Chapter 5
1531 Words
{VICTORIA}
"STOP looking at me!" I said angrily to Jackson when I faced him.
His right elbow was resting on the desk. His face was tilted, resting on his right hand. His eyes were fixed on my face.
How can I focus on my work with someone like this around? The air conditioning in our office is strong, but I feel sweaty palms.
"Then stop being beautiful and I'll stop staring at your face," he said with a smirk.
I slammed the table in front of me loudly. He straightened up in his seat.
Okay! Calm down, self!
I couldn't help but get angry. Why is he doing this to me? I'm almost blushing. And my heart is beating so fast. I shouldn't be feeling like this. This is a big mistake!
"Grumpy!" he whispered.
I glared at him. He just smiled at me. And instantly, I feel like all my tiredness from the day was washed away by his smile. His sweet smile and dimples make me feel lighter after a tiring day.
I returned my eyes to what I was reading. I washed away all those thoughts lingering in my mind. It's just a crush, self! Wait, crush? How did I admit to myself that I have a crush on this guy? My mind and heart are conflicting. Yet this guy seems happy to make me uncomfortable.
"ARE you serious?" I asked Jackson with a loud tone. I stared at him intently.
It happened because we both exited the office door at the same time. In the end, our shoulders bumped into each other and neither of us could get out.
"What?" he chuckled.
I clenched my fists.
"Guys, it's just a door," Vine, our fashion designing team's seamstress, interrupted us.
We both turned to look at her. She shook her head and seemed to be enjoying the situation between Jackson and me. I couldn't hold back anymore. I pinched Jackson on the side. I was really irritated with him since this morning. All he did was try to make my day better, or rather annoy me.
"Ouch—"
"Stop acting!" I interrupted Jackson.
I left him and pulled Vine towards our team's meeting room on the tenth floor. Before the elevator closed, Jackson managed to stop it. He joined us inside.
"You always leave me," he pretended to be hurt, which annoyed me even more.
"Hello, Mr. Jackson! I'm still here. I feel jealous too," Vine pretended to pout.
I gave Jackson a glare, but he responded with a mischievous smile. Really? What is this guy's problem with me? If only I could resign from my job. But because I want to be professional, I'll stay. I just need a lot of patience. I know this guy will eventually get tired of bothering me.
When we arrived at the meeting room, the other employees from our design team were already there. It seemed like they were waiting for the three of us.
I immediately sat in the front seat, with Jackson following suit beside me. When he sat down next to me, I was surprised by what he did. He put a flower behind my ear. When I faced him, I immediately slapped his hand. Is this ever going to stop?
Someone fake coughed. We both looked at the people in front of us. They were all focused on the two of us, trying to hold back their smiles. I was so irritated that I couldn't help but step on Jackson's foot under the table.
"Sir, are you okay?" Darcus, the youngest member of our team and our sample maker, asked with concern.
"Don't mind him, he's perfectly fine!" I replied with a wide smile, then I looked at Jackson, who could hardly contain his expression.
MY eyes widened when I saw what Jackson was doing. It was like he was slowly loosening his necktie. Every movement he made seemed to slow down time. Then, he sat on the sofa with his legs wide open, leaning his head against the headrest. I could see his Adam's apple moving up and down. It felt like my throat was drying up. His hands started reaching for his buttons.
I stood up from my chair.
"What are you doing?" I asked him irritably.
He seemed surprised by me. He quickly adjusted his sitting position and looked at me intently.
"Huh?" he asked cluelessly.
"Stop doing that!" I said, pointing at his hand that was still holding onto the buttons of his long-sleeved polo.
"What's wrong with what I'm doing?" he asked, furrowing his brow.
"You're being rude! You're even planning to undress here in our office as if there are no women around!" I replied to him.
He paused for a moment. He got up from his seat. While he walked towards me, he unbuttoned the first three buttons of his polo, exposing his masculine chest. As I watched him, I felt weak in the knees.
"Let's say I am going to undress. But the main question is, why were your eyes fixed on me the whole time?" he asked seriously as he approached me.
I couldn't move from where I was standing. My hands resting on the table were starting to sweat. My eyes met his. My heart was pounding so hard and fast, it felt like it was about to explode.
His gaze slowly descended to my lips. The tension between us intensified. I even forgot about his question. All that was running through my mind at that moment was how to distance myself from Jackson's advances.
Jackson was almost cupping my face when someone opened the door. We both turned to look at Vine, who was staring at us with a shock expression on her face.
"Every day, it feels like destiny is testing me," Vine said and then closed the office door again.
I faced Jackson. "Stop bothering me!" I shouted at him, feeling like I was about to cry.
I left the office. I ignored his calls. I went straight out of the building. It was lunchtime, so I can leave the office and the company.
I went to the park. It was about a ten-minute walk. When I arrived, I felt weak and sat on a bench. I wiped away the tears that streamed down my cheeks.
Now, I'm doubting myself. I've only been working with Jackson for two weeks, yet I feel like I'm starting to fall for him. And the fact that I already liked him made me cry. What about my promise to myself? I swore I would never fall in love with another man again. I don't want to get hurt. I'm scared. I don't think I can handle being hurt again.
And what do I know? What if Jackson is just playing with me? How old is he? 31 years old. Maybe he already has a girlfriend, or worse, a wife. I never dreamed of being a mistress.
After a while of hating myself, I decided to return to the company to look for Vine. I found her in the cafeteria, eating with our other colleagues.
"What happened? Why were you crying?" Vine asked me with a puzzled expression, and all the attention of our co-workers turned to me.
"Nothing. Just ignore it," I replied and pulled a chair next to Vine. They all looked worried about me. I tried to smile at them to alleviate their concern.
I'm really thankful to have them as my coworkers. All of them are kind, and we treat each other like family. Even Jackson was giving me signals, and I didn't hear anything bad about us from them. We all know that office romance is forbidden. Maybe nowadays it's not as strict, but usually when a newbie has something with their boss, people think they're using them or after their money.
"Did you and Jackson have a fight? Just a moment ago, it seemed like you were about to kiss—"
I covered Vine's mouth. Argh! This woman! She never stops talking. Our co-workers stopped eating again and looked at me with intrigue. If only I could melt on my seat.
"Why are you being so hard to Jackson?" Ariel, our embellishment specialist and the oldest among us in her forties, curiously asked. She doesn't seem to be angry at me.
"I've known that young man for a long time, and he's really nice. It's the first time I've seen him interested in a girl," she added looking at me. I can see the sincerity in her eyes. How I wish it was that easy for me.
I slowly removed my hand from Vine's mouth.
"So, Sir Jackson has never had a girlfriend before?" Darcus asked Ariel. Even I was eager to hear Ariel's answer. I couldn't help but be interested in Jackson.
"Yes, he hasn't. I can sense that what happened to his parents before has affected him. It's a miracle that he is now entertaining a woman, and that woman is you, Victoria," she answered.
"It seems like our boss's son is really in love with you," Vine said, clapping excitedly. But here I am, feeling sad about myself.
- Writer
