Bonus Chapter: A void caused by her absence

Jason.

My phone screen lit up as a caller ID flashed on the screen, I paused looking through the spreadsheet of the finance department and picked it up before hitting the floating answer button.

An excited voice reached my ears.

"Hey, Jason!"

As usual, she was carefree with the sufferings the world gave, carrying her pains that rested heavily on her shoulders and had scarred her childhood, yet she was happy.

"What do you want Selene? I'm busy" I tried to sound uninterested, I hope she bought it.

I could tell she was very excited but what for?

"I'll be quick then, can I take a month off?"

I balanced the phone on my shoulder and inclined my head to hold it while reaching out for a paper at the end of my desk.

"Why?"

"It's important is all I can say"

"Does Pérez..."

"Yes, he said he'll handle it but I should take permission from his superior first. Can I? Can I take a month off?"

I thought about it, a month of her absence?

"Not a month off, Selene, take the rest of the month off. You start work immediately after the new month begins"

"But we are already towards the end of the month" she whined in the voice she uses to make me give in to her demand.

"It's a two-week break–"

"Then it's no longer a month off"

"I never gave you a month off, I gave you the rest of the month off"

"But I want a month off"

"You're not getting it"

"Jason? Jay..." She whined and I almost broke, almost.

"No. Listen to me, I can't give you a month off, enjoy the rest of the month. That's all"

"Brute" with that she ended the call.

If only she knew what her absence causes...

I dumped the phone on the table and continued working.

Christian opened the door and walked in with a cup of hot chocolate, he put it on my table and stood patiently by the side.

"Banana?"

"In there" he nodded as he spoke.

I took the plastic cup and took a sip, it was heavenly, I developed a liking for chocolate and banana mix, thanks to a certain person who always drank it.

I finished my drink and Christian tossed the empty cup into the waste bin for me, he would observe security checks in my office, outside my office hallways, and in the control room and then return to continue reading a book he carried along with him always.

I had no idea how long I worked until Christian knocked on my table.

"I strongly suggest we head home Sir, it's ten minutes to eleven"

I looked at my wristwatch and sighed. It was almost like I didn't want to go home, maybe I didn't. It's not like she was going to be there.

"Pack up" I told him and he nodded and packed my work neatly into my briefcase.

I returned home and looked around, the silence was deafening.

The gang usually pitched tents outside my lawn when she was around and they would stay up till she was tired and had to go to sleep for work or they would stay up till the morning cracking jokes and exchanging punches but no one was around today.

"Pérez?"

"Upstairs Sir. Would you like something to eat?"

"No I'm alright, you may retire"

He bowed and left me to my thoughts.

°°°

Four days and no call from that annoying woman, she must be enjoying her vacation.

I checked my phone for any calls or messages and I feel something stir in the base of my heart when I hear nothing from her, it was a feeling that made my stomach heavy.

How could she forget me in four days then if I had given her a month? I don't even want to think of what would have happened.

"Sir? Sir?"

I looked at my secretary that was shaking from head to toe as he called out to me.

"Can I help you?" I snarled at him. Lately, it was getting hard to rein in my temper and my employees kept away to avoid my wrath.

"Are you alright, Sir? Do you feel okay?" he fidgeted nervously, playing with his fingers.

"Is there a problem?"

"You have been absentminded since the beginning of the meeting, I thought...we thought you weren't feeling well"

I wasn't feeling well, that woman was seriously giving me a headache from overthinking.

I had to stop myself more than I can count from calling her to know where she was. She would take it as a big deal if I called.

"Meeting adjourned" the board packed their files hurriedly and left, it's better not to get on his nerves when he's in this mood.

°°°

A week and still nothing from her, my mood was fouling up and my temper skyrocketing.

Any small mistake made my temper flare and I could see fear in the eyes of my employees when they messed up or when my eyes told them they did.

This was the twentieth sack letter I was signing this week and nothing was getting better, instead, I was slowly giving in to my anger.

My desktop screen lit up with an email. I hurriedly opened it thinking it was from her but ended up disappointed.

I slowly looked through the conditions and billing for the mall that I planned to build.

"Rubbish, rubbish, useless. They are all useless. Secretary Johnson, call a meeting"

Twenty minutes later, the higher-ups of each department were gathered together in the meeting room.

Silence ruled the place.

I glared at them and they shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

I stretched my hand and Christian passed me the files, I slammed them to the table and they flinched.

"Do you take me for a joke?" I slammed my hand to the table and they shook in fear.

"I said do I look like a joke?! I asked for something presentable, we are a top class company and yet you present me with third class references. What is this?"

I flung the files at them and the papers freed from their bonds slowly fell to the floor, some fell on the table.

"Pick it"

My secretary hurried around picking up the papers.

"You're all suspended, your vice will take your place. You better hope they don't do better than you or you'll lose your job"

They maintained their silence.

Christian appeared beside me with my phone in his hands.

"Sir, for you"

"I'm not interested in who it is"

"It's her, Sir"

I froze and then plucked the phone from his hands before standing up.

"Meeting adjourned" I gave the orders to the department heads.

They mumbled something incoherent to my ears as my mind was on why she called now of all times.

I entered my office and brought the phone close to my ears. My heart was pounding a little, it must be because of how fast I walked.

"Yes?"

"Hi Jason" she still sounded cheerful, did she know what she had caused throughout the week of her no calling?

"You damn woman, don't you know how to call? or do you have a phone just because it's a twenty-first-century thing?"

"Are you worried about me?"

There, she would ask.

"No" I lied.

"Liar"

"Why are you calling? Speak quickly, I have work to do" Work that wasn't as important as she was to me.

"Pérez told me you've been naughty, I'm hoping it's small naughty and not naughty naughty"

"That's the reason you called?" And not because you're missing me like I am missing you.

The sentence remained stuck in my throat.

"Yes, and when Christian picked up earlier, I heard you shouting at your workers. Take a chill pill..."

She went on and on but my heart settled to a slight flutter after hearing her voice after so long.

"I'll do whatever you say if you promise to call?"

"Alright"

Someone called her name, a guy. Another feeling stirred in my gut.

"Bye Jason, I'll call"

She kissed me on the phone and ended the call.

I stood looking at the bird view my office offered and wondered about the voice I heard.

Probably a friend, I said to myself but the feeling never left my gut no matter how hard I convinced myself.

I pressed the intercom on my table.

"Secretary Johnson, call a meeting with the head of all departments"

His meek voice filtered through hesitant.

"The new or the old, sir?"

"There's no new one. Call a meeting now!"

"Yes Sir"

Five minutes and everyone was gathered together again.

I could see them shake fearfully, perhaps the thought of losing a well-paying job with a status like that would be a stain to their certificate.

Once I sacked you, it was game over.

"Get your shits together and give me something presentable before the start of the new month"

They nodded and I stood to leave.

"Thank you Sir" they shouted as they bowed.

They should thank her not me.

I left the room but before the door closed I saw them slump exhaustedly to their chairs.

"Christian?"

"Sir?"

"I'm hungry"

"I will order food from Cherbourg, Sir, what would you like?"

"Seasoned rice and lamb roast"

"Okay, something to drink?"

"You decide, I don't have anything in mind"

°°°

Two days into a new month, I woke up to a call from Selene.

That damned woman, she promised to call and this is the second time she's doing it.

I groaned and answered the call.

"Yes?"

"Are you still asleep, do you know the time you sloth"

I looked at the clock, it read a few minutes to noon.

"I'm tired, I didn't sleep early yesterday and work is weighing me down–"

"Wow!"

"What?" I asked her as I sat up and rubbed my face.

"This is the first time you're speaking so honestly about stress, perhaps I should call you every day before twelve"

I huffed.

"Where are you? Are you enjoying your holiday?"

"Yes. So very much and shouldn't you be at work?"

"Since when did you pester me about such things"

"No woman loves a lazy man"

I took note of the word "Love"

"Does that mean I should kill myself?"

She chuckled and I felt myself smiling too.

"You deserve to rest, you're always working hard. So that means, you won't be going to work, right?"

"I'll go to work, I need to sign important documents"

"Well, I shouldn't hold you back then. Good afternoon"

"Good afternoon to you too"

She hung up and I prepared for work.

At work I ordered nobody to disturb me, I would sign the documents and go home.

The door opened and I felt my annoyance peak instantly.

"I thought I said I don't want anyone in my office today?!"

A woman sidled into my lap.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not anyone. Hi handsome"

The reason for my continuous peak in anger was sitting on my lap looking ever beautiful.

I ran my hand through her hair, she was real, it wasn't some kind of illusion conjured by my desperate brain.

"What are you doing back so early? You have two more days"

"I was homesick, I know you didn't even notice I was gone..."

I didn't notice. It was hard not to. All my brain thought of was her, my work was several weeks behind schedule because whenever I looked at the paper, all I saw was her face.

"... I know you didn't but still I'm going to ask. Did you miss me?"

Did I?

Words couldn't describe it, so I let my actions speak.

I cupped her face and pulled her in for a kiss. She tasted like chocolate and banana mix, my favorite taste.

When I let her go, her eyes were wide like saucers.

She averted her gaze and blushed.

"Brute"

"Cute"

"Next time warn me before you k-kiss m-me"

"Okay. I'm going to kiss you now, be warned"

"What?"

"Didn't you say I should warn you?"

She stood up and backed away, and I followed her. When I caught her, I pressed her gently against the glass windows demarcating my office from the outside world.

"Why are you running? You knew we were going to kiss again or you wouldn't have made that statement"

"That's not what I meant–"

"Then what did you mean?"

She remained quiet.

I pressed my nose into the crook of her neck and inhaled.

God!, she could drive a man crazy and still look innocent doing it.

"You must be hungry. Let's go get something to eat"

"Okay"

Did I mention that she loved to eat?

I grabbed my suit jacket and grabbed her hand to lead her out but she planted her feet on the ground and wouldn't move.

"What is it?"

"You didn't answer my question, did you miss me?"

"The answer was in the kiss. If it wasn't clear I can answer you again, I don't mind"

She blushed hard.

"I need you to say the words"

Could she get any cuter? I didn't think it was possible until now. I guess I could part with the truth on this occasion.

"I've missed you so very much it's disturbing my work"

She looked up with those eyes and I can swear, if she told me at that moment to shoot myself in the head, I would do so without question.

"Did you really miss me?"

"Yes Bunny"

"I've missed you too, so very much that I couldn't wait for my vacation to be over to come to see you"

So I'm the reason she's back this early.

I couldn't stop the smile that spread my lips.

I grabbed her waist and pressed her body against mine, feeling her soft curves against my hard contours.

"I'm going to kiss you now"

She shyly nodded and I took her lips in mine for a steamy kiss.

"Tell me all about it"

"My vacation?"

"Yes, and who was that guy talking to in the background the day you first called?"

"Now's not the time to act like a jealous child..."

We bickered all the way to the restaurant.

As I that watching her eat, I knew deep down in my soul that without this woman I would be empty, she was what covered the void I felt, that hole of loneliness.

"Why aren't you eating?"

"You go on ahead"

She dished me a piece of fish, smiled, and continued eating.

Life was perfect the way it was and I wished it would always remain like this.