Page 73 of Forever Not Yours

“I like my desk. I intend to return to it, very soon. I don’t expect it to be covered in your bodily fluids,” I sassed. “You may think you’re stealing my job, butI’ll have you back making me smoothies in no time. Know your place, young lady.”

“Oh, fuck off.” She laughed. “Now. Let’s go through these calculations and pray I’ve done it right, because we need to submit them before five, and I don’t want Juliet to haul my arse in front of everyone tomorrow morning if we don’t get this done on time.”

“Then let’s do this.”

“And Bash?” She once again stared at me, her eyes all smiley.

“What?”

“Go tell Jake you love him.”

Seriously, Faye?I wanted to once again hurl sassy remarks at her, tell her to wind her neck in and not be so nosy.

“I’ve…never told anyone…like…about him. I mean, my parents kind of suspect, I think, but they just want me to be happy. Anyway.”

“Bash, listen.”

I did. I shut up. What was it with me and all this talking?

“Bash, I’m honoured. And not only that, but I am also incredibly proud of you. We may not have knowneach other for a long time, but I’m really grateful that I got assigned to you and I get to work with you, and I hope you know that. And I meant what I said. Thank you. Thank you for trusting me.”

Maybe I did. Trust her. And maybe this would all be all right. For real.

“One day, I’ll find you that man,” I promised.

“Bash,” she said softly. “I won’t actually hold you to that one, because I think you’ve already given me so much here. You’ve given me friendship. A listening ear. Someone to have a laugh with. And on top of that, you’ve taught me an awful lot about how to calculate investment tax.”

“A handy skill to have.” I was getting a little emotional. “Thank you…for telling me that.”

“I mean it. But anyway, let’s smash this analytics graph and get this day closed up. Then you can go all mushy on me later and help me get some new key phrases in for why Juliet should employ me full time. Help me outline my skills and strengths. Weaknesses? I have none. Remember that.”

“You’re perfect.” I grinned.

“Of course I am. Just look at this graph!”

I did, and I smiled. And for once, I didn’t question why.

“Iwant him back,” she said sternly. Juliet. Right in my ear as I shook my head in bewilderment, having just answered her call. Out on the balcony, because yeah. Bastien was inside and Ididn’t want him to hear whatever Juliet was ranting about today. The evening chill blew straight though my scrubs as I leaned on the railings.

“Bastien? You want him back?”

“No, no,” she continued, clearly frustrated. “One of my risk assessors flipped on me today, not coming back, got headhunted elsewhere, and fucking hell, Jake. I need him back. Like yesterday, because he doesn’t pull shit like this on me, and anyway, Bash keeps people in line. Him being burnt out has completely rattled everyone, and we can’t have that. Next thing people will be going off on sick leave, claiming they’ve worked too hard, and I will be fucked, Jake. FUCKED!”

“Jules, calm down. People can hear you all the way down on the heath.”

“Don’t care. I’m the only one left at the office, and you’re the only one who gets it, how bloody frustrating this all is! Everything was fine. Everything! Now I have to deal with all this! No, I’ve had enough. I need Bash here on Monday. Can you make that happen?”

“He’s been off for what—three weeks?”

“He doesn’t have to actually work. I just need him here, walking around, giving everyone evil eyes. Whipping some sense into this lot. No idea what’s got into everyone, but things are shit.”

“Have you asked him?” I was getting confused, and frozen to the bone, but still out of earshot from Bastien, I was not ready to take this conversation inside.

“I tried ringing him, but he won’t take my calls.”

“That’s probably a good thing.”

“It’s shit. You know, I hate both of you. Really, I do.”

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