A Greek Odyssey - Jason Fic

CHAPTER 163

After the Dublin dates Jason had a few days off. The punishing schedule was beginning to catch up with him as he felt shattered beyond belief, he realised. Jason insisted on going to the supermarket with Lexi on the Monday. He didn't want her lifting heavy bags into the car, given the fact that she was 30 weeks pregnant. Lexi tried to insist she would be fine doing it alone so that Jason could have a lie in, but he was having none of it and eventually she agreed and was pleased that she had, given that by the end her back was aching badly.

In the afternoon she went to visit Katrina, who by now was only around four weeks away from having her and Mark's baby, whilst Jason decided to use the time to catch up on sleep and catch up with every day tasks such as checking all the bills were paid and up to date - something which had been neglected whilst he was away. Lexi did the best she could, but having lived with her parents prior to moving in with him she struggled with keeping on top of things. She wasn't used to dealing with much more than paying her credit card bill prior to meeting him.

On the Tuesday Lexi had to work. She awoke at 6.45am and quietly slid out of bed, anxious not to awaken Jason. She had noticed the dark circles which framed his gorgeous eyes and it worried her that he looked so tired. From the odd veiled comment he made now and then, it was obvious that the punishing dance routines which he and Howard did every performance were taking it out of him. Such was his perfectionism, he wanted every performance to be as good, if not better, than the last and he studiously ignored how tired he was feeling.

When she arrived at work at around 8am, Sarah was already there making herself a cup of tea. She flicked her eyes coldly up and down Lexi. 'So, the part-timer who's never here has shown up then?' She said sarcastically, blowing on her tea to cool it down. She was feeling extremely pissed off that Lexi hardly ever seemed to be there and when she was, she was given lighter duties than everyone else due to the pregnancy. She was sure it was because Lexi thought she was too good to lower herself to menial jobs such as un-packing the deliveries, not once thinking that it was because Lexi was pregnant.

Lexi dumped her bag on the chair in the kitchen area, a flash of annoyance crossing her pretty features. 'What's that supposed to mean, Sarah?' she asked, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow questioningly at Sarah who was sipping her tea nonchalantly.

'You know exactly what I mean, Princess,' Sarah fixed her with a derisory grin and made to leave the room.

'No, I don't know what you mean. You tell me what that comment was supposed to mean!' Lexi grabbed Sarah's arm as she made for the door and asked her the question, making sure she kept her voice deliberately calm. She knew Roxanne had the day off today and the last thing she needed was for the rest of the girls to come in and find them both tearing each others' hair out.

'Oh come on Lexi,' Sarah said, sarcasm streaking her voice. 'How many other staff do you see here who are allowed to switch their days off around at the drop of a hat like you do?' she gestured with her hand out to the empty shop front, as if to emphasise the other staff members she was referring to. 'The only reason she does it for you is because you're fucking some pop star! For some reason Roxy seems to think that means that equates to special treatment for you.'

'But Roxanne knew how it was when she agreed to give me the job.' Lexi said evenly, pulling the staff room door shut in case any of the other staff arrived and heard them talking. 'You're full time Sarah. My hours are flexible to fit around both the shop's needs and also around Jason's career. This means some weeks I might work one day and the next week it might be three days.'

'Yeah, I get all that,' Sarah said, staring at Lexi with obvious dislike. 'But I'm sick and tired at having to change my days off because of yours and Mister Pop Star's whims.'