~ Chicago, K Industries HQ ~


    October 4, 5:37 PM


    Jasper is in his office chair, facing therge floor-to-ceiling window and observing the city skyline. He remembered that almost a week ago Ellie was in his office. Around this time. Lilian made a scene, but luckily he managed to smooth it out with Ellie.


    Jasper''s mood is low. He will not see Ellie today. And he is missing her more than normally because he knows that she is nearby… yet out of reach. He sent her few text messages, and she didn''t reply. Ellie said that she is very busy, so it''s not unexpected, but he still hoped that maybe she can spare few seconds to check his messages and send something back.


    He told himself more than once to cheer up because Ellie promised toe to his penthouse tomorrow at noon, and they will spend the rest of the day together. But tomorrow seems to be forever away. Jasper is not good at this waiting game and he can only hope that Ellie will not bail out at thest moment. Jasper kept busy nning for the next day. They have the afternoon and evening, so many options… yet nothing seems good enough. At the end, he decided to wing it. She wille to his ce and instead of his usual <em>''we have a reservation''</em>, it will be more like <em>''what do you feel like doing?''</em>. Yes, he is happy with that n. It will be nice to spend time with Ellie without anything scheduled.


    "CEO Kiani, your father…", Faith''s voice was cut off when door of Jasper''s office opened.


    Jasper sighed. Will his father ever learn to wait for Faith to announce him, and then Jasper to say that it''s OK for him to enter? Or at least to knock? Probably not. As long as he treats K Industries as hispany, he will enter anywhere as he pleases.


    "You are still here?", Norman asked with mirth in his voice.


    Jasper rotated his chair to see his father and saw that there is a mocking smirk on his father''s usually stern face. "Would youe here if I''m not present?"


    Norman sat on the chair. "I was just making an observation. Lately you leave at five o''clock sharp. What happened? Did you run out of dates?"


    "Why am I not surprised that you know when Ie and go?"


    "Don''t make it sound like I''m keeping tabs on you."


    "Aren''t you?" Jasper told himself to stop this silly exchange which will not lead anywhere. Angering his father will not bring anything good.


    The usually tense rtionship between two of them is much worse since Lilian is out of thepany.


    Jasper did his best to adjust his mood and appear undisturbed by his father''s presence. "Why are you here?"


    "To remind you that Cavadini family is hosting an event tomorrow. It''s expected that you make an appearance. It starts at one in the afternoon. Their vi." Norman was informing Jasper that he needs toe, not asking if he can.


    Jasper sneered internally. Cavadini family? Norman must be joking! There is no way that he is going to Lilian''s house. But if he says that aloud, his father will get upset, and they will burst into an argument which can''t end good for Jasper. After all, his father has a good leverage against him.


    Jasper knows that he is not going. He does not want to be anywhere near Lilian and there is no way he will cancel on Ellie. But should he say that to his father?


    What will Norman do when Jasper does not show up to the event? Come to get him?


    Jasper smiled at the thought of Norman fuming at the party when he realizes that his son is noting. "I appreciate the reminder. Anything else?"


    Norman looked at Jasper smiling and interpreted that as a confirmation. He ising to the party, and there he will get a chance to mend his rtionship with Lilian. At least they should go back to talking to each other.


    Since getting fired, Lilian isining daily to her father, and thatbined with Jasper''s stubbornness to hire her back, put a dent in a rtionship between two old time friends.


    But now that Jasper is smiling at the prospect of going to that party, Norman''s hope that they will go back to how it was returned.


    "Why are you so cold toward Lilian? She admitted that she made a mistake."


    "Oh, her story changed from <em>''did me a favor by chasing a woman who wants to seduce me in my office''</em> to <em>''she made a mistake''</em>? Interesting"


    Jasper was irked that Norman thinks this change of story is eptable. He still remembers how his father gave him a lesson in decency while emphasizing that he should not bring women to the office for fun. Of course, Norman will not apologize for wrongly using him.


    "Yes. She admitted her mistake and wants her job back.", Norman said matter-of-factly.


    Jasper inhaled and counted to ten to calm down before speaking. "Lilian is NOT getting her job back. I didn''t change my mind from this morning."


    Since Jasper fired Lilian, Norman ising two-three times a day to his office to mention Lilian. And at least once per day he asks Jasper to give her old job back. Jasper can''t believe how persistent his father is.


    Norman''s usual frown deepened. "Why are you this stubborn? Is there something you expect to happen before you soften up on this? Do you want Lily toe and apologize personally?"


    "Please... Don''t entertain that idea. I don''t want to see her, if possible. I stand behind my decision and I don''t change it unless I made a mistake. Firing Lilian was not a mistake." Jasper decided not to yield on this. If he gives in, there is no way he can exin himself to Ellie.


    Norman pursed his lips and looked at Jasper for a long time in silence. "Some shareholders think that she is a valuable asset to thepany."


    Jasper could not believe that his father brought this up. "Since when do shareholders have a say in hiring decisions for secretaries in thepany?"


    "Lilian is more than a secretary.", Norman was running out of arguments, but still he didn''t want to back down.


    "I don''t agree. She was a secretary, and a mediocre one. Is there anything else you want to discuss? I have few more things to take care of before I can go home for the day."


    Norman snorted, stood up and walked out of the office.


    When the door closed behind Norman, Jasper turned his chair around and gazed randomly at the city skyline. He remembers when Ellie said how it''s beautiful when one side of buildings is bathed in warm orange of the sunset while other side is disappearing in shadows. He agrees with that, but it will be much more beautiful if she is with him now.


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