Episode 2

Giane

By lunchtime, I feel tired, not because I worked too much, since I hate being idle, but because of all the emotional burden. I'm sure Peter only took Paul's place to punish me after the tragic day we had when he openly declared that he would never be with me - a part of me that loved him broke.

I could say that what happened between us from the beginning was love, we never had anything more than exchanged glances and an incredible immediate connection, but as soon as he found out who my father was, my life turned upside down, and being protected by his father and friends with his brother made the situation even worse.

"Jane, take these documents to Stella," he said, throwing a folder of papers onto my desk. Sometimes, he just liked to think he humiliated me by spending the morning with his "lover" or by using me as a messenger, but all I felt was pity.

"Right away, boss," I said with a huge smile on my face. He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and stared at me in confusion. "Anything else, Mr. Mason?"

He shook his head and went to his office. He knew I hated that ridiculous nickname he gave me, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I would endure these three months of Paul's leave and not lose control. Soon, my ex-love will be gone.

And the good thing about doing what he asked now is that I can take my lunch break right after. I made plans with my friend Nelly from reception to have lunch together. The only downside is that she keeps trying to set me up with her architect brother, who works for one of the biggest architecture firms in the country, Beckers Company.

"Mr. Mason sent a document for your boss," I said to the secretary on the floor, and I heard a clearing of throat behind me.

"Why didn't you come to my office, Giane?" Stella said, taking the papers from my hand. "You have to understand that we're not enemies."

"I don't consider you an enemy, Stella," I warned, and as I was leaving, she placed her hand on my arm.

"I don't know what happened between you and Peter, but believe me, I won't let him use me to make you jealous," she said, and I furrowed my brow.

"Don't worry, Stella. The only thing that exists between Mr. Mason and me is a work relationship," I said, and I saw him coming towards us. Why did he ask me to deliver the documents if he was coming here? Idiot. "Between Peter and me, nothing will ever happen. I don't want it, he doesn't want it, and I would never do that to myself. I have respect for myself."

I pulled away from her grip and walked past my boss without making eye contact. We had become strangers for a while now, but who cared? I knew he had heard, I knew my words didn't hurt him as much as his hurtful words to me. I still have nightmares about that day.

"What's with that face?" Nelly asked after we finished eating and I declined the dessert we usually ordered, pretending to be on a diet. "One day, you'll tell me what happened between you and our new handsome boss."

She was new to the company, well, almost three months now, and we got along well from her first day. Maybe it's because we're around the same age, I'm just a year older than her.

"First of all, he's ridiculous," I thought, completing her sentence in my head, "ridiculously attractive." "Secondly, I have nothing to tell if nothing ever happened."

"Okay, fine then. Next weekend, we're going to a party. My brother got free passes from the boss. Apparently, Mr. Becker used to own the club, and whenever he can, he gives out tickets to some employees," she said, thrilled by her brother's success. "Oh no, that look means you're going to decline."

"My mom's traveling," I told her, and she celebrated. "Actually, I'm thinking of going to your place for a peaceful night of sleep."

"Still having problems with the new neighbor?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Today, a jaybird had the nerve to greet me with a good morning, can you believe it?" I said, crossing my arms.

"I bet she was grinning from ear to ear" she said dreamily "after all, not just anyone gets that lucky all night long."

"Oh, even you?" I scoffed "let's go, my boss is in a bad mood today."

"I don't understand how you talk to him like that and still have a job" she said, not understanding my relationship with the Mason family and my friendship with Lilith, my boss's wife.

"You don't need to understand, you just need to support me and not let me punch that idiot in the face" I said, and she smiled as I pretended to throw punches in the air.

"Listen, Giane, the more you deny love, the more it grows" she said, and I ignored her, pretending not to hear. If only things were that easy. I started talking about my neighbor and how I was itching to report him to the building superintendent or just make a scene at his door.

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