Beneath the scars

Chapter 4

A familiar laugh drifted into the living room before the person herself appeared.

"...I'm telling you, it has to be in your car. Where else would I have left it?"

Jane stepped inside without knocking, still talking as she closed the door behind her.

The moment she noticed me sitting in the study, she stopped.

"Oh."

Her eyes widened just enough to look convincing.

"Asia... you're home?"

I looked at her for a second before taking another sip of my coffee and not responding to her question.

"I didn't know." She walked closer, her voice instantly softer. "We were out of the country for our friendship anniversary when we heard what happened. I was so shocked. I kept asking Kelvin how you were doing.”

I nodded politely.

"Well…I'm fine…Jane.”I shot back the response with every hint of sarcasm in my tone.

"I'm really glad. Honestly, I was so worried."she said with that smile that I knew was so fake to actually care.But I smiled just to ease the awkwardness in the room.

"That's kind of you."

The room went quiet for a moment before she suddenly looked at Kelvin.

"Oh!" she said, snapping her fingers. "I almost forgot. I think I left my charger in your car. Or maybe it was my lip gloss. Honestly, I've lost track of my own things these past few weeks."

Kelvin didn't think twice before leaving the conversation we were having to turn to her just to respond.

"It's probably still in the glove compartment."

"I knew it." She laughed. "We've practically been living out of that car.”Jane turned back to me with the same gentle smile she'd walked in wearing.

"You must think I've been impossible lately. The workload has been crazy."

I tilted my head slightly.

"You do look tired."

She laughed.

"I know. I haven't really had time to rest."

"That's surprising."I said while taking a sip of my coffee again ready to hear her response.

She blinked.

"I would've expected the person recovering from surgery to be the one looking exhausted."I added.

For the first time since she walked in, her smile slipped.

It was only for a second.

Then it came right back.

"Well..." she said with a small laugh, "I suppose that's what happens when you're suddenly given a lot more responsibility."

I looked at her.

"What responsibility?"

She answered without thinking.

"I've been handling—"

She stopped herself and glanced at Kelvin.He looked back at her but said nothing.

Jane cleared her throat.

"I've been handling some of your responsibilities at the company."

"Some?"

"Well..."

She forced another smile.

"The Executive Strategy Department."

I nodded slowly.

"So that's where my office went."

"It wasn't like that," she said quickly. "Please don't misunderstand. I didn't ask for it. Mr. Fletcher just felt the department needed someone there while you recovered."

I shifted my attention to Kelvin.

"Is that what happened?"

He didn't avoid the question.

"Yes."

"And you thought she was the best person for the job."

"Yes she has always been good even from my school days and she needed somewhere to work.”

There it was again.

That habit of saying things without hearing how they sounded.

I rested both hands on the table.

"So while I was in the hospital... and while I was recovering... you decided to transfer my department, my office, my staffs and my files without telling me."

"The company had to move forward Asia…we couldn’t take a pause after a little crisis.”

"A little….”I just stared in disbelief because losing my child and almost being killed was now a little crisis to him.

Jane looked between us before speaking carefully with tears in her eyes just to draw attention.

"Asia, I really hope this doesn't affect our relationship…kelvin just wanted to help a friend and you know the company’s is also important.”

I turned to her with a visible irritation on my face.

She nodded.

"I don't want you thinking I took advantage of the situation."

I smiled politely.

"Well…i don't."I forced a smile while my heart was breaking inside because I physically had no more energy for this.

Relief spread across her face.

"I think you accepted an opportunity that was handed to you.”

She was about to talk when I interrupted her speech.”I’m sure you were in deep need of some money…right.”I said while I shot a sharp glare at her.

She had never seen me talk back at her when kelvin was there because in the past I would not want to upset him but now-I did not care anymore.

The silence stretched just long enough to become uncomfortable.

Kelvin finally broke it.

"Jane has done a good job."

I looked at him.

"I'm sure she has."

"She’s my friend and I care for her,you are just overreacting right now….don’t make Jane feel bad.”he immediately shot at me.

I just grabbed my coffee and walked pass the both of them and headed up the stairs.

He frowned slightly.

Kelvin opened his mouth.

"Asia…"

I raised a hand.

"No, it's alright,I understand.”

Jane looked as though she wanted to say something else, but I wasn't interested anymore.

As I walked past them, I stopped beside Kelvin for just a second.

"Oh, one more thing."

He turned.

"When you have time... ask someone to restore my access."

He frowned.

"Why?"

"Because whether I'm sitting in that office or not..."

I met his eyes.

"...part of that company still belongs to my father's family."

I didn't wait for his response.This time, I walked upstairs without looking back.

Behind me, I heard Jane lower her voice to ask kelvin a question.

"Do you think she's angry?"

Kelvin answered after a long pause.

"She’s just doing this to get my