Author's Note: Hiya! It's me again. To be honest, I don't even know what I was supposed to do with this or what this story is about anymore. This was a pretty hard word to prompt on. I was listening to All Time Low's Don't You Go and thought, this will be a good story plot and kinda coincides with the prompt word so, eh.
Also, special thanks to Light who reviewed every chapter up to the last one. Thanks so much!
Trigger Warning for infidelity and sexual themes. I am really confused as to place this with the T rated stories or the M rated ones. It really doesn't have any explicit scenes or anything. So I guess I'll stick to rated T, for now mehehe.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and the plot is loosely based on a word I got from my dictionary. Also, I'm currently writing this on my phone so forgive me for any mistakes. (Still a copy paste, does anyone ever read author's notes?)
4. Tackle (initiate discussion with someone about a sensitive issue)
Jack woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still warm—indicating that whoever was beside him had just left. Running a hand through his disheveled hair, he forced himself to sit up. Last night was one of the best—if not the best—moment of his life.
Despite the situation, he found himself smiling. After finally pining for her she gave him a chance—surely now she'll see that they are meant to be. He jumped into the shower and hurriedly put one his suit. For the first time in a long while—he's coming in to work with a smile on his face.
Jack greeted the, already balding, security which made the older man bemused. He just smiled and sauntered to the elevators, almost whistling a jaunty tune but stopped himself. He should act professional and not like a lovesick puppy who just got adopted by his favorite human.
He cleared his throat and tapped his foot to the beat of the tacky elevator music—which to him in his current state, sounds like love songs playing in his head.
It was now time for him to go home, he doesn't need to render overtime since he had surprisingly finished all the reports he needed and filed them in his "For Signature" filer. Stretching his arms over his head, Jack groaned. He had not seen her at all in the office. He was so sure that they had similar break times and she usually eats in the pantry of their floor with Rapunzel, but she wasn't there when he came in.
Their morning meetings with his team, along with their daily progress reports was weirdly absent that day and she had stayed cooped up in her office—never once going out to even eat or go into the bathroom.
If it was another man, they would have taken the hint but Jack was not any man—he was fucking Jackson Overland for goodness' sake.
So he got various files in his "For Signature" pile and marched towards her office, he might as well do some job at the same time. This won't be counted as overtime for him as he already timed out, but he doesn't care.
His mother once said, if you love someone then go get them.
Two knocks on her office doors earned him a curt "come in".
He inhaled and prepared himself to face her.
Pushing open the doors to her office, he saw her sitting at her table—her face practically buried in paperwork yet her hair maintained its usual braid and her dress still looked ironed out. God, this woman just screams perfect in whichever way he looked at her.
Elsa briefed a glance at him. When she looked away though, her posture changed—more stiff, more professional.
"What is it, Mr. Overland?" Her voice was also detached. She was clicking on her mouse non-stop but her eyes stayed glued in one place.
Seeing her get all rigid in his presence deflated his ego just a smidge. He shook his head and smiled.
"I just want to pass this papers on to you for approval." He walked towards her desk and placed the papers there. If it was any possible, her posture become tauter. "And wanted to ask why we didn't have the morning meeting today?"
She exhaled through her nose, the first onslaught of migraine already consuming her.
"I had an important meeting to attend to and seeing as you're more than capable to handle your team, there's no need for my presence now is there, Mr. Overland?" She said his name between her teeth, like the very mention of it scathing through her entire being.
"Well, I needed your presence."
Her eyes locked into his as he bent forwards and leaned towards her. Their mouths inches apart before fury, and fear, rose to her eyes and her right hand blocked his face's descent. The cold metal on her ring finger biting through his lips.
"Don't take another step in my direction." Gone was the professionalism in her voice, replaced with something akin to a child afraid of the boogeyman. Jack's heart shattered.
His right hand grabbed her wrists and gentle pried it away from his face—he saw her shudder at the contact.
"Elsa…please just…"
"Jack what happened between us last night was a mistake." She said, yanking her hand away from him and proceeding to adjust the papers that was already neatly stacked against each other prior. He can hear his heartbeat in his ear at her words.
"No. Elsa, we both wanted it…you wanted it as much as I did!" He couldn't help but raise his voice—just a little bit—but it still made her flinch.
"We were both drunk!" She reasoned.
"And? What does that imply? That subconsciously you wanted to bang me? Is that it?" He rebutted. He was quite glad the rest of the office was soundproofed so loiterers couldn't really hear what they were talking about. "Elsa, you know I—"
A hard slam resounded throughout the confines of her offices as she abruptly stood up and struck her palms on the mahogany. She was seething now.
"Don't you ever mention that word near me again." She warned, her volume much lower than their earlier spat but much more venomous too. Her ice blue eyes clouded over with fury that Jack can't help but swallow the lump already forming in his throat.
"So what's that then? Just a one night stand? A last hurrah before you get hitched?!" At the mention of the word, both of them had differing reactions. Jack stared angrily at the silver band on her right hand, the blue sapphire in the middle of a snowflake glinting against his eyes—Elsa, on the other hand, brought her right hand to her chest, as if to protect it from harm.
"I'm getting married Jack." She said that with resolution and finality that he cannot help but let out a remorseful chuckle.
The papers she carefully arranged before, lay forgotten on her desk, strewn all over the mahogany creating a contrast of white and brown.
He ran a hand through his hair again and loosened his tie. No, he won't back down. Not when he has this chance.
"Elsa, just…listen to me please."
"No." She said, her posture now defeated. "I chased you, Jack. Gave you every opportunity you had to tell me those words. But you didn't." She sighed and lifted her right hand, gazed at the ring lovingly that Jack couldn't help but bit back a sob. "Now, I'm getting married. Married to someone who didn't break my heart when given the chance."
Her words were like knives stabbing him in the heart. He was an idiot before, a bigger idiot now. Elsa did present her with various chances, numerous in fact that he can't count them with two hands. But he was a coward.
Last night changes all that—he'd found his bravado, his gut to tell her—but it was, in hindsight, all too late. She had moved on and so should he, right?
He gritted his teeth. "Was it all for nothing?"
Elsa smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "It wasn't Jack. It made me realize that I'm in love with who I am with today. With my future husband."
He was about to say something in response but she didn't stop. "It may sound cruel, but that was my closure. I've chased you for far too long and I finally know that I had already gave up." She sighed and slumped at her office chair, the furniture creaking under the suddenness of it. "If it hadn't happened. I would've second guessed myself about if I should go through with the wedding."
"Then please second guess yourself!" He said, desperately—his hand clinging to her which made her recoil. "No. Jack I don't have feelings for you anymore. It was just a one time thing." She said, eyes hard and truthful.
"If it was just a one-time thing, then why are you still her with me?" He said, his voice hoarse.
That seemed to snap something inside her that she forcefully yanked her hands away and stood up. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, she grabbed her business blazer and marched to the door.
Opening the door with so much force, it collided with the adjacent wall, she took once last glance at the white haired man. The man whom she dedicated so many years of her life for, only to be met with the harsh truth that he will never return those feelings. The man who suddenly returned those said feelings only to be disregarded because she already love another. The man who would always be entombed as someone who taught her a valuable lesson—her first love and first heartbreak.
The door closed behind her and he whispered the words he was so afraid to say. Hoping that somehow it will reach her.
But he knows it won't.
Author's Note: Confession time! This was supposed to be word number five. But word number four? Sheesh! That was a real head-scratcher. I've trashed so many ideas about it and kept writing then re writing everything.
I had one theme recurring amongst those I've trashed though but I really don't know how to tackle (see what I did there?) it. Every time I try to write it, it escapes me. Just…
If I can't think of anything or a story to go with it (I won't spoil the word lol) then I might generate another one. I'm not really fond of giving up but this word is my kryptonite! Well, with regards to these stories that is.
Anyways, peace out, stay safe and sanitize! Love you all!
Word Count: I should just stop putting this here
