Have it your way" she said and turned to leave. Candy... don't go, please" Jake said calmly. She sighed in relief her back still facing him. At least we're getting somewhere she thought and turned around. " Why? Jake why? Give me one good reason why I should stay" she said begging him with his eyes to open up. "Because I... you ... you're not safe out there" he alternated. "Goodness! I don't need a knight in shining armor. Ok? I'm not a damsel in distress. Mr. Benson I'll see you at work tomorrow", she said and walked away, letting her tears fall. As he watched her retreating back, he couldn't help the pain that swept him whole. His only duty is to protect her, how could he dare to tell her his feelings? How could he tell her he wanted her to stay because he had broken through him, through all his coldness, that he simply wanted her. How could he when she has lived in total darkness all this while because of him?
Chapter 1 Memory lane
Candy what in God's name is wrong with you?" Jake asked as he wrestled to drag Candy into his car. The lady just refused to keep still. She was such a pain and so willful even in her drunken state. "You're such a bore" she slurred as he fixed her seat belt and sat beside her.
"Take us home" he said and waved his hand at the chauffeur. He was boiling with anger as he sat beside her, his mind was filled with all the derogatory remarks he would say to her tomorrow, when she was sober. He softened immediately however, when her head fell slowly to his shoulder.
He sighed as he took in the sweet fragrance of her shampoo which had a faint alcohol smell in it now. Why won't you let me protect you? He muttered as he patted her hair gently.
She was fast asleep when they got home so he carried her to her room. "Stay" she said and pouted sleepily but still managed to hold on tightly to his hand as if she was holding on for dear life.
He sighed and sat on the bed and hoped that she will let go eventually so that he could get some sleep himself, in his own bed.
Candy woke up the next morning, groaning. "Oh God! Elsie why'd you encourage me to drink so much?" She grumbled as she tossed and turned. She froze when her leg hit something hard. She looked at her surroundings immediately and calmed down a little when she realized she was in her own room. But the question still remained,
What or who was that? She nearly screamed but for her headache when she met Jake's eyes, he was just waking up himself. She snatched the duvet from him and covered her body. He gave out a low chuckle which angered her more.
What are you doing in my bed?" She asked her glare not faltering. "You were drunk last night" he answered sitting on the bed. Gosh! His morning voice, she thought but shook it away immediately.
"And you're in my bed because?" She asked through gritted teeth. "You asked me to stay" he said and sat down straight on the bed.
"Who are you?" Candy asked dramatically after careful consideration. "What do you mean?" He asked with raised eyebrows.
"I mean it doesn't make sense. I asked you to stay and so you stayed?"Candy asked and he shrugged. "You, Jake Steve Benson" she stated emphatically.
Truth be told she was just plain perplexed. Why would Jake do anything for her. As far as she knew they hated each other.
He marched downstairs and left Candy alone with her thoughts. He came back minutes later with a glass of water in one hand and aspirin in the other.
"We have a meeting at 1 o'clock, get ready" he dropped them and turned to leave.
"Now there's the Jake I know " she scoffed as she remembered why she got drunk in the first place.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked as he turned around eyebrow raised. "For a second there I thought you were actually being nice to me.
Forgive my naivety because now I know the only thing that matters to you is control and suffocating people with your coldness. My head is throbbing, would it kill you to excuse me for today?" She asked hiding back her tears, feeling disappointed.
"It's not my fault that you're irresponsible, you got yourself drunk when you know you have work the next day" he retorted. "Who's fault is it?" She argued. "For all the two weeks I've been working with you, all I've done is try to be up to par with your very unrealistic standards.
Just one mistake and you treated me like I have no sense at all. Who's fault is it that I got drunk?" She asked sniffing back her tears.
"You're so immature, I asked you to get into the car but you refused and you disrespected me in front of all those people. People who won't survive without my paycheck.
Any one of those people would be lucky to get such special treatment from me, and yet here we are, with me tending to you after your hasty and nonsensical actions", he snapped.
"Of course we're supposed to lick your feet aren't we? Everyone is scared of you. Did you really expect me to enter your car like a sheep to the slaughter after you belittled me? I deserve some respect too" she protested. Jake looked at her as he rubbed his forehead in frustration. This woman was driving him crazy and it's only been two weeks.
Two weeks out of the six months she was supposed to undergo rigorous training. She's every bad word in the book, audacious, witty, stubborn, just name it. She just keeps pressing all his buttons and he's really starting to doubt his ability to train and protect this woman at the same time.
Any other person and he wouldn't care, but he did care for this one. He cared beyond his duty to his family, he cared beyond making up for his past mistakes, he cared beyond his ice cold demeanor. As he stood there rubbing his forehead he questioned why he was doing this in the first place.
Other books by Bridgetappiahclottey
More