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I glanced in the direction of Jude's office. It wasn't like him to deviate. Especially after yesterday since the whole day had been a deviation. I would've thought he'd be eager to get back to his routine.
“Okay," I said. "Thanks."
Andy said his goodbyes and headed out as I quickly made my way to Jude’s office. His secretary, Simon, jumped when he saw me. I felt bad because the kid was still afraid of me after what I'd done upon first meeting him and Jude in person. I had to give the kid props though for continuing to show up. Even if he did look like he was going to shit his pants every time he saw me.
"Morning, Simon," I said.
"Morning, sir,” he said shakily.
"Is he busy?" I asked as I motioned to Jude's door.
"Hi, I, uh, don't know," Simon stammered. "He told me to leave him alone. He's, he's… busy, I guess."
I was starting to see why Jude was so irritated with the secretary. Simon had a tendency to talk in circles more than anything else. I also felt bad for the kid because he didn't have much of a backbone and Jude wasn't the kind of guy you could approach unless you had at least a little bit of spine in you.
"Thanks," I said before going to Jude's door. I knocked on it but there was no response. I turned the knob but realized pretty quickly it was locked from the inside. I sighed and pulled out the key that I’d kept for myself when I’d had the lock installed. I let myself into the office and found Jude where I expected to.
At his desk with his eyes glued to his computer screen.
"Did my silence register as permission for you to enter?" Jude asked coolly as he kept looking at his computer screen. I sighed because it wasn't a good sign. I wasn't sure why I was so disappointed by Jude’s response. I supposed I’d thought we’d gotten past this particular aspect of our relationship. The one where he treated me no better than the hired help. Considering his kindness the day before, it was like whiplash for me to have to go back to verbally sparring with him.
"Good morning to you too,” I said. I went over to his coffee machine to refill my travel mug and then went to sit on his couch. As expected, Jude gave me the silent treatment for several long minutes but then, true to form, he turned his attention on me.
"Do you mind?" he bit out.
"Pretend I'm not here," I said. They were the same words I’d said to him on the first day when I'd made myself at home in his office.
I swore I heard the man growl under his breath before he got up and practically stomped to his coffee machine. He returned to his desk and started typing away at his computer again. A few minutes later he was stopping and pulling off the cute little glasses that made him look so scholarly.
"Any word on Maks?" he asked.
His voice was considerably softer and there was true interest in the question. I felt some of the tension ease from my body. This was the Jude I knew and… needed.
"He's okay," I said as I looked at Jude. "It's not cancer. He's got a bacterial infection. He'll be okay in a few days."
Jude's reaction warmed my heart. He dropped his eyes and then took a deep breath. The fact that he’d been so invested in my response had me getting up. I went to stand in front of his desk. "Did I do something, Jude?" I asked.
Jude looked up at me, his eyes widening in surprise. “What?"
"What you did for me yesterday…" I began, and then shook my head because I really didn't know how to finish the statement. I couldn't describe what he’d done for me. "Did I do something to upset you last night? Before you went back to your own apartment?"
I recalled having leaned on Jude both literally and figuratively, but I didn't think I had crossed any kind of line. So I couldn't make sense of his anger.
Jude dropped his eyes again and began toying with his glasses. "No," he murmured. "I’m just… I’m just really behind on work," he said as he glanced at his computer screen. I didn't completely believe him. I suspected there was more to explain why he was angry with me, but I also knew that he did have a lot of work to do.
"Okay. I'll be outside if you need me," I said as I motioned toward the door.
Jude nodded but didn't say anything. I could see the stress in his eyes as they flicked back to his computer. I wanted to ask what was going on with the deal he was working on in the hopes that talking about it would help ease some of his tension, but I held my tongue.
