Chapter 162 - Poor Little Miss Jessie

"Boss —  I mean, sir.  I was so worried about you." 

Antonio with his Ipad, clutched tightly in his chest welcomed him the moment he stepped inside his office. He was jumpy and anxious. 

"What happened while I was away?" 

He took off his coat and hung it on the coat hanger before sitting down on his swivel chair, picking up the first folder in the pile of folders waiting for him on his oak desk. 

He pressed the intercom on his desktop, "Mara, a cup of coffee, please." 

After Markus gave him a hard time about Antonio being overworked, he told HR to send an assistant secretary for Antonio that would handle the job in the comfort of the office table outside his office. 

"Here's your coffee, sir." Mara smiled whilst putting the cup of steaming hot coffee on his desk. "It's almost sir, would you like me to get you something?" 

"Yes, Mara. Be a darling and get something quick and filling to eat from the cafeteria." He scanned the mountain of documents on his desk, and grimaced, "I have to finish all of these, right, Antonio?" 

"Antonio?!" 

He jolted out of his thoughts when Noah's voice registered in his brain. He was anxiously searching for him since eight in the morning, but couldn't get a hold of him. He tried finding him using the location of his phone, however, his phone has been off. 

He asked Noah's driver to check for him in his house but he wasn't there. He has been calling his boss, he even called Markus who was still partying in Mumbai but he has no idea where Noah was from eight in the morning until eleven twenty — the time he suddenly appeared in the office, unhurried and unharmed?

"I know, I should have been early but —" He picked up his cup of coffee, took a sip, and glanced up at still confused Antonio. " Tell me what I miss?"

"Uhm, just like what I emailed you last night, the company —" 

And the rest of the afternoon was spent going through the contract with their newly acquired company, the documents that he has to sign, and some million other things that he has to do.

"Sir," Antonio stole a glance at the clock on the wall, realizing it was already seven o'clock, and Noah still hadn't eaten anything, except for coffee and the sandwich Mara brought to him for lunch.

Noah hadn't left his chair too. 

Antonio wondered what happened to his boss. He disappeared and came back to the office as though he was being chased by something that he had to bury his head under all those documents on his desk. 

If today wasn't a strange day. Noah should have already complained about how much work he has to do. And why did he have to wait for him when he had already given him the authority to make a decision on most of those documents on his table.

Antonio couldn't shake the feeling that something happened to Noah. He discreetly opened his Instagram — even when from his table, there is no way Noah can know what he opened from his phone. It's just that he was going to check Miss Zimmerman's Instagram and he doesn't want Noah to go crazy on him, again. 

He wanted to find out some clue what happened to Noah. Why was he acting so strangely? 

His eyebrows furrowed when he saw Jess's Instagram that her last post was from her vacation in San Lucas. It was a photo of the beach at the break of dawn. 

Nothing on her Instagram gave a clue of Noah's whereabouts. 

"What is it?" 

"Should I book you a table at your favorite restaurant?" He asked hesitantly. 

"Ah yes. Good thing you remind me. Book me a table for two. Request for a table that is conducive for a long conversation, and their 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet" 

"I didn't know Miss Zimmerman likes Cabernet. She is more of a —" he glanced at Noah who was still bent over, signing documents on his desk. A silent 'oh' was formed on Antonio's mouth. 

"My apologies, sir. I'll have the table ready. Is there anything else you want me to take care of?" 

"Nothing." he noisily dropped his fountain pen on the table. "I'll leave this to you." 

He stood up from his swivel chair and headed to his personal bathroom in a small room adjacent to his office. It is more than just a bathroom because he has a closet there with a change of suit, shoes and even a suitcase. 

It has everything he would need in case of an abrupt change of plans, so he doesn't have to return home. 

He took a quick shower and changed his suit into a casual outfit. He put on a pair of black pants paired with a soft blue long sleeve polo that compliments his eyes, and his Italian loopers.

He checked his face and saw the growing stubble on his chin but decided not to shave since she likes him a bit scruffy. 

He wore his Rolex on his left wrist, spayed some cologne, and left his personal bathroom. 

When Noah emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed casually, Antonio was shocked. His boss was wearing the kind of outfit that would be ideal for a date. 

'But a Cabernet was not Miss Zimmerman's choice in wine. Also, Noah's favorite restaurant is a French restaurant. And Miss Zimmerman is not fond of French cuisine.'

"A table was booked and your driver was informed and ready for you, sir." 

Antonio kept a neutral expression on his face, but the end of his eyebrows were twitching. He honestly thought Miss Zimmerman was the one that would make Noah stop messing around. However, it appears that he was sorely mistaken.

'Poor Little Miss Jessie.' He thought while standing next to his desk. He watched Noah step out of his office, reeking of cologne that he hasn't smelled from his boss in quite a while.