Jessica had been doing everything she could to avoid Javier. She no longer stayed late to help with anything, she no longer went into his office for anything other than to deliver notes or collect files and she made sure to take all her lunch breaks outside of the office.

Now here she stood avoiding eye contact as she followed him and the tour group around the gallery as she took notes. She was all too aware of his eyes on her one too many times.

Take a darn picture, it last longer.

She looked up at him when she heard his voice drift off in the middle of discussing the history of a sculpture the group was gathered around. His brows knitted in confusion as he looked pass her then his eyes moved to her face with an expression of nervousness.

What the heck?

She turned to see what caused the sudden tension and saw a blonde woman, dressed in the finest that money could buy, with the face of an angel but the eyes of a she devil looking around the room. When her eyes caught Javier's her face transformed into a beautiful smile.

Bethany. Well aren't you a sight to cause a huge blow to a woman's ego.

“Cover the rest of the tour for me? I have a visitor”

She stopped looking at the woman so she could turn to Javier.

“I thought we weren't allowed to have visitors during working hours?” She asked him

“When you're the one signing your own checks you can make your own rules” he replied before walking away.

“whatever you say asswipe” she grumbled

“What did you just call me?”

She turned to him with a startled gasp. She didn't realize he had been standing so close. However when she saw the blonde glaring their way, she turned back to Javier feeling defiant.

“Not a thing, asswipe” she replied

She flipped her hair over her shoulder then strutted away from him. She joined the group and picked up the tour where he left off. She tried not to stare as Javier and Bethany as they walked out of the room. However she couldn't held but notice the way she slipped her hand around his waist our the look he cast at her over his shoulder when that happened.

She shook her head then post a smile on her face before turning back to the group.

Forget about him, he was obviously just another heartbreak waiting to happen.

She closed off the tour and handed out pamphlets as the group left. She heaved a sigh then turned to head back to her desk.

“You look like you've seen better days”

She turned to Mary with a smile. She glance to Javier's closed office door then shuddered at the thought of what they were possibly doing in his office.

“He doesn't love her you know” said Mary “he tried, but he couldn't get pass just the feeling of friendship”

“Have you seen her? She's freaking gorgeous!”

“I never said he wasn't physically attracted to her. A man would have to dead in the downstairs area to not find her attractive, but he's not in love with her”

“Yeah but he's still going to marry her”

“Is he?”

Mary's response spike her interest. She walked closer to the woman's desk and leaned against it.

“Mary how do you know so much about Javier?”

A tender smile crossed the woman's face as though she were remembering a precious moment.

“Javier as always been like a son to me. I met him when he moved to the city for college, the college you attended to be exact”

To say she was surprised would be putting it lightly. She had always wondered why he was praised so highly around campus but she never stopped to think he was an alumni. Then again she had never bothered to think about his life outside of the gallery, although lately that was starting to change.

“I was a chasier at a local supermarket. The one down the street from the campus that you students love so much. He use to come in all the time and he always made sure I was the one to cash out his purchases. Well one night he came in and I was having a rough night, a certain customer got very rowdy with me and Javier stepped in before the matter could escalate. I thanked him by inviting him to dinner with me and my husband, since we never had children it was nice having him around, he was never close to his parents so it also worked out well for him.

We grew very fond of him and he grew fond of us. He doesn't particularly like the word but I know he loves us. He's never missed a sunday dinner since then. When he inherited the gallery he came to my job with an offer that I wouldn't have refused even if the pay was less. Trust me its far more than I deserve but he insists on it. Over the years he's allowed us into bits an pieces of his life so yes I do believe I know him well enough to know the choices he will make before he makes them.”

“Wow Mary I didn't know all that. I'm glad you guys have each other”

“And I'm glad he has you”

“That's just it though, he doesn't”

She sent Mary a sad smile before walking away to her desk. No sooner had she sat down than the door to Javier's office opened. When no one walked by she turned to see Bethany staring at her. She heard her gasp and step closer to her. Jessica not knowing what to expect stood up and braced herself.

“Oh my God, so its you?”

“Look…” She started to say but got cut off by Javier.

“Bethany what are you doing?” He asked walking over to them.

“Wow, you don't know do you? I thought at least you would have realize by now” the woman said

“Realize what?” Asked Javier

“Nothing baby, I'll see you at dinner”

Jessica stared at her until she was out of site. Then she turned to Javier.

“What was that about?” She asked

“I have no idea”

She ignored him and went back to typing however she knew he still stood there watching her which was making her very uncomfortable.

“I'm beginning to feel like your television with you standing there watching me. Well news flash there's nothing on right now.”

His chuckle only served to heighten her annoyance.

“We need to talk” he told her

“I don't think we have anything to talk about”

“Jessica I just need to explain all this, you don't know what's going on OK?”

“Oh I know plenty. Answer me this” she turned in her chair too look right at him “Are you going to marry her?”

Shock. That's the first expression she registered on his face, then anger, anger quickly changed to confusion and finally defeat.

“You're silence is deafening” with that she turn back to the computer completely ignoring him.

Hey guys! So what's your thought at this point? Remember to comment and vote!