Fervor.

three.

Vanessa's POV

Back at my office, I begin reading over the papers in the file to get an idea of what I’m doing and who I’m working with. From what I can tell, Harry comes from an extremely wealthy family, just like I suspected. I always had this idea that British people were these rich accented snobs. Of course not all of them, but I think it’s more often than not.

I could be wrong, but I highly doubt it.

And from the looks of it, I’m right about Harry. I nearly gag when I scan his favourite hobbies. Golf, polo, horseback riding, swimming, fencing, shooting. All these ‘sports’ literally scream look at me! my parents are rich and I’m such a snob I don’t care about anyone, oh and I’m such a man! I go shooting and horseback riding!

He’s an Oxford graduate, of course, and has surprisingly done a lot of volunteer work in his past; a total of 803 hours, which in return makes me rather jealous. I groan loudly before I can stop myself, when I read what he likes to do in his free time.

His answer is to read or draw.

Harry’s the total opposite of me, and there’s no way we can get along.

Apart from that, I hate to admit that he’s pretty attractive. They’ve attached a picture of him on the back.

His big green eyes are twinkling and very clear. His hair is pushed back from his forehead in a quiff style. His smile is absolutely perfect due to the straight white teeth, along with his pink lips. Not only that, but I notice the indents in his cheeks; his devastatingly adorable dimples.

It’s a waist shot, but from what I can tell, he has a fit body. However, he’s in a black suit, so I guess only time can tell.

Harry’s also a year older, 22, which I hope doesn’t make him think he has some sort of advantage. Honestly I just hope he’s not difficult. Although, I doubt that considering what his profile says.

Just then, I notice Jake and Amy racing to my desk. And for some reason, my instinct is to immediately shut the folder.

“Van!” Jake yells from down the hall, clearly ahead of Amy. He reaches my desk and begins collecting his breath “How did it go?” he’s breathless, and a few seconds later, Amy joins.

“I didn’t get picked” I keep my voice low as I try to avoid lacing it with any emotion

Jake’s smile immediately fades and his brows furrow in concern “Are you okay?”

Amy quirks an eyebrow “What do you mean you didn’t get picked?”

I notice she isn’t breathless, due to how she maintains a healthy lifestyle.

I shrug, not really wanting to get into this. My anger has somewhat faded because of the distraction Mr. Ramsay has presented me, so I didn’t want to ruin that.

Jake reaches over and squeezes my shoulder “Aren’t you mad? I mean, you don’t look mad…”

I shrug “Well, I guess they felt bad for me or something. Because Mr. Ramsay offered me another assignment”

“Mr. Ramsay?”  Amy’s eyes widen

“So the other guy won?” Jake asks and I immediately glare at him

“Who cares Jake?” Amy said in my defense before turning to me “Vanessa, they clearly don’t feel bad for you. Because if Mr. Ramsay presented this new assignment to you himself, then obviously it’s a big deal”

Her words make me feel like the extra job I received is more important than I thought, and that slightly eases my mood.

Jake reaches for the file but I slap his hand away “I don’t think you’re supposed to look at that”

He raised his hands in surrender “Alright. But are you gonna tell us what it is your doing?”

“It’s not much,” I tell him “Some British snob is being transferred over here, and I’m supposed to be his guide or boss or whatever”

“Is he hot?” Amy questions, a playful smile at her lips

I return her smile “Unfortunately, yes”

Amy ‘ooo’s and makes sure to remind me about the ‘no dating co-workers’ rule, whilst Jake looks taken aback.

“Excuse me, but I don’t think that he can be hotter than this” he points to himself, and I laugh, shaking my head

“I’m serious” he’s smiling but something about his tone holds a sense of seriousness

“No worries, Jake. I’ve still got my pact with you” I remind him about the pact we made a year ago

If by the time we’re 35 we’re both still single, we’ll marry each other. I love Jake, but in all honesty, I hope that pact doesn’t become true. He’s too much of a friend.

I watch the tenseness in his shoulders dissolve and I shoot him a questioning look. He leans forward and places a kiss on my forehead “I’m sorry about the job thing, but I have to get going” he announces, and my mind is stuck on his weird gesture. Sure we’re close, but this was random.

Jake makes his way down the hall while Amy and I watch until he disappears.

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you V, but Jake really likes you” Amy says

I groan, “That’s not true”

“Are you blind? He’s all over you. Literally five seconds ago, he looked like a broken puppy the minute you mentioned another boy”

I roll my eyes “That’s not true. Also, it also makes no sense, because he sleeps around a lot. I don’t see how Jake would be the type to have any sort of crush that doesn’t associate with a girl’s body only”

She sighs “You keep denying it. But I know you see it too”

This topic annoys me on so many levels, and she (and others) doesn’t understand.

The truth is, when I first worked here (3 years ago), I really liked Jake. But I quickly got over him, because we became too close as friends. Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s unbelievably attractive.

I just don’t want to ruin anything. I don’t even want any sort of relationship at the moment.

“Listen,” I say, suddenly I don’t feel like talking, “I don’t want to talk about this. Not again. I also have to go, because I’ve got nothing else to do here”

I begin collecting my belongings and place the folder into my bag carefully. I hug Amy goodbye, and leave the building in a rush.

While I wait for the bus I remember that although I promised Jimmy I’ll see him and the crew tonight, I really wasn’t feeling it. Frankly, this new assignment is really bothering me. It’s giving me the same feeling of when I was back in school and did extra credit assignments to higher my grades. It wasn’t something I had to do, nor was it something I wanted to do. It just felt like I something I should do. Plus, all of them felt like absolute pains in the ass, just like this new ‘side job’.

As soon as I get to my apartment building, relief washes over me when I notice Jimmy isn’t outside. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone about my day. It was absolutely dreadful, and anger is still lingering in my veins.

But of course, the first thing I do when I step into my apartment is kick off my shoes, and make a beeline to my bed. Because all I want is to rest and relieve my exhaustion.

I’ll deal with my anger later.

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