Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy

Written by BansheeGirl

A/N: Hullo my dears… This is not the last chapter, as I had previously speculated. This is in fact a very short second last chapter. I just felt that the end of this section was a good place to divide things, so yeah. I do hope you continue to enjoy the story, and please do review to let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: See chapter 1 or 2!

Magnetic Forces of Love and Conspiracy

Chapter 23: Not Finished Just Yet

The glass skyscrapers of Saunders City glinted in the afternoon sun. The city was tinted in orange and gold; every building, every road, every moving car and truck and motorcycle and person seemed to be opening up to soak in the rare winter warmth. High above the city, a woman stood in her office looking out over the life below her. She had been spending a lot of time lately, beside the window that comprised an entire wall of her office, simply staring out into the distance. She never looked at anything in particular. Mostly she pretended to look out the window as an excuse to recede within the depths of her mind; to think of everything that had happened, of everything that was happening, and of everything that was going to happen.

It had been just over a month since the day Jessie had last seen James; since she had furiously ordered him out of her apartment. Since then she had tried to busy herself with work – to keep occupied so as not to become tied up in her emotions all over again. And yet unfailingly, Jessie found herself standing by her office window every day. It was here that she couldn't help but think of James. He completely took over her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried to ward him off.

It wasn't as though there wasn't enough work to keep her occupied, either. Since the article that The Saunders City Times had printed, Paramount Corps. had had to take radical action just to stay afloat. The company had been under intense public scrutiny, and also had to deal with an official investigation into the business' affairs. Jessie and her team had undergone extensive media conferences, had completely reworked the company's structure so as to appear more community-oriented, and donated an enormous sum of money to various charity organisations. There was still some public scepticism concerning Paramount Corps., but otherwise the company had admittedly done an outstanding job in being able to save itself.

Still, Jessie's mind was continually centred on one thing: James. Sometimes she found herself angry at this fact – angry that he had control over the one thing that she was supposed to have control of. Sometimes Jessie found herself overwhelmed with sadness, and she would have to bite her lip hard to keep herself from breaking down in tears. Other times she would just find herself in a daze, feeling completely and utterly lost.

Her mind would reel over question upon question: Was she too hard on him? Had he really forgotten about filing that feature story for The Times? Was he thinking about her now, back in Fieldsville? What did that night they spent together mean to him? If he really cared about her so much, why hadn't he tried to contact her? If she hadn't sent him away that day, what would have happened? How would their relationship have played out?

The more she thought about James, the more stupid she felt for sending him away from her. The more she thought about him, the more she also realised how little she was enjoying her job. She used to love being the CEO of such a company as Paramount Corps. Now there was no satisfaction in coming to her office everyday; in being in charge of an entire company and all the people within it. None of that seemed to matter in the least anymore.

So what did matter? Jessie had spent many nights tossing and turning in her bed, trying to think of the answer. She had spent countless hours at her window, trying to sort her life out while the city – a city she had come to no longer feel a part of – bustled below her. It seemed that in the time that she was away from Saunders City, everything had changed so that the place she called home no longer felt like home. Frustratingly, the only thing that felt remotely familiar to Jessie anymore was James. Or at least the thought of him, anyway.

Now, Jessie stood at her window, just as she had done so many times over the past month. However, today she held a large envelope against her chest, clasping it tightly with her slender fingers. She looked down at it, feeling the weight of the many papers that were enclosed inside. Jessie had been quietly gathering these papers over the past few days, filling out forms, collecting signatures and writing statement upon statement. Now everything was finally set to go. Hesitation, however, was holding Jessie in its grasp, and she remained standing by her window. She tried to go over everything in her mind – to make sure that this was what she wanted to do.

A knocked sounded suddenly at her door, rousing Jessie from her deep thought.

"Come in," she signalled, turning to look at her visitor. She wasn't surprised to see the young 'gopher', Bernard, enter the room. Ever since the incident with Michael and Olivia at Paramount Corps., Bernard and Jessie had formed a strange connection. He would often stop by her office during the day just to see how she was, and Jessie was always happy to have the boy's company.

"How are you, Miss. Avalon?"

"Fine thankyou, Bernard. Yourself?"

Jessie watched Bernard open his mouth to reply, and then as he faltered when he spied her desk. He looked confusedly at her.

"Miss. Avalon? Why have you packed your things?" He asked in an almost panicked voice.

Jessie looked to her desk. It was entirely empty, aside from the cardboard box that sat atop it filled with her few things from the office. She then glanced down to the envelope in her hands, before looking back to Bernard.

"I'm leaving," she sighed.

Bernard's jaw fell open. "What? But… why?"

"I don't enjoy myself here anymore, Bernard. I don't belong here anymore," Jessie replied, not wanting to elaborate any further than that.

Bernard gazed at Jessie, still looking confused. He also looked a little hurt, as though Jessie's decision to leave was a personal attack against him.

"I'm sorry," she said. "This is just something I have to do. Ruth Parker is taking over as the new CEO. She'll do a good job."

Bernard swallowed, and then nodded weakly. "We'll miss you," he said quietly.

Jessie smiled, inwardly doubting that many people would miss her here. She walked toward him though, and took a deep breath. It was time. No more stalling.

"Can you do some things for me before I leave today, Bernard?"

"Of course, Miss. Avalon. Anything," Bernard swiftly replied.

"I need to you get one of the delivery guys to drop that box off at my apartment," she said, indicating the box atop her desk. "I also need you to give this envelope to Ruth Parker. It's my resignation file – she'll be the one to deal with all that now."

Bernard took the large envelope from Jessie, looking down at it sorrowfully.

"Yes, Miss Avalon. Is that all?"

"No," Jessie said, "I need you to get one of the pilots in to prepare a helicopter within the next fifteen minutes."

Bernard looked confusedly at Jessie once again. "Uh… where shall I say the destination is?"

"Fieldsville."

Okay. Only one more chapter to go, everyone. This giant saga is finally about to come to an end! I do hope that you are all still enjoying the story… just hold tight, only a little bit more to come :D

Till Next Time,

Bansheegirl.