Chapter 166 - Picking Up A Gift

"Good morning, sir," Mara said to Noah, who was lying on the couch inside his office. "Coffee?" 

"Yes, please." He swung his legs off the couch and sat up. He raked his fingers over his messy hair. 

He glanced up at Antonio who was gawking at his appearance, "Good morning to you too, Antonio." 

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sarcasm in Noah's voice. " Good morning, sir. My apologies," he gave Noah a slight bow as he discreetly glanced at the clothes he was wearing. 

"Have everything ready, whilst I take a quick shower." 

Antonio watched Noah disappear behind the door of his private bathroom, and he couldn't help but crease his eyebrows. 

Noah was wearing the same clothes he wore from last night when he went out for dinner for two.

As Antonio bent down on the coffee table, which was littered with folders of documents, he thought that there was something weird about Noah since yesterday. 

"Do you think Mr. Tiefenbacher worked all night and didn't go home?" Mara asked. She was standing, watching the coffee table and Noah's desk where every surface was covered with documents. 

With most of the folders in his arms, space was cleared on the coffee table, "Put down Mr. Tiefenbacher's coffee, Miss Gracia. And refrain from asking unnecessary questions about our boss." 

Mara put down the coffee she made for Noah on the coffee table and gave Antonio a slight bow before stepping out of the room to go back to her desk. 

When Miss Gracia closed the glass door behind her, Antonio picked up a remote and pointed it to the sensor on top of the door. A soft hissing sound was heard in the quiet office and the clear glass became frosted. 

Just like what Miss Garcia said, Noah stayed the night in the office. He wondered if something happened between his boss and Miss Zimmerman. 

After clearing the coffee table with all the documents, he turned to Noah's desk to do the same thing. 

He brought to his table all of the folders that Noah had read the night before and he filed them from most urgent to less urgent. With the way Noah was acting everything would be urgent. 

He was almost finished with the folder when he saw a sticky note on top of the folder that says, 'Take care of Miss Zimmerman.' 

He had to read the message twice and furrowed his eyebrows. The thing that he wasn't expecting is now happening. 

He honestly thought that Miss Zimmerman would be different. After all, Noah has been acting over the moon crazy towards Miss Zimmerman, but now, seeing Noah's special note in his hands, he sighed. 

He likes Miss Zimmerman for Noah. Even though his boss would make his life more difficult because of her. He never saw Noah any happier than when he was chasing Miss Zimmerman.

Antonio sat down at his computer and worked on Noah's schedule based on what he had done all night. He emailed Miss Garcia the changes to Noah's schedule. Miss Garcia could handle those things without him, but he dreaded the task Noah wanted him to do. 

Take care of Miss Zimmerman - only mean one thing. He has to place an order of jewelry — preferably diamond, as it has been Noah's preferred parting gift. 

He just finished placing the special order he placed at one of the most expensive jewelry boutiques in the world because he thought Miss Zimmerman deserved the best.

When Noah came out of his bathroom, freshly showered and wearing a three-piece suit from Armani's latest collection.  He sat down on his couch and drank his coffee without saying anything. As he sipped his coffee, he checked his email on the laptop balanced on his lap.

"Sir, would you like some breakfast?" 

"Yes. Book me a table for two at the Sunnery," he replied without taking his eyes off his computer screen. 

The Sunnery is a popular breakfast cafe among young people. He wrinkled his eyebrows at Noah's brunch date after going out to dinner last night. His intuition tells him his boss will see the same woman he met last night.

"Sir, a table for two at the Sunnery had been booked,"  he informed his boss. 

"Thanks," he closed his laptop and stood up from the couch. "Prepare a meeting with our prospective investors within this week," he said, buttoning his coat while walking out of the office. 

"Yes, sir." 

He watched Noah step out of the door before he sat down back to his office chair. Poor Little Miss Jessie, he thought before he focused his attention back on his work. 

***

"Little Miss Jessie, what are you doing?" 

They were at the canteen hanging an hour earlier for lunch since the head of the research they were assigned to was still not reporting to work. 

According to his secretary, he is still in India working on the new laboratory of ANAT Pharma and Co. 

Thus, she and Luke that had been assigned to the same group were just loitering in the building, mostly in the canteen for the other members of the team don't know what to do with them. 

Oliver on the other hand, they haven't seen him since the orientation yesterday. 

"Nothing." 

"You have been checking your phone for a while now, and you are telling me it is nothing? Have you talked to your father?" he asked her with an arched eyebrow.

"No. When I arrived home last night, he was busy with something on his computer. And I told him I was tired so we didn't talk. This morning, I woke up early to escape him but he was already in the kitchen, with breakfast ready for me, so sweet," she said, clicking her tongue in sarcasm. 

Luke didn't give a comment about her father nor he asked any more questions. He knew Jess. He can't force her to talk if she doesn't want to talk. Like what happened last night. She just stopped talking and decided to go home after dinner. 

"If it is not about your father, what is it that you are checking on your phone?" 

"I got an email from Noah," she said with an annoyed expression on her face. 

"Shouldn't you be happy?" 

"Why should I? After last time, he went radio silent on me. He didn't reply to any of my messages, and my call," when she saw the questioning look of Luke, she added, "I called him just one time. I didn't act like a psychotic girl." 

"So, what's the problem with this email?" 

"The email actually wasn't from him. I still haven't heard anything from him, that's why I don't know what to do with this email," she shoved her phone to Luke's face, showing him the email she was talking about. 

"What does it mean?" he pulled her phone from her hands to read the said email. "It says here that you can pick up any time the jewelry that Mr. Tiefenbacher has for you in their store." 

"Yes," she confirmed, scratching her chin, still deep in thought. 

"Is this legit? This is a very high-end jewelry store."

"It is legit. I'm familiar with that special logo that they use, and the salutation they have for their customer." 

"Well, if you think this is legit, then why don't we go and find out?" 

"Wipe off that grin on your face, Luke. I don't want --" 

"What? Do you have better things to do than hang out here in the cafeteria?" he swiped his hand in the air, indicating the cafeteria that slowly getting crowded for it is now about lunchtime. "We are not yet needed her, Jess." 

She scanned the room and noticed that most of the tables were already taken. If they don't get out of her in the next twenty minutes or so the room would be too noisy to have a casual conversation. 

"Okay, fine! Let's go!" 

"Awesome! I haven't been inside that particular store. My budget and name won't allow me to. So, I would consider this as an outing." 

"Text Oliver that we aren't going to meet him for lunch," she said as they got on the elevator to the basement parking of the building.

"Uhm, I think it would be best if you'd text Oliver," he said, giving her an apologetic smile. 

"Why, Luke? Did you do something to Oliver?" 

"Come on, Jess! I didn't do anything to Oliver. It's just that I feel like he is being awkward around me nowadays." 

When he saw the confused look on Jess's face, he added, "I think my jokes crossed some lines." 

"Oliver is cool. You are just thinking too much. But you know, I understand what you mean by your feelings. This idea of picking up a piece of jewelry doesn't feel right." 

"What do you mean? For sure, Noah is just being the smug over-the-top jerk that he is -- giving you an extravagant gift because he hasn't given you enough time." 

"I hope that's what this is about."