4. Busy Day

Tyler

It was ten in the evening when I arrived back from work. Larry was smoking his cigar on the back porch when I remembered seeing Jessica's reddening hand and her awkward gesture of how she kept on hiding her hand. 

"What happened to her hand?"

"Hello big brother, take a seat, have a cigar, tell me about your day?" Larry smirked but answered my question seconds later.

"...her assistant said that Jessica accidentally touched the hot coffee plate, she was surprised by her when she was refilling her tumbler." He puffed out the smoke and crossed his legs while he looked out at the beautiful starry night.

"She is a bit jumpy, don't you think?"

Larry shrugged at my question, telling me that he hadn't known her long enough to give any opinion on her traits. 

"She said that you took her home yesterday? insisted on having business dinner..."

"Jessica is...I feel like she was hiding something. I was trying to find out more before today's signing."

"And what did you find?"

"She likes sleeping in her office, I think she went back to the office again last night after I left her at home." 

"Wow, you sound like a true stalker dude. So, do you like her? she's really beautiful, now I know why you didn't give me a straight answer yesterday."

"Don't mess with her, Larry. I think she's better left alone."

He laughed at my words and took another drag of his cigar. 

"Right, just keep on saying it brother. Come, join me." 

I relent and seat on the empty one-seater beside him. I clipped the cigar and light it with his butane lighter. He poured the cognac into an empty glass beside his, the brown-colored liquid tasted as good as it looked. I dragged the cigar slowly as l savor the smooth tobacco and relaxed while my annoying brother kept on babbling about how the new operation guys were not capable of doing their job.

"Maybe she's right, let's try her experienced people that she dropped then wanted us to rehire. Let's find out if those people can pull up the slacks."

"Yeah, she told me about the clause that she insists on adjusting."

"I told you about it this morning, you were not listening," I smirked and puff out my cigar. 

"Yeah, you might want to keep quiet about your new girlfriend. I'm not sure you want mom to invade your privacy and dig details on her while you're still not sure about Jessica."

I shook my head and told him that she's not my girlfriend, then he told me that I was in denial. But I didn't say anything back to his last words.

We stayed talking for another hour before I decide to head back to my room and rest. But sleeping was the last thing on my mind when I lay in bed. I cursed when I couldn't get her out of my mind.

I eventually decided to read then falls asleep just before two and woke up the next day feeling excited about meeting her. 

These thoughts should be gone. I need to focus on work. 

"Good morning."

"Tyler, come sit and have breakfast with us. Tell me, how's the new acquisition team working out their differences?" Dad greeted me, while mom was looking busy with her journal.

My dad has been trying to cut back on work, he would sit out on important meetings but would sometimes ask then give us input on it. Then from time to time, he would go to the office and just work with us like it has been his daily routine. 

"Today will be day two, we had the meeting with Ms. Robinson and her lawyer yesterday, she will be taking Larry's office today while he takes hers and starts things off from the operational side."

I took my seat to his front and poured coffee into my cup. 

"That sounds good, her capital is not much but it should be an easy job. The company doesn't have lots of debt all still within the norm, though I heard that she insisted on bringing her people back as part of the deal. How's your take on that?"

"Well, I think she's smart enough to retain the good ones, just hope those people won't let us down and play along with our objectives."

Dad nodded and said to come and discuss it further after breakfast. I groaned on the inside knowing it'll take longer for me to get to the office, and meet her. 

"And what are your plans for today, darling?" he asked my mom who's all dressed up too nicely for a morning breakfast with the family. 

"I'm having people over in an hour for a morning tea, we're going to discuss our upcoming charity event while introducing our new members. Oh, Tyler there's someone I'd like you to meet. When you're done with your dad, please come and see me in the library."

"Mom...I'm very busy,"

"Tyler, you're not getting any younger. You're going to be forty in a couple of years." She reached out to put her hand on mine, while dad simply cleared his throat and nodded. His coffee cup was hiding his smile and I know that he secretly told me to just follow her wants, which I know it'll be faster than giving her more excuses. 

"I'm thirty-seven,"

"And you've had plenty of time being a player already," 

I finally gave up and told her that I'll see her once I'm done with dad. 

"Thank you, honey. I'm going to leave you two and check on the caterer."

It took me another one and half an hour to finally finish with dad, then continue to see mom which I was hoping to finish early. 

"There he is, everyone please... listen up. Now, some of you have met my son. But today, I'd like to introduce the person who will help us with the event, Tyler." 

The women clapped politely, as a show of their welcoming gesture for me.

"Good morning, ladies." 

Mom was practically throwing me to her group of women who were there with their daughters and nieces. She was not showing any guilt feeling for surprising me with the matchmaking introductory.

Ten minutes later I was sitting with three young single women while waiting for the right time to excuse myself and go to work. 

It was just after lunch when I finally arrived at my office. Jessica had her door closed, but the blinds were open and I could see that she was typing on her laptop while flipping on a couple of notes on her desk. 

I knocked before I entered her office. 

"Tyler... good afternoon." She looked at her Cartier watch before she greeted me. 

"Afternoon, sorry I got held up. How's your morning? I see that you're already busy?"

"I'm just preparing notes for the meeting with the team, just to keep them up to speed with the situation." 

"Very good, did you have your lunch break? are you settled with everything here?"

She looked annoyed when I asked the question, and I was about to demand why when my PA barged into her office and was quick to usher me out of there for signatures. 

And more.

"Elsie,"

"I don't like her." She closed the door behind her and put the documents that needed my signatures on my desk.

"You don't like anyone," I smirked and sit back in my chair.

"I like you." She bites her lip and positioned herself to my front as if she was assisting me with work, while in reality, she was flashing her ample cleavage to my face. 

"Elsie now is not the time."

"It's because of her isn't it?" she pouted, and stand up straighter. 

"We agreed about this, I'll see you later at the hotel text me the room number I'll be there with dinner. Now, we work." 

She perked up when she heard about our later appointment. The sexy assistant swings her hip sensually making me chuckle looking at the way she exits my office.

I shook my head and decided to start working, I've spent too many hours ineffectively already. I need to start the day and catch up on work. 

But then I look at the wall next to mine, annoyed that I was interrupted earlier. 

Work Tyler, eyes on your desk.