Chapter 40: Chapter 40

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"Just come back here, hon. You don't need that job. It's safer here. For you. For us."

"I know, Mom." Jessi sighed and stood by the door. Some hesitation still lingered in the back of her head, but the worry and impatience in her mother's frail voice ultimately defeated her stubborn logic.

Considering the emotional rollercoaster she was going through, her recent hospitalization, and the growing number of positive cases here in California, leaving Los Angeles to live the small-town life again sounded much smarter—not a setback at all if she wanted to make it to her next birthday.

Sure. The treatment worked. The medical staff did their best, helping her and the other infected patients recover fast after the strict hospital confinement. But it didn't mean she was already out of the woods.

Reports of reinfection had been spreading all over the news. Meaning, her full recovery from the dreaded viral disease would not guarantee immunity from reinfection. And worse: there were no approved vaccines available yet.

Killing the contagion and keeping the virus from spreading throughout the globe... Quite an impossible task. For now. Like Kel said, it would be a wildfire on an epic scale.

"But you talked to your boss. Right? You said Jenson agreed, when you told him you're resigning."

"Yeah." Jessi made a face. "Defiantly agreed" sounded more accurate, but her mother didn't need another reason to worry.

The global total number of cases just reached half a million last night. Naturally, her parents wanted her home now. Out of California as soon as first light. Worried sick about their only child, like that day they found out she tested positive.

"So you submitted the letter?" her mom asked in a louder voice.

"Yeah. Gave him a transition plan and everything. Deadlines. Task list. All of it."

"And?"

Jessi glanced out the window to scan the busy street. No sign of him yet. She frowned and gripped her phone, her chest and stomach feeling funny.

Her boss just sent a new text five minutes ago, saying he was dropping by.

Why? She could only guess.

"Hon, what'd he say?" Her mom's muted tone on the other line denoted concern.

"Jenson tried to, um, offer me a raise." Jessi sighed out loud.

"But you declined. Right?"

"Told him I would come back in a year, if he really needs me to, and if the new guy doesn't deliver." Hopefully that wouldn't be a problem she would have to deal with, but it was still a possibility. "We've been busy, training my replacement."

After Jenson signed off her resignation letter weeks ago, they hadn't really talked much. Unless it was about work and the transition training. Obviously he still didn't want her to leave so soon. Lately, there had been some awkward tension every time they were alone in the office.

But maybe it was just her overactive imagination again. "At first I thought Topher would need another two weeks or so, to adjust to the workload. But he's actually doing great."

"That's good."

"Creative, but also meticulous. Cares too much about pleasing the boss, but, multi-tasking isn't his weakness."

"Great. That's great. So, Jenson will let you come home sooner?" Her mother sounded more eager now, her voice quite animated. "When's the exact date, hon? We'll pick you up."

"In two or three weeks," Jessi muttered.

"Right. Okay."

"I'll text you and Dad the date. I'll look at ticket prices tonight."

"Did your boss help pay off your medical bills?"

"Yeah." She looked out the window again.

Jenson's black pickup truck just parked on the other side of the street. Her apartment unit was only two floors up. If he really wanted to, he could be right outside her front door in a minute.

"He's been real helpful."

"Insurance mostly took care of it, though. Right?"

"Yeah. He made sure the insurance covered most of the bill. He, uh, actually paid for the rest. I got sick at work, so... But I'm returning the money to him now."

"I see. That's nice. Sounds like a really nice guy, hon."

"He is," was her hushed reply. Although she doubted that her boss would just accept the money with no arguments whatsoever, Jessi still hoped for the best. She clasped the ends of her ponytail and paced by the window. She shouldn't make him wait—he might be busy with something work-related. "Talk soon, Ma. Gotta go somewhere."

"Alone? Where you going?"

"Grocery run."

"Okay. Wear a mask and face shield, hon."

"You, too. Tell Dad I'll be home soon. Bye."

"Great. Bye. Love you."

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× 7:28PM ×

He stood beside his truck and waited for her on the other side of the street. Masked up, as per usual.

At first she believed the masking was for disguising himself in public. People close to him thought he pretty much hated being hounded by paparazzi whenever he was out and about.

But then Jenson didn't get sick, despite spending three days alone with her during quarantine. He was just being careful in public. Evidently it paid off.

"Hi." Jessi smiled at the jeans-clad guy leaning against the driver's side. Her throat and chest tightened when he looked up from his phone.

His arms were crossed, and his hair looked tamer today. Not styled at all. His gray sweatshirt looked so soft compared to his dark and rigid straight-cut denims.

Despite the lack of lighting, she noticed he just got a haircut. It drew her attention straight to his beautiful brows and light-colored eyes. They watched her like a hawk. Sometimes it seemed like watching her every move just fascinated him. "You got plans tonight?"

"What?"

"Goin' somewhere?" Jenson walked away from the driver's side and regarded her striped shirt dress. "Hot date?" He pulled down his mask to reveal a smirk when she inched closer.

They stood by the passenger side now, hiding under a tall tree on the dim sidewalk. "I wish." Did she look like she was going on a date? She didn't even bother to put on face powder or blow-dry her hair. What's the point? She'd be wearing a mask the entire time. She wouldn't even bother going out tonight if she didn't need to restock her fridge with healthier options. "Just a quick grocery run."

"I'll drive you there."

She looked behind. In the corner, the red signage beside the biggest lamppost gleamed, just begging for attention. She raised her arm to point at the mini-mart. "Store's right there." Jessi put on another smile to conceal the slight nervousness making her palms and armpits sweat a little.

Jenson craned his neck. "Oh." He wore his mask again after giving her a timid grin. "You're getting dinner? Or you're cooking?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Did he want to join her?

"You had dinner yet?"

"Ate a sandwich," he muttered without breaking eye contact.

"Here's the money, by the way." Jessi took the small and crisp envelope out of her pocket and handed the cash to him. "Thank you."

For a moment, he just stared at it like it was something weird and foreign.

"What?"

"Don't need it. Keep it."

"No. It's yours." She stepped closer to him and stuffed it into his pocket. "Thanks."

"I'm serious."

"Same."

"Keep it." His brows creased.

"No. But thanks." She backed away. "Where you headed next?" she asked just to shift the conversation.

"Bar. Just half an hour away."

What bar? "Why? Is it... Whose birthday is it today?"

"Not a birthday. Just a small thank-you party." Jenson glanced at his phone screen. "Kara and Darren are on the way. Just texted me ten minutes ago."

"Oh. The party," she muttered, nodding faintly.

It wasn't something off-the-cuff. It was the simple celebration the cast and showrunners had planned months ago to celebrate the latest season's much-awaited release.

Jenson kept staring at her when she failed to come up with another question. "You gonna do errands first or..."

"Um..." She crossed her arms, matching his steady gaze. Did he expect her to just hop in and accompany him to the bar? Did he want her there? She glanced down and pulled a face at her outfit. Not exactly party-ready. "What time's the party starting?"

"Already did."

Oh. So he was running late. "Do I have to be there?"

"What?" Her boss scoffed. His brows knitted at the same time his fist clenched. "Come on..."

"Joss, most of them heard I just got out of the hospital." She itched the back of her head. Honestly, staying indoors all weekend sounded way better than feeling like a walking plague-bearer in a party that didn't warrant her attendance. Partying with strangers and acquaintances never interested her, anyway—much less being thrust straight into the Hollywood gossip mill. If she showed up at an exclusive party with the show's leading man slash director-producer, her fears wouldn't sound irrational by then.

"So? You're all good now. Besides, everyone's gonna be wearing masks." Jenson shrugged casually, his tone almost too sure. "For the most part."

Ah jeez... Why did he sound a bit desperate? Did he drop by just to convince her to come to the party?

Maybe he didn't even care that she wanted to return the money she owed him. Or he just wanted to hang out with her because she'd been keeping her distance.

Well, for one, she didn't want Charmaine and other people to think Jenson was being unfaithful, screwing around with his younger assistant. Although he and Darren weren't really household-names famous yet, Jenson didn't need that kind of drama or notoriety. A juicy scandal just to boost ratings wasn't his style. He was far from the type to go for a cheap publicity stunt just to sell their TV show to a bigger audience.

No matter what other people thought of him, he was still a decent, hardworking guy. Too focused on his career. Respected by his peers. Just some of the reasons why she loved working with him. But the public certainly need not know about their friendship outside of work.

It was a non-issue, and she wanted to keep it that way. Her leaving California for good shouldn't change much for him. "Catch up with you guys later." Jessi backed away, glancing around to check for bystanders. So far, no creepy guys with big, flashing cameras lurking anywhere. Thank heavens.

"What time you gonna be there?"

"Gotta change first."

"Right. I'll wait," he murmured, his tone serious.

"No. Go. Just text me the location. I'll get a cab."

Instead of agreeing, Jenson stepped forward to stand closer to her. He stared into her eyes with furrowed brows, his mask probably hiding a deep scowl. The front of his dark boots almost touched her shoes, and the piercing look in his eyes told her he wanted to stay. Have a long, serious talk about something else. Jenson sighed when she did nothing but admire his attentive eyes.

"What?" Jessi pulled away, her heartbeat upping the pace. Her palms felt damp now.

The guy looked determined. Like he wanted a confrontation. Too determined. "She talk to you or something?"

"Who?"

"Charm."

Oh shoot. Not this talk...

"She did something or what?" He squinted at her. "She harassing you?"

"No. No. She didn't," Jessi sighed.

Well, a few hateful comments on two of her modeling photos online didn't really count as outright harassment. Right? Besides, it wasn't exactly Charmaine van den Hoven who posted the comments. A strong gut feel told her it was none other than his irrationally jealous bride-to-be, though.

Maybe Jenson knew nothing about it. The silence turned awkward when he itched the side of his trimmed beard. Jenson heaved a long sigh. "Did she contact you? Or said something stupid again?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"She didn't do anything." Jessi swallowed the chunk of anxiety stuck in her throat.

"Then why're you avoiding me?"

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