Chapter 26: Chapter 26

JASON'S POV

I'm back, after a stressful day at work, and I'm so tired.

I go to my room, take off my clothes and have a warm shower, and after that I put on a bathrobe.

I hardly cream my body, but I make use of the lotion Jeanne had set aside for me and rub it all over.

Putting on a black shirt, I wear an off white colored t-shirt and look at myself on the mirror, I look good.

I'm tired and also famished so I go downstairs, praying I don't bump into Cherry, as her stare is the last thing I want to face this afternoon.

As if God is in line with me, I get to the dining and meet only Jeanne, who's sitting and pressing away at her phone.

She sees me and smiles, "How was work today?" She asks me.

"Fine, where's Cherry." I ask and I immediately regret my question, cause I didn't even ask about how her own day went, I just asked about her friend and I hope she doesn't feel to bad about it.

"Well,, she's....." She starts saying something but stops and talk of the devil, Cherry walks past the dining table, going straight to the kitchen, humming a song while giving me a harsh stare.

Fuck! The stare is the least of my concern right now, as my eyes run over her clothes, she's putting on a bum short and damn it of she doesn't look so hot.

What's wrong with me! Why can't I just keep my thoughts pure when I'm around her. I think to myself.

"Cherry madam, I thought you said you were not going to come out today?" Jeanne asks and I think the question angers her and she fires back, "What do you mean by that? Am I not free to come out of my own house again, huh?"

"I was just asking a simple question, cause that's what you told me. I'm just surprised that's all."

Hissing loudly, she says, "Well, I'm not doing anything important, I just came to fetch some more chips, I'll leave you and your friend alone, I think you guys want privacy." She says sarcastically, and comes out from the kitchen, pot in hand as she starts walking upstairs.

"Where are you taking the pot of chips too?" Jeanne asks.

"Well, I'm taking everything with me, you can tell Maria to fry some for you and your special guest, if you like, I don't care." That said, she leaves and I roll my eyes, She's really unbelievable.

"What just happened here now? What's wrong with your friend?" I ask and Jeanne just shakes her head, "Well she's just being petty for no reason carrying our food just like that. She's really crazy in the head."

Standing up, Jeanne chuckles and I join her.

Everything and nothing seems funny.

**********

Next Morning.

I wake up, getting ready for my meeting this morning.

It's an urgent one, according to my assistant, and I dress up real fast in a navy blue suit and white packet shirt.

I wear my shoes, place my gold plated Rolex watch on my wrist, style my hair with some gel, look at the bedside mirror and I finally conclude that I'm good to go.

Walking downstairs, I see both Cherry and Jeanne at the dining, and I greet the both of them, but only Jeanne answers.

I'm not shocked at the cold treatment, I expected it and I got it.

"Morning Jay, how was your night?" She asks, "Splendid." I reply and Cherry just scoffs munching at her pancake soaked in honey, the liquid substance dripping from her lips so sexily, for a minute I loose focus then come back to my senses again.

"Um, actually there's something I want to tell you guys." Jeanne speaks again, drifting me off my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.

"What is that?" Cherry asks, "Well, I'll be leaving for New York today, this instant I mean, I've already booked my flight, I have to go." Jeanne answers and stands up already leaving.

"Wait, What!" Cherry exclaims, "What do you mean?" She asks again, "I said I'm leaving for New York today, and I have a flight to catch."

"You're not going anywhere Jeanne." Cherry said firmly, "What, but I have to transfer the test equipment to New York."

"I don't care, you're not leaving me with him, your guest, it's either you take him along, or you don't go, simple and short." She spites angrily and finally i get why she's making such a fuss, apparently she can't stand the thought of me and her being alone in this large house, and for a minute it finally clicks in.

'Could this be one of Jeanne's numerous plans, or she really has to go to New York as she claims' I think and look at her face for any any clue, but she keeps them neutral and bare not showing any emotion, and I get confused.

'What is she playing at?' I ask myself and then I hear her say.

"Well, that's your concern because I'm leaving for two weeks, so you two better sort yourselves, before I get back."

At the same time and in unison, me and Cherry scream, "What!"

"Bye pumpkins." That's all she says and she makes a mad dash to her car parked outside.

"I'm gonna fucking lodge in an hotel, God! How will I cope with him here?" She asks herself quietly placing her hands on her forehead, rubbing softly, not knowing I'm hearing everything she's saying.

I check my time, and see that I'm already late for the meeting, I want to cancel it, but at the same time I want to go, to go out, the awkward silence here, the brewing disaster is not something I'm about to face.

I move to go, suitcase in hand, when she stands up and points at me and also speaks, "Better avoid me these two weeks, or else it's going to be war in this house, and I know you wouldn't want that."

That said, she walks upstairs and I just stare straight at her butt as she walks, whatever she said has entered one ear and left the other one, right now my focus is on Cherry and my work, pfffft....

**********

I make it to my office and luckily my investors are patient folks and the meeting is till on.

I walk to the meeting room and take a seat.

"Good morning, Mr Cortex." A beautiful lady in red suit, one of my potential investors maybe, greets me while stretching her hands out for a handshake and I take it albeit reluctantly.

I exchange pleasantries with the rest of the people on board, and we begin the meeting.

"Welcome everyone, we would discuss so many things today, as you all know, we would be needing more shareholders, corporations and companies, and one company who has willingly offered to give us it's shares is the Cherlins company, and sorry she couldn't make it today, but she'll be here tomorrow courtesy of our host, Mr Cortex." The organizer of the meeting says and I exclaim, "What!"

I say it out loudly and everyone turns to face me, as the organizer asks me, "Any problems with that Sir?"

"Um, no, no go on." I say calmly, but inside me I'm far from calm.

Throughout the meeting, I am so distracted and absentminded I don't even take note of the meeting finishing.

As soon as it's over, I quickly leave immediately, because I need to talk to Jeanne, I have no idea how to bring Cherry over here tomorrow, cause if I should just tell her, definitely she's not going to come with me, no matter what I say.

How come this was even approved without my knowledge, my assistant definitely has a lot of explaining to do.

"Jeanne what's up?" I ask immediately she picks up her phone, I've been trying her line since I left and luckily she just picked.

"I'm good you." "Same here, Jeanne.....I...I...." I stammer, I'm at loss of what to say.

"What's the matter Jayson, did you and Cherry have a misunderstanding, talk to me please, I need to rest." She speaks sharply and I curse inwardly, she must be so tired from her trip.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry, am I disturbing you?" I ask, "No, no, just tell me what the matter is?"

"Okay, you see Jeanne, something happened at my meeting and I'm so nervous, I was asked to bring the head of Cherlins corporation to my office tomorrow, to the meeting actually, and I don't know how to go about it. I don't know how to approach her, what to say, like I'm just confused." I speak sharply.

"Calm down, calm down. Take it easy."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm trying my best to be so calm right now." I say and she sighs.

"Don't be silly Jayson. Act like the man you are, it's official, work related not personal in any way, either you go to her office and tell her, or you tell her at home or I don't know, just sort it out yourself."

"If I go to her office, will I tell her secretary or assistant, or I'll have to meet with her directly?" I ask again.

"No, you have to talk to her directly, that's the only option you have, Just try okay, bye." She says and hangs up, not even allowing me to say anything.

Oh no! I just have to man up, and do this. I just have to.

TBC