The road to love (editing!!)

Chapter 19 - Mojo Motives

It’s been a week and I was slowly going crazy.  The tests were due back any day now and I was out of excuses with Dean.  To make matters worse, Jake had gotten it into his head to pest me… I mean, woe my friendship back.  He’s been calling me, sending me emails and gifts and even dropping by the office for “a quick hallo”.  Though it is quite irritating, I cannot honestly say that anything he has done so far seems anything other than a heartfelt effort to renew a friendship.  So I’ve been giving him the benefit of the doubt and even went out to lunch with him today. 

 Against my wildest dreams, he’s been a good distraction from my whole Dean problem.  I’ve also started to remember the good times we had, which is not a bad thing, but also not such a great thing.  I’ve promised myself never to let Jake anywhere near me again and here he was, acting as if we were friends again.

 “So... you and Jake, huh?” Annie smiles at me as I get my messages from her after lunch.  “Thought you said you weren’t going down that road again?”

 “I’m not,” I assure her.  “He’s trying to patch our friendship, which was actually quite good before we started dating and ruined it.  I’m not interested in anything else from him.  I’m not even sure the friendship thing is going to work, but he’s trying.”

 “Ok, so if you guys are just friends, then you won’t mind if I take a go at him?”

 I frown at her, thinking of the best way to word my worry.  “He’s not boyfriend material, Annie.”

 “Oh, you know me, Jessie.  I’m all about the chase, whether it is getting chased or doing the chasing.  Not so much into getting caught, though,” she giggles and I smile.  Annie just loved them and left them.  Kind of like Jake.  “He’s been chatting me up every time he came to visit you.  So I thought I could have some harmless fun with him, you know?  Give him some of his own medicine.  But I won’t if you are still interested.”

 Annie and I have never been close friends, just work colleagues.  If she wants to mess up her life by getting involved with Jake, I can’t stop her.  “By all means, Annie, knock yourself out!”  I start walking away before I remember to ask:  “Nothing for me from a laboratory yet?” 

 “You’ve asked me that every day for a week.  No hon, nothing yet.  But I promise to bring whatever you are waiting for the minute it arrives!”

 The next day I nervously asked Sharon to phone the lab from my office, to find out what the hold-up was.  “We had a major case from the police come in, Sharon,” Candice told her, sounding a bit tired.  “I’m sorry, I’m hoping to get the results to you by Friday.” 

 “Thanks Candice, I appreciate your help,” she assured her cousin before saying good-bye and looking at me.  “Strongs, my friend, it won’t be long now.  Once we have that report, we’ll know for sure if Dean’s your brother or not.  I’m betting he’s not and that you’ll be caught up in your little love bubble again in no time.”

 “But what if it’s positive and he is my brother?  What if my mother’s little fling with Dean’s dad just ruined my life?”

 Sharon moved to hug me.  “Then we deal with it, Jes.  I’m here for you, you know that.  Come on, you are stronger than this.”

 I nodded and hugged her back, before we both jumped as we heard Annie clear her throat at the door.  Sharon and I look at each other nervously.  Shoot, I can’t believe we didn’t close the door.  Just how much of our conversation did she hear?

“Delivery for you, Jessie.”  She handed me a bouquet of red roses with a card and walked back to her station.  Sharon hung over my shoulder as I read the card.  I miss you, Beatle girl.  Hope to see you when I get back.  Love, D.  Placing the roses on my desk, I sigh and smile at Sharon.  “Friday, we’ll know.” 

 Sharon smiled back before leaving to go back to her office.  I was thankful that Dean had been sent to Namibia for a week for discussions with a company who wanted to do a project with Parker & Sons.  He’s been kept so busy that he hardly has time for a phone call, though he still texts me at night and somehow found the time to send me the flowers. 

 I lovingly fondled a rose petal before thinking that I was the worst kind of person, for keeping my secret from him.  But come Friday, I’ll know.

 Jake’s POV

 I sat down in the plush chairs in my boss’ office, taking off my suit jacket in the process. 

 “So?  Any news?” He asked me as he took a sip from his coffee cup.

 I sigh.  “No, not yet.  I’m still working the friendship angle.  She seems to be biting so far, but it’s too soon to make my move.”

 “Just don’t make me wait too long, Jakey.  That girl would be an asset to this company.  She knows all about the workings of Mojo and has many a client who would willingly follow her anywhere.  Not to mention the fact that she has a close relationship with the Parkers.  We need her if we’re going to break Mojo’s hold on the market.”

 “You don’t have to remind me, Adam.  I’m working on it.”  We go on discussing small matters on some of our marketing projects before I leave his office and my mind turns back to Jessica. 

 I’d been working hard on trying to win her friendship back, even if it was for my own gain.  I’d been offered a vice-president position by my boss, Adam Mack of Global, if I was able to win over Mojo’s golden girl to our side.  I wanted that position so bad I could taste it.  Not that Jessica would lose out in any way, of course.  She would be the head of our marketing department, with her own assistant, working side-by-side with me on major projects.  The way it used to be.  It meant more money and prestige for her;  there was no way she would be passing up on an offer like that.

 Of course, I just had to find a way to break up her her little liaison with Dean Parker first.  That playboy’s hold on her heart was halting my progress, slowing down my plans for my future.  I’d been getting a good response on my flirting efforts from Jessica’s receptionist, Annie.  Maybe I should take her out tonight and see what information I can press out of her.  I smile as I take out my cell phone and dial Mojo’s number.

 “Mojo Marketing, good afternoon, Annie speaking.  How may I be of assistance?” I hear the friendly voice over the phone. 

 This will be easy as pie.

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A/n:  dedicated to @lovegirl2000 for her faithful voting! Hugs to you!  (I struggle with the dedication button on my work pc, so I write it here as well).  BTW guys, I'm really friendly by nature so pop me a note if you want to chat!  You guys are chasing me for uploads, so I better settle in and write a few chapters soon!  Running out of the ones I saved already... ;-)