A married woman in her early thirties, greeted the staff members, opened her office cabin door, dropped her bags holding in her hand down on the couch attached to the side wall. The sweeper cleaned the room before 9.00 a.m., not disturbing her morning routine work. She pushed the table to the bleak light from the sun that fell into the room. Her hair, a few strands, long and shiny, swept across her face. Her delicate fingers drew back together, pushing it behind her right ear. She sat in her chair, relaxing for the time being. Cersei put down the blue ink ball point pen after signing; the file lay open in front of her on the table.
"I'm busted."
He inhaled the leaked smell of hot cheese and pizzas spread out in her office cabin. Cersei's deep green eyes widened.
By the time, he entered her cabin room, she had just finished the last piece of pizza; her large teeth munched on it. She stuck her finger into her mouth, tasting the rich tomato sauce. Jon's feet stepped on the parcel box, tore open. "Does you get hungry looking at them? Would you like to order a pizza? I ate it."
"My stomach feels full. Thank you." He patted it on his stomach.
"The pizzas are available at an affordable price and it's pretty good. Where did you learn to pick a nice restaurant?"
"Usually, it was my friend's suggestion. Since, you say it's good. I can try it once." Smilingly, he replied. Her mouth went dry.
"I'm feeling thirsty. Fetch me a glass of water." She asked, thirstily. Jon held out a glass of water. "Drink it." Her fingers coiled around the glass, grasping it tightly. The rim of the glass brushed her cool lips, and she drank quickly. "I forgot to bring the bottle." Her lips curled slowly into a smile. "He is nice and good-looking."
"How was the holiday? She continued, not resigning herself and Jon to boredom. Suddenly, a sigh escaped from his lips. "Not bad." Jon's answered halfheartedly and tried to stifle the yawn.
"Throw it away. Clean up the mess, please." He picked up the waste and went flying into the dustbin, placed across the corner wall.
She rested her hands on the desk table. He swallowed, as his chest grew tight.
There was an empty chair on the other side of the table. He saw that she hadn't touched the morning newspaper as usual, and had no habit of reading it. Cersei got bored: the first plan was too confusing for him too. "You can go on with the second one, for which the board member had given an approval in their last meeting." Cersei said.
"You and Jaime are no different. I don't understand why he's being so busy." Suddenly, he froze.
"Jaime is working for a new client." She couldn't believe him what he said right now. She had hit the right button.
"I'm getting myself into trouble." He changed their conversation to their work. Jon began to concentrate on his work.
"How about we spend some time together?"
"Sorry Cersei, I have a guest staying over at my place."
"Is it a cousin of yours? I do not remember her name." Cersei tried to pry out some information. Jon's eyes flew open. How did she know about Arya? Cersei suddenly burst into laughter, reminding him of her father's cold demeanor.
"I dropped her on my car at your place last night. She is sincere and obedient girl."
"As you wish, I prefer to be alone for sometime." Cersei raced back to her seat. Jon read her face. She hasn't slept well. "Something is troubling you."
"Tell me!" He continued.
"Take this file and complete it by tomorrow. No excuses," Cersei ordered him.
"Do you want some help? You're thinking of passing it over me. Cersei, I've a perfect solution. Why not, Margaery?"Cersei's eyes narrowed at him."She is a coward."
"It seems to me, you and her are the same." Jon's hand shivered for a moment.
"Don't overthink. Please consider it." He continued.
There was a long silence between them. He turned back, shutting the door leaving behind her in her own thoughts.
"He gets bored very easily." Cersei concluded in a low voice to herself.
Do not deny it. What's happening to me? Jon is not as innocent as she had imagined him before. Do not forget this is a game. One day, I will get what I want. Her weary face broke into a ferocious grin.
Two women facing opposite to each other stood, adjacent to his cabin room. One woman, a new comer to the office, her eyes scrolled up and down, eyeing at him. They watched him while stepping out of her cabin room, as he was used to their reaction. Both of them had worn wrist watches, and continued to laugh at the said joke before he came. "It was kind of sweet and funny." The woman in the black dress let out a small gasp. "Our boss is here!" She rushed to her cubicle.
Jon dragged his legs to his office cabin. He threw his long silky coat on the chair, and settled down comfortably. Relaxing off his tired legs under the foot of the table, he picked up the morning newspaper lying in front of him.
I should better warn her next time. Jon waited patiently.
He could not erase the Cersei afternoon incident image from his mind. It's a trap! She had set him on fire. He realized lazily. He had disliked for her bossy attitude.
He heard a soft knock on his door. "Margaery!" She shouted.
"Please enter in." Jon ruffled his hair. The old office wing in the west was temporarily closed for renovation. Some of the office's male staff members fancied her for her attractive figure. The part-time workers fumed at the boss, shutting off the branch office and letting them stay at home. When she walked into his cabin, he looked up at her tired face.
"What happened to her?" Jon mused, decided better not to ask her.
She was reliable and candid, one of the best candidates, and qualified for the secretary profession in the company.
"I was wondering why you didn't show up? I'm tired of waiting." Margaery bit on her lower lip and glanced at his fingers tapping the keys furiously against the computer keyboard, logging onto the computer.
She sank into the chair and slid her dark blonde hair across the shoulder. What's happening to me? I am losing control over my body. Leaning in, she rested her chin on her right elbow, and thrust her developed chest out, showing his gifted silver necklace worn around her neck on her twenty sixth birthday.
"I need you to do a job for me. Go along with Cersei. Do what she says." Jon was a bit hesitant and looked apologetic at her.
He took her right hand and squeezed it gently.
"Well, I am really thankful for genuine and honest report submitted on time." Jon complimented as it was a rare thing for him and went on, "She has decided to proceed with the plan."
"Did she agree to you?" Her sharp ears couldn't believe what she heard now.
He didn't reply. "Everything will be fine." Margaery lifted her face slightly, her deep green eyes glued to his face. Both of his eyes stared back at her face intently. A bright smile flickered across her thin lips. He released her hand from his grasp.
"I don't need to worry about Cersei now."
"What about you?"
"I'll continue on working on the remaining projects first and then join you later." Suddenly, she felt an enormous pressure lifted down off her shoulders.
"Are you free this evening?"
"Why may I know?" Jon sighed.
"There was a late night show in the radio. A female radio jockey asked me a few questions."
"I don't listen to the radio." She quipped in, catching her breath for relief.
"What happened?"
"I answered them honestly. Suddenly, she announced that the winner of her show gets two ticket for the latest film premiered in the cinema hall."
"Who's the winner?" Margaery asked.
"Guess who?" Her eye brows shot up. "Time's up. You're much closer to it."
"Yes, I know." He grinned."I had the same reaction on my face. In return, I won two movie tickets to the cinema. It's an evening show."
"That's wonderful news."
"Glad to join me?"
She raised her hands in delight. "See you later." Jon began to laugh freely at her antics.
(In Jon's place)
Arya came screaming down the stairs. "Sansa, I'll be staying here for two more weeks." No one came to her rescue. The maid watched silently, as the two sisters fought against each other. She chuckled, as the image of them drifted her thoughts to her normal childhood days, she had spent with her family.
"I won't say it again." Sansa raised her voice, as there were no other options left for her.
"I can't leave you here alone!" Sansa shouted at her.
"Jon is busy in his office. Arya, listen to-" Sansa ran behind Arya, before she closed herself in a room, shutting the door. Sansa coughed, banging on the door twice, and suddenly, her throat had dried.
"Okay! I'm leaving. You stay inside for a day.' Sansa said to her sister in a cold voice, tiredly and irritated at her stubborn nature.
"Keep checking on her. Make sure that she eats her food on time." The maid nodded her head; it was her job.
Inside the room, Arya began to cry. Salty tears welled up in her gray steel eyes."I had enough of it." She hadn't cried so much for such a long time. Earlier, she wasted her time on silly matters like fighting and arguing with her sister. As a young adult, she had rather pushed aside her dream, which was fairly a wrong decision of her own. It was quite silly of her; the realization butted her head like a bull. She felt so stupid, and admitted her feelings to the one person, she had much faith in. Jon. He believed, no one had done so far in her life. In such a short time, she earned a lot of money and fame from her passion for song-writing.
With this enough money she could buy a much better house near the blue lake on the outskirts of the city. It was quite nicer and quieter. She was nineteen, a young adult in the eyes of her parents. Arya changed. She was different and slightly more confident.