While Pippa knows for a fact Jasper was with his sister last weekend, she can't resist an opportunity to tease him while simultaneously announcing Tina's ridiculous words.

So when she enters the office, Pippa makes a beeline for Jasper, who is twirling an ink pen around in his hand while looking at something on his computer.

"Good-morning, Jas! A little birdie named Tina told me you had a date last weekend!" Pippa gasps with her hand over her chest. "And you didn't tell me?" She ends her dramatics with a large grin, settling down at her desk.

Jasper watches her with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You're a wonderful actress, Pip. I know you're secretly heartbroken," he plays along, swivelling his chair slightly.

Pippa gasps once again.

"What ever am I to do, for you have caught me in my deception!" Pippa exclaims dramatically, laying the back of her hand across her forehead.

Jasper chuckles, and Pippa straightens up with a grin on her lips.

"Tina really said that, huh?" Jasper asks, sticking his pen behind his ear and crossing his arms over his chest.

"She did," Pippa confirms, playing with the hem of her skirt. Jasper observes this, but doesn't say anything.

"Did you tell them she was my sister?" He asks, a small smirk playing on his lips as he leans forward in his seat and props his head on his fists.

"Do you think they believed me?" Pippa retorts, raising an eyebrow. Jasper shakes his head slowly.

"I—"

Pippa's cell phone rings, cutting Jasper off. Pippa sighs, glancing at him apologetically as she answers the phone. Jasper leans back in his seat, motioning for Pippa to continue with the phone call.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers apologetically as the person on the other line begins to speak.

"Hey, Pip. How's it going?" The voice asks. Pippa's eyes widen as she realises just who is on the other side of the phone.

"Hey, Brian. Why'd you call me?" Pippa asks, highly suspicious as to why her ex boyfriend has decided to call her out of the blue. She gives Jasper the 'i-don't-know-who-this-guy-thinks-he-is-to-call-me-up-after-three-months-of-heartbreak' look. Jasper simply raises his eyebrows, swivelling his chair back to face his computer. Pippa feels a strange pang if guilt, but disregards it.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Brian asks, clearly up to something. Pippa wracks her brain for an excuse, but can think of none.

"I'm busy, Brian."

"Oh, come on! How about me and you go out tomorrow night?"

"No."

"Just give me one more chance! One more! If you don't like the date, I'll leave you alone for good."

Pippa considers the offer. It's just one date, what harm could one more date do?

A lot.

While Pippa has yet to admit it aloud, she does like Jasper, and going on the date with Brian would be almost like cheating on Jasper in some strange, psychological way. Even though she and Jasper aren't together and probably never will be.

Pippa sighs.

"Let me think about it."

"I'm giving you until noon tomorrow. A simple 'yes' or 'no' will suffice."

Pippa hangs up. She can't hear anymore of it.

Suddenly, she can still feel her heart shattering into trillions of small shards, laying there for her to step on and bleed.

Pippa clutches her chest.

Jasper observes Pippa's pale pallor, concern filling his chest. He watches as Pippa takes a deep breath to steady herself.

"What did he say, Pip?" He asks, scooting his chair closer to the visibly shaken woman.

Pippa shakes her head, her hands moving to play with the hem of her skirt. She inhaled deeply, followed by a long exhale.

"Okay, you don't have to tell me. Just nod if I need to punch his lights out," Jasper assures her, placing a gentle hand on Pippa's to stop her from picking the thread out of her skirt hem. Pippa shakes her head and clears her throat.

"No, I just—for a moment, I swear I could feel my heart shatter again," she admits, cautiously glancing at Jasper through her eyelashes. Jasper nods once, rubbing patterns across the back of Pippa's hand.

Jasper's heart flutters wildly.

"Okay, well if you need to talk, I'm open to it," Jasper reminds her, offering Pippa a small smile. Pippa finds herself mirroring the smile.

Jasper scoots away from Pippa, going back to his desk.

Pippa suddenly feels cold.