Let Me Put You In The Picture: Version 1

Chapter 179

           

My office was as it had been. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been there.

            To say Liam was ecstatic about my return to the shop was an understatement. But he did his best to keep it under control. Keep himself from getting too clingy.

            He did better than I expected him to and left me alone in my office to fill out spread sheets like someone had asked. I got into the groove of typing whatever I was supposed to when my desk phone rang.

            The caller ID displayed a number I didn't recognize. I stared at it for a few seconds debating on whether or not to answer it before finally doing so.

            "Hello?" I said into the receiver.

            "Alright, Jules." Came the reply. "It's Marcus."

            "Oh. Hi Marcus."

            "Are you busy? If not, would ya mind comin' down the office? I've some business I'd like to discuss with you."

            "I could probably come this afternoon." I told him. "I'll just have to check with Liam."

            Liam was fine but I left out where I was going. The last time he found out I went to talk to Marcus, he ended up with an headache. And that just wasn't a risk I wanted to take.

            The secretary took me straight back to Marcus' office and when I went inside, I noticed he wasn't alone.

            "Alright, Jules!" Marcus said with a smile. "Please. Sit down."

            My only option was to sit in the chair beside his guest.

            "Alright." His guest said quietly.

            "Yeah." I nodded.

            "Okay." Marcus began. "Let's get down to business. We talked about this several months ago and Noel, here, would like it if you became his assistant."

            "I'm nobody's assistant." I said flatly.

            "What the fuck d'ya mean you're nobody's assistant?!" Noel exclaimed. "What d'ya call your job with Our Kid then?"

            "I'm nobody's assistant." I told Marcus again knowing full well I was getting a rise out of someone.

            "You what?!" Noel yelled again.

            Told ya.

            Marcus took a breath as he thought out what to say next.

            "And even if I was, it wouldn't matter." I continued.

            "Why's that?" He asked.

            "Because I've already got a previous engagement." I got up from my chair. "We'll see yins."

            "Wait!" Noel called after me. "Jules! JULES!"

            The bedroom was quiet and dark but I suppose Liam slept better when it was like that. I usually did too but for whatever reason, sleep was hard to come by that night.

            I lay there staring up into the darkness listening to Liam breathe. He had his mouth on my shoulder and held me in his vice grip as tight as he could. It was peaceful and comforting and he was really warm.

            Things stayed quiet for another minute or so and then he started to sing.

If you close your eyes