The Past Behind Us

Chapter 3

My father Patrick introduced me to Luis and Grant as his personal assistant, and also discussed everyone's new job description including Luis who will be working in the company also after a long time of not showing interest in it. Emma decided not to retire – yet, but Grant replaced her to handle Logistic Department. When my father told everyone that I will be checking the reports from time to time, another mocking smile came from Grant's lips. I wasn't surprise though, but another idea came to my playful mind.

Until the meeting ended, I never saw anyone smile at each other or even shake hands which were supposed to after welcoming Grant and Luis, and even I, in the company. Something had gone wrong somewhere. But Emma approached me outside the conference room and gave me a warm hug like she always does. Her husband went straight to his new office while Grant stays with her mother and saw I his blank expression at the corner of my eyes.

"I am glad you're finally a grown-up responsible young lady," Emma said to me smilingly.

"There's always a time for maturity, Aunt Emma." I smiled back at the woman who I treat as my second mother.

"I am excited to be working with you. Come to my office and I will teach you and Grant things you need to know."

"Sure, I will. I also miss our coffee-time. I'll be there after lunch, Auntie." I showed her my sweetest smile and turned my head at Grant who was waiting for her mother impatiently. "Grant and I will surely could make a good team, couldn't we?"

"I'm sure, honey," Emma agreed right away. "I am sure he is also excited to work with you."

"It's obvious." I made a joke to annoy him. Grant responded with an artificial smile and I smiled back in an attractive manner. I felt satisfied with our short glances no matter how irritated Grant was every time he looks at me. I felt alive, pleased, and motivated, which was odd because I should feel offended. Until now, I am still confused why Grant would feel resentful towards me. Nevertheless, his gazes when he thought I wasn't looking excite me.

As a promise I made to Emma, I went to her office with a cup of coffee after lunch. I had no idea that Grant also uses her mother's office as his. When I entered the room, Emma was talking to an employee and was about to leave. She asked Grant to discuss with me the delivery schedule which made us both stunned for a moment. Grant, on the other hand, was the first to recover from stillness and sat on his swivel chair.

"I think I can manage, there's no need to bother you," he said firmly to obviously dismiss me. I sat on the receiving chair in front of his table instead and ignored his dismissal.

"It's fine with me. I'd be happy to help," I said. My heartbeat suddenly became strong, and my voice seemed to come out tight. I felt uneasy being alone with him; my throat became dry and my hands start sweating.

"And what help can you offer when you will be working here in barely two months?" he asked with annoyance in his face. At twenty three, Grant possessed the quality of a good-looking young male. His baritone voice echoed in every corners of the room, and the same stare he always gives me was hard to ignore. Undoubtedly, I have an admiration growing with a man who always shows upfront rudeness.

"No wonder your boyfriend kisses you in public, Jade." My one eyebrow rose as he spoke again, trying to understand what he meant by that. "Don't stare at a man like you wanted to be kissed," he added that made my cheeks turned red in embarrassment.

"Look," I said calmly and breathed in a lot of patience and tolerance. "I offered help because your mother suggested it. You were right, I can only work full time for two months, but I will still be working with my Dad during my free time. You don't have to put insults if you don't want to work with me, which I couldn't understand why. But I am fine with that. Have a good day, Grant."

I saw him followed me as I walked away and held my arm fiercely and made me turn around. I didn't expect it and I almost lost my balance but Grant's other arm instantly wrapped around me to make me stand still. I was able to release myself from his grip and moved away after few passing moment, I stood in front of the door while my one hand held the knob ready to get out of the room.

"I'm sorry," Grant apologized before I could open my mouth to speak. "Please don't leave." His face turned from anguish into regretful as we stood in silence until I decided to go back to where I was seated.

"I think you're right," I finally said after the room filled with silence. "You will not need my help. And I don't want to—"

"I didn't say I won't," he interrupted me. "Here's the list of pending orders and schedule of deliveries. Maybe we could arrange the schedule accordingly so we don't miss any orders undelivered."

I refused to look into my eyes when he handed me the folder clip of undelivered purchase orders. I am familiar with that because every detail of company's transactions and reports proceed to my father at the end of the day. Most of the times, Emma would discuss those with my father.

"We cannot decide on this yet unless we have the report on finished items, Grant," I said. "There are items that easier to produce and there are items which needs more time to manufacture. If you want the delivery to be prompt and organized, you should talk to supervisors and ask the lead time of production of each item."

Grant looked at me with admiration and rested his back on his chair. I smiled dryly as I continued to speak. "Why? You think that I have no idea about what's happening around me? Remember that this is my playground even when I was a kid and I spend half of my life in this building."

"That is not what I meant," he admitted. The expression of his face changed from admiration to something else. It was a little less intimidating compare to the stare that he gave me on that day I first saw him in the car however.

"What exactly do you mean?" I questioned him and hoping that he would tell me the truth this time. "Is there something I need to know?"

I caught another blank response as he ignored my question and called someone on the telephone instead. I heard him talking to one of the supervisors and set a meeting to discuss production schedule and inventory of items. My eyebrows rose again when I heard my name to be included in the meeting. It seems that Grant decided to involve me in everything without even asking permission from me.

"I have jobs at my father's office, Grant," I objected as soon as he hung up the telephone. "I already told you what you need to know, but that doesn't mean that we'll be working together on that job."

"It seems that you are more knowledgeable in this area more than I am. I just want you to be with me in the meeting so I will not look stupid in front of our employees."

I looked at him and slowly nodded to accept his invitation, if that was even an invitation. After an hour of waiting for Emma to come back, I decided to go back to my father's office.