AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jessica heard him give a short bitter laugh and was lost on what to do for him. This wasn’t something she did. In fact, if at all possible, she would have had Beth address this not her. She didn’t really do emotions well. Oh, she could find out root causes and she was very good about logic puzzles and reading numbers but the whole relating to people, not her forte.
Jessica tapped Brian on the shoulder and then turned him around.
She put on a smile and said the first thing that came to her mind. “You think we’ve always known we would be vying for the same job?”
Brian smiled and then laughed. “No, how could we? Neither one thought the other knew enough.”
“Ah, so you’ve opened your eyes and realized that I’m always right?” Jessica said jokingly.
“Maybe, as long as we aren’t talking about cooking, I might let you lead,” Brian bantered back.
“I found out yesterday and I thought for sure you were going to hate me.” Brian was about to talk but Jessica kept going knowing if she didn’t get this thought out all at once, she wouldn’t ever be able to do it. “I’m the one who always gets passed over. I’m the one they joke about at work. When I heard what Pilar said, I wasn’t sure if she was joking, as well.”
“Jessica, stop it,” Brian said as he stepped toward her and tucked her hair behind her ear. “You know right now the only thing I want to do is pull you into my arms and kiss you. I know it’s the wrong time, we are in a really weird situation and I’m not in the best place. When I was done with board member Blue, the only thing I was counting on was seeing you today. Who has told you you’ll always be passed over?”
“I’ve heard murmurs. The who doesn’t matter. What matters is that it is true. If anyone heard about this, they would think something inappropriate was going on with me and Mr. Middleton for him to even recommend me. So, you see, even this good fortune is bad.”
“Jessica, stop it. You aren’t passed over,” Brian demanded.
Jessica waved him off. “It’s nice of you to try and make it easier to take but it’s pretty obvious. I mean I have a track record of it. I even heard it once, ‘Fly by Jess’.”
Jessica couldn’t believe she was telling him and then she heard him snort holding back a laugh. “Fly by Jess, the last thing you ever do is fly by.”
Jessica folded her arms, and she felt the smile spread across her face. “Hold that laugh in buddy.”
“I’m trying,” Brian said as he covered his mouth. “I needed to hear that one after tonight.”
“The announcement must have been rough.”
Brian sighed. “You know, I thought this trip was a formality. I thought coming here I needed to decide if I wanted the CFO spot. It was a hit to my pride that I wasn’t the only one.”
“It probably didn’t help that it was me,” Jessica whispered.
Brian nodded and then lifted Jessica’s chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I happen to know you are amazing. If there is another person who could do this job I’d agree it’s you. It’s the first time in a long time I am doing something that I don’t know if it’s a sure thing.”
Jessica nodded. “I get it. I am risk adverse, as well. I try to make sure I have at least an 85% chance of doing something well before I start it.”
Brian nodded. “See you do understand.” Jessica saw Brian look around and then he guided them both to a bench. “So, anything exciting in my absence beside my boss showing up saying I need to prove myself worthy for a job I thought I had in the bag?”
Jessica smiled. “I’m glad you’re taking it so well. The only news I have is a very nice man came and fixed the screens and put down a rug. He’s now my new reading buddy.”
“Ah, I didn’t know you like to read fiction.”
Jessica laughed out loud. “So, I don’t look like I read books, huh?”
“It’s not that, I know you are beyond smart.”
Jessica couldn’t help but bend over laughing. “What does that even mean, beyond smart?”
“Let’s just say I think I know you but then you show me another side of you, and I have to wonder which one is the woman I know.”
Jessica looked up at the sky and then back at Brian.
“People are like shapes. They have different sides to them, but they all make up the one person, you know?”
Brian nodded. “I’ve met a lot of people, and I find that most of them only like to show one side of themselves. That you are okay with people knowing all of your sides makes you a rarity.”
“Really?” Jessica heard the words and each one came closer and closer to settling near her heart. Was it even possible on the night that would have been the worst, she was finding someone who could understand her?
