Office Intertwined⚝

Chapter 8 - Riding by Coach

Everyone piled out of the coach and onto the campsite parking lot. Kass looked out onto the wide expanse of greenery, nestled near a dense forest. The parking area was covered in gravel. 

As the coach left, a sporty-looking guide stood waiting for them. Her ginger curls bounced around her head. Behind her was a winding path, where there stood an old wooden arch covered in vines and wildflowers. The path led into the dark woods, where the sunlight filtered through the leaves. 

Their guide approached them, greeting them. ''Howdy, folks! I'm Tessa, your guide. I'll be helping ya'll for the first couple of days.''

She guided them along the winding path, where sunlight gently peeked through the lush canopy of leaves overhead. Finally, they emerged through the woods into a large glade. In the middle, there was a clear lake, and around it, you could see cozy wooden huts tucked beneath the tall trees. It was a peaceful and inviting spot, a true escape from the world outside.

Jason sighed and tipped his head back as he breathed in the fresh air. Kass and Juliet ran out from behind him, dumping their bags on the grass and running around on the large planes of grass. Jason watched with hesitance, time seeming to slow down, as Kass ran freely in the wind, her hazel hair trailing behind her like silk.

He averted his eyes once again and refocused on getting most of his employee's suitcases into their accommodation. He didn't want any more feelings to mess up his head, which had taken a long time to calm down after the coach trip.

Once the girls had calmed down, Derek came over to bribe Juliet to stay with him. He offered her a pack of donuts and smiled warmly at her. The other girls watched with grins on their faces as they too picked which partner they wanted to pair with for the huts.

''I'm sorry Kass but Derek really wants me to pair with him.'' Juliet looked apologetically as Derek took her hand and led her up the stairs of a hut. 

''It doesn't take a genius to figure out who sent the love letter,'' Kass mumbled under her breath, as she turned to see who else she could partner up with

''Hey, Jess do you want to partner up?'' Kass asked Jessica, who was picking up her suitcase.

''I'm sorry, Lexi already asked me to go with her.'' Jess smiled at Kass.

All the other girls had partnered up with someone or another, and there weren't many options left. 'I suppose I could just stay by myself in a hut,' Kass thought, as she sighed and dragged her extremely heavy suitcase across the grass towards the lake.

''May I help you with that heavy suitcase?'' Jason's head popped out from behind her, his arms tucked behind his back in a gentlemanly way.

''Yes please, just to that hut over there.'' She pointed to a hut that was furthest away from everyone else.

''So far away from everyone else? Are you sure?'' He asked with a solemn expression, stooping down to pick it up.

''Yes, I'd like to be on my own, since all the rest of them got partnered up.'' She said coyly.

''I'd rather not hear them making a ruckus at night when I'm trying to sleep.'' She joked, attempting to ease the situation in which some tension seemed to grow.

''Well, if it's of any help, I'll be very quiet when I go to sleep. I'll be in the hut next to yours.'' He told her politely, before walking off and leaving her suitcase on the porch of her hut. 

''Thanks,'' Kass said, looking up at Jason as she stepped onto the hut stairs. He seemed to avoid making eye contact and feigned interest in the campsite's landscape.

'' I hope it doesn't annoy you, but can you help me unpack some things? I noticed you didn't bring much, and I have a lot of things.'' Kass made up an excuse to get him inside the hut so she could get out of the eyesight of her fellow colleagues, who were eyeing them both up.

Inside the hut, Jason didn't utter a word as he took out her beauty products and put them on her bedside table. He paused for a second when he took out a small pill bottle.

''What's this?'' He asked her, paying close attention to her face.

Kass turned around and made a surprised face when she saw what Jason had his hands on. 

''My vitamins.'' She said in a low tone and avoided eye contact.

''I've never seen this brand of vitamins before.'' He said suspiciously and took a closer look at the bottle.

''There's no need to get up close and personal with my medicines.'' She said, walking over and snatching the bottle from his hands a little too harshly.

''Alright, I'm not going to criticize you, I was just interested. Why do you need sleeping pills?'' He frowned at her. 

Kass straightened her posture and tightened her mouth. 

''None of your business, if I may so so.'' Kass shoved the bottle deep into a drawer and slammed it shut.

''I would say the wellbeing of my staff is my business.'' He stood up straight and towered over her. 

"Well, that's very noble of you," Kass retorted with a touch of sarcasm. "But not everything in my life is up for discussion, especially with my boss. It's a personal matter, and I'd appreciate it if we could keep it that way."

Jason's expression remained firm, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "Kass, I'm not prying to invade your privacy. If there's something bothering you, I'd like to help."

Kass hesitated for a moment. She could sense Jason's genuine care but knew he was keeping a certain distance, just as she preferred. "I appreciate your concern, Jason, but this is something I have to handle on my own. Let's keep work and personal matters separate." She ended the conversation and told Jason politely to get out of the hut.

Jason said nothing as he left the hut and walked down the stairs. 

As Jason headed down the hut's stairs, his expression remained neutral, like a poker face. He was disappointed by Kass's request for space, but he got it, and understood why Kass wanted him out.

 Deep down, he still cared for her, but he was keeping it to himself, determined not to show it.