You Only Live Once

Chapter Sixteen

The week started normally enough. Jamie went back to work, back to her cubicle, and back to her normal mundane life. She sighed as she stared at her computer screen, then glanced down at her phone to the photo of her and Sebastian she'd taken at Disney, which made her smile. I miss him.

Three days had gone by and she was happy to get texts and pictures from Sebastian any chance he could get them to her, which only made her count down the days even more. She looked over when she noticed her desk phone was ringing and instantly picked it up. "Hello?"

"Ms. Fields, could you come to my office? I need to speak with you."

"Yes Mr. Nolan," Jamie answered. She stood from her office chair, put her phone in her pocket, then walked out of the office room and down the hall to the elevator that would take her to her boss' office.

When she arrived at his door she knocked lightly before opening it. He sat behind a large desk with papers in front of him. His head turned when she entered and she took a seat opposite of him. When she did he smiled at her. "Good morning, Ms. Fields, how are you today?" He asked.

"I'm alright," she answered, crossing one leg over the other, making sure to sit tall in the chair. "What is it that you called me in for today?"

"It is about the project that you were working on," he began, picking up one of the documents in front of him, looking through it briefly before returning to look at her.

Jamie furrowed her brows. "Which one? I have a few going on at once," she replied, only for it to dawn on her the grave mistake she'd made. "Are you talking about the Mikaelson case?"

Mr. Nolan nodded. "Yes, the Mikaelson case," he confirmed.

"Mr. Nolan, I am so so sorry. I should have made sure to have it finished before I left," Jamie apologized.

"You had assured me it was taken care of, Ms. Fields. Yet, your co-workers had to finish the work instead of working on their own assignments," he explained.

Jamie grimaced. "I am sincerely sorry Mr. Nolan," she murmured.

Mr. Nolan smiled at her again. "Apology accepted, Ms Fields." He leaned forward, clasping his hands together on his desk. "But we will need your assistance to get caught up this week on the other projects that have now fallen behind."

"Of course! Anything I can do to help," she assured him. "Do you require me to work over?"

"Yes, we would like you to work late the rest of the week, to help assure that everything can at least get back on schedule. That won't be a problem, will it?" he asked.

Inside, Jamie deflated. I won't be able to meet him at the airport. "That would be fine," she answered. "I don't have any prior engagements."

"Very well," he began. "We'll start today, if that is alright with you? You will find all the information you need in your email."

Jamie nodded and stood so she could shake Mr. Nolan's hand. "Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself. Uncle wouldn't have done so."

"Believe me, Ms. Fields," he stood from his desk, reaching across to shake her hand, "You are a valued employee here. We would hate to lose you. But we won't be able to look the other way again."

She nodded. "I understand. It won't happen again." With Mr. Nolan's dismissal, she turned and left his office. Unwanted tears filled her eyes at the embarrassment she felt, causing her to walk into the nearest bathroom and walk into a stall to lock herself in and lean against the wall. "How could I have been so stupid?" she whispered.