Before going to sleep, I emailed Noelle regarding my absence and gave her instructions for the meetings and other important things that have been scheduled for the day. The CT scan result would not be out 'til lunchtime, and I've decided that if it was clear, I was going to get the hell out of here.

I'd already showered and changed at my place, so all I had to do was sleep. The room was rather warm, so I searched the living room for the remote for the air conditioner.

"Are you really staying to watch over me?" his hard voice came out of nowhere; it made me jump and stumble back into the couch.

"Holy jeez! Don't do that!" I scolded him with my eyes closed and my hand over my chest.

When I opened my eyes, he was leaning against the wall drying his hair and wearing only a pair of blue printed boxers, looking at me with an amused smirk. I could tell he shaved but still left that five o'clock shadow he's already perfected. He was not as pale as I remembered. Maybe he's gone to the beach recently because his skin was a golden tan, making the cuts around his chest and abdomen more visible. Fucking definition. I wonder how long it would take for my abs to get that sort of definition?

Oh. My. Fucking. Hell. What the hell did I just say?

I closed my eyes and calmed myself down before answering. I didn't want him to know his effect on me. I even didn't want to acknowledge it.

"Yes. Otherwise, Jaxx is going to kill me."

"Is Jaxx the reason? Because you don't have to stay if you don't want to," his voice had an edge to it. I couldn't tell his expression as I have kept my eyes closed, afraid of the thoughts that might suddenly spring into my fertile mind if he maintained standing by the door in his boxers.

"Don't worry. I won't. Once the results say you're fine, I'll be on my way, and you can be by yourself," I replied stubbornly. I caught a whiff of pine and mint, and my heart accelerated several more beats. When I didn't hear him anymore, I opened my eyes to see the remote on the space beside me.

Well, that was stealthy. I didn't even hear his footsteps. Or maybe it was because my heart was beating so loud. But it didn't matter as long as I could sleep in peace.

♤

The smell of coffee brewing woke me up. I thanked heaven for nanny Elena, thinking I was in my condo and Justin was visiting. I stretched and immediately felt sore in my neck. Sitting up, I rubbed my neck. I was still groggy, my eyes were still heavy, but I wanted my morning hug, so I called the rascal.

"Justin, baby, where are you?"

"You could at least remember the names of people whom you go home with. It's basic etiquette in sleeping with someone," a rich baritone voice full of contempt filled the room. Then I remembered where I was.

"For your information, your royal highness, I do remember the names of the women I sleep with. And I don't go home with men, just so you know," I snapped. I couldn't believe he was being a total pain in the ass so early in the morning. I prayed for the gods just to let him have a concussion so that he would fall into a coma and never wake up. That would make my life so much better.

"But Justin would be the exception, no?" his sarcasm lacing his words.

"Yes, because I love that boy so much I would do anything for him. Justin incidentally happens to be that boy whom you made the paper lions for, you asshole. Now, if you can't say anything nice, would you kindly shut up?" I lost my appetite for coffee or anything from his kitchen. I quickly changed my shirt and put on my jeans.

"I can say whatever I want. You happen to me at my place."

"I don't have to be, especially when I have to wake up to a daft prick such as yourself." I picked up my wallet, phone, and keys before heading for the door.

"A bit shirty this morning, are we not? Where are you going?" he stopped dipping his tea bag and observed my rash behavior.

"Out of here, Captain Obvious. Did your head injury cause you to be blind, or are you just plain stupid?" I snapped before stepping out of his unit and slamming the door.

Jacob's condo was a good eight or ten blocks from my place, so I decided to stop by the café in front of Cara's hospital. If I were lucky, maybe she would be free for a quick bite.

Asshole.

Fuckwit. 

Prick.

Shithead.

Fifteen minutes later, I was seated in the coffee shop, calming myself with a nice cup of soy latte and listening to Cara laugh at me.

"You're so petty! What happened to the levelheaded, logical, and cool Ace I know?"

"The irrational, prissy, nit-picky Ace has abducted him and taken over his brain," I chuckled. "I don't know, Cars, I've been high strung lately and this Jacob character just pisses me off quicker than anyone. It's like after that first time I picked him up from the precinct, I could not stand him."

"Maybe you're insecure of him. Is he hotter than you? More buff? Does he have more admirers?" she teased.

"Please. I'm not insecure. And I don't care for admirers and shit. I've been best friends with your ex for the longest time," I gave her a teasing look. She rolled her eyes.

"Let's not talk about him. I'm already constantly reminded of him for at least an hour every day. I think that's enough thoughts of him for one day, don't add to it," she said, biting into her croissant.

"Anyway, this Jacob guy. You should cut him a little slack, dude. He doesn't sound like a bad guy. Maybe you've just hastily misjudged him after your first encounter and he isn't that horrible after all?  I mean, he even brewed coffee for you."

"What? What even made you think that?"

"Why would you wake up to the smell of coffee yet find him dipping his 'stupid teabag' you hoped would tear so he'd end up drinking the tea leaves? Clearly, he's a tea person. Aren't most English people?"

"I have no idea what he prefers. He may be a freak of English nature and prefer coffee over tea," I scoffed, refusing to believe the coffee was for me. Maybe I was simply imagining the scent.

"Give the guy a chance. Besides, You said it yourself; he gets along well with Bart and the rest of the people at the office. He's even friends with the grouch of a COO."

"And Jaxx. Say it. Say his name!" I teased her again. I didn't like to agree with what she said because it sounded right. I may have misjudged him, but he still ticked me.

"Ugh. Jaxx. Benedict Jackson. There, I said it. Now it's your turn. Will you try and forgive the guy and go back and check on him? Vince was not kidding when he said you have to observe for the next twenty-four hours."

"Only if you and Jaxx kiss and make up already," I countered, to which she rolled her eyes.

"I guess Jacob can drop dead then," she snorted, making me laugh a little.

"Isn't twenty-four hours too long? Isn't he allowed to sleep, too?" I asked.

"The recommendation is twenty-four hours. I'm not exaggerating." She gave me a serious look before shifting her gaze over my right shoulder.

"I guess your wish has finally been granted, Ace," she said, still staring.

"What?" I turned around to see the news headline stating that Carlo Saavedra was now the prime suspect of Mayor Gestuvo's death, and they had reason to believe it was not a homicide but murder.

"Hey, I loathe the guy but I didn't wish for him to kill someone," I said and faced her again.

"No, I meant that he's getting his karma. It's not always an eye for an eye. Karma's a bitch so yeah. Glad he got his," she shrugged and finished her iced coffee noisily.

"Aw. You really love me, don't you? So much that you forget you're a doctor and you're supposed to be treating people, not wishing them dead," I cocked my head and pinched her cheek. She swatted my hand, giggling as she did.

"Since you're so much in denial about everything right now, I'll be happy for the both of us that he's getting what he deserved. Now go. I have surgery in twenty minutes," she dismissed me.

I begrudgingly left the café and made my slow return to the lion's den. My conversation with Cara kept replaying in my mind. If I told her the smaller details of how I felt towards the guy, would her perception of me change? Would her advice change?

My phone rang in the middle of crossing the street, cutting off my thoughts.

"Hey man, where are you?" Jaxx asked.

"Walking back to your condo. Just had breakfast out," I told him honestly. "What's up?"

"I was just wondering why our patient just timed in and is currently sitting in my office, rambling."

I almost tripped. "What is he doing there?"

"I asked you first. Dammit, Ace, I don't know what to do with the two of you. You're worse than a cat and a dog in a cage," he sighed.

"Tell that feline he's disrespectful, as always. I'm the goddamned CEO, yet he acts like he owns the firm! I shouldn't have moved my meetings for him. Now I'm swamped for the rest of the damn week. Inconsiderate asshole!" I snarled. "Let him work if he wants to. Let him get a concussion. Like I give a fuck. I'm taking the day off. I'll get my stuff from your condo later."

Just when I was going to give him a chance, he does something stupid like this. I don't think I misjudged him. I just saw through him before everyone else.

I made a sharp left and headed for my condo, thinking of ways to hurt the bloody engineer with each step.

Asshole.

Fuckwit.

Prick.

Shithead.

Why the hell am I so mad at him?

Crap!

In desperate need of a distraction, I called another friend. "Val, are you busy today?"

"I'm free for lunch, but that's it. Got a day off from your slave driver?" she laughed.

"Got a day off for a different reason, which is why I need to vent out before my head will explode," I explained through the speaker as I changed for the gym. Maybe having a free Wednesday wasn't so bad after all.

After two hours at the gym, I headed to the mall to meet Val at the restaurant. I was ten minutes late and I discovered we weren't alone, much to my chagrin. Chino was laughing with Val while Seb was telling a story and hogging the nachos.

"Are you sure he's not gay or bi or something?" Val asked.

"Who's gay? Who are we talking about?" I chimed in, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"You, we were talking about you. Are you gay?" Seb asked with a straight face.

"The fuck?" I was caught off guard. "Of course I'm not!"

"Okay, how about that computer guy?" he asked with his mouth full of nachos. "God, I'm so hungry. Where the hell are my baby back ribs?"

I grinned and shook my head. Typical Seb: talk, eat, and complain at the same time.

 I scanned the menu even though I had an idea what I was going to have. When the waiter arrived with their orders, I gave him mine. I didn't mind that they were all quiet, passing it off as hunger-related. However, when I looked up from my phone, nobody has touched their food, not even Seb, and they were all staring at me.

"What?" I stared at them.

"What's up with the computer guy?" Seb asked.

"What about him? What are you even doing here?" I asked, annoyed that both he and Chino are hogging my supposedly alone time with Val.

"Stop evading and answer the question. Don't make me interrogate you, Ace," Chino threatened through excessively narrowed eyes.

"Ooh, I'm so scared, Attorney Aiden Gochino is in the house. But I believe I haven't violated any labor law by employing that devil, so I don't need your services just yet," I replied and popped a French fry in my mouth.

"See? See?" Seb excitedly bounced on his seat whilst pointing at me. I sighed and exaggeratedly rolled my eyes.

"Ever since that dude came into existence in your life, you've been having PMS non-stop, you've lost your cool, and you never hang out with us anymore. You've become an angry, whiny little bitch, which you never were, by the way, because that's this other guy over here. But only sometimes!" Seb clarified as Chino shot him a glare while holding the steak knife firmly with his right hand.

"So? He's a gargantuan pain in the ass! Like this morning, for example, which is the main reason why I called Val," I glared at her and her eyes widened.

"You didn't say you wanted to talk alone. Chino was in the area and Seb happened to be free, so I asked them to join us," she said casually and flipped her hair. "So, why does the sexy hunk piss you off anyway?"

I was a bit nonplussed with her choice of adjectives but kept my cool and proceeded to tell them everything from the very first meeting to all the times he's been a dick, to the fight club because I didn't respect the first rule, though I did tell them to keep it a secret otherwise Jaxx might have my head.

It has only been a few months, yet he has managed to ignite many emotions in me in the wrong end of the spectrum – anger, annoyance, fury, confusion, thrill, disgust, fear. None of which was the good kind. I left out the unnerving moments we had and the awkward mood going on when it was just the two of us. They did not need to know that.

By the time I was done, the food was cold and untouched. I was surprised that even Seb did not touch his ribs.

"So there. I have every right to feel disrespected and affronted and just be absolutely irritated," I ended my litany. "Why isn't anybody eating?"

"Oh, man. Now my ribs are cold. Dammit!" Seb cursed and asked the waiter to reheat our food. The poor guy smiled, but I saw him scratch his head as he left.

We quickly forgot the topic of Jacob once the food arrived again and we finally enjoyed a warm meal. Chino was talking about his partner in the firm, trying to get Val to date the guy. I felt more at ease now that I've poured out the emotions I've bottled up.

"I still can't believe you feel that way for Jacob. He seems like a nice guy," Val said thoughtfully as she ate a spoonful of cheesecake.

"Here we go again," I groaned. "He's a nice guy, and I'm the bad guy, huh?"

"Didn't he try to kiss you in your kitchen?" Seb suddenly asked. Val choked on her dessert while Chino almost spat his coffee.

"Holy shit! He did he really do that?" Val screamed once her throat was clear, though she was tearing from coughing. It was a good thing it was a busy lunch hour and the room was noisy. Only the tables closest to ours were able to hear Val's dirty mouth.

"No, he didn't. Seb, stop making up stories, will you?" I grumbled and shut my eyes, feeling the heat in my cheeks and ears. I did not need to be told. I knew I was fire engine red at this point. For the first time, I didn't have the energy to retaliate. His question weakened me too much.

My heart began to beat wildly as I recalled that moment and the moment in the office. An embarrassed smile almost made its way to my face, but I quickly bit my inner cheek.

Why is this happening to me? Why is my body not cooperating with me? Why? I grunted, frustrated.

"Called it!" Seb shouted triumphantly while Val squealed. Chino just laughed, and they did high fives with each other.

"What on earth is going on? What did you call?"

"Should I tell him?" Seb questioned the two.

"Nope," Chino shook his head, grinning. "He'll figure it out soon enough."

"Fuck you guys, I'm right in front of you. Stop being rude!"

"You know Jacob seems like a charming gentleman, sexy and hot. I'd willingly shag him," Val said dreamily as she rested her chin on her hand. My scowl from their rudeness evaporated but there was something else that surged in my chest.

Stunned was an understatement. I was heavily conflicted with the contradictory feelings warring within me. My eyes went wide but my brows also furrowed. I didn't know what to say to Val without making myself sound possessive or suspicious. I was appalled, disgusted, and offended all at once when I should not be feeling any of those emotions! This is foolishness!

She sighed and shook her head, snapping out of her trance. "But maybe I shouldn't. You know, bro-code and shit."

  ♤♡ ♧ ♢