I can't get You out of my head! (On Hold)

8. Preparation

Frederic PoV

I think, that I know why Jacob always smiles when he looks at Jon. Through all the meetings that we have had over the last few days, Jon has been a little ray af sunshine. After the first meeting we had alone, where it was pretty clear that he was nervous, we settled into a nice routine.

Every day at 6 pm he will knock on my door with two big cups of coffee in his hands and a beautiful smile on his face. He will connect the tablet and give me the rundown of what have been achieved on the coronation front since last we spoke.

Two days after I had asked Noah to do the deep background check, he dropped a file on my desk. "Here's everything you need to know about Jon Mattis Erikson. The short version though is this, there is nothing on this guy that raises any red flags!"

I brought the file back to my room that night. I had to know for myself what Noah had found out, just so I could be sure that I'd made the right choice for liaison, it was pure professional curiosity. If my very professional curiosity led me to know a few unprofessional things about Jon, like his relationship status (Single) or sexuality (Gay), then that was just a side-effect. Just as Noah had said, nothing in the file made me rethink my choice and I started to let myself look forward to my six o'clock every day.

Besides what I read in Noah's file I've made some observations myself. Among other things, Jon is very devoted to his family. Yesterday right as he was connecting the tablet, his phone started ringing. "Damni... I mean darn it! I'm sorry My Rex! I forgot to turn the sound of." He blushed, set his phone on vibrate and put it on the table. I smiled "Nothing to worry about Jon, it happens."

The phone started vibrating and Jon made a point of ignoring it until it stopped. He tried to start our briefing just as the phone started vibrating again.

"Do you need to get that Jon?" I asked looking pointedly at his vibrating distraction. "Uhhmmm. No My Rex. It's just my sister. She'll get the point soon enough. I hope." The last two words were mumbled. When the phone started vibrating yet again I gave up. "Please just get that! We're not going to be able to work until you've talked to her. Of that I'm sure!" I laughed.

Jon grabbed the phone and stepped to the corner of my office. "What?" He growled into the phone. "No. I'm not going to be able to make it Fenny."Someone whined on the other end. "Because I'm fucking working Fenya, that's why!" I heard mumbling then.

"I'm sorry Fenny, I know that getting a night of from the restaurant for family dinner is hard for you, but I'm working the coronation right now and it's only a few days away, so it's all hands on deck at this point." More mumbling.

"Yeah I know Fen I miss you guys too. With the new job and the move and everything, it's been a crazy few weeks. I'll come home after the coronation, I promise. Everything should settle down a bit then. But I really REALLY need to go now!" Mumble?

"Because I'm actually in a meeting with the King." Laughing mumble. "I'll do no such thing Fenya! Stop saying things like that!" He blushed beat red. I wonder what she said?

"Goodbye Fenya! Go bug mum and father. But give them my love first." Parting mumble. "Yeah love you too sis! Bye!" Then he hung up.

"I'm extremely sorry about that My Rex. My sister can be very persistent." He was still blushing a bit, but he also had an indulgent smile on his face. I could almost se the love for his family glow like an aura around him.

I felt a little pang of jealousy for the love the Eriksons apparently shared. The closest thing I ever had to familial love, was my nanny when I was growing up or what I share with Noah. Ever since my mother died, the old bastard stopped showing anything even remotely resembling love if we weren't in public. I sighed.

"It's ok Jon. Family is important! And at least she will give us peace to work now." Jon turned his smile on me, and I had no choice but to smile back. "You're right My Rex." He laughed."And I'm ready to work now."

Suddenly the title and the distance it created bugged me!

"That title is such a big mouthful Jon. Please just call me Frederic!" I don't know why I said that! I never allow people to be that informal with me, only Noah. I just wanted to hear him call my name. I needed to hear how it sounded coming from his lips.

"Oh, uhm, ok... F-frederic." Yeah that sounded nothing like when Noah says my name. I liked it very much!

"Back to work Jon!" I could not stop my smile from getting wider.

Some other things that I have observed about Jon is, that he swears like a sailor when he is distracted and that he talks to himself when he is working through something in his head.

Today his is mumbling colorful frases while he is trying to connect the tablet. It is going to be our last meeting before the coronation tomorrow and he is running late. We should have started our briefing fifteen minutes ago, but he did not arrive on time and he did not bring us coffee either.

"Goddamn shitty intern. Ruined my shirt and now we don't even get a fucking cup of coffee!" His grumbling is getting louder.

I clear my throat. "Language Jon!" No reason to let him get away with everything.

"Oh! I'm sorry My R.. Uhm... Frederic. Our intern ran into me right as I was going out the door. So I got scalding coffee all over me and had to change my shirt making me late. It just fucking sucks starting our meeting this way!" He rambles.

"JON!" Now I am getting a bit angry.

His eyes widen and then he lowers them submissively. "Please forgive me M- Frederic!" He looks like he is just about ready to fall to his knees. "I will try to reign in my temper." He continues with a softer voice.

"Good boy Jon!" The praise just slips from my mouth naturally. "Now can we get this meeting started? I want to be sure that everything is ready for tomorrow!"

Going over the last details, it looks like we're finally ready for Coronation Day! I'm looking forward to having that whole day be over! Although I might miss my daily briefing from Jon? Maybe we will need to continue those.

"It looks like everything is planned to a T Jon. Good job! Would you bring my thanks back to your colleges?" I smile tiredly. "Now I think that I'll go back and crash early, because I am pretty sure that tomorrow will damn near kill me." He smiles at my weak attempt at a joke and bids me goodnight.

As I fall into my bed after dinner, I can not help but reflect on this last week.

I still havn't deciphered the mystery that is Jon Mattis Erikson. But maybe I just need a little more time? I just need to talk to him a little more, see him smile a few more times and then I will know why I can't get him out of my head!

Published September 11. 2018

Do you think that Frederic will get to the bottom of why Jon won't leave his mind ?

Until next time.

Don't do anything that I wouldn't do!