Chapter 67 - Terms And Conditions *unedited*

Jake leaned back on a swivelling chair with his back facing his desk. His mind kept flashing back to his conversation with Jade.

He bellowed out in laughter when he thought about the silly demand he has made.

"Tch..Video games?" He asked himself in disbelief. He still couldn't believe that was all he could come up with. How lame. Sincerely he was looking forward to spending his time with her. He wondered what he would find underneath that small framed woman.

"Teach me how to play the 'Demon Souls' and I'll sign that contract" Jake said. He watched in amusement as her eyes kept fluttering while she stared at him in silence.

Jade didn't understand why he would make such a condition. Video game!

"What do you say Miss Peterson" He asked in a low voice as he leaned forward, so much that their knees touched, but Jade instinctively pulled back.

"Are you willing to teach me?" He said in a low and steady voice.

"But...why that?" Jade opened her mouth to ask. This was her first response since he spoke about his condition for signing the contract.

Jake's lips slightly twitched when he heard her question. "Were you hoping I'd ask for something else?" He asked as he studied her every move.

"No" Jade replied.

Jake licked his nether lip seductively as he leaned in closely. "Well I could also ask..."

"I'll teach you" Jade suddenly declared as she adjusted on her seat uncomfortably. This guy was making her uncomfortable and she didn't like any bit of it. He kept looking at her like she was a good piece of meat.

"That's what I thought" Jake said, standing up to return to his seat. He could tell she was uncomfortable with their close proximity and he didn't want to tip her off, certainly that won't be in his favour. Jade watched him cautiously as he returned back to his initial seat. A frowned formed on her face when she thought about how this jerk had tortured her in the last few minutes with that awful gaze of his.

"I also have a few conditions" Jade spoke in a firm voice while Jake glanced at her with surprise.

"Few?" Jake asked uncertainly. How could she have 'few' conditions when he only had one. He stared at her amusedly.

"Yes" She nodded.

"Let's hear it"

"Firstly, you have to stop looking at me like that" Jade said in a flat tone.

"Like how miss Peterson?" Jake asked feigning ignorance.

"Like that" Jade said squinting her eyes in anger, because he was still doing it.

"Oh..I'm sorry if my gaze makes you uncomfortable, it's just that...I have a medical condition, that makes me stare at people this way" Jake said with a straight face. Jade looked at him incredulously. She didn't believe there was such a condition. What did he take her for? Not only was this guy stupid he also thinks people were as stupid as he was.

Jade was about contending that statement of his when he interrupted her by raising his hand.

"What are the others?" He urged. She took in a deep breath to calm herself and continued.

"Secondly, this will only be for a week and in that one week you're not allowed to talk about what happened between us in the past. Thirdly, you're not allowed to flirt or do anything improper to me. Fourthly, no private places. If you must learn we'll have to use a game house and finally you're not allowed to boss me around" Jade said in a go as she tried to stay calm. Everything about Jake irked her and for God's sake somebody should do something about those eyes of his. She could feel a headache coming. Dealing with this guy was definitely not going to be easy. If it hasn't been that he was of great importance, and he had a major role in her getting that job, she'd have poked her fingers into those eyes of his and probably give him a good shake till some sense gets into him.

Jake was stunned by how fierce she was at the moment. He never would have thought there was a side to her that was assertive.

"Would that be all?" He asked raising a brow, while he kept swirling his pen around.

"For now, yes."

"Then I have one more term to add" Jake said as he stopped playing with his pen. Jade narrowed her brows at him. What other terms was he talking about?

"I'm listening"

"You said you'll teach me for just a week and my calculation is right there are about 168 hours in a week. But unfortunately weekdays are excluded because we both work. So you'll have to teach me only on weekends, and that would be for 4 hours every Saturday and Sunday till you complete the 168 hours. And if you must know I'm a slow learner so you should consider giving me more time."

"And oh...you must ensure that I know how to play at a professional level by the end of the stipulated time." Jake said with a smile tugging on his lips. He couldn't pretend like all this wasn't amusing, because it was.

Jade felt her lips twitch in anger when she realized Jake was trying to be smart. How could she have played into his hands? 168hours? Was she expected to teach him 24hours a day.

And what did he mean by 8hours every week? In that pace she'll still be teaching this bastard in the next 6 months. Jade held herself from latching out on him by taking deep breaths.

"Deal" She agreed reluctantly. If this was the price she had to pay to get that Job then she would do it, but that didn't mean she was completely agreeing to his stupid term of tutoring him for just 8hours in a week. She didn't want to be acquainted with this jerk for long.

Jake smiled to himself when Jade agreed. He was going to enjoy his time being with her and hopefully he'd know why he was attracted to her by then.

Jake almost had an heart attack when he slowly turned his chair around and saw Blake standing by his desk.

"You idiot" He cussed as he placed his hand on his chest. He wasn't expecting to find him there.

"I'm not an idiot. At least I wasn't the one grinning like a roasted lamb" Blake rebuted before walking over to the sofa to seat.

Jake was about sending him away when he noticed that something was wrong with his brother's expression.

"What's wrong with you?" Jake asked with concern.

"I don't know" Blake said with a frown as he laid down on the couch.

**********

Jade hurried back to Xenox after she left Amy. Though she was elated about signing the contract, she still couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right with how the whole process had gone.

Meeting Jake was entirely unexpected. Though she had thought that meeting him there would put her at a disadvantage especially after overhearing his conversation with Stephanie. But durprisingly it wasn't as bad as she had feared.

She didn't like the fact that she had to be around Jake at all. Though he acted differently today, that doesn't change the fact that, that man was a jerk. Had his demand being a little outrageous, she definitely would have walked out on him.

Jade headed for her the Vice president's office when someone suddenly pulled by the hand into the emergency exit. She raised her head to see Stephanie staring at her. Jade pulled her hand away with a deep frown on her face.

"What's the meaning of this?" Jade asked angrily.

"What did you hear?" Stephanie replied with a question of her own.