Chapter Nineteen
"But how? JC hates women," informed Loria, looking shocked.
"He doesn't hate me," said Carmella not liking the topic.
"Did he tell you that he loved you?" Asked Loria.
"No but I know, " said Carmella, wanting to change the topic.
"Men can do anything for physical intimacy. Don't confuse it with love. From the last two years that I've been in this office, I've noticed that JC doesn't stick around one place for more than a month. He's a nomad and a workaholic. He doesn't do relationships and doesn't trust women much," said Loria.
Carmella quietly listened to her. She wouldn't believe in gossip. She knew that what she shared with Jaxon was true love. He too loved her as much as she loved him.
"How do you know so much about him?" Carmella asked her.
"I dated Ralph for a month. It wasn't anything serious, simple flirting. He's the biggest player in the world. Ralph told me," she informed her.
"Oh do you love him?" Asked Carmella.
"Oh no no. I love my fiancé and we're getting married next month," she informed her with excitement.
"Congratulations, " said Carmella getting back to work.
Carmella completed her work by evening and decided to go home. Gilbert came towards her workstation just as she was about to leave. Everyone's eyes were upon him and he waved at everyone and sat down at Carmella's cubicle.
"Jaxon's reached London safely. He asked me to inform you. He'd be a little busy the next few days. He asked me to tell you not to worry. He'll call once he's a little free. Okay?" Gilbert asked with concern.
"Yes Gilbert. I understand. Thank you for informing me," said Carmella overwhelmed that Jaxon thought so much about her.
"Here give me your phone," said Gilbert, taking her phone from her hands. He punched in his number and saved it. Then he gave himself a missed call with it. "I've saved my number here. If you need anything just give me a call. Okay? I'm on official duty to look after you," he grinned and Carmella rolled her eyes.
"I'm not a child. Why should I need looking after?" She asked looking displeased.
"It's not in my hands. Jaxon will get upset if I don't listen to him," said Gilbert, getting up and leaving.
Ralph walked into the office. "Carmel, I'm on duty to drop you home. Come on, I have a flight in four hours," said Ralph, waving at Loria.
Carmella got up and left with him after waving at Loria. "Can you be ready in two hours Carmel? Jaxon wants you with him at London. The whole team's travelling to London tonight. Jaxon's asked me to take you along," he said with a sigh.
"I'm not feeling very well Ralph else I would have gone," she said with a sad smile. She couldn't tell him that she was sore and her body was aching badly.
Ralph sighed, "Jaxon would be upset. He'll eat us up alive with his foul mood," he said, shuddering at the thought.
Carmella smiled and he dropped her off at her apartment. Carmella was upset that she couldn't join him but her body needed rest and she felt too exhausted to pack and travel.
The next morning Gilbert came over to take her to office. "How are you this morning?" He asked with concern.
"Better," she smiled.
"Can you go to work?" He asked her.
"Yes, I'm ready, let's go, " she said, locking her apartment door. She would need a car.
"Jaxon is very upset that you didn't go with the team. He was expecting you," informed Gilbert as he drove to the office.
"I'm sorry but I'm not well enough to travel for seven hours," she said unhappily. "Maybe I will when I'm feeling better."
Gilbert drove in to the parking area and they both got down. He led her to the elevators. "I'll see you later. Okay?" He said getting down on his floor. Carmella went upto the eleventh floor where Jaxon's office was. She needed to collect her stuff from her cubicle. There wasn't much but a few personal stuff.
Collecting her stuff, she went back to her floor and sat down at her cubicle to start the day. "Hey girl, you're ten minutes late," said Loria. "Ben's already been here and wasn't happy. He's very specific about arriving on time."
"Oh, I'll speak to him if he asks," said Carmella starting her work. After five minutes, Ben came and sat at her cubicle.
"You didn't leave for London?" He asked curiously.
"No I'm a little unwell, " she informed him.
"I know. If you're not feeling well, you can work from home also," he said and got up to leave.
"It's okay Ben. I'll work from office," she said with a smile.
"I saw the work you sent me yesterday. It's very good. We're making a few changes to it and sending it for the upcoming fashion show coming up in New York in six months," he said. "Well done. I want more such designs from you."
"Thank you, Ben. I won't disappoint you," she said and he smiled at her in appreciation.
He went away and Carmella was happy that he liked her work well enough to send it to a fashion show. "Wow, perks of being the boss's girl," said Loria in a sing song voice.
Carmella didn't like her taunt. "What do you mean?" She asked with disapproval.
"We slog for three years and our designs never make it anywhere and your first design make it to a fashion show. Ben blasts us left and right for being late yet he doesn't say a word to you. If this isn't partiality, what is," she said in a discontented tone.
"That's mean Loria. It's your problem if your designs aren't selected. Try to produce better ones, then. I had a reason for being late. I arrived at the office fifteen minutes earlier but had to collect my stuff from my cubicle. Ben knows that I'm punctual maybe that's why he didn't blast me?" She defended herself.
Loria muttered with jealousy and returned back to her work. Carmella ignored her for the rest of the day and concentrated upon her work. She finished her work and was about to leave when Gilbert came to her cubicle.
"Ready Carmella? Come on, I'll drop you home," he said. Carmella smiled at him and left with him.
"I need to buy a car, Gilbert," she said. Gilbert nodded.
"Okay, tell me when you plan to go and I'll take you. Okay?" He said.
"Thank you so much Gilbert. Can we go now?" She said. She didn't want to be dependent upon anyone with the whole office spreading rumours and being jealous of her.
Gilbert took her to a car showroom and she bought a silver Honda CR-V for herself. Happy with her purchase, she went home.
The next whole week she waited for Jaxon's call but he didn't call her. She missed him a lot but still she didn't want to disturb him, so she didn't call him either. Even Gilbert didn't come to meet her the whole of last week. Loria looked very happy with all the rest of the interns. They pointedly ignored her and Carmella too didn't look their way. She kept to herself and only did her own work.
Gilbert came to meet her next Monday. He looked tired and worried and Carmella was concerned. "Anything wrong Gilbert?" She asked him as they walked towards the parking lot.
"Yes, the designs which were stolen were miraculously placed back last Wednesday in the same place where they were stolen from," he sighed. Carmella gaped at him.
"Have you caught the culprit?" She asked.
"No, investigation's going on. Jaxon is redesigning the entire collection for the fashion week. He's so stressed with only a month remaining that he couldn't call you," he told her.
"That's okay. I understand," said Carmella. She started her car and drove home. She wished she had gone to London to comfort him.
Two weeks passed by and Carmella missed Jaxon more than ever. She wasn't feeling well for the last three days and needed to go to the doctor. Her body was too exhausted and she seemed to have caught on a stomach bug making her puke every now and then. However after a whole day at office, she just didn't have the energy to do anything but sleep. Jaxon hadn't called her even once and she felt like he might have forgotten her. Maybe he was disappointed in her. She wanted to call him but didn't know whether he would be free to talk to her. It was three weeks since she had last seen him.
Gilbert met her twice in the last two weeks. She knew that Jaxon was busy and worried about the security of his production houses. Yet her mind was in a turmoil. The vacuum in her heart was growing and she needed to talk to Jaxon.
Gilbert saw her miserable face,"Are you unwell Carmella?" He asked her with concern.
"Yes for the last three days I'm throwing up everything. I think I caught a stomach bug," she sighed.
"You need to see a doctor immediately. Come I'll take you," he offered, escorting her to Ben's office to excuse her. Carmella was acutely aware of the gazes of the whole office upon her and Gilbert. After excusing her, Gilbert took her for a check-up.
"Congratulations Ms Parker, you're three weeks pregnant, " announced the doctor.
