Jake was so ecstatic to see Jade tonight. Immediately the call ended he instructed his secretary, Patrick, to inquire about Jade’s closing hours. He was beyond elated so much that he rushed his remaining meetings and attended to all the work he had left, and dashed off to. He didn’t know why he was feeling this excited, but it was a feeling he couldn’t help. He had a smile plastered on his face all through his drive to Jade’s place of work.Jake had only arrived there when he saw Jade strolling out of the company, looking beautiful as always.God! she looked sexy in her black pencil skirt tucked in black shirt and a nude color suit draped over it. She had those killer curves that he liked so much. Everything about her was well portioned, she had the curves in all the right places. Jake was sure God had created her on a Sunday after having a sumptuous meal. He must have used her to end this seven day of creation.What sort of temptation was this?’Get your head straight man’ He spoke to himself. He shouldn’t be lusting after her most especially when they were just friends, but he couldn’t help it.Jake stepped out of the car to approach her, when suddenly he saw someone stop her. He paused on his tracks as he watched them from where he stood. He thought it was a colleague kind of conversation not until he saw the guy holding Jade’s hand. He felt something stir on his inside when Jade allowed the guy hold her hand.It only took a few seconds when he noticed there was something wrong. He saw Jade trying to break free from the guys grip, but it seems like the guy wasn’t letting go. A frown slowly appeared on his face.Jake’s hands clenched into a fist when the guy gripped Jade’s hand for the second time, and from the look of things Jade was really trying hard to break the guy’s grip on her, it seem she was been overpowered.Jake took long and heavy strides as he walked closer to them.”Let go of her hand” His voice was cold and threatening.Jade and Cale were both surprised not just by his sudden appearance, but by the way he yanked Cale’s hand from Jade’s. His eyes were cold, and were shooting daggers at Cale. Cale shuddered under the man’s intense and fierce gaze.He quickly regained himself, breaking whatever spell Jake’s gaze had cast on him.”And who are you?” Cale asked irritatingly, but Jake didn’t bother to listen to him as his eyes were focused on Jade’s wrist, which was slightly red.”Are you okay?” His voice soft and gentle. It was different from the one he had used seconds ago to threaten the scumbag standing two feets away.Jade who was still in shock over Jake’s sudden appearance nodded her head slowly. Jake took her hand in his and gave it a good look. His eyes flashed red when he saw the red prints on her hand. What sort of trength was this moron using on her?Jake snapped his head towards Cale, who had a frown on his face from watching the little exchange between Jade and this mysterious man. Jake took a step closer to Cale but Jade immediately held his hand.”Jake” She called softly, making him stop. She could feel his tensed muscles and from the way his fist was clenched tightly she understood what he was about to do. She didn’t want a fight, and she didn’t think Cale was worth the hassle.Jake turned to look at her, and he noticed the way she shook her head gesturing for him not to. Jake’s brows narrowed slightly, he sighed inside his head before returning his gaze to the man standing before him. He really wanted to punch him right there and now, but he knew he couldn’t because Jade had asked him not to.”Let this be the last time you touch her again. I hope you understand” Jake snarled, his gaze was murderous and Cale could feel it.He turned his attention back to Jade, he took her bag from her hand, and held her hand with his free hand.”Let’s go” He said to Jade, giving Jade a sense of deja vu as she looked at Jake’s hand over hers. Yeah, those were the exact words he had said on their first night and this was exactly the way he held her hand and led her out of the club, like he didn’t want her to go anywhere else.Jade willingly let Jake pull her by the hand as he led them towards the car.They had only taken a few steps when Cale snapped back to himself. Jake’s words had left him speechless, the menancing tone at which he spoke and the aura surrounding him had sent shivers down his spine.”Who the hell are you? And where are you taking her to?” Cale asked from behind them, halting Jake on his strides. He paused but he didn’t turn to look at Cale.”Let’s just say I’m someone with the right resources to send you to Venus to burn the next time you touch her” Jake uttered seethingly before continuing on his strides to the car, with Jade following him.”Jade!” Cale called out, but he was completely ignored.Jade turned to look at Jake when he opened the door for her. She didn’t say a word and just stared at Jake.”What?” Jake raised a brow at her.”Nothing” Jade shook her head and stepped into the car. She didn’t know what to say, but Jake actions had somehow warmed her heart. Jake walked to the other side of the car and hopped in, but not before glaring at Cale who was still looking at them, or rather looking at Jade.Jake hissed and turned on the ignition. He drove immediately the car revived to life.’What an idiot’ Jake cussed in his mind.There was an awkward silence hovering in the car as Jake drove extremely fast, making Jade’s heart race nervously. She knew she had a thing for fast cars, but Jake was driving too fast. She turned to look at him, and noticed the deep crease lines on his forehead, and she knew what does lines meant.’Was he angry?’ Jade asked herself. ‘Was he angry at her or at Cale?’ Jade didn’t understand why Jake would be angry at her.”Jake please slow down” Jade said in a small voice, making Jake snap his neck towards her, he noticed the way she gripped her seat belt tightly. He sighed inwardly as he reduced the acceleration of the car.”Sorry” Jake apologized. He had lost himself in anger. Thanks to his stupid temper, he must have scared her.Jade continued looked at him, “Are you angry?” Jade asked.”What do you think? Of course I am. Didn’t you see the way that guy was hurting you?” He hissed again. What was he even saying. She was the one been hurt so she had experienced it fore hand.”Who was that? Why would he hurt you like that? You shouldn’t have stopped me and just let me hit him. Look at the bruise mark on your wrist” Jake hissed in anger. He didn’t know why he was this angry. He was beyond furious, as a matter of fact he was fist twitching mad. He wanted to punch that guy so badly. The sight of that guy holding Jade so tightly completely irked him. His eyes glanced at her wrist which was still so red and flared up even more.She hasn’t having troubles at work is she? Was that guy harrasing her at work? If he was, then he should kiss his job goodbye.”Who was that guy? He isn’t harrassing you at work is he?”Jade fell silent when she heard Jake’s question. How was she supposed to reply to his question? She didn’t know if revealing Cale’s identity to him would be a right decision. What would he think of her if he knew the whole story behind it?If he knew that she was some gullible and naive girl who gave herself willingly to a man to save another who in turn left her broken hearted.Jade didn’t want that for herself. But why was she even thinking about Jake’s opinion of her?Jake noticed the contemplative look on her face, he could tell she was having a hard time trying to answer his question. Her hesitation was vivid. Seems there was a story behind the little scene that has played out earlier. If he should take a guess, he would go for boyfriend issues. Boyfriend?Jake looked at Jade from his peripheral vision? Does she have a boyfriend?Jake suddenly felt unsettled by that thought. He had never bothered to ask if she does had one, or has he? He doesn’t remember. Well Should he ask now?No! He didn’t think now was the right time. But what if she does?Jake felt a pang on his chest as she thought about that possibility. He didn’t understand why the thought of Jade having a boyfriend was suddenly messing his mind up. They were just friends and he obviously wasn’t interested in having a romantic relationship with her, so why the awkward feeling? MilkHe wasn’t interested in having one at all.”You don’t have to answer that. I was angry, I didn’t like the way he was hurting you” Jake explained in an attempt to ease the tension.”He’s my ex-boyfriend” Jade blurted out, lowering her eyes down to look at her fingers. She didn’t know why she was telling Jake, but something in her wanted to.’Ex-boyfriend?’Jake was surprised by her reply. He wasn’t expecting her to reply him, especially after he saw the way she hesitated. But he liked the fact that she did. It made him feel she was really opening up to him and was being to feel much comfortable in their relationship as friends.”Oh I see” Was Jake’s only reply. “But that doesn’t give him a right to hurt you that way. Infact it gives him less the right to touch you. He should be taught a lesson””It’s okay. You don’t have to get vexed over it” Jade soothed.”Does he do that alot? I mean does he harass you at work?” Jake glanced at her and asked.”No” Jade shook her head.”He better not, or else I’ll…””Jake it’s fine. I assure you he won’t try it again, especially not after your threat of sending him to venus” Jade chuckled when she remembered that. “That was a cool threat” Jade said smiling, while Jake turned to stare at her. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a smile, he could never get used to it. There was a way his heart reacted to her smiles or laugh.”You’re beautiful” Jake blurted out without reasoning. His body stiffened when he realized what he had just said. He snapped his head to look at Jade with trepidation. ‘Man, you’re going to scare with all this outburst’ He corrected himself, as he looked at Jade with much caution.Jade also turned to look at him, she almost chuckled out when she saw the look on his face. He looked like he was begging not to be scolded, and she must say his expression looked cute. She couldn’t believe she has missed this childish expressions this past few days. Hanging out with Jake was fun. You wouldn’t know what he’d do next that might amuse you.”I guess I should say thank you” Jade replied with another sweet smile.Jake released the breath that he has been holding. God! that was easy.Jake never thought a day would come when he’d feel nervous about complimenting a girl. Well, Jade wasn’t like every other girl. With her, one must thread with caution. He couldn’t believe he was actually putting a girl’s feeling in consideration.Geez…this girl was changing him!Jake was excited as he continued driving, he kept stealing glances at Jade who was scrolling through her phone.His brows furrowed when she dropped her phone and slowly rubbed on the wrist Cale had grabbed earlier.”Does it hurt?” He asked, his eyes fixed on the road. Jade glanced at him before answering him, “Just a bit””Hmm” was all he said as he continued driving. Jade was surprised when the car slowly came to a stop. She turned towards him to say something but he says, “Hold on, I’ll be back. Want to get something” before stepping out of the car.Jade narrowed her eyes as she nodded and watched him leave, her eyes following him till he walked into a pharmacy shop which she had not noticed earlier. She furrowed her brows more as she kept her eyes on him.’What’s he buying?’ She asked herself. She looked down at her wrist, and she suddenly had the feeling that what ever Jake had gone to buy definitely for her.Soon Jake came back and hopped into the car. “Give me your hand” Jake said as she stretched his hand to her.Jade’s eyes shot up as she looked at him with confusion written all over her face. Jake noticed her confused look and he pointed at her slightly bruised hand, “Give me your hand” He said again.Jade slowly stretched her hand to him while Jake brought out a small tube from the pharmacy bag, and started applying it on her hand. He applied it gently, moving his hand in circular motions.”It’s going to be hurt a little, but it will make your hand heal faster” Jake said while Jade nodded. Jade reflexively moved her hand when the ointment began to sting her hand.Her eyes widened in shock when Jake pulled her hand closer to his mouth and he started to blow on it.She was dazed and her heart was slowly increasing its pace at Jake continued to blow on her hand. She felt a sudden swell in her heart, there was some kind of feeling that was brewing on her inside, a feeling she couldn’t understand..Her eyes were glued to the guy who was slowly blowing on her hand like that was all he cared about. Looking at Jake from such close proximity, Jade couldn’t help but appreciate his facial features. Though there was quite a few stubble which were not there the last time she saw him, the guy still handsome.Jake was not just handsome but drop dead gorgeous. He’ll make those male models and actors look like mere mortals if they stood before him. His perfectly carved jaw line, his chin, finely pointed nose, his brown hazel eyes…and his slightly pink lips were all too breathtaking. Jade suddenly seized her breath when Jake looked her up, her heart almost stopping at the same time.”Errm…” She cleared her throat with her eyes wandering around but didn’t dare to look at Jake. She really wished her cheeks were not flushed right now.”Uhm..Thank you” She said as she slowly pulled her hand away. Her heart was still racing like hell.God! I can’t believe I was drooling over him. Jade was mortified by her shameless action. What the hell!Jake was her friend, who well…was very handsome, but hell, she shouldn’t ogle at him like that. What if he gets the wrong message?’Jade Peterson” She face palmed in her mind. But she still couldn’t get the feeling she had minutes ago out of her mind.Jake was behaving differently. He was a different man, far different from the man she had met months ago. Different from the man who had signed a contract with her barely two months ago. That Jake she had seen in his office was a lascivious man who looked at her like a piece of meat he was dying to devour – not that he hasn’t done that before – he was everything that the tabliods described him to be; Mischievious, a playboy, and wild.But now, this Jake was doing things she’d never expect him to do. Unbelievable things. She had to say she was impressed.”Why are you staring at me like that?” Jake asked cocking a brow. His question jolted Jade back to reality. She didn’t know she has been staring at him.”Star..ring? How?” She asked back. Jake tilted his head sideways as a mischievious smirk appeared on his face.”Like you just realized I’m handsome” He said raising his brows playfully making Jade blink.”Wh..at?” She stuttered.”You can’t just stare at me like that, it’s not free, so you have to pay up. I’m a rare commodity Jade Peterson””What?” Jade spurted out with her eyes widen in disbelief “Are you being cocky and shameless right now?” Jade asked with incredulity. Pay for staring at him?”I’m not being shameless, I’m just a business man. You just know there’s nothing…””Free in Freetown” Jade completed his statement in a mimicing tone, making Jake’s lip curl up in amusement. She remembered he had said that exact same thing when he tricked her into being his date to a party. Speaking about that Jake was yet to honour his part of their deal. She made a mental note to ask him about it.”Good to know you learn fast. So since you know that and I very much know I’m dangerously handsome, why are you still asking questions?” He said while Jade scoffed.’…he is definitely cocky. What a proud fool. Dangerously handsome my ass’ Jade cussed in her head.Jade faked a smile and pressed her hand together in a pleading manner,”Your royal handsomeness, have mercy on your humble handmaid. She’ll never stare, gaze, glance or ogle at you ever again” Jade said mockingly her eyes silently cussing him, while Jake chuckled.Jade Peterson was going to be the death of him. Hanging out with her has become the boon of his life.”You’re forgiven” He smiled as he stretched his hand and patted her hair, earning him a glare from her eyes.”Sorry, bambi” Jake joked as he threw his hand up to surrender under her lethal glare.”So where are we going?” Jade finally asked when Jake turned on the ignition.”To my penthouse princess” He said flashing her a smile.*******Cale was beyond furious as he paced up and down his room. The memory of what had happened earlier at the company kept playing through his head. Jade had wales off with another man, and she had completely ignored him. Who the hell was that?Cale couldn’t accept the fact that Jade could do something like that. She was such an obedient girl that loved him like no mans business. She came running whenever he called, even when he didn’t she was always there, loving him, helping him supporting him and doing all the things she knew how to do just for him. So what has changed. What the hell changed? What has happened to his woman that she could no longer stand the sight of him, neither would she help him. Even now that he was the risk of losing his job, she was still ignoring him. She had worked hard to help him gain this job and to also bring him this far, so what changed?Jade didn’t even care if he lost his job or not. He wasn’t going to have it. He was going to get her back, whether she liked it or not she was going to come back to him.”She loves me and this must be her way of getting back at me for hurting” He said to himself.”Jade has to forgive me” He kept speaking to himself. His hands clenched into his fist as the memory of Jade’s hand been held by that guy flashed through his mind again.In a fit of anger he threw the things on the table beside him to the floor. His eyes were flashing red as he kept thinking of it.Helen who heard the loud sound of things falling rushed into the room. She wondered what was wrong with him. He has only returned from work minutes ago, so what happened?She was shocked when she walked into the room and saw the state it was in.”Cale what happened?” Helen asked with concern, her eyes closely observing her son, if he was okay.Cale’s eyes darted towards his mother.He rushed over to her like he had just seen his Messiah. He reached for her hand and held it tightly, but not enough to hurt her, but enough to tell her that he meant every word he was about to say.”Mom please you have to help me” He pleaded, his voice was firm and desperate.”Help you with what?” She asked, raising her hand to touch his face gently. She has never seen her son like this.”With Jade” He said, making his mother’s hand abruptly stop her movement while she snatched her other hand from him.”In your dreams” She snapped…I think Cale’s mum was overreacted here. She suppose to get Jade back for her son, or what do you think?
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 76
