Chapter 29: Chapter 29
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"So, we're stuck here. Three days." Jessi sat on the edge of the desk and eyed her boss. "What now?"
After giving a shrug in reply, Jenson reclined in his chair and kept his eyes focused on his phone. They both wore masks, still, although they were confident their lab test results would come back negative in an hour or so.
Or they could be presymptomatic. Meaning, the virus could still be incubating, so they had to sit tight, observe and wait for any changes in their physical condition for the next few days.
Staying here in his office for 72 hours straight wasn't an issue for her, but, obviously Jenson got pissed. He didn't want to be stuck here in LA all weekend just to quarantine himself with her. He had a scheduled work trip to New York, and he was the type of guy who didn't like sudden drastic changes to his plans or his routine.
"How's your nose and throat?" he asked while she sat across from him, with his somewhat tidy work desk keeping a four-foot distance between the two of them.
"Fine. No allergy attacks so far."
"No headache or anythin'?"
"Nope. You?" She stared at him and noticed his furrowed brows and forehead while his phone held his attention.
"Nah."
"Did you call Darren again? Did he reply to your texts?"
"Yeah. He's in bed, playing video games. Told him to get swabbed."
"So he's fine with staying indoors all weekend after he gets tested?"
"Told him he doesn't have a choice."
"Okay. What about...rehab?"
After her hushed question, Jenson looked up from his phone to regard her. "We talked about it last night. He told me he's gonna get help, after he's done grieving."
"Oh." Jessi looked away. She hadn't even met Ramona in person but the unfortunate news also saddened her to an extent.
Ramona's parents must've been devastated after what happened to their daughter. It wasn't on any news channel or any articles online, though. Perhaps the police and Ramona's family preferred to keep it a low profile case.
Or maybe no reports of her sudden disappearance and death got filed? Another possibility: Darren's lawyer and the TV show's team of (probably highly paid) publicists tried their best to keep his name away from the controversy...if ever there was anything publicized about Ramona's death months ago.
"But I'll convince him to get counseling sooner, before he does something stupid again just 'cause he's bored." Jenson sighed.
"You should," she mumbled in reply. "But it's confirmed he's the father of her baby? You think they were dating?"
Her brain wrestled with a lot of questions about the poor girl's tragic death. But it was none of her business so she kept her mouth shut about it. Until today.
Well, she and Jenson would be stuck in this office for days. Not much to do with this much time on their hands, really. The building's strict and fastidious security personnel would report them to the authorities if she and Jenson broke the state's 72-hour mandatory quarantine protocol for suspected positive cases.
"The medical report said so, but I dunno much about their past." Jenson got up from his seat and said nothing more. "Call your parents yet? They're doin' fine back home?"
"Yeah. Dad's at risk so he stays home all week. Just keeping busy with his woodworking projects." She didn't tell her folks she was quarantining alone with her boss, though. No need to make them worry about her all weekend.
"Cool." Jenson sat on the couch and took off his mask now that he sat in the opposite corner of the office. They'd also left the windows open for better ventilation. "I'll sleep here. The divan's yours."
"No. I'm smaller." She frowned. "You sleep in the other room."
"No. You sleep in there. Privacy reasons." He got up and wore his face mask again.
"Fine," she conceded, minding his stern tone. "I won't lock the door in case you'll use the bathroom at night."
"Lock it anyway. There's a men's room outside. Use my credit card if you wanna order spare clothes. Have them delivered here. Or towels and other stuff."
"Okay." She switched on her laptop and couldn't help smiling at his gesture.
Since day one of being her new boss, he often treated her like an old friend. To her, though, he was like the big brother she never had. Not just a work friend.
They got along right off the bat, and she appreciated their dynamic. She was an only child, like him, and they both liked to focus on their career. They had other things in common, too.
Goal-driven. Workaholic. Independent. They had the same tastes in music, films, literature, and other interests. Their personalities just meshed well. He also taught her a lot about the TV and movie industry, and he shared some candid stories about being a Hollywood star.
So far, the experience had been eye-opening and educational in many aspects. Working with him as his assistant was one of the best things to ever happen to her career and new life here in Los Angeles. She wouldn't trade it for anything.
"And for you? What d'you need?"
"Nothing. I packed enough." Jenson pointed to his backpack beside the desk before taking off his leather jacket. He threw it on the couch and sighed audibly.
Definitely still upset about his cancelled New York trip. "Can you reschedule your trip to next weekend?"
"Maybe." He clicked his tongue. "Big boss won't be glad, though."
"What's his name again?"
Jenson stared at her and went quiet for a moment before looking away. "Magnus."
"Right." She squinted. "Cool name."
A unique one for a Californian Hollywood executive slash businessman. Or maybe the man was a foreigner. Funny coincidence that Kel's brother was also named "Magnus".
"You called Charm? She's still in Beijing?"
"Yeah. Too busy," Jenson muttered with a sigh while looking busy on his phone again.
"I see." Jessi sat still and tried to read between the lines, but maybe there was nothing more behind his comment. She knew his fiancée often worked out of town but Charm still needed to know about his real situation here. "Did you tell her about today? That you won't be home all weekend?"
"Not yet."
"No lockdown in Beijing, though. Right?" She wasn't friends with his fiancée, but she hoped Charmaine was okay and not worrying about her health and safety unlike some people in busy, overpopulated cities. "I hope she's doing fine."
"None that I know of," Jenson said while he stared at his phone screen.
"Okay." Jessi ignored his nonchalant reply and grabbed her phone when it trilled.
Kel just sent her a new text.
1 new message
from: Kel Nielsen
"Sorry luvs. Just finished my shift. Got your test results already? Feeling ok?"
Today 09:56AM
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"Don't stay up late. Get at least seven hours of sleep daily. Lots of fluids. Eat healthy, the usual. If your throat starts to feel itchy, achy or dry, drink something warm. You're home, though. Right?"
"Nope. Office quarantine." Jessi frowned and stared at her maskless, overworked friend on the video feed.
Reddish lines almost covered the darkened skin below Kel's pretty eyes and below the bridge of her pointed nose. Her jowls and jawline also had noticeable marks made by the masks and respirators Kel had to wear on duty and for the entire duration of her long shifts.
"What?" Kel's brows and pale lips creased. "Where are you right now?"
"Office. You okay? You look kinda dead, babe."
"Had to pull an all-nighter. Now I'm on a double shift. Influx of ER patients again. Just trying my best not to think I'm having another anxiety attack." Kel faked a smile while fixing her ponytail. "Still feels like someone punched my nose a dozen times but I'm so tired that everything's just kinda numb now."
"Sorry. You need two days of uninterrupted sleep. Seriously. How's the family? And Enzo?"
"They're fine. He's worried sick, like Mommy. Badly wants me home. It's stressing him out, too. He was crying on the phone last night."
"Aww..." Jessi sighed. "I get it, though. You're so exposed all day, all night, and every time you're on duty."
"It is what it is." Kel shrugged. "He even told me to submit a resignation letter tomorrow." She snickered, then turned dead serious again. "Hold up. Why an office quarantine?"
"Protocol, they said. Just for three days. Stuck in here with the boss. But don't tell anyone."
"What?" Kel pouted after her awkward laugh. "You're quarantining in the office with him for three days? Why not just stay at home?"
"They said they had to test all of us. Gotta stay here 72 hours minimum, so they can monitor our movements. They're still disinfecting the entire building. Five cases confirmed now."
"That sucks..." Kel shook her head weakly, then sat up straight after some familiar beeps in the background. "Laters, babe. Code blue." She hurriedly put on her mask and face shield before getting up.
"Be careful, loves. Call me later." Jessi hung up and muttered a quick prayer for her ever-busy friend who definitely needed prayers right now for her safety.
"Who was that?"
"Hmm?" Jessi turned to her right.
Standing alone by the door, Jenson stared at her while a frown scrunched his brows. A long brown box was snug under his armpit.
It must be the clean clothes, new pillows and blankets she ordered for them online barely an hour ago. Wow. Impressive TAT.
"That was fast. The clothes and pillows I just ordered?" She pointed to the box.
"Yeah. Who was that?" He took a couple of steps closer to her and her work computer. His voice sounded louder, his tone more curious and eager now. "On the video call."
"My friend. She's training in New York."
"Training?"
"Yeah. To be a surgeon. My model friend I told you about. But she's not taking modeling jobs anymore 'cause she's so busy with her training."
"What's her name?"
"Mykaela." Jessi grabbed her phone when her email notification tone dinged and interrupted their conversation.
It was the lab test results. Finally. Moment of truth. While her eyes stayed glued to the screen, she held her breath and read the contents of the email attachment.
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Patient Name: Kinley, Jessiah Marionne
Age: 25
DOB: 06/28/1996
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Test Results Summary: SARS-CoV-2 RNA Positive (Detected)
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"Joss..."
"Yeah?"
"I just got my test results." She glanced up from her phone to stare at Jenson, who stopped pacing around the couch with a dazed look that probably matched hers. "Positive."
"Shit." He closed his eyes, dropped the box on the floor, and just plunked down on the couch. "Same."
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