It was lunchtime and Ana didn't even realise how quickly the day had passed. Stacy peeped through the door and looked at Ana going through some files. "Ana, let's go. I'm starving."

Ana looked up and responded "I'll be there," before closing the file as well as the laptop and standing up. She picked up her phone, shut off the lights in her office, and walked over to join Stacy.

"I can't believe how quickly the day has passed," Ana commented with a smile while Stacy sighed.

"These days, I'm starting to feel a little bored," Stacy complained, to which Ana retorted, "Your boss is far better than mine. Why would you complain about that bi*ch?"

"I know, Mister Whit- I mean Jake is great. But I just don't seem to enjoy my work as much as you do." She shrugged, earning a dramatic scream from Ana.

"JAKE?"

"Yes, he doesn't appreciate it when people refer to him as Mister White," Stacy replied and rolled her eyes when she glanced at the dramatic expressions on Ana's face, whose eyes were wide open and her mouth wide agape.

"You have a fantastic boss," Ana commented and nodded her head, somehow feeling bad for herself when she compared Austin to Jake briefly. Given how different they were from one another, she found it hard to imagine that they were best friends.

While chatting about various absurd topics, they kept moving in the direction of the office cafeteria until Ana ran into someone. "Ouch~ I'm sorry." She quickly apologised, only to notice Jake's hooded eyes.

"Oh, Ana! While walking, keep an eye out for potential hazards." Jake said with his fake anger which seemed too real to Ana.

Ana's heart began thumping and her face held terror. "I'm sorry, Mister White. I was jus-"

"Ana, I'm kidding. I'm not a serious person like Austin. By the way, Jake." He laughed heartily and corrected Ana.

Stacy smiled, not feeling anything awkward while Ana feigned laughter. It might be almost two years for Ana to work with them, but she couldn't get used to the friendly and kind behaviour of Jake, who was also like a boss to her.

How could a person be so friendly, kind and charming? She thought while staring at the charming smile of Jake. His pearly white teeth were visible and his eyes formed crescents when he smiled widely.

"Jake it is." She flashed a genuine smile as she corrected herself, only to receive a sweet smile from the male.

"Are you both going to the cafeteria?" Jake asked them before they could take any further steps.

"Yes," Ana and Stacy responded together.

"Can I join?" Biting his bottom lip in anticipation, Jake asked. Ana and Stacy looked at each other and gave a nod. "Sure, why not!"

Jake was going to say "thank you" to the girls for letting him join when someone interrupted, "Hello, beautiful ladies." Suddenly, John showed up there, winking as he spotted Jake with the two beautiful girls.

Ana responded while blushing "Hello, Mister Williams!" She was staring at John with whipped eyes, quietly fangirling, but no one noticed her.

John was clad in an all-black formal outfit and had his ravenette hair parted in the centre, exposing his forehead and allowing the stands to fall close to his eyes. His bambi deep black eyes appeared enchanting, especially to Ana as she was lost in them.

"Oh, sweetie! Stop being so boring like Austin. Call me John babygi-" Before he could finish his flirty statement, Jake slapped his arm and whispered sternly, "Enough, John!"

After realising he had overreached himself, John stopped being flirty. This time, he asked with a serious expression on his face. "Where are you all heading to?" In response, Jake replied, "For lunch."

"I hate the food here. It tastes awful." John whined like a baby as he scrunched his button nose. A pout formed on his lips and Ana couldn't stand the sight since it was so adorable. She did, however, respond decently. "Couldn't agree more. I considered bringing food from home. But I didn't have time to prepare today because I had to be here early."

"Then bring it tomorrow, for us as well. Let's leave right now, or Austin will murder you," Jake spoke while looking at his wristwatch.

"Oh right! That Hitler-" Stacy quickly slapped her arm which made her bite her tongue apologetically.

Jake and John exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.

"My apologies. It slipped out of my mouth. Please don't say anything to him." Ana lowered her head as a wave of guilt washed over her.

Jake thought, "He knows it already, girl," and shook his head with a sweet smile while noticing the innocent look on his girl's face.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

After lunch, Ana was engrossed in her work inside her cabin. Suddenly, her work desk's 2-Line Corded Telephone rang.

She assumed it was Austin when she received the call and so, she answered it professionally. "Yes sir?"

"Hello, honey. It's John."

Ana heard John's soft voice and her eyes widened. A smile formed on her lips unconsciously. "Oh yeah, He-hello Sir. I mean John Sir. Mister Williams? Ho-" Her eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated the proper way to address him.

"Sweetie, Relax and take it easy. You seem nervous. Did Austin yell at you?"

"Oh no-no. It's nothing, sir. Why did you call?" Ana responded nervously, getting right on the point, even if she wanted nothing more than to talk with her crush over a call for more than an hour if that was possible.

"I'm unable to contact Austin. Can you check on him? I need to speak with him right away."

"Of course, sir. I'll follow up with him and get back to you in a moment." Ana responded and once she received an "okay," she cut the call and walked out of her cabin, making her way toward her boss' office.

Ana knocked twice on Austin's door, but no one answered. She peered through the door like a curious child, waiting for a loud irritated voice to yell at her for acting unprofessionally. However, Austin was sleeping soundly on the back of his chair, much to her astonishment.

Ana walked inside after closing the door and stood near the sleeping figure. She was confused, but above all, she was genuinely worried.

As long as he isn't feeling well, he never sleeps in his office. And there are only a few occasions when he gets ill. He takes better care of himself than anyone I've ever met or seen.

"Sir? Is everything okay with you?" She asked him softly, almost whispering in his ear. But he didn't flinch.

Shall I give him a gentle shake?

"Sir?" She said carefully, trying to shake him gently.

"Is he sweating? What am I going to do now?" She talked to herself as usual until something struck her mind.

Towel- oh yes, there will be a soft towel in my cabin.

"Sir? Are you able to hear me? I'll return in a moment. Please wait a little longer." She spoke softly and was about to turn around until a hand grabbed her wrist weakly. He whispered something in a low voice, which was too low for her to understand.

"Sir, what are you looking for?" She questioned and tried to move closer to him to decipher his words.

I'm unable to hear him, she thought.

She placed her ear near his lips closing the distance between them so that he was audible to her. "M-med-" He repeated in hushed tones.

"Yes, medicine. Where is it?" Ana responded urgently as soon as she understood his words.

"J-Jake," Austin replied weakly, not opening his eyes. He began shivering and Ana pited him.

"Jake? Do you want Jake? That makes no sense." Realization hit her all of a sudden. "Oh, you mean Jake knows, right? Wait, sir."

Ana dialled Jake's number immediately using Austin's cordless phone and waited for the call to be received.

"Yes, Mister Smith? How may I help you?" Jake questioned playfully.

"S-Sir? I-I mean J-Jake? Mister Smith is no-"

When Jake heard Ana stuttering, his brows furrowed. He was worried would be an understatement. "Ana, take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

"Mister Smith has a fever. Please come here fast."

"I'll be there right away."

Ana placed the phone back on the desk and hurried to her cabin, grabbed a soft towel, and placed it under the running faucet.

"He was fine," Ana talked to herself. "What's going on here all of a sudden? I've never seen him so vulnerable. It's a little strange, isn't it?"

She snapped out of her reverie and dashed over to Austin's office again. She turned off the air conditioner and placed the damp towel on his forehead.

She took his blazer from the stand and draped it over his chest while muttering, "Sir, you'll get better. Don't worry."

___

After a few moments, Jake barged into Austin's office. Nervousness took over him when he looked at an unusual sight.

"Ana? What happened to him and how did it happen? Is he in good health?" Jake bombarded those questioned worriedly as he walked toward Austin's sleeping figure.

"I don't know. He was asking for some sort of medicine. I inquired as to where it was, and he mentioned your name." Ana responded calmly, but she felt bad for her boss nonetheless. He might be the most annoying person in her life at the moment, but seeing him in this state made her feel bad.

"Excuse me while I check his drawers." Jake checked the drawers and somehow found the medicines. "All right, here it is. I'll phone his family doctor and inquire about his condition. Is it possible to have someone prepare something for him? He- Ahh! Nevermind."

He bit his lips and yelled at himself in his mind. How could he forget his friend's problem just because he was worried about him? He couldn't just go around asking favours from anyone when he knew it could just backfire.

"I'm on my way." Ana bolted from Austin's office without waiting for Jake's response.

"Ana, wait... God, I'm doomed now."

After almost fifteen minutes, Ana returned to the office with a bowl in her hand. "Sir, I made some Congee for Mister Smith." She said, huffing a little since she rushed her way back to the office.

"You?" Jake was astonished.

"Yes. I asked our chefs to prepare it. However, because I dislike the food they cook, I would not want Mister Smith to eat such inedible food while he is ill." She sighed dramatically and shook her head, causing Jake to let out a smile at her cuteness.

"Let me taste it first." Jake took a step forward to taste. He reached for the spoon and was about to take the first scoop when Ana nearly yelled, forcing him to stop.

"You think I'll add poison or something? Don't you trust me? I'm not crazy."

Jake's eyes softened after looking at Ana's enraged expression. He patted Ana's shoulder and said, "Calm down, Ana. His doctor advised him to eat foods that are low in sodium. He gave me certain instructions that I'm following because I'm not a doctor."

Ana mentally slapped herself for shouting at her superior. She was confused as to why she would behave irrationally all of a sudden. She was quick to apologize for her behaviour nonetheless. "Sorry, sir. I'm just worried and I didn't realize what-"

"Calm down and let me taste, yeah?!"

What the actual f*ck? It's just a normal congee for a sick person. How can she cook so well?

"Make him eat. I'll return after purchasing some medications that the doctor recommended." Jake returned her the spoon and turned to head out.

"Sir?" Ana called him softly, making him turn back to face her.

"Jake it is. Is there anything else, Ana?"

"Is he going to be okay?" She asked while looking at the bowl in her hand.

"Don't you hate him?" Jake asked with a raised brow that made her look at me. He wanted to chuckle at her cute expressions, especially when she blinked her wide ocean-blue eyes innocently. However, he refrained from doing so.

"I just find him irritating, but I want to see him shout at me now that he is like this. I've been seeing him with that Hitler attitude of his for the past two years. This man lying lifeless in front of me seems boring. It worries me." She sighed, chewing her lower lip. Her expressions appeared like she was genuinely worried for her boss and it made Jake's heart feel warm.

The girl who always acted like she hated the existence of her boss was genuinely worried about him and Jake somehow felt proud of his heart to beat wildly for that girl.

"You're cute, girl. Make him eat this before it gets cold." He smiled and spoke while pointing at the bowl.

She slapped her head lightly. "Oh yes! I'm so stupid. You can go get the medicines while I make him eat this."

I suppose I should get out of here before I can't stop myself from grabbing her in my arms. I love her so much. Jake, your friend needs you, and look at how shameless you are. Now is the time to leave.