Chapter 7

My boss has been standing before me for the last ten minutes, wearing a bewildered expression and potential regrets over my employment.

To be fair, I am sitting on the floor of my office, doing important professor things on a disembodied tabletop balanced on textbooks. Desk assembly last Wednesday was a failure, but no one has to know that.

He adjusts his glasses. "I know you have so much on your plate already, but you're invited to speak at the 'The Mental Health Association' seminar next year."

My eyes nearly pop out. "Me?"

This seminar is a large networking event among highly ranked psychologists, researchers, and academics. Basically, an aspiring dream for associate professors like me.

He nods. "Well, the theme is 'reaching the young generation'. Your video stats show that you reach them in millions. Plus, you've been highly recommended by Dr. Cohen."

Kayden, I freaking love you! And I love the student who posted my video! Fuck yeah!

"I can't wait to be a part of it." I smile politely.

~

When office hours finish, I'm on the phone yet again with the furniture company.

"No Naveen, you guys sent a defective model. I spent two hours yesterday trying to put it together. And this is coming from someone who assembled her own queen bed!" While high, but I leave that part out.

"What have you done?" A familiar voice startles me.

I look up to see a very amused Jake leaning on my door. Naveen's voice on the other line turns into a blur.

"I'll call you back." I hang up and face my computer with nonchalance. "What are you talking about?"

"Why are the legs of your new table in the corner?"

My eyes travel under the window where I have shoved the gold metal pieces, now peeking behind the curtains.

"Those are abstract art pieces. Yeah, I'm still thinking about where to hang them."

"Uh-huh. And the tabletop?"

"It's called a chabudai table, Jake." I roll my eyes, keeping a straight face. "I find the Japanese culture very inspiring."

"Yeah, okay. Stand up."  He holds his hand out to help me up.

"Why?" I frown.

"Come on, stand up."

I ignore his hand and push off my palms. The cracking of joints and a stifled groan fill the awkward silence. My numb legs start to come to life, with that dreadful prickly feeling all over.

"Wow, you look so inspired." Jake raises his eyebrows at my demeanor.

"You're just jealous, cause I have a million wonderful ideas flowing in my head right now." I choke out the words, waving my hand above my head.

"You're hunched over like an old woman. I want to go get you a cane."

I burst into laughter. Damn it.

"Maybe a wheelchair?" I smile sheepishly.

He closes the door and grabs the metal pieces before sitting on the floor across from me.

The way his legs bend with knees apart, forearms on top and eyebrows knitted in concentration, makes me want to—

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Stop checking me out and hand me the tools."

"Baka." I fire off in Japanese but do as he says. "I'm going to pay you for this, obviously."

"What kind of payment are we talking about?" He smirks while organizing screws, washers, and other pieces I don't know the names of.

"With cash. Don't be disgusting. Just tell me how much." When he ignores me, I pull out my phone. "I'll just Google it."

Meanwhile he flips the table upside down to insert the first leg in one of the corners, and I watch him work from the corner of my eye, the way he handles the...objects.

I clear my throat. "I'll pay you fifty dollars."

"No."

"Twenty."

"Mia, this is a piece of cake."

"I want us to be even."

He glances up, corner of lips twitching. "Even? I could put you on this table, then."

Blood rushes to my cheeks from the visual and I finally do what I've been dying to do this entire time.

I smack his face with the instruction manual. "How about you drop my class?"

He glares with the cutest pout, then resumes to work. "I wish I could."

"What do you mean?"

He sighs. "I need the credits to get my MBA."

"You're putting my career at risk over a class you're not even interested in?" I scowl.

He seems to take a moment to consider his next words.

"My dad's construction company is in a financial crisis. I have clients that can double our revenues who are ready to hire us for commercial projects, except they want to see a fancy piece of paper before they sign."

"That's so stupid." I blurt. He laughs. I cover my mouth. "I'm sorry, but it is. What does a diploma have to do with your abilities?"

"I agree. But that's what they want to see. That's what my dad wants to see too. I think if I sign these deals, he might trust me enough to let me run things."

"You're trying to kick the old man out of his own company?" I tease.

He chuckles. "Me, his wife, his doctors. He just got out of his fourth spine surgery. He needs to trust me and retire, but I think he's too scared."

My heart sinks at the sad tenderness in his features, the disappointment in his voice for his dad's lack of faith in him. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. You seem like the type of person that doesn't give up easily."

His lips tug upward. "I believe what's worth the prize is always worth the fight."

He catches me staring again and smiles. I clear my throat and stand up with him as he flips the finished table in its position.

"I have no clue what you did, but thank you." I grin, admiring the beauty.

"You're welcome, Mia."

I grab my purse from my chair to take out a twenty dollar bill and reach it towards him. "For your labor."

He stares back with a hint of annoyance, but I arch a brow to emphasize that I mean business.

With a click of a tongue, he jerks the cash out of my hand, making me flinch.

But I don't care. Because I won.

I'm about to smile and say goodbye, but a gasp escapes instead when he grabs my hips, lifts me up, and thumps me down on the table like a ragdoll.

Then he shakes the furniture, literally jouncing it back and forth. I don't move. I CAN'T move. Fucking hell I can't even breathe or think straight with his forearms flexed against my thighs and his sandalwood scent seeping into me.

His voice is gruff, taunting, as he murmurs. "Just checking if it's sturdy."

"Y-yeah, it feels fine."

KISS HIM.

SHUT UP.

"It does, doesn't it?" He agrees with a subtle smirk.

A minuscule inch of me leans forward, as if hypnotized in a trance.

He slaps the table and pulls away, bringing me back to reality.

"See ya." He chuckles softly and walks out the door.

I release the air I've been holding and notice something in my peripheral vision.

There's a twenty dollar bill beside me.

~~~ A/N ~~~

Oof. I freaking love Jake. You guys, just wait to see his many layers of personality.

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