Someone Like Elliott

Chapter 14: Take that Giovanni

"We need to talk." Those were the words that flew out of Henry's mouth as he sat comfortably on one of the chairs.
"What about?" I asked curiosly,  taking off my glasses.
"What happened after graduation, Jay?" He asked.
"Fine. I'll tell you. I know you've been dying to ask anyway." I said with a teasing smile.
"Finally." He exclaimed, relaxing in the chair.
"After graduation, my mom had me move to michigan."
His eyebrows rose in surprise.
"I moved in with my childhood nanny, Aunt Hannah." I ended.
"That's it?" He asked, shocked.
I nodded.
"Don't give me that bullshit Jayna. I know there's more. There's much more that you aren't telling me." He said.
"Why did your mom have you move to michigan?" He asked.
I pursed my lips, not wanting to answer his question.
"Come on, Jayna. Let me back in. I was your best friend. I deserve an explanation. You never called, not even once. I couldn't get to you, too." He pleaded.
"She was upset with me. She wanted me gone." I replied.
Henry wasn't new to my mother's fury and need for perfection.  He had experienced it secondhand from all the times he came over.
"How was Michigan." He asked. My blood ran cold as I thought about Michigan. It was a beautiful city, yet the events that took place there stained beauty of that place.
"Horrible." I said, not noticing how my eyes hardened and my voice turned cold .
Henry looked at me curiosly, conflicting with himself to probe further or let it be.
He decided on latter. "Why didn't you call?". He asked.
"I thought you were upset with me." I replied honestly.
"Why would I be upset with you?" He asked.
"Your mother's condition was worse than ever, Henry, and you had just gotten fired from your job. You needed me more than ever back then, and I just left without even saying goodbye." I replied, avoiding his gaze.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I admit I was angry when I realised you had left without a goodbye, but you know I can never stay angry at you for too long. You were one of the best things that happened to me, Jay." He said with a smile.
Memories of our years together in
flooded my brain, and a little tear dropped from my eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Henry." I apologised.
He got off his chair and walked around the desk. He swivled the chair to face him and wiped away the fallen tear.
He sighed.
"It's okay now. Don't get all emotional on me. I thought I've told you many times that you look worse when you cry." I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips.
"There's the ugly smile I'm used to." I laughed harder, pushing him away.
"I'm glad to have you back into my life, Jay." He said and pulled me off my chair and into a tight hug.
"Me too." I whispered into his chest.
"Okay, now get to work." I said, trying to break free from his hug.
"You can't tell me what to do." He said childishly.
"Yes, I can. I'm your boss, remember?" I responded smugly.
I could feel him roll his eyes, and I giggled.
"I love you, Jay." He said into my hair.
My heart swelled with love as I held unto him.
Henry was the brother I never had. He had always been there for me. High school, they say, could be the best or worst years of your life. For me, it wasn't the best, but I was content.
I was never bullied. I was that kind of girl that everyone knew and liked, floating from one friend group to another like an inflated balloon.
I had friends, but I was never really in a friend group, I was a loner.
Well, until Henry came along. He forced me to open up my walls and let him in. From following me around like a lost puppy, sitting beside me at lunch and telling me bits and pieces about his life.
It didn't take long for us to be inseparable.
He was the first person i told about my family. About my mother, my father, and the odd jobs I took to make money.
He told me about how his father ran away with all his family's money, about his Ill mother and his little sister.
Henry has always been there. No matter how many times I pushed him away or ignored him, he had always been there.
"I love you too, Henry. I love you so much." I held him tighter.
The door suddenly burst open, and I pulled away from Henry to see who it was.
Elliott stood at the entrance in another one of his infamous suits. This one was brown and showed off his muscles.
He looked between Henry and I curiosly . His eyes staying on Henry a bit longer .
"I'll leave you both to it." Henry said and left, closing the door softly behind him.
I sat back in my seat and casted a polite smile towards Elliott, who maintained his position in front of the door.
"Is something going on between you and your employee?" He asked with furrowed brows.
"Take a seat." I gestured which he did.
"How may I help you?" I asked. He realised I was not going to answer his question and clenched his jaw.
"Answer my question, Sweetheart." He demanded.
"I don't owe it to you." I replied, his jaw clenched even harder, and his palm was in a tight fist, his knuckles turning white.
Realising I was being rude, I sighed.
"There's nothing going on between us. He's just a friend." I responded to which he nodded.
He didn't say anything, I didn't ask any questions.
I looked back down on my laptop, continuing what I was doing.  He watched me quietly from his seat.
A loud ring resonated from my phone.
I picked it up and cursed when I saw the words agent flashing on it.
Elliott casted me a curious look. I answered the call.
"Hello." I greeted.
"Hello Miss Anderson. It's Mr Stanley here."
"Mt Stanley. Good afternoon." I responded.
"Good afternoon Miss Anderson. I have news for you." He said.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"News?" I asked
"Yes news. Good news and Bad news." His voice came through from the line.
"I'm all ears." I responded.
"I'm sorry to inform you that I sold the space to Mr.Giovanni." I almost dropped the phone.
"What, why?" I exclaimed.
"He offered more Miss. Anderson." Came his reply from the other side.
That Italian prick. I thought bitterly.
"I am truly sorry Miss. Anderson. However,  I gave your details to a colleague of mine to find you another vacant spot for your bakery." He said.
"Really." I said excitedly.
"Yes. I told him all about you and asked him to get you the best spot for your bakery. He will even give you a 10 percent discount on the original price." He replied.
My eyes widen in shock, my mouth slightly agape as i listened to him.
"But why, you don't even know me. Why would you do that for me." I asked surprised.
"You sound like a genuine woman who does what she does cause she enjoys it. Plus, I loved freshly baked bread and you remind me a lot about my daughter" He replied with a chuckle.
I bet he could feel my smile from the other side of the line.
"Thank you so much Mr. Stanley. Thanks a lot." I said happily.
"No problem kiddo. He will get back to you on Monday. Bye." He said and hanged up.
I looked at my phone in excitement, happiness and hope surging through me as I realised my dreams were right at my finger tips.
Completely forgetting that Elliott was infront of me, I let out an excited giggle and quickly called Kim, wanting to share my excitement with someone.
She didn't pick up. I called Penny too but she also didn't pick up.
Another call came through and Giovanni's name flashed on the screen.
Don't ask me why I have Giovanni's number.
It's not like we're enemies or something. We were just rivals who liked to challenge each other.
I picked up his call.
"Ciao Amore." His voice sounded so smug, I wanted nothing more than to rip the smirk of his face.
Definitely not enemies
"You know i don't understand your Italian shit,right." I said with a scowl.
He laughed out loud.
"Has Mr. Stanley called you." He asked.
I knew that was the reason why he called.
"Yes he did." I said happily.
"Why do you sound so happy. I'm the one with the spot and a new restaurant." He said smugly.
"Well, I guess Stanley hasn't told you?" I said laughing.
"Told me what?" He asked.
I so wanted to tell someone the good news but I knew Giovanni,  as soon as he finds out, he's going to do everything in his power to jeopardise it.
"Why don't you just wait and see." With that I ended the call.
I did a little dance in my chair when a deep chuckle sounded through the room.
I froze, my eyes locking into a pair of icy blue ones.
"Sorry. I forgot you were still here." I blushed a deep shade of red.
"You seem happy." He commented. 
A big smile found its way on my face again as I recalled what just happened.
"I am." I said happily.
"Wanna talk about it. I know you want to tell someone." He said.
He was right, I was dying to tell someone of the good news.
But I didn't know him.
"I don't bite, come on. Tell me. You know you want to." He probed.
Give him a chance. Kim's voice sounded through my head.
Ew, Kim,  go away. I shook my head .
"Well?" Elliott said.
"I always wanted to own a bakery." I started, excitement running through my veins.
His icy blue eyes were focused on me.
"One day, I found the perfect spot for the bakery and contacted an agent about the spot. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who has been eyeing the spot. There this Italian chef, Giovanni Rossi, the one who I just got off the phone with. "
"Rossi, that sly chef paid the agent more than the agreed price and got the spot."
I fumed.
"But then, the man got me acquinted with another agent who promised to get me a spot at Times Square or Atlantic Terminal mall." I exclaimed.
"Really, that's great." He said with a smile.
I nodded.
"Well, why don't we go out and celebrate." He responded.
"Celebrate." I asked confused.
"Yes sweetheart, celebrate. This is good news right?" Before I could protest or even agree, I was pulled out of my seat.
"Come on, let's go." Elliott said hurriedly.
"Okay, wait let me shut down my laptop." I quickly did that as he waited patiently for me.
I locked my office door and went out into the kitchen, Elliott hot on my heels.
"Wait, I have to check on Garry before I leave." I told Elliott.
He nodded and followed closely behind me.
"Hey Garry." I said with a smile.
He turned around from the stove, sweat sizzling down his forehead from the heat.
The air-condition worked perfectly well. Garry just insisted on cooking in the heat
"Boss." He turned around giving me a loop sided smile.
"What are you cooking." I asked curious.
"A panini but it doesn't taste good." He said with a frown.
I looked on the island and saw may paninis in a plate.
I picked one up and bit into it.
"It tastes fine." I said after I was done chewing.
"That's the problem." I arched a brow confused.
He sighed.
"I want it to taste like yours. I can't get the formula right." I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips.
I walked towards the stove and took a piece of beef from the saucepan and placed it into my mouth.
I turned to Elliott who stood at the door.
"Can you give me a minute." I asked.
"Sure." He responded.
Garry nodded his head at him.
"Who is he." He whispered under his breath.
"A friend." I replied.
"Damn Boss. He looks expensive." He muttered.
I rolled my eyes and walked towards the fridge. I pulled out Garlic mustard and poured some into the pot, causing a loud sizzle sound.
I stirred the beef again and placed took a taste.
It tasted better but it still needed something.
Aha. I walked towards the pantry and took out a truffoil aioli herb.
"There." I dropped it into his pot and stirred it.
"Come have a taste." I beckoned him over.
He opened his palm and I put some of the sauce into his palm.
He his eyes widen.
"Wow, Boss. This is." He suddenly moaned and I  couldn't help the giggle that escaped me.
I was a bit flashed from the heat in the room when I decided it was time to leave.
"I'm heading out for a bit Garry. I'll see you when I get back." I bid him farewell.
"Sure boss."
I walked back towards Elliott.
"Ready to go now." He asked.
"Let's do this." I said happily, a little skip in my feet as I walked ahead of him