Chapter 3

16.

Jane felt a sudden sadness as she watched Dan leave but that quickly faded when she noticed that someone was watching her from afar. As she looked closely, she realized that it was the Psychic from earlier today. She waved as she smiled at Jane, A weird sense bothered Jane for minute.

“Is Dan the man this psychic is talking about?” “That can’t be, that’s not possible” She squeezed her face to let go of the thought.

“Oh Dan, How can I stop this weird feeling”

17.

Jane was looking at her reflection before leaving her apartment. She was quite please of her appearance today. She wore a beige mini-skirt and a black v neck blouse that she bought yesterday. She was only wearing minimal make up today, just powder, eye shadow and a lip shimmer and she just left her hair loose.

As she walked in the office, people we’re stunned to her new look. Even Mr. Gibbson noticed the changes of her appearance.

“How is it that you only decided to change your look now that it’s my last day” he said jokingly.

“Oh Mr. Gibbson, I’ts your last day today! I need to make myself look presentable at least” She said blushingly as she laughed.

It’s 10:00am but Dan has not called her in yet, she decided to just go through her pending work especially the ones Mr. Gibbson needs sign before the end of his last day in the office.

She went to Human Resources Department to hand over paperwork and documents that Mr. Gibbson asked her to submit. As she went in, she overheard employees talking about Dan, even though they we’re whispering to each other, Jane was still able to hear them talk.

“It’s Dan , 3 years ago “

“He’s so handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he loved her dearly”

“Rachel, she’s from marketing too”

18.

“Ehem” Jane cleared her throat to make them aware of her presence.

“Here’s the documents that you asked Mr. Gibbson to sign” she said as she placed the documents in front of them.

“Thanks Jane, oh, by the way you’re Mr. Parc’s new assistant isn’t it, Jane? You’re so lucky, Oh my he’s so handsome. I’m glad he decided to come back and work here again.

“Come back?” Jane asked confusingly.

“Yeah, he worked here before 3 years ago and he decided to leave and left the country. He used to work as assistant CEO for his dad. You weren’t here yet when he worked here before so you don’t know this.

“He left the company to study again, didn’t he?

“Nah, I don’t think that’s the reason at all, It’s because of Rachel, she………”

“Go back to work you two, this is not a place of gossip. David walked in cutting off the conversation, he’s the HR General Manager.

The two HR staff went back to their work and avoided David’s Gaze.

“I do apologize Ms. Devi sometimes these two can be troublesome, were they able to assist you with your concern? David asked.

“Yes they have, I only came over to hand in Mr. Gibbsons retirement documents for his benefits. It’s all in that folder. “Ahm, David, the woman that I replaced, her name was Rachel right?

“Ahm, yes It was Rachel Adamson, why do you ask?

“Ahh, no it’s nothing really, I have to go now thank you” She walked out the HR office confused as to why she even asked that question.

19.

It was exactly 2:00PM when she was called in Mr. Parcs office, the new CEO of PARC GROUP. Although she was nervous, she felt a glimmer of happiness that she gets to see Dan again. Holding her notepad, she quickly fixed herself as she walked to Dans office.

She slowly knocked on Dans office door.

“Yes, Come in”

As she opened the door her heart was thumping so hard that she can hear herself breathe heavily.

“Hi Dan, she greeted him with a big smile on her face. She was hoping to see a smile on his face too but as she looked at him, she only sees sadness in his eyes, the same eyes she seen when they were together.

“Please, come in Jane, have a seat. Offered Dan.

“You know Ms. Devlin Scott Jones, daughter of one of our biggest stakeholders. Devlin this is Jane one of my executive assistants while everything is being sorted.

Jane shook her hand as she made a quick glimpse and felt little of herself. This woman looked sophisticated, a tall young woman wearing a red body-hugging dress with an expensive jewellery on her beautiful flawless neck. Jane could not get her eyes of her until she noticed that Devlin was looking at her coldly.

“Condolence Ms. Jones” Jane said,

“Call me Ms. Scott, I did not take my fathers name, and thank you” She said coldly.

Jane felt Devlin’s hatred towards her, but she doesn’t know why.

20.

“Alright, I must go, don’t want to bother you too much. It’s seeming like you have lots on your plate. She told Dan in a very daring and sweet tone.

Jane felt insecure and dropped her notebook, Dan looked at her. When Jane realized what had happened, she caught Dans Gazed and they locked each other’s eyes. She can feel Dans pain in his eyes, she can see that he’s hiding something, something painful. She looked down to pick up her notebook to avoid Dans gazed.

Dan turned to Devlin “Yes, I am quite busy Devlin, we can catch up some other time. It was nice to see you again though”

Jane was ignoring everything and did not notice that Devlin has left. Dan went up to her “Are you okay Jane?” he asked.

“Why shouldn’t I be Mr. Parc” she answered.

“Ha, Mr. Parc again? We went through this before, he sighed and sat across Jane.

“I’m just fooling around, I’m sorry! Anyway,

“hmmmm, Question number 4. When are you and Devlin getting married? Jane asked jokingly with the hint of pain in her eyes. She was quietly hoping that he would say “never”.

“I don’t know” he answered, “I admit, I did consider it but…. He stopped for a moment to face Jane. “It’s just that 3 years ago, I promised my dad”

21.

This time she can also pain in his eyes, she was not ready for the pain that he could possibly feeling right now.

“You promised your dad that you will marry Devlin? She asked.

“I promised dad that I will try to love her, he hoped that I’ll keep my promise and marry Devlin. At that time, there was so much going on that I simply didn’t care” He explained.

Jane did not understand what he was saying, “What had happened before” she thought to herself.

She approached Jake, she wanted to hold him close and try to void his misery.

“Jane, I want our relationship to be strictly professional especially here in the company” he said.

She felt her knees soften as she heard what Dan have to say, her heart shattered as she heeds his words. “Did my actions, show too much of my feelings for him, was it really that obvious?” She thought quietly.

“About last Saturday” ….

“What about Saturday?” There was nothing last Saturday! Jane immediately answered. She draws out a lot of courage to say those words to Dan, it was not easy, but she did it. “It’s my fault I expected so much “she said to herself quietly.

“Jane”

“Dan”, I am here to work, nothing else. If you want me to do something, please let me know” She sat in front of him and opened her notebook ready to take down notes.

“Alright, I need all the last 6 months marketing campaign reports for the newly opened hotels in California and Florida. I want them on my desk in the next hour.

22.

“I’m on it” She stood up and walked out from Dans office. She quickly went to the washroom and locked herself in one of the cubicles.

“So, this is how we are going to be” she thought to herself tears slowly running down her cheeks.

This was the moment she realized that she does have feelings for him, feelings that she now know she can’t show.

Jane left early, after she did all what Dan asked her to do. She also apologized to Mr. Gibbson that she could not attend his farewell party.

“Here, have some more soup, it’ll help. Roxanne said. “What happened Jane, you look really upset, you know that you can always tell me anything.” She asked.

“Is this something to do last Saturday? I think you were love-struck” She said to Jane Jokingly.

“It’s nothing. Honestly” Nothing special happened last Saturday, we just had coffee and some food that it, I think my migraine is just playing up again.

“Migraine? Stop this crap Jane, I know you very well, we’ve been friends forever you can’t hide anything from me. “But you know, I heard some rumours earlier. They said Dan is marrying that woman. She was in the office earlier did you see her?

She was about to answer but her phone suddenly beeped. Her eyes widen when she saw the notification, it was from Dan. She opened the message and read it.

-JANE, WHY ARE YOU NOT RESPONDING TO MY MESSAGES? ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED ANYTHING, DO YOU NEED HELP? ARE YOU SICK?-

She have not put down her phone on the table when another notification came in.

-JANE WILL YOU BE ABLE TO COME TO WORK TOMORROW? I NEED YOU EARLY TOMORROW FOR A PRESENTATION FOR THAT NEW HOTEL.-

She sighed in disappointment knowing it was only work related that he messaged her. Another notification came in.

-YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, OKAY?-

She put her phone down.

“Was that Dan? Asked Roxanne. Jane nodded to confirm.

22.

“Jane, I think he likes you. Last Saturday I noticed how he looked at you, like he wanted you by himself? She said teasingly. “But I think he can’t do his advances to you because, ahm you know! Because of that woman Ms. Jones.

“She doesn’t like being called Ms. Jones, she said to call her Ms. Scott. Also, Dan said that he wasn’t sure that he wanted to marry her.

“What? How do you know that? Are you close? She teased.

“Shut up Roxanne, stop it! There’s nothing between us. Go home its late.

“Alright, you need to rest up anyway. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.

“Ahm, yeah Roxanne, can you do me a massive favour. Do you think you could find out about this woman called Rachel Adamson? She used to be the executive assistant, the one that I replaced?

“Rachel? Sounds familiar, alright! I’ll try to find out for you.

23.

She went back inside and noticed that Roxanne has left her food boxes, she put it away and will give it back to her tomorrow. As she lay down her bed, she recalled what happened earlier today. The cold treatment that Dan showed her. She didn’t like the pain she was feeling. “I wish I didn’t fall for him; how can I stop this feeling” She thought to herself.

She smiled as she reminisces their moments last Saturday. “Those moments is all I want to remember but….” She stopped herself from thinking about it anymore. “This feeling is not possible; he is not for me” She let out a big sigh of disappointment.

Will he really marry Devlin? The woman that he promised his father to marry, will he really do it? I guess he will, I don’t think he will break his promise to his father and she’s more suitable for him. A woman with the same social status as him. I am nothing to compare to Devlin.

She hugged her pillows, trying to remove the thoughts in her head when she heard someone knocking on her door. “It must be Roxanne coming to get her things she left.

She got up to open the door, she didn’t even fix herself as she was sure it was just Roxanne.

She was shock and embarrassed as she this beautiful person in front of her door.

“Dan? What are you doing here” she scrambled helplessly trying to fix herself.

“Hi Jane, Good evening. I’m sorry to barge in late, I brought cake is it okay to come in?

“Ahh, yes! Please come in” she was still in shock.

“I’m glad that you are okay”

They we’re still standing in the middle of the front room when they stared to each other. Dan smiled as Jane avoided his gazed.