That morning, Ceaser was having a good chat with his high school buddy Jake Connor after so long.
“…that scoundrel.” They laughed at the story Jake had told Ceaser about their mutual friend.”
“How’s Stacy?” Ceaser asked about his friend’s wife.
“Doing fine. After her sister’s passing a year ago, she’s had to take care of her niece -Leslie being her sole guardian. It wasn’t an easy year for her.”
“How’s your son taking it?”
“Dave doesn’t really care, he gets back from pre-school and goes straight into his room. He’s been quiet, loves Leslie like a sister though, very protective of her.”
Ceaser smiled.
“Sounds like his dad.”
Jake smiled.
“What about you? Anyone special?”
Ceaser couldn’t help smiling just thinking about Jules.
“I see.” Jake said “Who is she?”
“Her name’s Jules…” Ceaser was cut short when someone barged through his door.
“I’m sorry Mr. Thompson, she just walked right past me.” Claire said.
Ceaser stood and stared at the woman in question.
“It’s ok Claire. Thank you.” Claire left the office as Ceaser fixated his gaze on a woman who looked like she was out for blood.
She looked hotter and that made him smile.
“Don’t give me that smug smile of yours.” Jules warned.
Jake cleared his throat and that was when Jules noticed the other person in the room with them.
Her anger deflated to a certain level.
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok.” Jake got up and button his jacket “I’m Jake Connor.”
Jules shook his hand.
“Jules Jenna.” He was handsome with his designer suit, body that looked buff even through the suit he had on and that smile. But compared to Ceaser, Jules found him not up to par.
“Jules?” Jake shot Ceaser a glance. “Well, I was just on my way out, you can have this idiot for as long as you want.”
Ceaser laughed behind his desk.
“It was nice meeting you Jules, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of each other.” Jake said to her. “We’ll catch up some other time.”
“Damn straight.” Ceaser said as he went towards Jake and did the manly hug. “My regards to Stacy and the kids.”
Jake gave a curt nod before he left them alone.
Ceaser sighed before he turned to Jules.
“Couldn’t wait to see me?” Ceaser joked.
“No actually, couldn’t wait to dissect you.” Jules said her anger coming back to the surface.
“Uff, sounds dirty.”
“You know what else sounds dirty?” She asked him as she walked towards him and slammed the paper into him. “Today’s headlines.”
Ceaser’s brows furrowed as he took the paper and checked the headlines.
Billionaire Ceaser T-hump-son about to hump mystery Lady?
Ceaser swore.
“I’ll get this fixed.” He told her.
“How would you fix this?”
“Do you trust me?” He asked her.
Jules paused and sighed.
“Should I trust you?”
No.
Ceaser wanted to say.
“I’ll fix this. I promise.” He said before he left her standing alone in his office.
Everything was going so well.
Jules didn’t hear from Ceaser the rest of the day and it bothered her including the stares she had been getting from co-workers. She had ignored it all day and just wished it would go away the next day. But luck wasn’t on her side.
She still hadn’t heard anything from Ceaser and wished he’d show up during lunch but he didn’t.
“He’s probably trying to get the situation under control.” Andy said that afternoon.
“People are staring.” Sofi who had Ivy pointed out and when Jules looked around the restaurant, she almost shrunk in her seat.
She hated the attention.
“Ignore them.” Andy said.
“Here you go.” Amanda said “Your usual.”
“Thanks Amanda.” Sofi said.
“Everyone’s talking about you, you know.” Amanda said.
Jules looked at her.
She knew.
“Got some journalist showing up here asking questions about you.”
“What?!” The three of them asked.
“Yea.” She continued “Asking ’bout your name, where you worked, all sorts of things. Talked to some of the others too.”
Jules began to panic.
“I said nothing of course but not sure about the rest of ’em.”
“Thank you, Amanda.” Andy said.
Jules hated this.
This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid and it seemed the press wanted a story no matter what, if it was true or not. When had VoiceOutNews started running gossips stories?
She wondered.
That day, Jules wasn’t able to focus completely and she had two more files to go through before she could leave for the day and the time said she had twenty minutes to do that or she’d have to stay till she was done… no surprise there.
She didn’t know whether Santos hated her or he was like that to everyone because he dumped almost all the contracts he got on her desk.
Jules hadn’t known when twenty minutes flew by until Sofi walked into her office with her munchkin. Jules’ face lit up as she dropped everything she was doing and walked towards them.
“Mama.” Ivy smiled as she picked her from Sofi.
“Hey munchkin. I missed you.” Jules kissed her face and she giggled.
Just what she needed.
Jules sighed.
“Still have more, uh?” Sofi asked looking at her desk.
Jules smiled at her.
“I swear it’s like Mr. Santos hates you.”
Tell me about it.
“When are you going to be done?” Sofi asked.
Jules shrugged shaking my head.
“Two more to go.” She told her.
Sofi sighed.
“Good luck. We are going home.” She said as she took Ivy from her. “Say bye to Mama.”
Ivy puckered her lips and Jules smiled as she went in for a kiss.
“Bye Munchkin.” She placed a quick kiss on her head before they left.
Jules, Andy and Sofi had fallen into that pattern since Ivy became family. They’d bring Ivy over if they knew Jules was running late.