Chapter 1
Jessie
Have you ever craved for something so badly and still couldn’t, have it?
It’s right there at your fingertips and yet you couldn’t… even touch it. It’s off limits or shall I say, she’s off limits.
And here I am. Ever since I picked up my new role as assistant CEO, she’s all I’ve been thinking about lately. I see her every day, she works as an assistant for the CEO himself who is like a grandfather to the employees who work here.
Awesome guy I must say but also very strict.
Sometimes I found myself gaping at her. I didn’t always have this position; I was a front desk worker. She encouraged me to apply when an announcement was made through the company.
Many employees also wanted the position I presently have but with hard work and I mean a lot of it, I came out successful in the end. I just wanted to be close to her.
It was always easy even at home when she’s around. She had a way of making things better with a few actions of hers. Now that we were closer to each other, we took lunch and our breaks together.
We were inseparable.
As I watched her descend the stairs gracefully, I couldn’t help but think how beautiful she looked. She’s been my bestie from childhood my ride and die, partner in crime. We did everything together; she always had my back and been there when I needed a friend. Nothing couldn’t stop us.
I watched her smile, I watched her cry and each time I was there to hold her, comfort her and show my support. I’d promise to protect her no matter what after being bullied growing up.
That’s what besties do right? A true bestie.
Be there for each other through thick and thin, like an old married couple. The beat down worn-out moments.
"Morning," I said to her with a smile.
Setting a plate with eggs and bacons with some orange juice in front of her.
“Thank you,” She said with a smile that I hope would only be for me.
"You’re welcome beautiful," I replied.
“You’re a charmer and an awesome friend.”
"So, are you ready for your big day at work?" She groaned and sagged in her seat.
“I can’t wait for the day to be over with already,” she breathed out.
I laughed at her toddler behavior and ruffled her hair.
"Come on sport," I teased.
"Eat before we’re late."
We were ready in record time no surprise there; it comes naturally when you are doing it for years. We strode into my office and was greeted by a guy with a big dumb smile on his face.
He was tall, muscular with auburn hair, misty green eyes and a tattoo of some sort on his neck. He was good looking; the kind you would break your neck to see. Girls would wet their panties just by looking at him.
“Hi, I’m Jake Gamble. I’m the new assistant for Ms. Josey Coden.”
WHAT!
He extended his arm in greeting, and I took it returning the handshake.
"Are you talking about this Josey?"
I shot Josey a concerned look and she just gave me a wary smile.
“It’s ok,” she patted my shoulders gently.
“What did you say your name was again,” she asked smiling.
“It’s Jake Gamble. I applied for front desk, but the spot has been filled.”
I had a weird feeling stirring inside me, I can’t actually be jealous of this guy. NO WAY! Not Jessie Campbell, I don’t get jealous.
But imagining him in my bestie office was pissing me off. I was burning inside, my fingers twitched, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
This jackass! Who does he think he is?
I’m pretty sure he can have whatever girl he wanted. Why couldn’t he choose another department? This bastard looking like a hard plastic Ken doll. I don’t care how nice he is. I promise to protect my bestie and I’ll do just that.
I gave him a tight lip smile and welcome him to the company. Josey mouthed me, "see you at lunch," I didn’t mind knowing she worked through her breaks.
My morning didn’t begin how I expected it to with Josey and I spending time together like we always do before our work time began. It was the reason we left home early. What a way to sour my day.
I buried myself in irrelevant paperwork to forget about the morning interruption. I still had lunch and home time.
We live together, but the time we take are valuable to me, we’ve been best friends for a long time. I was on the popular side while Josey was in the lower ranks as how our society would put it.
One day after doing some errands, when I got home, I decided to take a run around the neighborhood block, when old man Kelty dog got away and lock its jaws around my leg sinking its teeth into my flesh.
I cry out in pain which startled the animal, and he ran away with Mr. Kelty going after him.
My leg bleeds and the pain and numbness kicks in. I closed my eyes and breathed trying to calm my racing heart. I didn’t know when, but a gentle hand touched my leg, my eyes shot open and there was Josey wrapping my bleeding leg with a bandage.
"Thank you I whispered," and she smile in return.
It was beautiful, her smile that is. She helped me back to my house and I thanked her again. Ever since that day, we started to hang out. With her coming over to my house and I to hers. We watched movies, play video games and sometimes just chill talking.
I enjoyed her company more than anyone else, more than the friends I had at school even my own parents. Josey was one of those people that are rare to find, and I was happy to have her with me… I mean friends of course.
Through the years, our friendship grew making us the closest of friends.
So, after we graduate and gotten the jobs we have now, we pooled our money together and bought a two-bedroom flats in an upscale neighborhood not far from where we lived.
We took turns doing the chores and go shopping together. It felt as though it happened just yesterday, fresh as ever in my mind.
Jake Gamble came back to my thought and chased away my recollection of happy memories. My fist tightens around the pen I had holding in my hand, cracking it a little.
I would not allow some outsider to come and take my friend away with his stupid looks and fake charm. Josey is the only person I can be myself around and share my personal thoughts. This feeling was like someone invaded my private space getting me all irritated.
When lunch came, I was excited to have our time together. Shutting off my laptop and placing it in my desk drawer. I practically ran to the cafeteria, I needed this, I needed my bestie.
I got my food and head to our usual spot, a few tables away when my feet came to a halt. My bestie sat at our table with Jake, laughing away at whatever it is he is telling her.
My blood boiled but quickly settles when she spotted me and called me over. As I approach the table, I was shooting daggers behind Jakes head. First, he took my bestie and now he’s in our spot too.
Josey must have sensed my uneasiness and asked me if I was alright. I gave her a nod and she resume her conversation with Jake. He was all friendly, all smiles but I think what it for me did is when he laid his hand over hers caressing it.
The guy had the nerve to insult me right in front of my damn face.
I got up a bit too hastily letting the chair fall over and left. I couldn’t sit there and watch what this fooled was doing to her. It angered me and ached my heart.
I was losing her; I was losing my best friend of many years. I was losing the person I shared my heart with. I was losing the person I cared about more than my own family. I was losing my heartbeat…. To a newbie.
