Jab My Heart [Boy×Boy]

Chapter 24: Suit and tie

Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake🎶

Jimmy P.O.V

"You're late."

"Uh..." I checked the time, confused by my client's statement as my watch revealed that I'm not late at all. "I'm sorry--"

"Did the rest of the photography team brief you yet?" He rudely interrupted my unsure apology, while juggling flicking through his phone and ordering people around.

"No--"

"Rightt," He finally looked up at me. "You just do your magic. Make sure you capture moments of positive interaction between the participating companies, especially between the execs, to promote the merger." His tone was more motivating, filled with more passion that I felt myself relax as I replied confidently.

"Got it."

"Great! And when you are done pick the best and send them to the PR department. I'll get my PA to email the department's details to you." He uncharacteristically flashed a bright smile which was an accessory that made him very handsome now that I look closely.

"Ok.." I smiled back before he left, stunned at the change of personality.

While I stood there checking if my batteries are full and that I have enough memory cards, a certain figure stood in front of me. A slender woman, brown hair cut short fashionably and a giddy smile.

"Hey stranger!"

"Lisa?!" I exclaimed with the excitement of seeing a very familiar face. She engulfed me with a quick, happy hug. "You work here now?"

"Yeah...ever since you left the eatery it has been boring so I just left too and luckily I found another job!"

"Wow look at you! All formal and...what did you do to your hair?!" I just realised she cut her hair.

"I have to look the part you know." She patted her dyed hair before calming down and looking at me suspiciously."So...what's your secret?!"

"Secret?"

"My boss is never that friendly with anyone, especially if you are on his payroll...and remember you were the boss' favourite employee at the restaurant! I wanna know how you do it."

"He was nice to me?" I pointed behind me which was the direction Mr Walters went.

"Yeah! If I didn't know any better I'd say he digs you. I mean the only thing he does is order the rest of us around." She leaned on the table beside us in distress as she vented and I gladly listened.

"Is he that bad?" I laughed and she perked up once again.

"Don't get me wrong he's a great boss...but the boy's a workaholic and a perfectionist and the worst part is he expects everyone to be like him." I laughed more as I eased into the conversation.

"I see you finally became a photographer!" She tried to grab the camera after glancing at it.

"Hey hey don't touch! You're very clumsy." We both laughed.

***

3rd person P.O.V

"So you wanna tell me why we didn't leave with your Dad?" Richard asked as he buckled up, while  AJ started the ignition.

"Because...I didn't want him to be around when I tell you the real reason why I invited you as my plus one."

"And that is?" He jerked his head to the side to face AJ whose eyes were on the road.

AJ paused.

As if he was waiting for the air to be silent as they got onto the one way road edged by green trees. As if Richard wouldn't have heard him with all the moving and fidgeting. He knew once he tells Richard there'd be no going back.

"I want you to be my personal assistant."

"Aren't I already?" Richard responded indifferent as his elbow leaned against the door.

"Yes...but you're AJ's bucket boy, not the CEO of Howard and Walters Inc's PA." Richard's eyes widened.

"When did that happen?!"

"Not long." Richard furrowed his eyebrows after realising what this all means.

"So you quitting sports?"

"Yeah." AJ said without a wind of a doubt, leaving Richard stunned.

"Why?... I mean you love boxing. I can't even imagine you not doing it."

"I think it's time I...kept a low profile." Richard stared at him dumbfounded, willing him to explain, to continue.

AJ sighed. Words weren't his thing. Especially if the subject was love. Although he was sure of his actions but he couldn't explain the reasons behind them. Didn't see the need to either.

"What I'm trying to say is settling will give me stability and..."

"Freedom?" Richard completed, already seeing where this is going.

"Exactly."

Out of all the business lectures he's heard, either from his father or at business school, one word stood out for him.

Leverage.

And he had it all mapped out. He was gonna join the family business, make himself irreplaceable and then marry Jimmy...properly.

"So what do you say?" AJ broke the brief silence. Richard acted like he's thinking about it causing AJ to chuckle a bit. "It's not like you don't want to Rich."

"I'll be your PA on one condition--"

"Done."

"You don't even know what I was going to say!" Adam flashed his bank card which was already propped on the dashboard.

"Trust me... I know. Now go get yourself a new wardrobe." Richard smiled widely.

"Thanks! Oh and don't worry, I still remember the pin."

***

"What? What happened?!" Her voice pierced through the soft music causing a few eyes to look their way.

"Keep your voice down." Jimmy whisper-shouted before answering her question. "It just didn't work out I guess." He shrugged, not really in the mood to tell her everything.

"How come? You and Nathan were so in love!"

"Relationships do come to an end you know." Jimmy turned around to assemble his equipment, preparing for work.

"Oh... speak of the devil and his cousin shall appear. Since when does Richard attend such events?" A frown settled on Jimmy's face as he wondered what would Richard be doing here. He dropped all he was doing and followed her eyes. And yes it was Richard...and "Mmm and who's his friend?"

...

Jimmy's heart does that thing it does when he sees Adam in a public space. That strange feeling of being familiar and being strangers at the same time. When the contrasts in their worlds become annoyingly obvious.

He faintly smiles at the fact that the subject looks breathtaking. It was the first time Jimmy saw him in a suit and he couldn't miss the opportunity to make his the first picture of the night, one he wasn't going to send of course. He slowly lowered the camera from his eye, still staring, before answering,

"Adam...Adam Howard."