Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Jane and Marcus had switched back to their professional selves by the time they stepped down from Car.

Jane wondered how Marcus seemed to know when to be formal in one minute and informal the next minute. Before the car pulled into the company's building, Marcus seemed to have forgotten she was his Boss. He was leaning so close to her they were breathing the same air. He had his ridiculous wide grin and even though he was telling her important things, Jane could not help being distracted by his closeness. Twice he had had to tap her to be sure she was listening.

"I am trying to prep talk you so those nosey workers in that office don't frustrate you but you are not paying attention." He had grumbled.

She didn't notice when they drove into the building until she noticed Marcus' posture shift to being professional. She groaned softly and did the same. Marcus came down first and then opened the door for her.

"You do not have to do that." She whispered to him.

Marcus gave a reluctant smirk.

"I pick my things and then we go!" She prompt.

"Yes ma'am," Marcus replied out loud.

They walked confidently into the company. Jane made a mental note to thank Mercus later, his prep talk seemed to be doing wonders for her confidence level. She felt so confident she did not see the need to fire or waste her energy consuming negative energy. Even when she went to her office to pick up her bag and found a file on her desk that told her that she had been sued for the murder of Suzan she still managed to keep her cool.

"You do know that you just got sued right?" Marcus asked when they got into the car.

"Yeah, what's the worst that can happen?"

Marcus shrugged.

"They can't jail me, the most they could do is stain my Name and that of my father."

"I will not want that to happen."

"Yeah, I know," Jane mumbled.

Marcus' phone rang.

"It's Emilia's brother" He informed Jane before picking up the call.

"For real?! Marcus shouted to the phone, his excitement uncontainable.

"What is happening?" Jane asked.

"Alright, we will be right there!" Marcus said to the phone.

"Jane, Emilia is out of Coma and—

Jane's scream interrupted him.

"And she is requesting to see you." Marcus completed.

"Well then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" Jane yelled, obviously thrilled.

They were in the hospital in less than 20 minutes. Jane flew to Emilia's room and hugged her immediately.

Emilia, who had never seen Jane happy to see her, was confused. "What is happening?" She mouthed to Marcus who was at the door grinding happily.

Marcus shrugged.

"I missed you so much," Jane said, finally releasing her stronghold on Emilia.

"I am sorry I couldn't protect you," Jane muttered regret evident in her voice as tears collected her eyes.

"Umm… did I die or did I wake up on a different planet?" Emilia asked, still confused.

Jane frowned, her eyes repented as she held Emilia's hand. "I am sorry I have been rude to you, please do you forgive me?"

"Su-s-sure," Emilia stammered.

"Hi Emmy," Marcus said with a smile, taking a step closer to her bed.

"Hi Mac," Emilia replied, her eyes smiling. "Nice to see you again."

"I was really worried about you." Marcus pout.

Emilia blushed. "I am sorry I made you all worried."

Jane felt her heart cringe. The feeling of jealousy she had always had around Marcus doubled. She cleared her throat and tried not to care but not until Marcus saw the green look in her eyes.

“Have I told you Ma’am Jane is now my friend and my boss?”

Emilia looked more confused than she already was. “She is?”

“Yeah, she is a changed woman!”

Jane flushed. “Yeah, I figured my rudeness isn’t helping anyone.

“Oh my, Miss. Jane, I am so happy to hear that.”

“I think Suzan’s betrayal made her see the light,” Marcus mumbled, staring at Jane.

“You know?” Emilia asked, obviously surprised.

“Yes, we found out a week after you were almost killed,” Jane muttered.

“I am sorry I wasn’t able to warn you before the incident.”

“It’s not your fault Emmy…” “It was your research that revealed the truth to us.” Jane continued with a weak smile.

“She even tried to kill Jane…” Marcus scoffed. He had moved from the doorway and was sitting beside Jane on Emilia’s bed.

“She what?” Emilia exclaimed.

“Yeah, it was a shock to us all,” Marcus mumbled.

“How did she…” Emilia wasn’t able to finish her question.

“She poisoned my water.”

Emilia gasped. “How did you know?”

“Ah,” Jane sighed. “Marcus caught her poisoning the water.”

“It wasn’t her fault,” Marcus murmured.

Jane turned to Marcus. “This ain’t the first time you have said this.”

Marcus stood from the bed and walked to the door. “Robert, made her do it.”

Jane and Emilia were looking at him, not sure what he was saying.

“She did not want to do it.” Marcus continued. “He threatened her life.”

Jane gulp.

“I felt sorry for her, but then she didn’t care about your life. She was willing to take two lives to save hers.”

“What do you mean two lives?”

“She gave me poisoned water to Jane.”

“Wow, why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice was soft, her eyes hurt and filled with compassion, mostly compassion.

“You already had enough on your plate, I couldn’t afford to add to my problems.”

The connection between Jane and Marcus was too strong it was almost visible, Emilia cringed on her bed feeling like an imposter for being in the same room with them. They were staring at each other communicating with their eyes. Emilia cleared her throat. They both looked at her irritated.

“Clearly a lot had happened before I was out of the coma.” She mumbled. “Ma’am, I think you should press charges.” She suggested.

Marcus grimaced. “Robert did that, he is blaming Jane for the death of Emilia, apparently everybody in the company blames Jane for poisoning Emilia.”

“Hearing will be by next Monday.” Jane sighted. “We do not have any evidence against him so… but it is okay, the worst thing that could happen is the stain it will leave on my name and that of my father.

“But that will alter your image forever. It will be hard for you to work in the city.” Emilia said sadly.

Jane stood, “I guess I must live with the consequences forever then.” She smiled. “I am really happy to see you, Emmy.” She smiled.

“Wait,” Emilia called.

Jane looked at her with gentle eyes. “Yes, dear one?”

“I err.” She looked from Jane to Marcus skeptical. She looked down at her hand, she was twisting them and the color red dominated her cheeks.

“Yes, Emmy?” Jane prompted.

Emilia slowly bit the bottom of her lips deliberating the consequences of what she was about to say. She glanced at Jane from the corner of her eyes and even though Jane’s face was looking at her kindly she knew she was wasting her time.

She sighed and said everything in a rush. “I know this is wrong, I had a bad feeling about that company the first day we resumed work there so I put a camera in your office. I thought I would use it to monitor everything going on in your office, especially after the day Suzan came to your office to be friends, I had followed her and caught her with Mr. Robert kissing so I thought I might have an idea what She and Mr. Robert were planning but it wasn’t much use since I never caught Suzan doing anything funny.” Emilia closed her eyes and waited for the Jane she knew to scold her. Her eyes were still closed. She was waiting.

“So what you are trying to say is there is a camera in Jane’s office?” It wasn’t the voice she was expecting but she replied. “Yes,”

She turned to Jane who seemed to be thinking.

“I am sorry ma’am.” She apologized.

Jane looked at her confused. “What are you sorry for?” Jane asked.

Emilia raised her eyebrows. “For putting the camera in your office without your consent.”

Jane laughed. “Emilia, you might as well have just given us the evidence we have been looking for, why should you apologize for that?”

“So you are not mad at me?”

“Of course not, why should I be?”

Emilia sighed with a relieved smile on her face. “I am grateful I can be of help.”

“So where can we get all the tape?” Marcus asked.

“Oh, it’s connected to my iPad, you will get all you need there.”

“Oh-oh…” Jane mumbled.

“Is there a problem?” Emilia asked.

Jane hissed.

“Your iPad was stolen sometime after you were stabbed,” Marcus stated.

“Oh, I , that will happen or at least Miss. Jane would one day get angry and break it, that’s why I keep two ipads.”

“You have a backup?” Jane was looking at her smiling.

Emilia nodded.

“Emilia, you are the best!” Jane hugged her.

“Yes I know.” Emilia mumbled, making Marcus chuckle. “It is in my bathroom, underneath a box of tissue.”

“Damn Emilia you are amazing.” Jane complimented.