you and I forever

chapter two

C

hapter 2
The next three days were quite long and quiet for Jess Conner because she has been waiting for a call from the powell company, "what is taking them this long" she murmured. She has been trying so hard not to put her mind to it since they were told they will all get feedback in five days time and it's been only three days now, but God help her she can't seem to put her mind off it. It was later in the evening then the following day that the call came in
   " Hello Jess Conner speaking" she said as she picked the call.
    " Hello, this is Lisa from the Powell's company " Jess heart skipped a bit " we are sorry to inform you that unfortunately, after careful and thoughtful consideration our recruitment team will not be proceeding with you" her heart dropped "but " Lisa continued " while you come with great knowledge and competence we are glad to inform you that you are suitable for the role of the personal assistance to the CEO, and we want to know if you are interested in taking the job"
Jess who was still in shock could not believe what she was hearing the personal assistant to the CEO that was so unexpected, but I didn't apply for it she thought to herself.
   " Hello are you still there" Lisa said,
  " Yes I am with you, and yes I would love to take the job, thank you "
  " Okay I am pleased to inform you of the contract signing tomorrow by 9am, we hope to see you "
" Yes I will be there " with that the call ended. Jess was so happy and at the same time confused, personal assistant to the CEO? That was huge, the position she applied for didn't even come close to that. With that happiness she picked up her phone and called her friend Joan.
" Hello Joan"
" Hello Jess, how are you doing"
"Guess what"
" What? You know I am not good with guessing games "
" I just got a call from Powell's company "
" You got the job" Joan said happily
" No not that job but they called to offer me another position, the personal assistant to the CEO " Jess said happily
" Wow that's a huge baby girl I am so happy for you, but how come? You didn't apply for that position "
" Yes I didn't, they said that The position I applied for was taken and that I was qualified for this position which is vacant and I'm to come in tomorrow to sign the contract with them".
" Ohh girl I am so happy for you, ohh yes I know you will get in and I am super excited for you ".
" Thank you, and Joan you will have to come pick Laura for school tomorrow "
" Okay honey anything for you "
" Thank you " with that she ended the call she was so happy finally she has a job not just a job but a good job, she can now be able to sleep well and knowing that she can now be able to pay for the rent and take care of her daughter. She was so excited that she can't wait for tomorrow.
The next day at Powell's company Jess Conner walked in and met the receptionist sitting at the front desk.
" Good morning" Jess greeted
"Good morning to you too, how many I help you" the receptionist replied
"I'm Jess Conner, I was called to come in today for Contract signing with the company "
" Okay which position are you signing for?"
" The personal assistant to the CEO " Jess said looking more nervous than before
"The personal assistant to the CEO? I didn't know there was a position open for that here" the receptionist replied checking the appointment list " ohh Jess Conner, I see it here now, you will be going directly to the executive floor and then the secretary will direct you from there".
" Thank you very much " said Jess going to take the elevator
"Excuse me, is a private elevator you need a key to go up" the receptionist told her smiling. Jess was so embarrassed she could only blame it on her nerves which was about to pop out of her face.
" I will have to call the secretary to come pick you up, you will have to wait a little bit" as she picked the telephone to call the secretary.
" Hello this is from the receptionist, I am calling to inform you that there is one miss Jess Conner here waiting for her appointment"
" I will be down in a minute, thank you " Lisa replied.
" She will be with you in a minute " she told Jess as she continued with her work.
Jess sat down and waited patiently, it wasn't long before an elderly woman came and stood before her.
" Good morning, you must be Jess Conner" Lisa asked
" Yes" she replied guessing that was the secretary.
" Please follow me" Lisa said moving to the private elevator as she brought out her key card and opened the elevator. There was silence as they moved to the executive floor " so I will soon have my own key card and ride this private elevator too" Jess said in her mind. When the door swung open she was brought back to reality, the secretary led them to her office for the contract signing" please settle down, and I'll be back with the contract papers " Lisa said as she left the office only to come back some minutes later with the papers.
" Miss Jess this is the contract, you are advised to read through it carefully before signing the contract" Lisa said sitting opposite her.
" I'm to cook for the CEO? Jess pointed out after going through the contract minutes later
" Oh yes , you will be serving as the CEO'S cook just until the cook gets back, is that a problem for you? Lisa asked
"Ahh no is just that I need to pick up my daughter from school after work".
" Ohh okay that can be arranged, is that all the problem u find with the contract?
Jess  thought, if there will be arrangements and time to go pick up her daughter from school then she doesn't really have any problem at all.
"Yes that's all" she replied.
" Okay sign here and there" Lisa points her where she is to sign " and I will take you to your office where you will be working.
"Alright" she signed the contract and handed it back to Lisa who got up and said "please follow me" she led her to the door with the sign of "CEO " write on it , her office is inside the CEO's office? She thought Lisa opened the door and gestured for her to enter. When they entered the office, the man behind the CEO's table was facing the window and was on the phone so Lisa gave her part of the contract which was hers to keep and drop the CEO's parts of the contract on his deck " I will be in my office if you need anything just let me know" and she left Jess standing all alone waiting for the man to finish his call so she can introduced herself.
Meanwhile Ryan who sensed Jess present as her fragrance filled the room pretended to still be on call in as much as the call ended some minutes ago he wanted to calm himself in order not to act too casual, after what seems like forever for Jess he finally turned and stared at her.
Jess was stocked! She could not believe her eyes, she tightened her grip on the paper that she was holding, her Gaze never left the man who was sitting in front of the CEO's table. Jess didn't know what to do either to work closer to the table or to work out of the room, she just stood rooted on the ground. She couldn't believe her eyes this man was Ryan Gibson. Jess just stood there staring at the man who looked more like a businessman now in his white long sleeve shirts, black tuxedo, and a black necktie. He had this cold and ice look his expressions so emotionless, his eyes are pitch black, his hair is slicked black which made him look more respectful and his red thin lips are tightly closed, he looked very different from the man she knew ten years ago. He looks mature and laddish now.
" Why are you just standing there Miss Conner" Ryan asked coldly.
She didn't respond just stood staring at him with a blank expression, she couldn't even explain what was going on with her, she felt nervous, surprised, scared and in pain.
* Ry... Ry... Ryan " was the only thing she was able to say in a faint voice.
The man did not respond, he stared at her coldly. She wasn't even able to look him straight into his eyes, she just lowered her head to hide the pain that she felt inside. The way he talked to her coldly to the point that Jess can feel the chills to her bones, he hates me she thought and she knew the reason why.
" You're the CEO of Powell's company " she said pointing out the obvious.
" If you are done checking me out, can you come closer let's get started? Ryan said
Jess never thought that they will meet again like this after 10 years and after their breakup. But why did he employ her? Didn't he know she was the one? Or did he employ me to take revenge to give me a slap in the face? He hates me, I get it now. She has always avoided the Gibson family ever since their breakup but how come she didn't know that the owns the Powell's company as well.
" Are you just going to stand there? " Ryan asked again but now his gaze sharpened, Jess swallowed her saliva, " Miss Conner, stop wasting my time" Ryan said raising his voice.
Jess snapped back to her senses. She lifted her gaze and looked at Ryan's cold expression " I'm... I'm sorry but I can't work for you " she finally find the strength to voice out the words, she took a deep breath before walking closer to the CEO's table, she tried her best to walk properly even though all her body was trembling she dropped the contract papers at the top of the table and turn to leave.
Ryan picked up the paper and take a look at it, Miss Conner may I remind you that you just sign a contract and I believed you went through the contract details carefully before signing the papers " Jess who was half way to the door stopped, she has forgotten all about the contract where it was stated clearly that she can't quit until after six months of being in the company, or she will have to pay six times of her salary to the company for breaching their contracts. Was this all his plan? She thought, she turned and faced Ryan " Ryan I just signed the contract now, is not even up to 30 minutes please can we just over look it and pretend that this never happened and we never saw each other" Jess said but if only she can.
" How dare you call your boss by his first name? " Ryan asked in a sarcastic tone, Jess held her breath, looked at Ryan's dark expression and she noticed something, he really has changed a lot. " You start tomorrow " Ryan said
Jess can't really pay Ryan and his company that huge sum of money so she can only stay for the job. " Tomorrow is Saturday" she said
" I know, you read the contract and it stated in the contract that you are to serve as my cook for three months and I don't have food at home and I don't want to eat out when I just employed a cook". Jess's face turned red , ohh God what has she gotten herself into, not only will she be working with him at the office, but she will also have to see him at his house and on weekends too, this is too much and she knows that Ryan was doing this on purpose.
Jess bit her lower lip and tried her best not to show weakness " fine I will be there, text me the address"
"The driver will pick you up at noon " Ryan said in a sulky voice " you can leave now* he said coldly.
Jess did not waste more time, she quickly got out of the CEO's office, but she did not go immediately but stood outside the office to calm herself down, she wasn't expecting him to act nicely to her, after all she broke up with him ten years ago without even giving him reason why. She still can't believe all this is happening right now she signed and started leaving the building without even noticing the secretary who was calling for her as she passed her office.
Later in the evening Jess felt more furious as she narrates her ordeal to Joan.
" Oh my God " Joan said " you mean Ryan, like Ryan Gibson? The one I know? "
" Yes that Ryan, I should have known that this job was too good to be true, like all the signs were there but I just turned a blind eye to it because I needed money for the rent, how am I going to face him everyday with this heavy burden I carry in my heart? " Jess said bitterly..
" Is all going to be fine, all you just have to do is to keep it professional " Joan advised
" You and I know that there is nothing close to a professional when it comes to Ryan and I for me Joan"
"You just have to try my dear friend but why do you think he employed you knowing fully well who you are "
" I don't know, God Joan do you think he knows about... God no I can't bear to lose my... Oh God Joan what should I do " Jess asked her friend panicking.
" Jess calm down we don't know that for sure for now so don't let it bother you at all moreover he didn't say anything about that so let's not think that way for now, you just have to calm down and keep it low"
" Yes you are right, he didn't say anything about it, maybe he doesn't know yet".
After calming Jess down and agreeing to babysit Laura, Joan left, Jess sat in her sitting room thinking what her life will be in the next six months.