The Date Planner

2. 14. Smiling Through It All

The next day was nothing short of unexpected.

The whole day was going perfectly great until Liza dropped with a bomb in my office.

I was working on overlooking some files when suddenly my door is pushed open with such force, I'm startled out of my seat.

I watch as Liza barges in through my office door, stomping all the way.

With the way her face is set, I'm assuming only the worst.

My secretary stumbles in behind her, trying to stop her but Liza seems to be on a mission today.

My secretary, Aria's pleas go to unheard ears. I motion for her that I'll take it from here and she leaves us alone in my cabin.

Before I can say something, Liza is all ready to eat my head off. She slams her hand so hard on my table, laying her palm flat against it.

I watch as she removes her hand to reveal her phone.

What catches my eye, leaves me breathless. It's an article by The Chronicles with the headlines:

'Is the Faux and Valsera rivalry finally coming to an end?'

And next to it, is a picture from yesterday of me and Justine at her favorite spot. Me sitting while she had her face buried in my shoulder, her face is thankfully not visible from the angle the picture has been taken but it's no doubt that it's definitely an intimate gesture.

I snatch the phone from the table immediately and scroll through the article, stunned into silence.

'The speculations about these two have been made since the beginning of time but it seems finally that sparks are flying as we see them cozy up in the safety of a corner. Some would say it isn't a surprise but what does it mean for the ongoing never-ending rivalry that has been among their businesses?'

I can't read further as I abandon the phone and lean on my desk for some support.

Fuck, this isn't how it's supposed to happen. And Justine? God, I don't even want to think about what she's going through right now. Or does she even know about it yet?

"I told you to stay away from her and you went right ahead and did what you wanted to do anyway", Liza hisses at me.

Such loathing in her eyes. It almost snaps me.

"So what if I did? You don't control what I do and don't, Liza. Don't you dare come into my office again, throwing speculations in my face like I practically committed a crime", I hiss back at her.

Ignoring her, I make to wear my tux jacket back on.

I need to go see Justine right now. We finally made some progress yesterday and I have no intentions of loosing her like this.

"She's not stable, Jason. She's trying really hard but she isn't. You don't know what might trigger her", she warns me.

I round the table to get out of my office.

"Then she needs me right now more than I need your bickering here"

And with that I stalk out of my office without another look back.

As I pass Aria, I make sure to tell her to take care of Liza.

"See to it that she's out of my office and doesn't enter it again. I'm out for the day"

I don't wait for Aria's reply as I stride to the elevator.

***