Jordan's POV

Lenka had always been very obvious in liking me as her best friend's fiancé, that's why I didn't expect her attitude towards me to take a hundred-eighty-degree turn the next time I met her. 

I was doing my early morning routine of exercises and was jogging around the neighborhood when I happened to pass by her while she was walking her Golden Retriever at the dog park. I greeted her warmly and asked what her plans were for the day, but I only earned a disdainful glare from her before she walked away without a single word. I wondered what I could have done wrong, and I instantly regretted asking myself.

It's been a week since the incident at the elevator, and I have managed to bury the memory of it in the deep recesses of my brain. I acted as normally as I could, attending important meetings left and right, speaking at conferences, and being the authority in my company.

Although it was quite evident, I refused to acknowledge the changes in behavior of the people working closest to me. For one, my executive secretary, Katie, who was usually bubbly and giggly every time she talked to me, is now aloof and giving me a cold treatment every time she announces Aya's arrival. Her assistant, Carl, was acting the same. Despite my usual approachable demeanor towards them, they seemed to be ready to file for an immediate resignation if I happened to voice out my displeasure.

"Tell me, Katie," I finally asked, when she came to my office to deliver some documents, "is there something I've done wrong to you?" I swear I saw her almost roll her eyes at me, but stopped when she remembered that I was her boss. I almost chuckled. 

Katie was very transparent. I saw her battling with herself whether to tell me the truth or not, and when I assured her that I won't take anything she would say against her, she bit her lip in anxiety.

"Mr. Gallagher," she squeaked, which was very unlikely, as she was usually curt and composed especially when in front of clients. "I don't care if you'd fire me after saying this," - there you go, her usual attitude - " but I totally dislike the idea of you dating another woman when you already have a beautiful fiancee." She pursed her lips, her stance seemingly ready to walk away if I would order her to never come back. For the second time that day, I regretted asking the question when I already knew the answer.

I found myself doing a second round of my jogging routine that evening in the hopes of clearing my mind. The memory of what happened in the elevator forced itself to resurface and it was starting to drive me crazy. I broke into a run and let my feet decide where to take me until I realized that I was already lurking at the backyard of the Yates' mansion. I hid behind the red maple tree across the street where I could still catch a glimpse of the tall, glass windows of Vee's house, particularly the ones leading to her bedroom. 

I dearly wanted to throw some rocks at the closed sill like a teenager trying to meet his beloved in secret, but I resisted. We haven't spoken since she and Lenka came to visit me last week, and they left without a word after seeing my activity with Aya. She never called, and neither did I. There was an unacknowledged fear stirring within me which stops me from showing myself to her. 

No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that I did nothing wrong, I still found it hard to erase the image of Vee's horrified expression when she saw me making out with Aya. I dared not to interpret what her reaction was for, since I've been trying to tell myself that I wouldn't mind if I saw her doing the same with her boyfriend, Guy. 

Even if she never told me about her relationship, I could see that Guy cared for her and she obviously felt the same for him. Before I came into the picture, I already assumed that she had her own life which I might interrupt, and that our betrothal would be mainly for the sake of our fathers' Will. I don't understand why I can't move on from being seen with another woman, though.

Lenka's attitude change didn't help as well, and being told off by Katie made me wonder why I seemed to be in a bad light. It's not like I'm the only one being unfaithful to the engagement. Vee has her own man, for fuck's sake. I kicked a stray rock in great annoyance and started running again.

*****

Frank's surprised reaction from the other end of the line irritated me. He just told me that he was expecting me to be in Ireland with Vee to continue with the research on clues concerning the car accident, but he didn't seem to care that I was in fact not in another country, but was just sitting behind my desk at the office.

"That's not my problem, Jordy," Frank chided. "It's your fault that you were preoccupied with something else." I imagined shooting a bullet through his skull. "I've been trying to call you but you were always busy so I decided to tell Vee what I discovered. She always found time to be available, mind you." His vexing tone made me want to strangle his neck. 

"Send me the details through email asap, and let me know where I could find Venera," I ordered, completely ignoring Frank's sarcastic verbal nods. 

I must admit, I instantly hated myself for letting my mind wander elsewhere while Vee was left on her own to figure out our late fathers' cryptic commands through their Will. 

After pushing the intercom button to call for Katie, I started packing my things, ready to call it a day. She came in looking disgusted yet again.

"Mr. Gallagher," she called, her eyes widening as she watched me open a secret passage behind the painting next to my desk and disappear into a small room. "You seem in a hurry to leave, sir. Shall I let Miss Aya just wait for you outside, or would you prefer her to come in and fetch you?"

Dragging my travelling bag out of the secret room, I gave Katie a happy wink. She looked all the more displeased and ready to leave me alone. I honestly didn't understand what she just said. I was in a hurry to pack all the things I would need to be able to catch the soonest flight to Dublin and be with Vee.

"Cancel all my appointments and call me only when someone is attempting to overthrow the company," I couldn't help but grin as Katie gave me an incredulous stare. "I'm flying to Dublin to meet Venera." 

Katie's eyes instantly twinkled in excitement upon hearing Vee's name. She seemed to have instantly forgiven me for whatever it was I have done since her usual giggly expression came back. I found myself chuckling. 

"And what was it that you said earlier?" I asked, while locking all my document drawers. Even without looking, I could sense that Katie's mood has changed yet again, her lips pursed as she repeated her words. I finally understood what she meant. While she waited for my response, I contemplated on what to do. 

Aya and I were supposed to go on a date tonight and I was hoping that I could finally ask her my most dreaded question. However, I knew that leaving Vee alone with her mission in Ireland would only make the situation worse than it already was. The unspoken tension between us was unbearable, and I don't think I could endure another day without seeing her or speaking to her. With unwavering resolve, I dragged the travelling bag back into the secret room and grabbed my backpack from my locker.

"Katie," I said, "you didn't notice that I already went out, and you don't know where I am." My instructions came out like a chant.

After assuring her that I would call to give her more instructions, I lifted the steel panel door on the floor which revealed another secret passage. I slid the travelling bag through a slide which I knew led directly to my parking slot thirty floors below. I bid Katie goodbye, her shocked face getting blocked from view as the main secret door locked from the inside to go back to its painting camouflage.

A/N

I am so sorry for the late update T_T
I hope you continue to support me and my story :-)
Enjoy!!!