Chapter 2
Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies. Elizabeth Bowen
The day was going on forever! It was like it would never end. As always it was just me and Chris left at the end of the day. I’ll tell you the man works none stop, no wonder he makes so much money. It was starting to get dark out and I wasn’t looking forward to the walk home. With London being so busy this time of night with everyone finishing work or heading out drinking, the tubes were jammed and it didn’t help that it had started raining as well. Trusty England it rains, it gets windy, the sun comes out and we have an afternoon of hot sunshine then the wind picks up and in rains again, the circle of English weather. Great!
After moping about the weather I finally send the last of Chris's emails out I slumped into the back of my chair with a large sigh after hitting send.
Wait… that was send right, I questioned myself. I panicked as I looked that the computer screen.
Oh My God please don’t tell me I just deleted that five paper email that has taken me near hours to complete!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! I searched through the files in hope.
Oh thank God it saved itself! I swear I have no idea why I still have a job I don’t understand technology atoll, I’m lucky I can even work my phone.
Right now send…Done.
I closed my eyes thinking that I couldn't wait to get back to my flat and attack the left-over Chinese from the other night. Yer, I moaned happily and what was awaiting me tonight. I couldn't wait to chuck on the pjs, grab a large wine of Pinot and watch old episodes of Sex in the City and Gossip Girl what better way could I spend my Friday nights. Maybe I'll have the whole bottle of wine that would make me even sadder, I laughed at myself.
I was sitting in my chair smiling like an idiot with my eyes shut, when I heard the GuccI shoes walking down the hall towards my desk. A high pitched voice came to my ears and before I even opened my eyes I knew the face to that voice.
"Well, Well, Well... look who it is" I opened my eyes, looking at my ice queen of a sister. Jessica. In no less than a second I was pushed back in time. I suddenly felt like that scared seventeen year-old again, rather than the twenty-two year old woman I was meant to be. She hadn't changed, tall, thin and gorgeous everything I wasn't and by looking at the outfit, she wears still living off 'Daddy'.
Ever since I was cut off I haven't seen or heard from Jessica since then. It wasn't even Christian that told me they were seeing each other. It was in an article in OK magazine called ‘When Billionaire meets Heiress'. You could imagine how I felt when I saw the picture of my gorgeous boss standing next to my gorgeous sister at some party. Not great!
At the shock at her standing there I thought I should say something. I moved too quickly and started falling on the backwards off my chair just before I gripped the table in fright, making the papers were falling to the floor. Smooth.
I went down to pick them up when she spoke again laughing.
“How far you have fallen little sister… well you were never that high anyway. Here I am all the way up here... and there you are” she said with her high and mighty voice that made her thinks she’s above someone like… the Queen.
Cleaning my throat, I looked back down at the mess I was cleaning up.
“Hello Jess” I managed to say.
“Jessica” she corrected me.
“Sorry, Jessica” I said standing up but with me being so much shorter than her I still felt like that little girl.
“Christian told me you were working for him” she lifted her chin, pointing that thousand pound nose job at me.
“Really I didn't know he knew we were sisters” I said. If he did surly he would have told me he was seeing Jess. He might not care for me in the way I would like but he still must care a little to tell me...
“He's not stupid Leah, the last name is a giveaway” she said making me feel really dumb. Of course he knew! Why did I think he would have thought I had the right to know about him and a sister I hadn’t seen in over five years… then a thought came to me. What had she told him about me? Did she tell him why we didn’t talk? About Alex…
“So, how have you been? I mean in the last five years” I asked nervously trying to be the better person.
“Better then you it looks. Funny isn't it you once had help and now you are the help” she laughed
“And what is so funny over here” Chris said coming over to us. I stood and watched as Jess walked over to meet him a few steps away and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him slowly.
My heart was slowly breaking and I started to feel like the room was getting smaller and smaller. I looked away quickly back down at the table. I couldn’t watch that, it was like she just slapped me in the face then and there. I could tell that Chris could see from the corner of his eye that my face went bright red. I knew we could never be together but I didn’t need my sister showing me that right in front of me.
“Not in the office Jessica” he said pulling Jess away looking a little annoyed.
“Sorry you know how I get when I see you, I can't keep my hands off you. You’re so sexy it turns me on” she replied with no sense of whispering atoll. With that, they both went into his office and I could hear the door lock before hearing her high pitched giggling and them kissing again.
I swore I could hear my heart breaking into thousands of little pieces, smaller than grains of sand. I just wanted to cry. I can't do this, I can't tell him now I feel and I won't tell her. I'm just going to have to get along with it and act as everything is normal.
Normal how is this normal. I thought to myself you've known this man for less than six months and you're secretly in love with him but he's in love with your sister.
THAT IS NOT NORMAL!
Before I thought I was going to break down, I quickly pulled everything together from my desk and started walking down the hall when Chris and Jess came out of his office.
“You off Leah” Chris said
“Yer, everything is done and I've got everything ready for Kelly on Monday for you. I made her a list of everything that needs to be done over next week when I'm not here and by number and your PA's in case she is stuck with anything but seeing as you’re not here anyway she doesn't have much to do” I said turning to leave as a voice came from the office.
“Why where are you going next week?” this came from Jess as she glares at me crossing her arms over her expensive investment Daddy paid for again. Did she not know I was going to Granddads birthday? Did it not cross her mind that I might be there…
“The week away for Granddads Birthday, I've been invited” I said shifting from one foot to the other nervously as she stared me down.
“Oh... Dad doesn't know about this” she looked up her nose at me… the story of our whole sister relationship.
“I couldn't think why he would” I said turning to walk away. Our father hadn’t cared to know what I’ve ever been up to my whole life, only ever caring about his money and his cars. “I'll see you next week Mr Howard, have a good one and I guess I’ll see you on Sunday Jess”
“Jessica! And you’ll be seeing him before that. He's invited to the week as well. Christian's done work with both father and grandpa” Jess said.
“You never said” I said looking straight at Christian, not helping the little bit of hurt that showed through my eyes. He didn't tell me anything really did he, why would he I only work for him it's not like we’re true friends.
“I apologies I didn't think” he stood tall looking at me. That was it! That was all he can say! Aaghh this man drove me crazy sometimes a sorry would have been nice!
“Whatever, I'll be seeing you both on Sunday then” I said as started walking away when Chris called after me and met me at the lift with no Jess on tail… very surprising, I thought they were attached to the hip, I let myself feel the green stab of jealousy. Damn! I needed to hold it together!
“Could we give you a lift?” he asked looking straight into my eyes I thought I was going to melt… I could never stay truly mad at this man. He had these eyes… this look that took all the hurt and anger away from my life and just made me feel warm and… full again. I so wanted to say yes but then I remembered what he said 'could WE give you a lift?' We, includes him and Jess. Normally I would be head over heels with the offer seeing as it was dark and the rain on a Friday night but not now, not if it meant spending more time with the devils whore... ok that maybe a little harsh she is my sister… maybe just the devil... or just a whore.
“No thanks”
“Are you sure? It’s raining and dark outside, come on it can be dangerous out there” he said actually caring for my safety but want he didn't know was it's not as dangerous as being with him.
“I'll be fine, really. Thank you Mr Howard I’ll see you Sunday I imagine” I said walking into the lift waiting for the door to close but Christian put his arm out to stop it.
“Leah, I’ve asked you…Chris, call me Chris. Please” his green eyes were glowing and I was in a trance. I looked up at him, giving him a small smile as I pressing the button to go down again. I needed to break this staring game. I couldn’t risk falling harder than I’ve already gone otherwise when everything goes wrong sooner or later it will be harder and longer to pick myself up.
“Bye I said and as the doors closed I smiled weakly saying his name on my lips “Chris”. I lent on the walls finally letting an awaiting tear fall down the side of my cheek. This was going to be the hardest weekend away of my life.