Chapter 49: Chapter 49

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The loud noises of rainfall tapping on the tinted windows surprised her, but not as much as the uncanny way the man was able to predict exactly what would happen just moments before rain disrupted the nice weather.

Quite amazing.  And really strange.  Did he also have a hypersensitive nose like Jenson? The rainfall was just so sudden and unexpected.  Good thing a wide tent was installed hours ago for the service and the guests.

Sitting on the other end of the backseat, Magnus regarded her with another attentive gaze.  His crow's feet would show every time he smiled or squinted, but the wrinkles on his small, angular face looked minimal.  His parents must be good-looking as well.  The man's bone structure was almost hypnotizing.  "Jenson mentioned over the phone a while ago that you got sick, and he had to bring you to the hospital."

Uh-oh.  Did he think she could still be contagious?

"Yes. But, it's been more than two months ago," Jessi replied before glancing away. She hadn't removed her mask yet. Not really to protect herself, but to protect other people in case she was still carrying remnants of the virus. Not an impossible scenario, like Kel said more than twice.

"Workplace hazards." Magnus clicked his tongue. "Sorry you had to go through all that."

"Thanks. But I feel much better now. I'm just used to wearing masks whenever I'm out. Allergies and all that."

"I see. Good to see you all better now."  He lightly touched her arm. He sat about three feet away from her, his long legs crossed. "But I should thank you, too, for keeping him in check the past couple of months. For helping us keep the show running, especially."

"It's my job, Sir," she replied, pasting another smile on her lips. "And I like working for Jenson and the show."

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Magnus chatted with her about other work issues and Road to Valhalla for what felt like ten more minutes, until the man adeptly maneuvered their talk into something more personal. Something Jessi didn't quite prepare for.

What felt like a normal, casual conversation between acquaintances turned into something too personal for her comfort—to the point of intrusive.

"No. I'm not seeing anyone," she replied when he asked if she had a boyfriend. Her heartbeat picked up a painfully fast pace.

Magnus nodded slightly while the guy's heedful eyes  watched her, as though recording every second of her reaction and responses. Did he think he needed to pay extra attention to get only honest answers? Did he think she was being too timid?

Reserved? Secretive?  Jessi glanced at the front seat. The chauffeur sat still behind the wheel, but providing a sense of privacy was a thick and transparent glass dividing the perfume-smelling limousine.

"I gather you're smart enough to know it's not just a project to me." Magnus took out his phone to check something.

What?

"It's business, Jessiah, first and foremost." He wasn't faking smiles anymore, his tone monotonous, his deep voice subdued by his seriousness. "And frankly, I've invested a lot in them—in their careers, so to speak."

Invested a lot of his own money?

"I'm really just looking out for those two."

Right. He meant Jenson and Darren. But what did this man really want to say? That he'd heard about her getting too close to his nephew?

Oh crap. Maybe Charm mentioned some things to Magnus and his wife? Jessi dropped her gaze, unsure of what to say. The build-up of anxiety was warming up her neck and entire face.

"They're family, y'know?" Magnus shrugged weakly, his lopsided grin crinkling his tan cheeks. "Almost like, the sons I never had."

"I see."

"And when it comes to looking out for them, that means a lot of things, Jessiah."

"Okay."

"You know what I mean?"

She stared back at him. An awkward silence filled the cold backseat. Her gut churned at the inquisitive look in his pale green eyes—undeniably deep-set like Jenson's. "Not really, Sir," she murmured.

The rain hadn't stopped yet, and the funeral guests still hadn't left the tent. Where the heck was Darren?

"You know, if he was single and if things were much simpler, I wouldn't bother to intrude or even bring it up." Magnus sighed. The skin between his dark brows crinkled. "Problem is, he isn't."

Wow. The shade...

Did he seriously think she forgot boundaries and calculatingly seduced Jenson? That she was the one who drove a big, fat wedge between him and Charmaine?

Magnus squinted at her. "Don't need to remind you he's already engaged and planning to marry Charmaine, do I?"

Jessi stared down at her clenched fist between her thighs. His muted, backhanded accusation was already disrupting her intakes of breath, but she had to maintain composure. Not blatantly react to everything he said.

So he definitely thought she and Jenson were sleeping together—as Charmaine had suspected all these months. Not at all true.

Taking a deep breath, Jessi sat back and tried not to mind the loud thumping against her ribs. She'd always been professional, and she respected boundaries—even when Jenson was making it hard for her to just keep it friendly. She had never engaged in a sexual relationship with Jenson.

For his and her own sake. They'd kissed a few times a few nights ago—sure.  But none of it led to something else.

"No, Sir," she replied to the man sitting beside her.

"Good." Magnus wouldn't stop staring. A slanted grin drew faint lines on his jowls.

"We're just friends. Jenson and I, we never..."

"I don't think so. But if that's what you want to think, fine by me." The guy smirked at her, his tone almost too certain.

"He doesn't see me in that light, and, I-I know he still loves her."

A sigh preceded his response. "You see, Jessiah, no relationship is perfect. Cliché—I know. But it's the truth." Magnus chuckled. "Take me and Evie, for example. We've been together, roughly two decades now. Separated twice. Almost got divorced. Argued about everything you could possibly think of, et cetera et cetera. But in the end, we still try to make it work. Because we need to. Because we made a promise to each other."

What the heck was he on?  Was she supposed to drop a compliment?

"You get what I'm saying, Jessiah?"

Jessi glanced away. She only gave a few nods in reply.

Well, what else did he want her to say? It was obvious he was a man with strong opinions—maybe too conservative for most—and someone who's always sure of himself and his views. Intimidatingly so.

"If you were just some girl he met at a bar, this conversation would've been way too different. But I know how important you are to him, and how much work you've put in to help him do his job right. So, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt."

What's that supposed to mean? Did he actually believe her?

"He didn't cheat on Charmaine with me, if that's what you're implying." Jessi tilted her chin and tried not to make a face.

Clearly he was worried she would harm Jenson's career. That people might hear rumors of him sleeping with his younger assistant, instead of happily planning his wedding with his longtime fiancée like everyone expected.

"Right. I'm taking your word for it." Magnus faked another smile, then glanced out the window again.

The rain had calmed down, unlike her restless thoughts. Her chest slightly ached from the nervousness, but she had a feeling he wasn't gonna cut their tense conversation short. Or perhaps she should just try harder to keep calm.

The man was the definition of intimidating, but he didn't seem the type to do more than drop sharp-tongued comments and threats. Or maybe he just never had to. "Can I ask you something personal again, Jessiah?"

"Sure, Sir."

"Just 'Magnus'." He reached for her forearm to touch the back of her hand. Just a few light pats, though. "Like I said."

"Okay." She almost pulled her hand away, but opted to keep still—she wasn't scared of him or anything. Jenson himself had insisted she didn't do anything wrong.

"Jenson and Charmaine..." Magnus looked out the window again, sighing as if inconvenienced by something. "They're somewhat fated to be together, you see. They're having some issues at the moment, but, everyone still expects them to end up in church."

"I know." And I don't need a reminder from you or anyone else, Jessi wanted to add. To stop herself from blurting out things she shouldn't, she pressed her lips together, unclenching her fist on her thigh amid her loud heartbeat.

"Do you see yourself getting married anytime soon, Jessiah?"

"No."

Why did he care?

"Not really."

Magnus smirked.  "Not even five years from now?"

Why was he asking her about marriage now? The heck was he getting at?

"Never been a priority for me," she muttered. "I need to focus on my career. Getting married isn't on my to-do list."

"Smart." Magnus faintly nodded, seeming pleasantly surprised by her response, and his smile actually looked genuine this time. "Wiser than your years."

"Thanks." She looked away and wanted to frown. Should she even thank him for a half-meant comment?

He just seemed like the type to have no problem with getting into people's heads. It probably came real easy to him. After all, he was a successful leader in and out of the country—he managed businesses and people for a living.  "However, if by some circumstances you end up changing your mind, would you want something permanent with someone like Jenson?"

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