Chapter Seven

Jayden's POV

As days went by, Elsie slowly returned to her usual self, though her coldness persisted. The color had returned to her cheeks, and her icy demeanor seemed to thaw ever so slightly. It gave me hope that she was healing, both physically and emotionally. Seeing her regain her strength and focus brought a sense of relief to my heart. I was genuinely happy that she was better, even if her demeanor remained unchanged.

However, amidst the glimmers of progress, I found myself facing a different challenge. My ex-girlfriend, Sarah, had been persistent in trying to win me back ever since she heard about my involvement with Elsie. She warned me that Elsie's heart was impenetrable, that I could never win her over. But I refused to listen to her negativity.

One afternoon at work, I received a call from my ex-girlfriend, Sarah. It had been months since we broke up, and I hadn't heard from her since. I was surprised by her sudden contact.

"Jayden, we need to talk," she said in a serious tone.

I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to engage in a conversation with her. But curiosity got the better of me. "What is it, Sarah?"

"I saw you with Elsie," she continued, her voice tinged with bitterness. "And I need to warn you. You can never win her heart. She's too cold, too guarded. You're just setting yourself up for disappointment."

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and annoyance. "Sarah, our relationship is over. I don't need your advice about my interactions with Elsie." "Besides she's my boss and what I intend to do is never a part of your business."

She scoffed. "You always had a thing for the unattainable, Jayden. But mark my words, you'll never break through her walls."

Before I could respond, she abruptly ended the call, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. I shook off her words, reminding myself that Sarah was speaking from her own bitterness.

Later that evening, after a long day at work,I was greeted with an unexpected sight. Sarah was sitting on my bed, naked, a seductive smile on her face. I felt a surge of anger ,betrayal as well as a mixture of anger and disappointment. I had made it clear that I was no longer interested in her, and yet she persisted.

"What the hell are you doing here, Sarah?" I demanded, my voice laced with anger.

"Jayden, don't you miss me?" she purred, reaching out to touch me.

She smirked, her eyes filled with false confidence. "I thought maybe you needed a reminder of what you're missing. I'm here to show you what you can't have."

I stepped back, my voice stern. "Sarah, I've told you this before. We're over. I don't want anything to do with you."

I pushed her away, my voice firm and resolute. "Get out, Sarah. I won't be a part of your games."

But Sarah wasn't one to take no for an answer. She lunged towards me, attempting to force herself upon me. I quickly pushed her away, my anger boiling over.

"Get out! I don't want you near me," I snapped.

She laughed, her tone mocking. "You think you can resist me? You'll come crawling back, just like the others.

I grabbed her arm, my voice laced with warning. "Leave. Now."

Reluctantly, she got up from the bed and walked out of the room, but not before throwing a parting shot. "Good luck with your ice queen. You'll need it."

"Get out! I don't want you near me," I snapped.

She scowled at me before hastily gathering her clothes and storming out of my apartment.

Her words lingered in the air as I closed the door behind her. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Sarah's presence had unsettled me, but it didn't change how I felt about Elsie.

I stood there, my heart pounding, thankful that I had managed to resist her advances. I couldn't let her manipulative actions derail me from my path or my feelings for Elsie.

The next morning, I received a call from Elsie, summoning me to her office. I entered cautiously, unsure of what awaited me, prepared for her usual coldness. As I walked in, Elsie looked up from her desk, her expression unreadable,but to my surprise, her expression softened slightly.

"Jayden, I wanted to thank you for everything. Your support during my sickness meant a lot to me," she said, her voice tinged with genuine gratitude.

I smiled warmly at her. "You don't have to thank me, Elsie. I care about you, and I'll always be here for you."

She nodded, her gaze meeting mine. In that moment, I saw a hint of vulnerability in her eyes, a glimpse into the depths of her emotions. It gave me hope that she was beginning to trust me, even if just a little.

As the days passed, I noticed that Elsie threw herself even more intensely into her work. It was clear that she was using it as a coping mechanism to deal with the grief of her aunt's death. She pushed herself to the limit, taking on more tasks and responsibilities than anyone could handle.

I couldn't stand to see her hurting like this. I sought advice from Elsie's best friend, Lisa, hoping she could offer some guidance. Lisa expressed her concerns about Elsie's well-being and urged me to talk to her, to make her understand that she couldn't keep burying her grief under an overwhelming workload.

With Lisa's advice in mind, I approached Elsie one evening after work. I found her in her office, buried under stacks of papers and a furrowed brow.

"Ms Beckman, can we talk please?" I asked gently.

She glanced up, her eyes tired. "I'm busy, Jayden. I have a lot on my plate."

I took a deep breath, my voice calm yet determined. "I know you're dealing with a lot, Elsie, but you can't keep pushing yourself like this. It's not healthy. You need to take the time to grieve and heal."

She nodded, her gaze briefly meeting mine before she turned her attention back to her work. It was a small moment of connection, but it gave me hope that there was a chance for us, despite the challenges we faced.

Trying to cope with her grief over her aunt's death. I could see the toll it was taking on her, both physically and emotionally. I wanted to help her, to alleviate her burden, but she remained closed off.