It was Aleyne's off day, and with her aunt off on another picnic with her friends, she was left alone at home. She had mixed feelings about it part of her wished her aunt would include her and Mira in such outings, but another part was relieved. If they had gone along, they’d likely have ended up as little more than unpaid help, catering to her aunt’s whims in front of her friends. Mira had already left for a group study session with her friends, leaving Aleyne completely alone for the first time in what felt like forever. The house was quiet, peaceful even, a rare occurrence. As the evening sun cast long shadows across the yard, she lay down on the grass, gazing up at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky.
For a brief moment, as she watched the clouds shift and change, Jack's face appeared in her mind’s eye. A warmth spread through her chest, and she couldn’t help but smile. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to savor the feeling, letting it wash over her. But as the saying goes, "When you think of a ghost, it appears," and at that very moment, her phone rang. Startled, she jerked upright, her heart skipping a beat. Glancing at the screen, she saw Jack’s name flashing. Her mind raced with questions.
Aleyne's Thoughts: “Why is he calling me now? It’s the weekend! Did something happen? Am I really that important to call in an emergency?”
With a deep breath, she answered the call.
Aleyne: "Hello, sir…"
Jack: in a warm, teasing tone "Hi, Aleyne. Are you free to talk for a bit?" Aleyne felt her heart flutter at the casual way he asked, but she tried to stay calm.
Aleyne: nervously "Yes, sir, of course. Is something wrong? Anything important?" Jack chuckled softly on the other end, and Aleyne could almost picture the playful glint in his eyes.
Jack: light-heartedly "Important? Hmm, I suppose that depends on your definition of ‘important.’ I just couldn’t get you out of my head, so I thought I’d see what you were up to." Aleyne’s cheeks flushed, and she was grateful he couldn’t see her blushing.
Aleyne: trying to sound composed "Oh… well, I’m just at home, relaxing. Nothing much going on."
Jack: teasingly "Relaxing, huh? Not thinking about work for once? Or maybe… thinking about something or someone else?" She could hear the smile in his voice, and it made her heart skip another beat. What was he trying to do? Was he just teasing her, or was there something more behind his words?
Aleyne: stammering "N-no, I mean, yes! I’m just… enjoying the evening. Not thinking about work… or anything… else." Jack’s chuckle this time was deeper, more amused.
Jack: softly "Good. I’d hate to think you were stressing about work on your day off. You deserve to relax, Aleyne. And maybe… think about things that make you happy." Aleyne’s breath caught in her throat. Was he hinting at something? She struggled to find the right words.
Aleyne: awkwardly "I-I’ll try, sir. Thank you."
Jack: still teasing "So, what does a day of relaxation look like for Aleyne? Cloud-watching? Daydreaming? Or maybe something a little more exciting?" Aleyne bit her lip, trying not to laugh at how casually he was chatting with her. It was surreal, like they were old friends rather than boss and employee.
Aleyne: with a small smile "A bit of cloud-watching, actually. And maybe some daydreaming. But nothing too exciting, I’m afraid."
Jack: playfully "Daydreaming, huh? Should I be flattered if I was part of those daydreams?" Aleyne’s heart did a full somersault, and she could barely hold back her laughter.
Aleyne: trying to play along "Well… I suppose I might have thought about work once or twice…"
Jack: mocking a disappointed tone "Just work? How boring. Here I was hoping I’d made a more interesting impression." This time, Aleyne couldn’t help but laugh. The way he was talking to her, so effortlessly teasing and playful, made her feel like she was on the verge of something… different.
Aleyne: with a grin "Well, maybe you did. But I’m not telling."
Jack: laughing "Fair enough. I wouldn’t want to pry. But in all seriousness, Aleyne, take some time for yourself today. You work hard, and you deserve it. And if you ever want to talk, even if it’s just to chat… I’m here." The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and she found herself smiling again, this time more warmly.
Aleyne: softly "Thank you, sir. That means a lot."
Jack: gently "Anytime, Aleyne. Now, go enjoy your day off. We’ll talk again soon." As she hung up, Aleyne couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. What just happened? Was this really her life now? But even as she questioned it, she couldn’t deny the warmth that had settled in her heart, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, things were changing for the better. And as she lay back down on the grass, looking up at the clouds again, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit lighter, a little bit more hopeful, and a whole lot more confused.
Jack’s voice boomed through the office, reverberating off the walls and sending a shiver down Aleyne’s spine. Jack: angrily "Aleyne, I didn’t expect this from you. How could you be so careless? Misplacing such important documents are you insane?" Aleyne stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen him like this before, and the transformation was terrifying. Just days ago, this same man had been teasing her, making her heart flutter with warmth and hope. Now, he was a completely different person, his anger sharp and unyielding. Aleyne's Thoughts: "Is this really the same person who was chit-chatting with me on the phone? The one who teased me and made me feel warm inside? He’s so scary now… I feel like my heart might jump out of my chest." Her guilt weighed heavily on her, knowing that it was indeed her mistake. Before she left on Friday, she had meticulously arranged all the important papers for the meeting. She had been so careful, ensuring everything was in order so that Jack wouldn’t make any mistakes in front of the clients. But now, those efforts seemed to have crumbled in an instant. Aleyne's Thoughts: "At least I saved a copy in my computer folder… if I hadn’t, he would have probably killed me by now."
Jack’s fury was palpable, his usually calm demeanor replaced by an intensity that she had never witnessed before. His eyes flashed with anger as he snatched the documents from her hand, barely glancing at her as he turned and rushed out of the cabin, clearly preoccupied with the upcoming meeting. Aleyne stood there for a moment, stunned and disappointed. The anger she had seen in him shook her, but what hurt even more was the realization that she had let him down. The connection she thought they had seemed to vanish in the heat of his anger, leaving her feeling small and insignificant. She left the cabin quietly, her heart heavy with guilt and a new, unfamiliar ache of disappointment. As she watched Jack rush off to his meeting, she couldn’t help but wonder if the warmth she had felt from him was just a fleeting illusion, something that had melted away the moment things went wrong. As time passed, Aleyne found herself missing the warm, teasing words Jack used to share with her. His presence had become a rarity, as he was now occupied with a major project in another state. The office felt different without him, and she couldn’t help but notice how much she missed him, even if he had been angry with her.
One sunny afternoon, as Aleyne was going about her work, she noticed a strikingly beautiful woman enter the office. The woman was dressed to perfection, exuding an air of confidence and wealth. She walked straight to Jack’s cabin, her high heels clicking against the floor with a rhythm that made Aleyne’s heart race with unease. The woman’s name was Sweety, and there was something about her that made Aleyne’s stomach twist. She watched as Sweety interacted with Jack, the familiarity and ease between them sending a pang of jealousy through her. The way Sweety leaned in close, the way Jack seemed comfortable around her it all felt so… intimate. Aleyne's Thoughts: "Are they…? No, I can’t even think about that. But she’s so… perfect. Rich, sexy… everything I’m not. I should just keep my distance. Stop hoping for something that’s not there. It’s painful, but it’s the truth." Aleyne held her breath as she tried to compose herself, but the sight of them together was almost unbearable. Her mind raced with doubts and insecurities, each one more painful than the last. She felt like a fool for ever thinking she might have meant something more to him. As Jack and Sweety exited the cabin, they walked past Aleyne without a second glance. Jack’s expression was unreadable, his focus entirely on the conversation he was having with Sweety. Aleyne’s heart sank even further, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was still angry with her.
Aleyne's Thoughts: "Is he still mad at me? I’m so sorry, Jack… I never meant for this to happen. If only I could take it back…" She whispered the words to herself, her head bowed as she watched them walk away, their footsteps echoing down the hallway. She felt so small, so insignificant. The warmth and connection she once felt with Jack seemed like a distant memory, replaced by an overwhelming sense of loss. As she stared at the stairs they had just descended, Aleyne couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever hope she had clung to was slipping away. She told herself she had to let go, to stop holding onto something that wasn’t meant to be, but the pain in her heart refused to fade.
to be continued in Chapter 7...
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