Fractured Bonds

4 - Emma

Contd from Three Years Ago.

Nora and I returned to my office after our lunch meeting with Jacob and Mike. Our Ajji (grandmother) had prepared her signature Kaju Barfis for our parents' wedding anniversary a few days ago and had them delivered to my office. The accompanying note instructed me to share them with Nora because I never do. I groaned in frustration—those Barfis were practically the only sweet treat I liked, aside from donuts.

Reluctantly, I removed the box of sweets and debated whether to give them to her. Sadly, my morality won over my greed.

"Nora, catch". I flung the box to her and she caught it.

"Damn! Ajji made her amazing Barfis again". 

"Yeah, she did. She sent two boxes to my office, specifically instructing me to give you one. Against my better judgment, I gave it to you".

Nora stuck her tongue out at me, and I rolled my eyes. Meanwhile, I sipped my tea, watching as this seemingly lazy woman took over my office couch, munching on those otherworldly Barfis while laughing and scrolling.

For some reason, my mind kept going to how Jacob Pendragon was staring at me like he was going to pounce on me the second he met me.

"Yo, did you get, like, a weird vibe from Jacob Pendragon?"

"What do you mean? He seemed perfectly normal. Trust me, with what I've seen during my visits to the psych ward, he's considered just like any other human being. Ya know, decent compared to some".

"He kept staring at me as if he were about to pounce. You didn't witness it, but it happened when he met Mike and me near the entrance. Mike introduced us."

"Maybe he's attracted to you."

I froze. Across social media and news, Jacob is known as a ruthless businessman whose sole interests lie in Pendragon Capital and models—especially Italian and Spanish ones. He's precisely the type of guy I would never go for, and I'm a hundred percent certain he has ulterior motives.

"Anyway, don't you have a shift today? Or did you take the day off to embrace your inner couch potato?"

"I took the day off to lounge around in your extremely luxurious yet comfortable office".

"Are you ever going to get your ass off of that chair today?"

"Nope. Not until you finish your work and get up to go home."

Though her lazing around irritates me, I have to admit it's a refreshing, albeit unwelcome, change from these cold, emotionless offices. I resume preparing for next week's deposition, feeling exhausted just looking at the number of testimonies I'll have to take.

I put on my headphones, blast some music, and continue working for a while when I feel a hand on my shoulder. "AHH!" I scream.

"Earth to Emmy, hi, it's Nora." Thank God, it was Nora who shook me. I had totally forgotten she was here.

"Shit, is this how you usually work? Blast some music, ignore your surroundings, and go on about in your own little world where everything is about work? You wouldn't even notice if the building was on fire".

"Sorry. I forgot you were here. I do this because it helps me think and concentrate on my work. And I would notice if the building was on fire, I'd smell it remember?"

"Uh-huh. Sure. It's night, you know that?"

"Oh-"

She starts whining, "YEAH!! I'm hungry now, you're buying dinner".

"Fine. You owe me. You're buying next time, okay?"

"Yeah yeah, move"

I laugh as she pushes me outside my office.

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