Chapter 338 - He's Home

"Aren't you going to leave?" She had her legs up on the coffee table as she leaned back against the couch, stared at Marie who was sitting across her, no sign of boredom on her pretty face even though they had been sitting in the living room for quite a while now. 

"I had an order not to leave you." 

Jess rolled her eyes and dropped her body on the couch. "I'm sorry to say this but…I am beginning to not like you…" She waited for a reaction from Marie but she got none. She moved to her side, facing her and she was still, sitting with her back straight, her shoulder pulled, and her head held high. "You can lie down on the sofa if you like." When Marie didn't react and just looked at her, she added, "I feel bored for you." She sighed and lay back down on her back. She was staring at the ceiling when she heard a peal of giggles from Marie. 

She pushed her upper body from the couch, bending her elbow to support her weight, and watched Marie in amusement as she giggled.  "You find me funny or something?" She asked, brows furrowing. 

"Sorry. I'm not laughing at you. What I found funny was that Miss E's description about you was too accurate—it's unbelievable." 

Jess got up all the way. She pulled her legs under her and realized that it was the first time that a stranger talked about Ellise. She never heard anyone talk about Ellise in the past. She and Dana used to think that Ellise was hiding her private life as if it would be a big scandal if someone knew about her life. 

However, before she could open her mouth to ask Marie about Ellise, her phone rang. She sighed and grabbed the phone, irate that she got disturbed. When she saw Luke's name on the phone screen, she thought of rejecting the call but when she thought that he would just call her back and the call could be work-related, she reluctantly answered it. 

"Jessie, are you okay?" 

The panic and worry in his voice creased Jess's forehead. How did he know what happened to her, she wondered. 

"Noah called me." He said as if he read the question in Jess's head. "He told me what happened. How can you not tell me?! Your best friend."

"You're not my best friend and you're being overly dramatic…so is Noah." She scoffed, clicking her tongue. "I'm fine. I'm sorry for not telling you, but I was just too out of it to talk to you about it right now. I'm going to tell you…but I need to process it on my own first…sorry…" 

"You don't have to apologize. I was worried…and now angry. You have the audacity to tell me that I'm not your best friend?!" He shrieked on the other line that made Jess snort in laughter. 

"You are such a drama queen." She chuckled. "I'm fine. I'll be in the lab later in the evening." 

"No, don't!" 

"What?" She asked, worried about the strong disapproval from Luke. She put down her legs and watched Marie's chill demeanor into an alert one. 

"Noah specifically told me—not as your boyfriend but as my boss not to let you come to the lab today becau---

"He did what?" her voice rising in disbelief. She knew that Noah can be too much sometimes but she didn't believe that there would come a time when he would pull his authority and meddle on her work. 

"Don't be angry. Oliver is with me right now, " he whispered. "We can take care of all the work for today…and you and Noah can talk about whatever…so, don't get mad at me. I'm a weak human being…bound to be greedy and selfish." 

"I got it! Say no more, whore!" She laughed. "I bet you're having a field day when Noah called you with his 'favor'." 

Luke laughed. "But are you truly fine?" His voice suddenly became serious. 

"Yes, Luke. I'm fine." Her heart swelled with affection with how much Luke cared for her. "Thank you." 

"When Noah comes back make sure to let him screw you real good—for you to be you again. It's quite disconcerting that you're thanking me." He dramatically said before dropping the call. 

Jess blew an air of frustration for she wasn't able to have a come back on what Luke said. She threw her phone on the coffee table and was about to get back to lying on the couch when she heard the familiar electronic sound of the security keypad on her door. She scurried off the couch and ran to the foyer. 

"Noah!!" She shouted and ran straight to Noah's arms the moment he got in the door. 

"Whooh! You gained weight!" He scooped her from the floor and twirled her around, just like how he does with Lucille whenever he picks her up from school. And just like Lucille, Jess shrieked in delight, hitting his shoulder with her small fist. 

"You're such a jerk! I didn't gain weight!" She stuck her tongue on him who covered her mouth with a heart-stopping kiss. 

They were groping each other when they heard coughing with a hint of laughter in them. Jess pushed Noah away, remembering Marie. 

"I think I can leave now." She gave Noah a small bow and Noah offered his hand to shake, not letting Jess off his side. 

"Bye, Marie," she said. She didn't hide the fact that she couldn't wait for her to leave so she could be alone with Noah. 

Marie didn't take offense and just laughed, taking her leave. 

"Did you miss me that much?" He asked, walking further inside with Jess glued to his side, his hand was creeping under her shirt. 

Jess stopped walking, twisted her body to face Noah, and threw her arms around his neck, pulling herself up to be carried. 

Noah laughed, bent a little to grab her off the floor, and carried her in his arms like a baby Koala, to her bedroom.