The Reluctant Assistant - Book One

The Games People Play Part 12

The next morning, Raymond was not inclined to speak to Jackson after his ex-girlfriend's late night visit. The fact that this will probably not be the last time, put him in a bad mood. 

"Cook, you're being a robot again." Jackson pointed out, when he could get nothing more from Raymond than a yes, no or a very brief answer to his questions.

"I'm sorry, does it bother you?" Raymond raised his eyebrow, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"What happened?" he asked, sure that something would have put Raymond in a bad mood. He wasn't normally this moody, or maybe he hadn't noticed before?

"Nothing happened, well maybe the fact that I got a visitor late last night." he held Jackson's eyes.

"You got a visitor?" Jackson was confused. "Somebody I know?" he grinned at Raymond. With a sigh, Raymond turned around and left the office.

"You didn't answer my question!" he shouted after Raymond as the door closed.

"Raymond?" Glenn asked once he was seated behind his desk. "Am I expected to do everything that you do? It's just h-he doesn't seem to be able to do anything without you." he observed hesitantly.

Raymond laughed. "No, you'd only do part of what I'm doing. The eight to five part. Jackson is quite independent when push comes to shove. He is just spoilt, for which I am unfortunately responsible." he frowned down at the report in front of him. He had spoilt Jackson from the very first day they were thrown together. He spent so much time being the perfect assistant, that he didn't even realise how much this job would impact on his life, or how much of his time Jackson would take up.

When the intercom buzzed, Raymond was immediately on his feet, quietly opening the office door.

"I don't need you this time, Cook, send in Junior." Jackson suddenly barked at a confused Raymond. Sending in Glenn, he watched them through the glass panes on either side of Jacksons office door. Once the door had closed, he saw Glenn sit down at the desk.

"You wanted to see me Mr. Dealer?" Glenn was confused as to why Raymond wasn't there.

"Just sit down Junior, you don't have to do anything." Seeing Raymond staring at them through the windows, Jackson smiled at him and shut the blinds, blocking Raymond from seeing anything. If he was going to give him the silent treatment, then Raymond deserves a little payback, Jackson reasoned.

"Are you sure I shouldn't get Raymond in, or is there something I need to do?" Glenn had his tablet ready to take notes.

"All you have to do is sit there quietly and mind your own business, Junior." he said in evenly, wondering what was going through Raymond's mind right now. 

Maybe he was asking Glenn out on a date, Raymond thought angrily. Probably looking to see whether his replacement will also share his bed. He attacked his keyboard as if each letter offended him. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, whatever was happening, Jackson didn't want him to know. This was the first time that Jackson had done something that Raymond wasn't aware of. He normally told Raymond everything. Apparently Glenn was a good replacement! He whacked harder at his keyboard, grinding his teeth.

After a while, Glenn returned to their desk, flushed and a confused look on his face. Raymond jumped up and rushed to Jackson's office. "What did you do to him?" he accused as soon as he came to a halt in front of Jackson.

"Absolutely nothing." Jackson smiled enigmatically, raising an eyebrow at Raymond. Could he be jealous, Jackson wondered.

"O-okay," was all he could get out. Then seeing Jackson's tie undone, he automatically made a move toward Jackson to fix it. But he stopped himself. Why was Jackson's tie undone? He'd tied it this morning himself. "Maybe you should ask Glenn to fix your tie. He seems to have loosened it too much!"