Twelve.

Zandia POV

"So, did you meet with him?" Debbie asked and I shook my head. It has been two weeks since I began working for Jake, two weeks since I last talked to him or had any sort of contact with him. When I had left the house earlier today for The Z, I had been hopeful, I thought maybe I would be able to find an excuse to see him.

"I did see him though, but he walked away when our eyes met." After my meeting with Sanders's, I had caught a glimpse of him when I was leaving his office, Jake's eyes had stayed on me for a while before he walked away. I had to stop myself from approaching him because I was worried it might end up with me getting embarrassed and ignored by him.

"You did? Did he see you?" Debbs asked and I nodded. "Are you sure he saw you?" She asked again and I nodded once more, causing a frown to appear on her face.

Seeing the scowl on her face, "He did see me. But then, he walked away without any acknowledgment." She looked at me with pity.

"Are you all right?" I nodded.

I was fine.

Peachy!

"You know what, I will go fry us some peppered meat and we both can eat with some beer." I grinned liking her plan. I would have been horrified if she suggested we go out for drinks again.

"Oh, and he is a dick! I know he has got one, but he literally is one. Just be fine alright, his loss for losing you." She comforted as she stood up and I chuckled.

"I will be fine, promise." It was meant to be a one-night stand, meeting him again wasn't a part of the plan, so who cares if he is avoiding me? He is literally sticking to the initial arrangement.

Jake's POV

"Really? No, seriously really?" Hendery asked, his hands folded across his chest as he glared at me. One would think Zandia is his friend and not me.

"What?" I asked as though I had no idea what he was on about. I really didn't want to talk about it.

"You seriously went four floors below to see the same person you have been trying to avoid these last two weeks, and what did you do?!" He asked disbelief filled his voice.

"I wasn't trying to avoid her. I just... You said it yourself, I am already too busy to actually look into her work myself, and my going down was only because I needed something from that floor." I cleared my throat. I sounded really stupid. Having to see her from such a distance was enough. Although I had wanted to move closer to her, but when she looked in my direction, I feared I wouldn't be able to stop myself from wanting more.

I hated it when Mr. Sanders came in here to fill me in on her work progress, I hated how he seemed to enjoy working with her, and how fascinated he was when he spoke about her ideas for the renovation. How he couldn't wait to see the final result. I hated it all, it is hard to admit, but damn it I am jealous of how close they both seemed to be. Is a married man allowed to be that close to a female who isn't his wife?!

"Yeah, I mean I can see you holding your shit as you walked in. What the fuck is your problem man?! Go for her if you like her that much instead of being this pat... You know what, I am reassigning her back to you and tasking Sanders with something else. You both are mature enough so stop acting like some kinder garden kids. Gosh, these days those kids don't even act as childish as you are doing right now." He finished and left the office.

I was secretly delighted that he would be taking Sanders off the task. He is married and although, from what I have seen, their relationship is purely professional. But why do I still hate it when they both giggled and made jokes?

Pressing the intercom, "I need a glass of something strong." I told my PA. I had stopped drinking during work hours, but right now, I feel like that is going to be the one thing that would help me clear my head.

As I sat behind my desk, I tried to understand why she was occupying my thoughts the way she did. Why I can't get her off my head?

"Here sir." My PA placed a bottle of vodka, some ice, and a glass down. "Sir, your doctor is on the line." What?! Who called her? I turned to look at my PA, who quickly shook her head, "She called sir."

Dismissing her, I picked up the waiting call. "Am I being monitored?" I asked as soon as I picked. Her call coming in at this moment cannot be a coincidence.

"So great to hear your voice too sweetheart. Hendery mentioned you might need a listening ear." That f*cking snitch.

"No, I don't. I am fine." I told her as I thought of the different ways I would use to silence Hendery.

"Oh yeah. In my years of career, not once have I heard from a person who needs help that they aren't fine. You all always say the same thing which is quite funny. Now tell me, why are you avoiding the young lady?" Hendery!!!

"I wasn't. I just do not want a chance... You know what, I will call you with my personal line." Just as I ended the call, my cell phone rang. It was my doctor.

"Really? I said I would call you." She laughed.

"I couldn't wait. So you were saying something."

"I didn't want a chance where we would become more than two people who casually meet one another to..."

"You mean two f*ck buddies?" She cut me off and I nodded chuckling softly.

"Yeah. I meant that." I admitted.

"When you think about commitment, tell me what is the first thought that comes to your mind?" Stella.

"Nothing." I told her swallowing. Knowing her she wouldn't give up easily.

"You sure? Or maybe I should rephrase my question. Whose name comes to you first?" She asked. I can imagine her readjusting her glasses and tapping her pen against her desk as she waited for my response.

"And what if my response is still the same. No one."

"Then it would be obvious that you lied. Do you truly think Stella would want you to live life like this? With so much guilt and loneliness? Have you ever actually taken the time to ask yourself how she would want you to live?"

"I am going to end this call now. And stop discussing me with Hendery." Dammit I am the patient. Is that even legal? I pressed the big red button before gulping down the drink down my throat causing me to almost choke.

"F*ck it" I cussed out.