Chapter 276 - Late Lunch

[This chapter is dedicated to Krys_2285. Thank you for the golden ticket. Much love!]

---

"You aren't going to take your lunch?" 

Gareth's voice made Jess lift her face away from the screen of her laptop. She stared at Gareth with a small crease in between her brows. 

"It's already two in the afternoon. I didn't ask you to have lunch because you looked like you don't want to be disturbed from your work, but you just got better from being sick, I don't think you should strain yourself too soon with work." He gave her a small smile. 

Jess looked at the right corner of her computer screen and saw that it is indeed already two in the afternoon! She didn't feel any hunger and totally forgot the time. She was so excited about the fact that she got more access to the research study that Noah used to work on with his ex-wife Nicole. 

She returned her gaze to Gareth and noticed for the first time that he had his backpack on his back. "Are you going out?" 

"Yes. I have to do my rounds in the laboratory. Dr. Sison was also busy at the laboratory so you will be left alone here. Maybe you should take the time to eat your lunch."

"Thank you." She genuinely smiled at Gareth with the concern that she was seeing on his face. He has forgotten that she was trying to be wary of him because he looked hesitant to leave her on her own. "I will just finish this one and I will go for lunch." She chuckled softly when she saw the distrust in Gareth's eyes. "Truly!" She raised her left hand in the air, pledging. "I'll eat." 

He chuckled. "Okay. Enjoy your lunch break then. I won't be back here for the day." 

"Hmm," she mumbled, nodding. 

Gareth gave her one last glance before he turned on his heels and made his way to the door. 

Jess followed him with a gaze before she returned her attention to her laptop. She couldn't believe that she forgot that time. And now that she's aware of the time, her stomach grumbled in hunger. She grimaced. Gareth was right, she should take good care of herself since her body wasn't still fully recovered. 

She originally planned to finish reading the file that was on her screen but she changed her mind. She closed down her laptop and stood up from her chair. 

She felt a bit of pain in her right leg when she stood up. Her back muscle was also taut. She had been in front of her computer unmoving for most of the day. She shouldn't wonder why her body felt painful. 

She put her laptop inside her drawer and locked it. She didn't know why but even when she knew that her laptop was protected, she didn't feel comfortable just leaving it lying around on her desk. Hence, she locked it in the top drawer of her desk. 

She stretched her arms above her head and bent her waist left and right, before grabbing her phone and checking if Noah left her a message. The crease in between her brows reappeared. There was no message or missed calls from Noah at all. She felt a tinge of disappointment in her heart. 

'Is he giving her space by not contacting her? Or does he think she doesn't want to talk to him because she didn't give him a call this morning?' 

She heaved a deep sigh and smiled sadly. She took a photo of the empty office and sent it to him with a message saying, 'Everyone left.' 

She shoved her phone into the pocket of her lab coat before she headed out of the office too, to have her late lunch. She was on her way to the cafeteria when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. A smile tore the corners of her lips, thinking it's Noah. Her disappointment was apparent when she pulled her phone from her pocket and saw Luke's name. 

"Hello," her tone sounded so hollow. 

"What's with that tone? I haven't called you for a while and now that I call you, you're answering me with that tone?! What happened to you?" 

His high-pitched voice sounded painful in Jess's ears. It may be because she is hungry but she doesn't want to talk to Luke right now. 

"Nothing." 

He scoffed. "There's no such thing as nothing to you, Little Miss Jessie. Does it have something to do with Noah's ex-wife leaving their offspring with Noah? I saw the little one when I visited your apartment?" 

"Did you ask her to enter my place?" 

"Why? Are you going to be mean to the young miss?!" 

"Don't be stupid! I have a deal with her. Don't invite her inside my apartment." She rolled her eyes when Luke suddenly acted like he would forget their friendship if she tried to become mean to Lucille. 

She grabbed a tray and checked the food. There wasn't much choice since lunch was way over. She decided to ask for a bowl of fresh fruit and some samosas. 

The old woman behind the glass counter gave her a strange look. She must have found her choice of food strange. She offered her a small smile as she handed her the company meal card. 

"Why are you still awake at this hour?" 

"I'm here at the lab. Babysitting some bacteria. And I can't understand why you like working at the lab at night. It's too quiet and scary. My voice is echoing here as we speak." 

She laughed. It's the reason why I like working in the lab at night. It's quiet." 

She heard the muffled sound of another man in the background. And her eyebrows knitted. "Hey, are you sure you aren't being haunted now? You said you are alone but I heard someone talking." She said to Luke at the other line as she accepted her food tray. 

"I gotta go, Jess." 

"Are you okay?" 

"Yes, I'm fine. Talk to you next time." 

She put down her tray on the table and stared at her phone. Luke already ended the call without waiting for her to say goodbye.