up as Brian walked through the door carrying a food container, and she felt like she’d just spotted her savior She grabbed her folder and quickly said, “Jessica, I just remembered I have a spreadsheet to finish. I’ll get back bto /bwork now.”

    She nodded at Brian and smoothly slipped out of the office, giving the two of them some space.

    Brian silently praised her for being so thoughtful as he set the food container on the small coffee table in the office.

    “Jessica, I bought strawberry cupcakes today. Try one and see if you like it,” Brian said.

    Jessica didn’t budge from her seat. “I remember telling you not toe here anymore.”

    ‘Did he justpletely ignore everything my said?‘ Jessica thought.

    “I’m worried about you,” Brian admitted honestly.

    “What’s there to worry about? Do you think something’s going to happen to me in my ownpany?” Jessica said with a sarcastic edge.

    Brian didn’t seem bothered by her tone. He cut a small piece of cake and held it out to her. “The shop owner said it’s made

    with fresh milk, and the fruit is fresh too. It should taste pretty good. Want to try it?”

    Jessica stared at him quietly. Brian gazed back at her with gentle eyes.

    They stayed locked in this silent standoff for a while until Jessica finally gave in.

    The two of them stared at each other for a long moment before Jessica finally gave in. She picked up the silver fork and took a bite of the cake–it actually tasted pretty good.

    Brian felt relieved when he saw she liked it. He slid the te in front of her and stepped back to give her space.

    Jessica couldn’t bring herself to waste good food, iso /ishe ate the entire slice one bite at a time.

    When she finished and looked up to ask Brian to cut her another piece, she found him hunched over his phone again, texting someone back. The brieffort she’d felt from the dessert instantly evaporated.

    “Mr. Atkinson, if you’re so busy, you don’t have toe anymore,” Jessica said, her sarcastic tone surprising even herself. She couldn’t stand how bitter she sounded.

    Brian acted like nothing had happened. “That’s not an option. If I don’te, I’ll spend the whole morning worrying,” he said, his eyespletely serious. The sincerity in his gaze was so convincing that Jessica almost believed him.

    Jessica looked away, once again impressed by Brian’s acting skills. ‘He’s so good at this that it’s impossible to tell what’s real and what’s fake,’ she thought.

    “Are you done? Want me to cut you another piece?” Brian didn’t like the silence between them. When he noticed her empty te, he immediately put down his phone and cut her another slice.

    Just as Brian set the te downb, /bhis phone lit up with a new message notification.

    08:01 Thu, 21 Aug

    Brian looked at Jessica apologetically. “Sorry, something came up. I need to step out and take care of this.”

    Jessica poked at the cake on her te with her fork, not bothering to look up. “Whatever.”

    ‘If you want to leave, just leave,‘ Jessica thought. ‘Why ask me? It’s not like you won’t do it anyway if I say no!

    Brian could tell she was upset, but he couldn’t figure out why. He decided his best bet was to step outside and get some backup. “I’ll be right back,” he said, grabbing his phone and heading out of the office.

    After he left, Jessica stared at his figure through the ss door. After a moment of internal debate, she suddenly stood bup /bwith her cup in hand.

    “You can do it like this…” came a muffled male voice from outside the door, followed by Brian’s grateful response.

    “Got it, thanks.”

    ‘A guy?‘ Jessica thought. She stood frozen at the water cooler just a few steps from the door, her expression nk with

    confusion.

    ‘Has Brian been talking to this guy this whole time?‘ she wondered. ‘Did Ipletely misunderstand the situation?‘

    Jessica needed to figure out what was really going on, so she instinctively took a couple steps closer to the door.