Knight In Shinning Camo BK1

Chapter 14: Jessica

After waking up at 5am and spending an hour going through my morning routine and getting ready, I am finally done. I have forty five minutes until I have to be at work. I head down the stairs to see Ben and Nala sitting at the bar eating toast. "We made you breakfast" Ben says sliding a plate towards me. "Thanks" I saw then start eating. "Nervous" he asks. I nod with wide eyes, "to nervous. First job and from what every one says its pretty big opportunity. " He smiles, "You will do great. Won't she Nala?" Nala just giggles and continues eating her toast. 

Once I finish, I place the plate in the sink. "Ready to go" Ben asks. "Yeah, thanks again for driving me and watching Nala" I tell him as we walk to the car. "No problem" he says as he hops in the drivers seat while i buckle Nala into her car seat in the back. I decide to sit next to Nala and talk with her on the way. It will be weird not being with her for so long. No matter how many times Ben and Rachael tell me this is good for me, i'm not complete sure. It's a big step that I never thought I would be taking.

"We are here girls" Ben says from the front seat. I look up surprised, "Oh." I kiss Nala's forehead, "Be good for Ben baby girl and I will be home sooner then you know." I grab my purse and hop out of the car and walk to Ben's window. He rolls done the window, "You will do great Jess" he smiles sincerely. I lean down and kiss Ben's cheek and whisper, "thanks."

I walk inside the front door and go back to the fifth floor. "Great your here" a silver short haired older women says walking up to her as soon as she excited the elevator. She wraps my arm with hers and starts leading me away down a hallway. "I'm Beth, Jessica. We spoke on the phone the other day" she says. "Nice to meet you" I force out. "Don't be nervous dear, you will do great here" she encourages.

Finally she leads me down the hall to Kevin Lake's office. On the right side of the hall before his room is a door that she leads me to. "This is your office" she says opening it. Inside the first thing I notice is the large window that shows the parking lot. The room was a decent size with just a desk with chair, two chairs on the opposite on the desk. "You will have our interior designer come in and help you set the room up to your liking" Beth says. "Really" I asks surpised. She nods with a smile. "Yes, now lets get you started on learning the computer programs dear" she says as we make our way to the desk.

8 Hours later

Heading out of the building I look for Ben's car, but don't see it. Sitting on the bench I pull out my phone to call him, but before I could a shadow is cast over me. I look up to see Kevin Lakes. "Sir?" "Why are you waiting here" he asks with a cold tone. "My ride isn't here yet" I simply answer. Isn't it obvious. "You don't drive" he questions. "No, but I am working to get my license this week and then I will be driving" I answer and glance at my phone to see a text from Ben that he was on his way. "You did good today" I hear him say. I look back up and nod a "Thanks." 

I hear a car pull up and see Ben. As I stand up I am stopped from walking when a hand wraps around my wrist. I turn to face Kevin. "Sir, please let go" surprised that he would touch me in this manner. "Be careful who you associate yourself with" he says harshly before he lets go of my wrist and walks away. Shocked it takes me a moment before I make my way to the car.

I sit in the passenger seat while still replaying Kevin's words. "Jess?" I turn to look at a concerned Ben. "Hmm" I respond. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you when he grabbed your wrist did he" he asks concern clear on his features. I shake my head, "No, I am fine." Ben stares at me for a second and then starts driving back to the house. I glance in the back seat to not see Nala.

"Where is Nala" I ask in panic. "Oh Rachael came over to play with her. They were having so much fun that she pushed me to pick you up by myself" he gives a small smile. I nod. It saddened me knowing someone else was taking care of Nala and spending the time with her. I wish I could, but I have a responsibility to work to make our lives better. "I'm sorry. Ill ask you next time before I do that" he says quietly. "I'm not mad Ben. I uh-" I sigh. "I'm just upset how I am missing out on time with Nala. I'm used to being with her majority of the time" I say softly. He seemed to loose the tension in his body at my words. Ben nods, "I'm sorry too." I raise a brow curiously, "For what?" He loudly sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "It bothered me more then I thought it would. Seeing you with Kevin that is" he  says while keeping his eyes one the road. "Oh."

The rest of the ride was filled with silence. When he parked in the driveway, I got out of the car and went straight into the house looking for Nala and Rachael. I found them in the living room playing with blocks. "Hey Jessica! How was work?" Rachael says as she looks in my general direction. "Good. It was hard learning all the different computer programs, but I got the hang of it eventually. Beth, the secretary retiring is sweet. She things after tomorrow I will be all set" I say as I sit on the floor with them. Once Nala hear my voice she reaches her hands out to be held. I smile, pick her up and place her on my lap. "Hey baby girl" I kiss her cheek. She giggles in response. "She is delight Jessica. We had lots of fun today" Rachael says. "Says her" I hear Ben say behind me. I look at him to see him smirking. "Shut it Ben" Rachael hisses. I laugh at their sibling moment. "While they moved from one thing to another. I was left on clean up duty today" Ben explains. 

"If Nala makes a mess, I can clean it up when I get off work" I tell them. Rachael shakes her head, "No, he is just being a baby. We didn't get into to much." She turn to Ben's direction and stick out her tongue.

"What would you guys like for dinner" Ben ask. "Ball" Nala shouts. Rachael aw's at her answering Ben. "Ball? I don't think we can have a ball for dinner" Ben questions looking at me hoping I would know. "Spaghetti and meatballs" I tell him then burst out laughing at his oh face. "Nala and I will make it" I stand up with her. Nala claps her hands. "Are you sure? I can do it" Ben says as he stands up straight from leaning on the couch. "Yeah, we are fine" I answer as I walk into the kitchen.

I place Nala on the counter after washing out hands, "Can you criss cross applesauce?" She nods and crosses her legs, sitting Indian style. Pulling out all the ingredients and placing them on the counter. I start water on the stove to get it to a boil. The toss the ground meat into a bowl. Grabbing the spices I pop the lids. "Ready to shake" I ask Nala. She claps her hand in excitement.  Placing a bowl in front of her. I have her touch it know where it is then hand her a spice. "Pepper shake. Shake. Shake. Shake" I direct her. She shakes the spice three times into the bowl saying, "Shak" for each shake. I pour that spice into the ground meat and continue repeating with each spice needed. 

After that we wash our hands again. "Nala we are going to make the balls now, okay?" She nods and hold her hands out. I smile and hand her a glob of meat. She rolls it into a ball and then holds it out. I place it on a plate. We repeat until there is no more meat. "Let's wash hands again" I wash mine then grab her to wash out hands again together. "Okay, mama is going to make sauce" I tell her as I add the tomato sauce and diced tomato. I bring to the simmer and add onion and garlic. I have Nala do the spices in a bowl and then pour then into the sauce pan. Searing the meatballs in a sauce pan, I then add them into the sauce.

 Since all that needs to happen is the food to cook I move Nala to the floor and ask, "color?" She claps her hands, "Yea!" My smile spreads even wider hearing her use her words. I kiss her forehead and walk over to the other side of the kitchen where there was a miscellaneous drawer.  Pulling out a coloring book and a box of crayons I go sit next to Nala. 

"Smells delicious" Rachael says walking in missing stepping on us by a couple feet. "We are on the floor coloring Rach" I say softly hoping not to scare her. "Oh. I was wondering why I wasn't hearing anyone walking" she smiles and turns toward where she heard to the voice. "I have to head back home. Boy toy finally is done grading papers so he is taking me to dinner." 

"Oh okay. Have fun and thanks for spending time with Nala" I tell her. "No problem. Mitchell and I will be by this weekend to help you guys move. Bye!" She waves and leaves the room. 

"Okay. Nala lets check the food"I place the coloring stuff on the table and then pick her up placing her on the counter to where she instantly crosses her legs. I check the food to find it finished. I drain the noodles and place them back into the pot after rinsing them. "Dinner is done Nala" I tell her. She claps her hands, "yum!" I serve up two plates and one kid bowl for Nala. Heading to the dinning room, I place Nala in her high chair and buckler her in. "I'll be right back" I tell her and kiss her forehead. Walking into the kitchen I grab the bowl and plate and place them on the table. "Ben!" I yell.