Jasper's Claim | Book One

Fourteen

Song: Work from home by Fifth Harmony

Demi tried hard to focus on the reports in front of her. They'd been submitted to her by the assisting accountant, Judy, whom she had to admit had a good grip on the affairs of the finance unit.
She, was also preparing a situational report for a meeting with her partners and Jax's management. An exact date hadn't been agreed on but she knew it would be soon and wanted to be ready.

Her mind, however, had other plans of it's own as it kept wandering back to the look on Jax's face on Monday night.
After he'd overheard her on the phone, she'd had to explain that she was in a new relationship and Will was her boyfriend.

Jax had been furious, storming out of her hotel room after masking the look of...hurt? that had crossed his face.
But it couldn't have been hurt, she kept telling herself. They were acquaintances, colleagues at best, who kept falling into bed with each other. They'd definitely not defined any sort of boundaries and she most certainly did not expect a man like Jax to want to be in a committed relationship.

She had to admit that she looked like the villain in this whole scenario. Being in a new relationship and falling into bed with a former one night stand didn't speak well of her, but, she was unable to explain why she couldn't control her body around him. If, however, anyone were to be offended, it should be Will, he was her actual boyfriend and she had cheated on him.

Only he didn't know that. She sighed.

So why had Jax been furious? Especially when he wasn't the one being cheated on?

Shaking her head, she forced her mind back to the present, only to be distracted again by the beeping coming from her desk phone.
She felt a jolt run through her as Jax's gruff voice filled her ear asking to see her in his office. They'd avoided each other since monday night and she wasn't sure what this was about, but she wasn't interested in another confrontation with the man.

She gave a short cursory knock and entered his office, trying desperately to calm the flutters in her stomach.

'Hi', she said tentatively, taking a seat across his large desk, 'you wanted to see me?'
He was a sight for sore eyes. His crisp white shirt was open at the neck, his sleeves rolled up, she caught sight of his gold cuff links lying on his desk.
He was sporting what seemed to be a day old stubble and his eyes looked tired, but otherwise, he looked...and smelled, delicious.

Stop it, Demi Rose! She chastised herself.

'Yes', he responded. 'How's the job? Are you getting the support you need?'

'Oh yes', she gave a small relieved sigh, this wasn't about them afterall.
'I must say, you have very capable staff. Judy has held down the department unbelievably well, in fact, I may recommend, she take over after...'

'How's your boyfriend?' he cut in. 'William, is it?'

Demi sighed. She should've known they weren't going to get through a civil conversation without him bringing that up.

'Jax..'

'Your relationship, how's it going?' he continued.

How was he expecting her to respond?'It's barely a week old Jasp..'

'Have you slept with him?'

Her gaze shot up to his and hardened. Pushing her seat back, she stood.

'I will not respond to that, it's inappropriate and quite frankly insulting. If you don't have any further official questions, I'll have to take my leave'.

They stared each other down, gazes clashing, until he gave a sigh, shutting his eyes tight.
'I'm sorry, it's...been a long...week'. He opened his eyes, looking at her, the hardness gone, 'forgive me?.'