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Chapter Fifteen
JILL
Theraucouswailofmy alarm clock pierced the serene morning atmosphere, rudely rousing me from a blissful dream about Jeremy, shirtless, on a beach.
Groggily, I extended my hand, clumsily groping through the dimly lit bedroom to silence the intrusive noise. As I ended the blaring alarm, the soft radiance from my phone screen flooded the room.
With a yawn and a passive stretch, I unlocked my phone to check the time and peruse any messages that might have arrived during the night.
My heart skipped when I noticed Jeremy's name on the screen.
"Hey, Jill. Would you like to grab lunch tomorrow? There's something important I'd like to discuss with you."
A surge of excitement coursed through me at the sight of his message.
My fingers danced across the screen as I hastily typed out a response, my heart throbbing with anticipation.
"Hi, Jeremy. Yes, I can do lunch. I will move some things around in my schedule to make it happen. Let me know the time and place."
Yet, as I pressed send, an unexpected wave of unease washed over me. Why did he want to talk face-to-face? Was there an issue with my performance at work? Had he second-guessed his decision to offer me a permanent position? Was he upset about my clothes again?
Anxious thoughts swirled in my mind.
I knew better than to jump to conclusions, but uncertainty gnawed at me relentlessly.
During my probationary period, I put forth immense effort to prove myself and secure a permanent role with the team. The notion of potentially losing this precious opportunity sent shivers down my spine.
With a resigned sigh, I cast aside those doubts and focused on positivity.
Perhaps Jeremy had an entirely unrelated matter in mind—something outside the realm of work. I needed to trust him and believe in our built connection. Surely, after everything, he wouldn’t be firing me. That wasn’t him. He was a better man than that.
Rising from my bed, I prepared myself for the day, excited about spending time with Jeremy. Regardless of his motive for this meeting, I vowed to meet him head-on with an open heart.
After showering, I glanced at the clock and chose an outfit that exuded professionalism while bolstering my confidence (and best physical assets). It was time to head out, so I went to the subway station and got on my train. My thoughts raced the whole ride to work, going through all possible reasons and outcomes of this scheduled lunch date.
I arrived hoping to see Jeremy in the lobby, but he wasn’t there. He wasn’t in his office, either. The morning passed in a blur of emails, meetings, and frenzied preparations for future projects, and my phone remained by my side throughout. Each time it chimed, I couldn't resist checking it, secretly hoping for a message from Jeremy.
Alas, as the hours ticked by, no further messages from him came through.
As the morning wore on, my anxiety escalated to the point where I could no longer concentrate on my work. The uncertainty surrounding our upcoming meeting gnawed at me relentlessly, causing me to pace back and forth in my cramped office, unable to shake off the disquiet feelings.
Unable to bear the anticipation any longer, I impulsively decided to visit Jeremy at his office. Perhaps it was an attempt to calm my nerves, or maybe I needed to see him before our lunch, but one thing was sure – I could not sit idly by any longer and hope for his response.
I arrived outside his door and hesitated briefly, feeling my heart pound. I took a deep breath and summoned the courage to knock softly.
"Come in," Jeremy's voice called out from inside.
Pushing open the door, I stepped into his office. Jeremy glanced up from his desk, an expression of surprise mingled with curiosity etched across his face.
"Hey," I began, my voice wavering slightly. "I texted you back but didn’t get a response, and then I got nervous and couldn't wait for lunch. I just needed to know what’s up. What do you need to talk to me about?"
Jeremy rose from his seat and walked towards me, chuckling slightly. He closed the door behind me, signaling that whatever he wanted to talk about was private.
"I'm glad you stopped by," he murmured, his eyes locked onto mine. "I've been busy and haven’t looked at my phone. Sorry for not texting back."
Gazing into his eyes, I saw a hint of vulnerability. He was uncharacteristically nervous, mirroring the feeling that had consumed me throughout the morning.
We stood there in silence for a brief moment, both comfortable in each other’s presence, but the atmosphere was tinged with unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.
