Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy
Written by BansheeGirl
A/N: Wow! Fast update! Thanks for reading this fic, and please leave me a review once you're done! It'll only take a minute or so, and I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1 or 2 if you're really interested in a disclaimer for this ficcie!
Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy
Chapter 5: A Gentle Word
"Jessica!" Michael yelled, hailing his boss from across the large reception area. The woman paused in mid-step, peering down from the wide flight of stairs that she had begun to ascend. She waited as her executive assistant wove through the myriad of people sifting in opposite directions through the open floor to catch up with her. As he levelled with Jessie, the pair continued up the flight of stairs to arrive at another area equally as busy as the reception area below.
"I'm glad I caught up with you," Michael started, as he and Jessie slowed to a standstill, "You really need to arrive at your office on time, Jessica."
Jessie rolled her eyes unappreciatively. "I'm sure I can do without your lectures, Michael." Already bored with the blonde-haired man, she gazed away to spot one of the many 'gophers' of the Paramount Corps. of Saunders offices, and quickly called the young boy over. He fumbled with a large stack of loose papers cradled in his arms, and hurried over to hear the woman's requests.
"Yes, Miss Avalon? What can I do for you?" Only about eighteen years old, Jessie remembered the boy as being a relatively new recruit. She fruitlessly tried to recall the boy's name.
"You… what's your name?" She eventually asked, coming to the conclusion that she probably never even made an effort to learn the boy's name in the first place.
The boy looked extremely uncomfortable as he struggled to keep his stack of papers together. "Uh… My name? It's Bernard."
"Right, Bernard. Get me an extra tall latté from downstairs, will you? Two sugars, pronto," Jessie ordered.
"And a cappuccino for me, thanks Bernard," Michael chose to add. Both Michael and Jessie watched as Bernard took an almost stunned moment to process the requests, before nodding and exiting the scene.
Jessie turned back to Michael. "What is it that you wanted me for?"
"Of course," Michael began, remembering why he had needed to see Jessie so urgently. "Were you aware that there's a surveying team heading over to Fieldsville in a helicopter tomorrow?"
"No, I wasn't," Jessie said, frowning disapprovingly.
"It seems that the tourism division working on the Fieldsville project only confirmed the trip yesterday. They contacted me earlier, asking as to whether you perhaps would like to join the surveying team tomorrow."
Jessie sighed. She had been trying to ignore the Fieldsville project ever since her meeting with James the previous week. "I'm sure that there's really no need for me to go. I have far more productive things to be doing here."
"What, like sleeping in and ordering coffee?" Michael retorted, only to instantly receive an evil look from his boss. He pulled up his hands and outstretched them in a stance of surrender. "Look, it's just that you probably need to check out the place and listen to what the surveying team has to say on-site. In any case, you only have that meeting with John Marden tomorrow. I can easily handle that for you, plus any paperwork you were planning on doing."
Jessie eyed her executive assistant. It was a rare thing for Michael to offer to do any of the tedious paperwork that formed one of the unfortunate low points of her occupation. "Fine then, I guess I'll go," she conceded.
"Great. I'll contact the tourism division and let them know."
Jessie nodded and picked up the briefcase she had rested on the floor during her conversation with Michael. "I must head up to my office now, if there's nothing else, Michael."
"Actually, I'm heading that way myself. I'll walk you up there," Michael said, and the pair began moving once again. "I was talking to John Hill yesterday, and discovered some quite amusing information."
Jessie looked to Michael as they walked to see that the man displayed a devilish grin. "John Hill? The mayor of the Saunders City Council?" She asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The one and only. Anyway, it seems that our dear James Morgan decided to pay a visit to the council offices last week after his little encounter here," Michael said, chuckling. Jessie felt an odd sensation at the mentioning of her ex- Team Rocket partner. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to continue listening to this story that Michael seemed so eager to tell of the lavender-haired man.
"Morgan went right off at John. Apparently he was absolutely livid. He stormed right into John's private office and was yelling about injustice, corruptness and all that sort of garbage. John just called in the security guards and had the lunatic thrown out," Michael laughed.
Jessie forced an amused smile as the pair stepped into an elevator. Michael continued talking as the doors closed and the small compartment ascended. "The guy was this close," he said, lifting his hand to indicate a very small amount between his thumb and index finger, "to getting arrested. Surely that will have taught him a lesson or two." The elevator opened and both Michael and Jessie walked out into a new corridor.
"I'll see you later on, undoubtedly," Michael said, veering off into another corridor as Jessie continued on toward her office. Jessie arrived at the large oak door leading into her office. She flashed an identification card over a small panel near the handle, unlocking the door for the day. Jessie somewhat disliked the security system of her door – dark glass surrounded by an ugly mass of cold metal. It made an awful contrast with the old, beautifully carved wooden door.
Jessie stepped into her office and placed her briefcase on her desk. Looking around, she seemed as if at a loss for what to do. Michael's story about James had brought all that she had been trying to ignore for the past week bubbling back to the surface. She did not know what to think about James' latest escapade at the Saunders City Council offices. She wanted to believe that she wouldn't have cared if James had been thrown in jail, but she couldn't help but feel lost in an increasing turmoil of emotions. She didn't think it could all be simplified down to a mere indifference.
Jessie found herself standing by her wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window. She stared out over Saunders City below, wishing that she wouldn't have to go through all this again. She had actually believed that James was out of her life for good. Alas, it seemed that this was not the case.
A knock on the door broke Jessie from her gaze. "Who is it?" She hollered, somewhat tiredly. She had forgotten how draining such emotional conflicts could be.
"It's Bernard, Miss Avalon," came a timid voice from behind the door, "I have your latté."
"Come in," Jessie replied, thankful for the arrival of much-needed caffeine. Bernard tentatively opened the door and crept in. He joined Jessie by the window, handing her the extra tall latté she had ordered.
"I also have this… for you," Bernard said, holding out a document encased in a transparent pink plastic slip. "It's from Ms. Parker. She told me that it's the file you requested concerning the Silvertop Mining Company."
Jessie took the file from Bernard. "Yes… thankyou," she said, recognising the file Bernard spoke of. She was not surprised that Ruth Parker had asked the young gopher to deliver the file – she and Ruth had never gotten along too well. Jessie had always considered Ruth too spineless to be working in such an industry, and did not hesitate in telling her so whenever the two happened to engage in an argument. Ruth had always disapproved of the often 'heartless' and even greedy ways in which Jessie tended to handle matters, opting herself to deal with things in a fair and equal manner. Needless to say the two women were at opposite poles concerning the purchase of the Silvertop Mining Company.
Jessie clutched the file to her chest, and took a slow sip from the polystyrene cup containing her coffee. She again stared out the window as if lost in some trance, while Bernard stood awkwardly beside her. The young boy shifted from foot to foot, wondering whether to say anything to the woman before him.
"Uh… Miss Avalon? Do you need me for anything else?" He finally articulated, immediately thinking that that was possibly the stupidest thing he could have said to such a figure of power.
The crimson-haired woman turned to Bernard. She looked vaguely surprised, as if she hadn't even realised that the boy was still standing there.
"Hnm? Oh, yes. You may go," she murmured, before looking back out of the expanse of glass. Bernard frowned, puzzled by the chief executive officer's behaviour. He silently began his retreat from the room, yet upon reaching the door impulsively decided to ask the woman one last question.
"Miss Avalon? Are… you okay?"
Jessie quickly glanced at Bernard, and it was a long while before she spoke. "Yes, thankyou. I'm fine." With that her sea-blue eyes seemed to gain some of their clarity again, and for a brief moment Bernard swore he could have seen a genuine smile flicker across the woman's face. He cautiously smiled himself, before closing himself out of the office.
Bernard looked up and down the corridor he was now in, almost stupefied. Heading in the direction that lead towards the elevator, he replayed the last few minutes over and over again in his head. As a lowly gopher Bernard heard much office gossip and banter as he ran about his daily errands amongst the many levels of the Paramount Corps. of Saunders agency. Among all that he had heard of the twenty-five year old CEO, nothing had prepared him for what he had just witnessed in her office. Bernard had expected a rude, demanding, unfriendly and selfish character of Jessica Avalon. In that room alone with her, he had seen nothing more than an infinitely mysterious, damaged individual.
Chapter 5… finished! Oh wow, I only posted chapter 4 yesterday… how extremely out-of-character for me! Anyway, I hope people out there are appreciating this prompt update! I am sacrificing valuable homework time to serve the people! Eh, writing fanfiction is a whole lot more fun than doing homework anyway! What am I talking about… I love serving the people! – insert Mexican wave here –
Well, I really hope everyone's enjoying this ficcie so far… I know it may seem a little slow at the moment, but I promise there will be a lot more action very soon!
And before I leave, let me just say… please give me lots and lots of reviews! I need them oh so very much! You'll make my day! My week! My month, even!
On that note, thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! Yay!
(Is it just me or do I seem to use a WHOLE lotta exclamation marks in my author's notes?)
Well, till next time!
BansheeGirl.