He saw the panic on her face and for a minute he thought she would run and close herself inside a empty cubicle. He however was determined to have this talk.

"We need to talk" he said coming to a stop in front of her.

"There's nothing to talk about" she replied. He watched as she hugged herself in a protective manner.

"I scare you?"

She looked away from him without responding.

"Jessica..."

"Yes! OK yes you scare me!" She exclaimed

He wrestled with his thoughts, he wasn't expecting that. He wasn't so surprised though because that's exactly how he felt. She awoke something in him, something that he's never felt before, something desperate and it scared him.

Her face looked conflicted. Fear, want, guilt?

Does she feel guilty about what happened back there?

He took tentative steps toward her then softly grasped her shoulders in his hands. He leaned his for head against hers.

"What's happening Jess?" He whispered

"I don't know. Do you know because..."

He heard the confliction in her tone and for a minute he was angry with himself. Logan had explained everything that happened between them. He knew now they were just friends so their date was strictly platonic. The only thing holding him back right now was confusion or was it fear? Either way he knew he had no business getting involved with her. As much as he was attracted to her, he would have to set her straight.

He lifted his forehead from hers and brushed her cheeks waiting for her eyes to open. Once again the striking green shocked him. So familiar. He'd seen green eyes before, this exact pure, unadulterated emerald. One could only find that shade in the most priceless gems. Collectors would pay a fortune for a stone that color. It was unique, or so he thought. For yet here he was being taunted even from beyond the grave. Maybe this was just life's way of punishing him, but punish him for what though? No, this was simply life's warning that he shouldn't ever get in too deep and risk getting hurt again.

"You're beautiful" he watched as she smiled uncertainly. "And you're good company" he lightly brushed her hand before letting her go and took a step back. He needed to put as much distance between them as possible if he was going to do this.

"Jessica I'm prepared to offer you something. It's your choice to take it or leave it, understood?" He asked looking anywhere but at her eyes.

"Yes" she replied

"I want you" he simply said. "There's no point in denying that you want me too. Unless you're the greatest actress alive, what happened in my office, that was you showing me you feel the same way"

She mutely nodded her head, yes.

"I don't date Jessica but for the time you have left here I want to explore this mutual attraction, no strings attached"

"No strings attached? Meaning this would be, just about sex?" She asked

"Yes" he replied

She didn't respond right away. He only watched as she walked to the tap and washed her trembling hands. Then she turned to him and lifted her chin. He knew her answer before she said it.

"I'll be at my desk if you need me Mr. Sánchez."

She had set the tone of their relationship he realized. He had been shutdown. What did he expect? He wasn't sure but definitely not the answer he got.

He sighed and rubbed his chin then turned and walked back out of the restroom. When he walked by her desk she was staring at the computer screen with an unreadable unblinking expression. She didn't even bother to look his way.

I know I did the right thing, so why do I feel like I made a mistake?

The sooner he put some distance between them, the better it would be for both of them.

Isabella had done a number on him, of that he was certain. He had never been able to open himself to anyone else since she left. People were just chaos and confusion. They changed like the weather. The only thing that remained unchanging in his life were the art pieces mounted in his gallery.

He just had to push all intimate thoughts of Jessica out of his mind. She might seem different now but as soon as he let his guard down the unwanted hurt and betrayal and chaos would invade his safe bubble.

No, I can't afford for that to happen. Not now, not ever.

He threw himself into his work for the rest of the day. They had a lot of tours scheduled for that day to keep them busy. Plus the upcoming party they needed to plan for the unveiling of the new artifacts he was having shipped it.

Even though Jessica was always right there with him taking notes during the tours she always seemed to be a million miles away whenever he had allowed himself to look at her. More than once he had to call for her to focus and each time she would quietly apologize and go back to writing.

When the tour ended he went back to his office and dived into work. Determined not to get distracted by her presence. All he wanted to do right now is get her notes and check them over so he could file them away and leave for the day.

With purpose in his steps he got up and walked to her cubicle, halting when her workspace was empty. He glanced down to Mary who indicated with her head that Jessica was in the display room. As he walked by her, she sent him a disapproving shake of her head then got distracted when the phone rang.

He pushed opened the glass door then slowed down when he heard voice, one belonging to Jessica and the other to a man. As he turned the corner he saw them standing side by side staring at a painting.

"I know what I see, but what do you see Ms. Walters?" He heard the man asked her.

"Confusion, that's what the circular lines mean, the dark bold lines looks like pain and hardship. The green dots starting out large then small looks to be fading memories. And that blue circle at the corner is loneliness, a protective bubble, closed off from the world" she replied softly.

Javier felt exposed, never had he heard the painting described in such intricate raw emotions. Usually all persons said they saw was a bunch of lines.

"Wow" the man said turning to her. "All I saw were lines"

Javier resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"So Ms. Walters..."

"Jessica?" Javier interrupted before the man could finish.

They turned to him.

"Um...sorry but I have to get back to work" she told the man.

Javier sent him a narrowed eyed look then followed Jessica out of the room.

"You saw all that in the painting?" He asked stopping by her desk.

"I see all that in you" she said looking right at him.

To say he was shocked would be putting it mildly. He swallowed and blinked a few times as he stared back at her, unable to firm a response. He took a step back, then another then he turned and walked into his office.

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