I don't think I can reach out to him with a problem like this, and I don't even know him.

Yeah. You don't want to involve him in a matter like this.

I think you should reach out to him. Who knows, he might be able to help you.

Two voices argued in my head. I don't think it's proper to reach out to him with a problem like this.

Okay, watch yourself getting married... Or signed off.

I don't want that! With shaky hands, I took my phone and typed the number on it.

The phone rang, but then it was sent to voicemail. This might be a sign that I shouldn't call him.

Throwing my phone frustratingly at the other side of the bed, I lay down.

What an ill fate I have. I shouldn't have come here in the first place, and if I hadn't, I would have been living in more proper life.

Tears streamed down my eyes, with a headache coming along with them. Suddenly my phone rang.

I stretched out to take my phone and looked at the caller's id. No name. I tapped the accept button before putting it close to my ear.

"H-hello?" I asked. "You called." Came a cool manly voice. Was it the number I called earlier?

"Are you... Jake...?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. Jake Carl."

"Do you remember? That night at the hotel? I'm Tessa."

"Yes, I do. Never thought I was going to hear from you again. How have you been?" He chuckled.

"I-i'm fine." Tell the truth!

"Are you? You sound rather down."

"No... I mean, yes."

"What happened?" You can sense the worry in his tone. "I'm not okay," I suddenly cried.

"It's a long story. Can you help me?" I asked hopefully. "Where are you?"

"At m-my aunt's, she's h-holding me, hostage." I stammered. "Do you know the location?"

"Yes," I replied, and then I told him the location. "Relax, okay? You'd be alright." He assured me, and I nodded my head even though he would not see me doing it.

"I brought you juice, and you should drink it all." I heard my aunt's voice and quickly hid my phone.

"What were you doing?"

"I was uh... Searching for something, I kept... In my bag."

"Okay, dear, drink this." She said, giving it to me. I waited, expecting her to leave, but she didn't.

"I would leave when you're done with the juice." She said with a smile.

Who knows what she put in this? I gave her something to abort the pregnancy.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and she walked out. I walked towards the door, trying to make out the voices I was hearing.

Had he told someone? Were they the people at the door? "What are you talking about?! I live here with my daughter and niece, and no one is pressuring anybody here!" I heard my aunt say.

The other person said something I still couldn't make out. "I'm sorry, but both girls can't speak to you now. They are asleep."

"You can't go into my house without my permission! I told you they are not available right now."

I was going to step out to go to them when a hand suddenly clasped my mouth, pulling me back.

I tried to scream, but it came out as muffles. Oh, why?

"Shh." The person whispered. I tried kicking, trying to make a noise, but the person entangled his legs with mine, stopping me from kicking.

Tears streamed down my eyes. I was never going to escape. "See? I told you I was trying to get sleep myself, and then you guys came. Oh my, and my blood pressure is high. Please go now. I have to rest." An aunt said dramatically.

I squirmed, trying to break free or at least hit something to make a noise.

I noticed the man bringing out something from his pocket. A handkerchief. He was going to make me sleep!

I squirmed harder until something fell, making a loud noise. He managed to put the cloth on my face, making me fall asleep.

Someone, please save me.

I stretch out my body. Where it seemed like the most comfortable place I have ever been in my life.

Where was I?

My brain suddenly recalled what had happened earlier, and I snapped my eyes open.

I heard the door opening and footsteps walking closer to me. When the person reached where I was, my eyes widened.

Jake.

He smiled at me. "You're finally awake. How are you feeling?" His smile was warming, and it could light up a dark room.

"I-i'm fine... What happened?"

"Nothing much. What matters now is that you're okay."

I tried to get up, but he stopped me. "I think you should have more rest. Stressing yourself now is not good for your health and that of the baby."

When he said that the baby was making me relax, my baby was okay. I smiled at him gratefully.

"How can I repay you?"

"By taking care of yourself." He said, and I nodded my head.

"Thank you so much."

"You don't have to be."

"Uh... About my aunt, d-did anything happen?" I asked in curiosity.

"Nothing much. I'd go bring something for you to eat." He said, walking out.

I pinched myself on my arm to know if this was a dream or not. It wasn't.

Tears flowed down my eyes. Tears of joy. I was free once again. I won't have to see aunt or that man.

Ever again...

"Tessa, I saw what happened earlier." I turned my head to look at Yvonne, she was giving me a weird look.

"What do you mean? And stop with that face, it's creeping me out."

"Don't pretend that you don't know!"

"No, seriously, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You and Jake! The way you two held each other's hands today, the way you two looked at each other..." She said dreamily.

Oh god. She was talking about what happened earlier, I had incidentally slipped and Jake caught me.

I and Jake have been friends for two years now and nothing is going on between us. "I told you, Jake and I are just friends., I said and she scoffed.

"That's what you always say, even when you know it's not true, just- fine, but that won't stop me from shipping."

I rolled my eyes mentally. "Did you hear?" She asked. "Hear what?"

"About the boss, he's going to come to our branch tomorrow, I gotta go do my beauty treatment!"

The boss, he was coming? I've never seen him personally, I have only heard of him. "Okay., I replied.

~

I woke up to someone practically jumping on me, Jesus. I shifted my eyes to see Anne.

How did she? "Mommy!" She said giggling and moving closer to me, she wrapped her hands around my neck. "Hey, baby., I said hugging her back.

"Let's go brush our teeth and have our bath?"

"Hmm." She replied.

~

"I'd be going now, please take care of her, and thank you so much., I said to Zara.

"Of course, see you later." She said and I smiled and walked out the door. I went to my car and drove off to the office.

I recently bought the car from my savings. Just a year after I gave birth to Anne, Jake had helped me secure a job.

Not just any job, a job in one of the biggest companies in the world, and the pay is really good. Though I think he has a connection with the boss.

Perhaps, they were a friends

I got to the office and walked in, oh god. I was 20mins late, I walked faster and finally got to my work department.

But it was unusually empty, where are the other people? I saw a cleaner. "Hey, do you know where they-"

"They are in the conference room, with the boss." She said and my eyes widened.

Oh, snap! I quickly took my bag and practically ran to the conference room. I got to it and opened the door.

All eyes were suddenly on me. I blushed at the attention that was suddenly on me.

I walked closer to the big table, "I'm sorry for the disturbance." I said and slowly took a seat to sit down.

"You were saying?" I heard Jake say, oh thank god! The attention was now off me.

Thank you, Jake.

"It's going to be like this..." And just like that, the meeting went on, damn. How could I not know about this, what if I'm given a query?

Soon the meeting was over and the employees started walking out. "Did you see him?!" Yvonne screeched, Jesus, my ears. Placing a hand on my ear, I asked. "Did I see who?"

"Austin Kings!" She squealed, I'm pretty sure if she does that one more time, I'm going to go deaf.

But no, I did not see him. "No., I replied and she looked at me like I just said the most abominable word ever.

"Look." She said pointing to a man in that. Jesus. I almost got a heart attack. Was he for real? So handsome, hot... Sinfully handsome... What the hell am I saying? Now I see where all the ladies here were staring at, not all though, of course, Jake also has some spotlight, have I ever mentioned Jake is so handsome and so hot? Oh, stop!

And you say you're just friends with him? Yep, just friends. I don't even think I'm ever going to start a relationship ever again.

"Just his smell alone will melt you, it's so good." I heard Yvonne say. No doubt she was going to try and get him, she's obsessed with him.

"Wish you the best."

"Oh, he's the best!" She mused. I looked at my time. "Let's go back to the office?"

"Yeah., she replied. We walked forward and then we had to pass where the boss was. Just when we were going to pass him, Yvonne fell to his feet.

She did that on purpose.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry." She said slowly standing up. She shyly tucked her hair in the back of her ear.

I expected him to like say. 'Oh, it's okay.' But he didn't, he just stepped away from her and walked towards where Jake was.

Rude much?

"Are you okay?" I asked and she just nodded her head. "Let's go., I said and we walked towards our department.

~

It's been an hour since we got here and it's been a boring day. I sighed getting up, I had to go give Jake this file. Did I mention Jake was my senior?

I got to the office and opened the door. "Hey," I said smiling at him, he returned the smile

"Hey." He replied. "I came to give you this, I've done the necessary process," I said giving it to him.

"Thank you." He said. "No problem." I turned around at walked out of the office.

I got to the elevator leading to my department and entered it, it moved for 3mins and stopped.

I came out and walked to my office. My office phone suddenly rang. "Miss Tessa, the boss requested for you to come to his office immediately."

Jesus.

.

.

.......

"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." A voice said the person waved at my face, and I turned to see Yvonne.

"I think I'm in trouble."

"Why?"

"He asked for me... Mr Kings." I said and her mouth formed into an 'o' shape. "Remember? I came late today, what if he wants to fire me-"

"It's okay, calm down... Maybe... Well, he might just want to know why you were late, I don't think he would fire you and I could escort you there if you want."

"Yes. Please do."

"Okay." She chirped with a huge smile on her face. She entangled her arm in mine and we walked towards the elevator.

We entered and the door closed and it started moving. "Relax, you look tensed." I heard Yvonne say.

I sighed. Soon it stopped and we stepped out and walked towards the reception. Yeah, there was also a reception here for those waiting to see him.

"Thank you so much, you can go now-" she cuts me off.

"It's okay, I want to be here for you, what are friends for?" She said with a friendly smile.

"Thank you," I said and walked towards the lady beside the table on the left-hand side. "Mr Kings called?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry ma'am but Mr Kings is not at work now and he never asked for anyone." My eyes widened. Then who called?

"Oh. Thank you." I said turning around. Yes! He wasn't calling me, but who did?

"What happened?" Yvonne asked. "Unfortunately, he never called," I said.

"Oh... Then who called you?"

"I don't know." The person did say 'boss' though. Wait. We call some people at higher levels than us bosses.

"Was the person referring to another person?"

"Maybe, I suspect the person would be Jake, he always calls you."

Ah, yes. What was I thinking? How could my mind just go to Mr Knight? Aren't I stupid?

"I'm sorry, I perturbed you for no particular reasons."

"It's okay, you might want to go see him, it's been a long since he sent for you."

"Yes, I would see you later," I said walking to the elevator. I got in and pressed the 4th floor.

It finally stopped and I got out and walked to Jake's office, but he wasn't there.

I looked around. "Oomph!" I collided with a wall. Stupid wall! I looked in front of me to glare at it.

But it wasn't a wall, but Mr Kings. Good thing I hadn't fallen. "Oh, I'm so sorry-"

"Are you blind?" He suddenly says with a scowl catching me off guard. "Uh?"

"Wow, she's dumb." He said, his dark eyes surveyed me and I felt like punching them. But, he's my boss. You're going to let him insult you?

"I'm not blind, and I'm certainly not dumb," I stated firmly, he might be my boss, but he shouldn't insult me.

"Excuse me, I don't have time for this." He said.

"Yeah, but you do have time to insult ladies," I said. And that's the stupidest thing ever, go find something better to do. I hissed in my mind but the way he was looking at me said I said it out.

Oh, I did! "What... Did you just say?"

"Nothing, I wasn't talking to you... I was... Recalling a movie I watched."

He raised an eyebrow, amused. Those perfectly shaped eyebrows. Damn.

His phone suddenly rang, oh thank god! I gestured that I have to go. This is a huge opportunity! I quickly walked away glancing back only a few times.

"Hey, why are you so much in a hurry?" I looked at the person in front of me. "You called, right?" I breathe.

"Yeah... A long time ago, but you didn't come so I had to go do it myself." He said. What? He went to go do what I was supposed to do, I felt so bad, I'm taking advantage of our friendship. Pfft, you didn't know he was the one calling you though.

"Oh, Jake! I'm so sorry, i-"

"It's okay." What's up with people cutting me off?

"No, it's not... I feel so bad, how can I repay you?" I said. "It's okay, Tessa... Besides, it turned out if I hadn't gone there myself something would have gone wrong." Oh.

"Okay," I said with a smile, he suddenly brought his hand towards my face.

Was there something on my face? His hand moved towards my ear and he tucked the loose strands of hair beside my ear.

Oh. "Thank y-"

"What's going on here?" A beautiful voice said. But see what I meant by people cutting me off?

I turned to see Mr Kings, and with the look on his face, one could tell that he was angry. Well, he has been like that all day, I guess, because this morning at the conference room he wasn't looking happy, I'm surprised those ladies gawking at him didn't notice his mood.

I don't blame them though... Cause he is sure as hell one good look-

Shut up!

"Nothing, sir," I replied. I noticed Jake studying Mr Kings, I looked at Mr Kings who was looking at me. A blush crept to my face.

"I was telling her, how beautiful she looks," Jake said and my eyes widened, what? that was not what we were talking about.

"Are you two dating?"

"No," I said.

"No... Yet." Jake said. What the hell? "I see."

Something tells me they know each other so well, yep. I think they do. Who would taunt their boss? because there were taunting looks in Jake's eyes.

They were looking at each other in the eyes, you know, the friends taunting each other thingy.

~

I sighed slumping on my office chair, after a long walk back to my office it felt like I was going to collapse.

I would have taken some rest, but you see the paper works before me? It says no to rest.

I sighed and began doing some paperwork. A lady walked in with an envelope in her hand.

"I was asked to give you this, ma'am." She said and gave it to me before walking out.

Who sent this? I opened the envelope and my eyes widened at its contents.

.

.

.

......