Chapter 4

Jordan's POV

I stepped into the conference room along with my two assistants, Gaby and Mark. I was assigned to draft out potential designs for a new construction site in a part of America where the owner of the company I work in just bought the large expanse of lands from a group of farmers who were in debt and needed money urgently.

I was expected to present in my designs today, along with the four other teams working in the designing part of the company. Only one out of the five team is going to be picked and every team are hoping to be picked since we've all spent weeks on this particular project.

I hope my team gets picked. The rest can fuck off.

We all got to present our designs and at the end of the meeting, two teams were picked—one of which was mine. I resisted the strong urge to scream the moment my team was called out.

My happiness ebbed a little when we were informed that only one of the two teams was still going to be picked at the end of next week. We were told to draft more highlights and designs to make our piece more exotic, then the best one would be picked.

The conference room cleared out, except for the two competing teams. The other team was led by Aria and her two assistants, Mary and Dan. It wasn't a surprise that we didn't get along all that well since our job placed us in a spot involving competing again ourselves almost every time.

"Good luck on trying to beat us," Aria sassed at me while her assistants laughed behind her. I only rolled my eyes and picked up my files holding my drawings and designs before walking towards her and placing a hand on her shoulder, she was the same height as I was due to her heels.

"I know damn well that you need the good luck more than I do, darling. Make sure to congratulate us genuinely by the end of next week when my team gets picked." I walked past her with my assistants trailing behind me.

"Bye babies." Mark called out behind him as we stepped out of the conference room and into the elevator which would take us to the twentieth floor where our offices were located on. The company consists of twenty-five stories and is one of the biggest, successful architectural companies around this part of the company.

I got into my office after reminding my assistants that we were going to be meeting tomorrow in my office to come up with a better idea in which we were going to use to secure the project. I sank into my seat and breathed out a long sigh.

My chest was starting to get tighter, so I quickly popped a few buttons of my shirt open before loosening my tie a little. The files on my desk were not going to sort themselves and magically put my signature on it and I hated procrastinating my works hence I'd never get it done until the very last minute.

With that, I shrug out of my suit jacket and hung it behind my seat before slipping my reading glasses on to enable me to see the tiny words more clearly and got down to work.

***

I got home a few minutes after seven in the evening. The traffic was a little bit better than usual. I quickly changed out of my work clothes and set up my laptop since I wanted to do some work-related research tonight.

I stepped into the sparkling clean kitchen and pulled open the fridge to get a sprite before going over to the top shelves to get a pack of cookies before hurrying back to the couch where my MacBook was waiting for me.

I got to work immediately, stopping in between to pop a cookie into my mouth and wash it down with Sprite. I spent almost an hour researching and adding bookmarks to things I'd definitely come back to.

The timer on my phone dinged, reminding me of the plans I made with Oliver last night. I quickly checked the time which says it was some minutes after eight in the night. Shutting down my laptop, I head into the bedroom to get ready and used that opportunity to give my best friend a call so I could keep him updated.

Michael: Hi Jordannnn Jordan: Yo, how you been?

I asked loudly and quickly set the call to loudspeaker before placing the phone on my dressing table while I got ready.

I told Jordan of the conversation with Oliver and that I was currently preparing to go over to his place to discuss with him.

Michael: Are you sure that's a good idea?

I rolled my eyes while staring at my reflection in the mirror on my dressing table, I was currently combing my hair after spraying it with a can of oily liquid specifically for hairs and getting my earrings on, which were both tiny studs this time.

Jordan: Of course, I'm sure. What could go wrong?

Michael: A lot.

Jordan: Relax, I'm not having sex with him, that's never happened ever again. And besides, he's not a fool, is he? I'm sure he wouldn't want to do something sexual to me after finding out that I'm getting married to his brother.

Not like I was going to have sex with him even if he initiated it.

I slipped my wristwatch on before putting on my white sneakers and spraying myself a little bit of perfume. I had worn a white low-neck top, a jean jacket, and black pants.

Michael: it's settled then. Be careful.

Jordan: I will. Love ya!

Michael: Love ya.

I picked up my phone, car keys, and wallet before stepping out of the apartment and locking the door behind me. I rode the elevator down and exchanged a few words with the girls in the elevator until it got to the first floor. They asked if I could drop them off in a restaurant which was along the way leading to Oliver's house and I agreed immediately, since I could use the company as well.

Apparently the two girls were rooming together in an apartment on the floor above mine for months and we were only just crossing parts. They were best friends and had a double date tonight with people they've never met before, which was why they declined the people's offer to come pick them up at their apartment and had instead suggested that they all meet at the restaurant.

I dropped them off at the restaurant after exchanging numbers with them because they were really a good company, and also because I felt it would be nice to start getting to mingle with some of my neighbors.

I still remembered Oliver’s house clearly from that faithful Friday night hookup, so once I parked my car in the compound’s garage, I headed into the elevator and stopped on his floor before walking towards his apartment and knocking softly on his door.

I knocked again on getting no reply while shifting my weight from foot to foot, my second hand deep in my pocket, wrapped around my phone.

“Who’s it?” A deep voice which belonged to no other than Oliver called out from behind the door, and I swallowed quickly as I felt a small shiver slid down my spine.

“It’s Jordan,” I replied and bit my lip as the door swung open to reveal Oliver with bare feet. I noticed that immediately because I was staring at the floor when the door was pulled open.

I threw my head back after talking in a deep breath and waved a little at him, “Hey there, Jordan’s here.”

He stared down at me for a few seconds before easing away from the doorway and replied, “Oh, I’m sorry. C’mon in, Jordan.”

“Thank you.” I replied and flashed him a forced smile as I stepped across the doorway into the apartment, my heartbeat running miles every next second.

“I totally forgot I already made plans with you, which is why I’m so under dressed right now. I’m sorry.” Oliver said behind me, and I turned back around to stare up at him before shaking my head, “Oh no, it’s fine. Do you have other plans right now? We could reschedule if you want.” I reassured him while my eyes took in his said under dressed state.

He was currently in a pair of white shorts, a sleeveless jersey and a bandanna tied around his forehead to push his curls from falling into his face every time, I knew that because I had long hair and I know how disturbing it can get on some days.

“No, I don’t have other plans, other than to finish up something I was working on in my MacBook, that’s all.” He answered as he made his way into a room closest to the doorway leading back outside, I followed him into the room which turned out to be his sitting room.

“What would you like to drink?” He asked after I had sunk into one of the black colored sofas in his sitting room. I was starting to get thirsty, so I requested for a can of sprite because I was obsessed with it, he handed me the drink and disappeared out of the room to probably go round off what he was working on before I got here.

I glanced around the sitting room, noting how neat it looked. Led lights were on the whole four corners of the roof of the sitting room, giving off a party vibe as it kept changing colors. The television hanging on the wall was turned on and currently showing SpongeBob, which made me smile for a few seconds before digging out my phone from my pocket to check the time. It was already thirty minutes after nine.

I shoot Derek a text since I haven’t heard a thing from him since morning before dropping my phone on the spot beside me to pop my drink open.

After some minutes of me doing nothing but sipping my sprite, watching what was playing on the screen halfheartedly and almost getting lost in my thoughts completely, Oliver’s voice made me jolt a little the moment he got back into the sitting room.

“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting.”

I sat up straighter in my seat and watched as he sank into the seat before mine, which was for the very best.

“It’s fine. You done with your work now?” I asked before sipping from my drink slowly. I watched as he nodded and shook his head before letting out a small, sheepish smile. “Not really, I can’t get it done until I spend like two more hours on it, but don’t worry, I’ll just do it tonight before going to bed.” He answered truthfully and I nodded my head in understanding before puffing out a nervous breath and sitting up straighter in my seat since I knew that we were finally going to talk about the reason why I was here.

He pushed his curls off his forehead with the back of his arm while watching SpongeBob acting dumb in the television, which was when I just noticed he has pulled on a white shirt on his sleeveless jersey top and covering up his biceps and collarbone to my disappointment.

But I guess it really was for the best.

“So, I wanted to talk to you about... y’know, our hookup.” I started to say after taking in a deep breathe.

Oliver glanced away from the television and stared at me quietly for a few seconds before sitting up and placing his elbows on his knees. “I kind of figured out that, to be honest.” He replied and I swallowed emptily before pouring my sprite into my mouth and allowing the cool liquid to slid down my throat.

I was nervous as hell.

“There’s not much to discuss, honestly. I just wanted to explain a few things to you.” I continued, suddenly wanting to get this done completely and head back to my apartment.

“You don’t really need to explain a thing to me, I didn’t judge you so don’t worry about if I did or not.”

“Oh.” I echoed softly because I didn’t know what else to say, I expected everything else but this to happen.

“Yeah,” He echoed after me.

I blinked a few times at my fingers wrapped my drink on my Jean clad thighs before raising my head back up to stare at him, our eyes met and help for a few seconds before I looked away and took in a deep breath once again.

“Y’know I just want to explain it to you, I don’t want you to come to conclusions yourself.”

“Alright then, if you really want us to do this.” He agreed after a few seconds, his whole attention focused on me, making me shuffle nervous on my seat while squeezing the sprite can on my thighs since I had nothing else to do with my nervous fingers.

“So um, I don’t go around booking up with people.” I started to say but Oliver only raised his brow at me sarcastically without interrupting, his silence speaking volumes all at once.

“I seriously don’t.” I snapped when he kept on staring at me with a raised brow.

“I didn’t say a thing, did I?” Oliver argued immediately and I rolled my eyes before pointing out, “Your whole facial expression said all what was on your mind.”

“I mean, you don’t hook up with people, but you hooked up with me on that night, right?” Oliver continued and I stared at him for a few seconds before sighing softly. “I was yet to get to the main point before you concluded everything yourself.”

“I’m sorry.” He finally answered.

I swallowed the last of my drink before continuing, “So, as I was saying, I don’t usually do something like that. And y’know I’m engaged to your brother.” I paused for a moment. “The thing is, I don’t want you thinking I’m cheating on your brother, because I don’t do that, I’m not that kind of person.”

“Right.” Oliver stated with a nod of his head, I didn’t miss the sarcasm dripping off his deep voice.

“Look, I caught his fucking someone that wasn’t me a day before we hooked up, okay? I’ve never ever done a hook up with anyone apart from the ones I had during college days.”

“Derek cheated on... you?” He asked slowly and I nodded my head in reply.

“You don’t believe me.” I stated flatly, glaring at my fingers squeezing the empty can on my thighs.

“No, no... it’s not that, I just didn’t expect you to say this.” He defended himself immediately and I nodded my head once while still staring at my fingers.

“He cheated on me, and I got hurt, like really hurt because it felt like he had been doing something like that for a long time. I didn’t expect him to do something like that to me when our wedding was already in two months’ time, so I kind of had it in my head that I was going to also hurt him back by sleeping with someone else that wasn’t him, only that he didn’t know I had sex with someone else.”

“I don’t want you feeling awkward about it. I just needed to tell you because I didn’t want you to tell him about the time we slept together...” I continued saying but Oliver cut in.

“I’d never do something like that.”

“I know that now, I was just saying.”

“I still can’t believe my brother cheated on you.” Oliver stated unbelievably, his fingers clasped before him.

I shrugged my shoulders, “I guess mistakes does happen, I’m over it, also he said he wasn’t going to do something like that again.”

“I also don’t want you to confront him, just pretend as if we didn’t have this conversation...”

“Of course, I won’t.” He replied immediately before sitting up and stretching his feet out.

“I guess this is when I’m going to officially welcome you into the family? You’re still getting married to Derek, right?”

I nodded my head immediately, “Yeah, I am.”

“Welcome into the family then.” He called out and a small smile appeared on my face right before I ducked my head and dragged in a deep breath.

“Thank you, Oliver.”

“I take it you’re not really fond of revealing your smile to people?” Oliver asked and I blinked at him until the question sank into my head.

I breathed out a small laugh, “Oh, it’s not that, no. It’s just a thing I’m already used to doing unconsciously unless when I get really comfortable and relaxed around a person.”

“Oh, that. I guess you’re going to want to get yourself prepared for getting comfortable around me because I really want to see you smile brightly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not implying anything else, I just genuinely think you’d have a really pretty smile telling from the shape of your jaw and cheekbones.”

“Are you saying I’m pretty?” I demanded while scrunching my nose at him.

“I mean, you are pretty and I’m sure you know that.” He replied with a small laugh, his shoulders vibrating beneath his shirt a little as the smile made his eyes reduce into small slits.

“I don’t know about that, I’m not pretty, I’m not supposed to be pretty.”

“Oh. You don’t like the word?” He asked and I shook my head immediately in response.

“I honestly think it’s a word that really fits you. Y’know boys can be pretty, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I know. I just dunno. I’m not girly, am I? That’s a girl’s word, or for girly boys.”

“Oh no, that’s not true. The word can be used for anybody that it fits, the person’s gender doesn’t have anything to do with it.” Oliver explained, his hands moving around as his mouth moved fast.

I took in all what he said and processed them in my head, still feeling a little bit unsure.

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain more about it to you another time.” Oliver continued when I still didn’t say a thing.

I picked my phone up and checked what the time says, turns out it was already some minutes to eleven.

Shit, that’s late.

I pushed myself unto my feet while Oliver did the same immediately, I stared at the empty can still clutched in my grip just as Oliver noticed it.

“Let me have that,” He said before reaching for it just as I stretched it towards him, his large palm mistakenly wrapped around my wrist for a few seconds before he dragged his grip off and pried the can out of my grip, the tip of his fingers trailing over my fingers before his touch finally disappeared.

I shivered for a few seconds and took a step away from him to get my thoughts together, he did the same thing at the same time before disappearing into to kitchen to dispose the can.

What the heck is wrong with you, Jordan?

Get it together.

He appeared back into the sitting room in a few seconds and stood a few feet apart from me, I stared up at him and unconsciously bit on my lips as my eyes noticed how tight the shirt looks stretched out on his chest, the hands of the shirt clinging to his shoulders.

Gosh, this man is hot.

“Thank you for having me,” I started to say, and he nodded his head and waved a hand dismissively, “It’s fine, you’re welcome.”

“I have to go home now, it’s pretty late and I don’t want to keep you from getting back to what you were working on before I showed up.”

“Oh, I’ve honestly forgotten all about that.” He admitted with a small laugh, I knew that feeling just fine.

I headed towards the doorway leading outside his apartment while he trailed behind me, my gaze settled on the door where he had trapped me against that particular night as he kissed me senseless and got me worked up way more than anyone has ever been able to in my whole life. I swallowed emptily and tried not to stare at the door too hard to avoid being so obvious.

I placed my hand on the door handle and turned back around to stare up at him since he was only a few steps apart from me.

“Also, I’d like you to pretend like that night never happened. We didn’t know who we were because we didn’t even exchange names. That night was a mistake and it never happened. I expected him to not his head and agree immediately so I could get out of his hair... but I didn’t expect him to stare at me blankly like I wasn’t making sense before closing the space between us until our bodies was almost touching.

I took the last step behind and pressed myself into the unfortunate door while staring up at Oliver, my heart racing and jumping all over the space in my chest.

He placed a hand on the side beside my head and I swallowed emptily, silently praying for God to please not let what I was already thinking about happen.

He leaned down to my height, and I stared wildly at him, my eyelids boldly betraying me by fluttering for a very stupid reason.

Don’t let him kiss me please.

I chanted in my head because I knew all hell was going to break if he dared to kiss me.

“Of course, it never happened.” His voice flowed straight into my right ear that his lips was lightly as grazing over for a fleeting second before his touch complete disappeared.

Is this a kind of test from God? To see how much my willpower was going to last before I lost it and throw my arms around his neck?

I blinked up at him once he took a few steps away from me, a small knowing playing at the edges of his mouth. I flushed red and ducked my head in embarrassment, not missing the way his smile widened on cue.

I turned around and pulled the door open before stepping into the corridor before turning back towards the house to wave at him.

“Goodbye Jordan.” He greeted as I made my way down the corridor and into the elevator, wishing everything was not the way it currently was.