Falling Again

welcome to the DAN company

Since the takeover of the DAN company by the James Company and Raymond James being appointed as the new CEO he had not gotten a day of rest, it has been from one meeting to the other, in the day and even at night. Raymond was pleased to hear his new PA would be resuming today. Finally, help was coming and his schedule would be properly arranged. At thirty already a CEO wasn't challenging him, he had always wanted to lead in business, Raymond had successfully handled other areas of the company before now, which made him the best option for the CEO position and he was ready to give it his best. “Please take a seat,” Raymond said to the lady he observed had suddenly gone motionless and he didn't care why. Jenny quickly tried to compose herself, Raymond had not seen her enough to recognize her, because as soon as he turned, he went for his chair and began working on his computer. Jenny couldn't believe this, Raymond James cheated on her with his ex, because she wasn't ready for s*x back then because she felt she was still too young at eighteen and needed more time to think it out. Was now a CEO and her boss. She knew Raymond's family had money, but she wasn't his class, it was part of the reason Raymond's mom hated her and thought she wasn't good enough for her and preferred the rich daughter of a family friend; Victoria Johnson, the same ex, Raymond cheated on her with. She met and dated Raymond by chance, she was classmates with Raymond's sister back in high school. The school her family wouldn't have been able to afford if she wasn't on scholarship. It was love at first sight, they tried to make it work against all odds until Raymond cheated on her with Victoria and they had to end things. “Sit please” Raymond offered again, still not looking up at her when Jenny was not making an effort to take the seat. Jenny took the seat this time, as she thought of the best way to handle the situation. Raymond was her boss, her prayers were answered, he wasn’t a mean boss, but he was a terrible person, a liar and a cheat who broke her heart. How would she be able to work with a man like that? Jenny was confused. She thought about quitting, but it wasn't a good idea, she needed the money, she just moved in with Peter’s cousin Gina, and she would be expecting her share of the rent by the end of the month to make up the payment. This wasn’t what she was expecting, it wasn’t the start she hoped for, maybe if Raymond looked at her and recognized her, he would just fire her and save her the stress of making that decision. As Raymond tried to call up his New PA's file from his computer, he wondered what was up with her, why was she uneasy? Whatever it was he just hoped she was ready for the job, he wasn't going to tolerate any form of incompetence. He thought, as her profile came up. As he went through it, he paused and his heart almost came out of his chest when he came across the name “Jenny Josh” Could it be her, the same Jenny Josh, the one who left him, for no reason, ending things with him and left town without saying goodbye. Leaving him, abandoned, depressed and heartbroken. Raymond wondered as he gathered up the courage to look up at his new assistant. It was the same as her, but she is now a grown woman, her profile says she was now 24, and she was beautiful and looked confident in a cream suit. She was missing her glasses, dished them for contact laces he assumed. And till this day, Jenny Josh remains the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. It was Raymond's turn to freeze. Why did you leave me? Why the hell did you leave me without a word? And where the f**k have you been? These were the questions Raymond wanted to shout out at Jenny but he couldn't, he just stared at the beauty he once loved and still loved. His phone began to ring and that put them out of their shock to reality. It was his mom again. “Hello Mom,” he composed himself and picked up. Jenny just watched and listened to him, it was truly Raymond, his voice did not change, it brought a sweet memory to her, and she quickly closed her eyes to erase. The i***t cheated on her, she couldn't be thinking of him like that. “I promised to make time _ I have to go, Mom, something important came up, I have to go now, bye” he hung up not wanting to hear any more of his mother’s unnecessary demands, at least not now, when the last person he hoped to see was sitting before him. Jenny smiled and shook her head when she realized Raymond was talking with his mother; Stella, that woman had not changed either, she was still getting under her son's skin. She should be happy now, her son has left Jenny for the girl she prefers. Or so Jenny thought. “Jenny _ Jenny Josh” Raymond called after a long stare. “Raymond James” Jenny called back in affirmation. “It's you!” Raymond acknowledged “It's me,” Jenny responded, looking away from his alluring stare. “My god! You look different” “As do you” Raymond smiled revealing his dimple, it was beautiful, Jenny thought it was beautiful, it had always charmed her, and she was afraid it still did. “What happened? You left!” Raymond couldn't hold it anymore, he had to ask. “I have to,” she blurted out. “You had to? It's been over six years and all you can say is you have to?” Raymond wasn't having that. “Please, Ray_” “Ray? You know you are the only one who calls me that” he said remembering the lovely days, the days before she left him. He remembers, she was trying to decide whether to stay back in town with her mom or leave with her dad after they finalized their divorce, if she left with her dad it meant long distance for them, and Raymond didn't mind, he loved her so much he wanted to give it a try. Jenny was kneeling toward going with her dad as she felt he needed her more as he was still healing from the divorce, her mother had moved on as she already had a boyfriend, but for them, she was considering staying behind. She was caught between the decisions. She was supposed to come over that day to make her decision. The same day, Victoria came over, forced a kiss on him, and tried to win him back but he ended up kicking Victoria out. He had waited all day for Jenny to show up and she didn't, he called and she never took his call till she left town with her father. Raymond had no idea Jenny came to his house and walked in on Victoria kissing him, it was at that moment she decided to leave with her father. “I don't want to talk about our past. Let it remain in the past. I just like to know if I still have a job here Mr.James” Jenny didn't want to go that route. Talking about it will bring back the pains she was still healing from. Raymond saw how much Jenny had grown and changed, she was confident and spoke boldly, not so gentle anymore and he loved it. If that's how she wanted to play it, he was ready to play but in the end, she would give him the explanation he wanted. But for now back to business. “Ms. Josh, go to the receptionist, she will give you my work plans, I would need a copy of my monthly schedule by the end of the day. That will be all for now. Welcome to the DAN company,” he finished with a mischievous grin.