Chapter 247 - So close, yet so far away

~Los Angeles~

Jeff received text from Aiden with tags: #JoAnnaHill #HillQueens #FrozenQueens.

He did a search for 'JoAnna Hill' on his laptop, and thousands of hits showed up: web pages, forums, blogs, images.

He opened one blog which claimed that it has most accurate information on Hill sisters.

One of topics with most votes was about different eye color between three sisters. In the topic it claimed that Sophia has brown eyes, JoAnna blue, and Sarah green.

Jeff thought about it. He never paid attention to the eyes of Sophia and Sarah, as for JoAnna… 'Anna has blue eyes, it seems they have accurate information.'

Next topic is discussing how Hill sisters are cold and unapproachable. Topic has a lot of comments. Of course, like any online community resource, it has mix of opinions but most of them are from haters.

'You have no idea how kind Anna is!' Jeff was getting angry reading all those comments from people who talk badly about JoAnna without knowing her.

He closed that page and looked at another one, which looked like her resume, but made by a fan. It showed her birthday: September 10, height: 5' 9", status: single, names of schools attended, that she moved from Harvard to Johns Hopkins University and started residency at Franciscan Medical Center, all under guidance from Dr. Gregory Light. Jeff frowned when he saw that man being mentioned in the same sentence with JoAnna.

As he went through different pages, Jeff found that there is a lot of information which is wild guessing, mostly inaccurate. The more he read the more upset he was.

Jeff realized that he spent more than an hour browsing through pages which only got him upset, and he still didn't have any photo of her that he could use. 'This is what Aiden meant when he told me to stay focused.'

Jeff did search on social media with tags that Aiden sent him. Thousands of pictures filled up his screen. But not many were about his JoAnna. He does not know that Sarah deleted most of the images containing her or her sisters. But she missed some pictures which were not tagged correctly.

Top image returned was of JoAnna at the Christmas party. Location: Orion Enterprise HQ. He was also at that party. 'Did I see her? How is it possible that such a beauty didn't catch my eye then?' He slowly scrolled through images. Stopping at those with JoAnna.

One photo showed JoAnna, and in the background was Sophia talking with someone, when he looked up closely, that man talking with Sophia was him. 'We were so close!' He was only few steps away from JoAnna. He saved that photo and sent it to JoAnna with a caption: 'So close, yet so far away.'

'If I met her then... I would not allow this charade to come to the point where Isabella and her father come to meet me.' He shook off those thoughts, there is no point thinking about the past opportunities that were missed. He needs to focus on present and fix things for the future.

Jeff observed that on photos taken during events or in the city, where JoAnna was aware of the people watching her, she has an aloof expression. 'Cold, distant, unapproachable, enchanting... beautiful.' Few photos are taken sneakily, while she was in a private setting with her family. On those photos JoAnna is smiling, her expression is soft. 'Warm, friendly, inviting, enchanting... beautiful.'

Jeff remembered range of expressions JoAnna showed when she was with him. She was not cold or distant, she was smiling at him... He remembered her smile, and her cute expression when she blushed, her stubborn confidence, and eyes full of trust… He wished to see her so badly that it hurt.

It was difficult for Jeff to pull himself out of daydreaming. He left his office with confident steps. He has a mission for this weekend. He will play his moves right, and nothing will stand between him and JoAnna.

~Hill family villa~

JoAnna is in her room, reconsidering her decision to join Sarah in LA. She is looking at the latest message from Jeff: 'Anna, I miss you. I will get this figured out soon, I promise.'

'What will I do if I see him?' She wants to see him. She is missing him like crazy. Her emotions are raging, but she is forcing herself to hold back from reaching out to him. 'He must fix this by himself, if his feelings are true. There is no point in me caving in if he does not handle this matter.'

JoAnna is torn apart. Struggling between missing Jeff, wanting to call him, and her fear that maybe, just maybe he was not honest. 'What if he does not plan to talk to his parents, and he does not cancel whatever thing he has with that other woman. Then what? Am I going to be his mistress? What kind of a future is that?' That thought makes her feel a knot in her chest.

But even if he stays with that other woman, can she avoid him? She will end up seeing him once in a while. He has business connection with Sophia, and a personal one with Sarah. 'I can't modify my life just to avoid him. I hope I don't meet him, but if I do... I will see then.' JoAnna knows that if that is the case, she needs to be stronger, to build a wall around her feelings and not to let them out. She does not want to be a mistress. No matter how much she loves him, she will not allow herself to go that route.

She decided that she will go to LA. After all, how many bosses go to visit their employees at their apartment? Jeff will not come there, so as long as she does not reach out to him, she will be fine. She decided to focus on positive sides: she will be away from Dr. Light, and weather is warmer. Idea of her lounging in the sun next to a pool sound nice. And for that experience she does not need to leave the apartment!

JoAnna started planning what will she pack and headed to take a shower.

Her phone beeped again, and she checked latest message: 'So close, yet so far away.' She observed photo. And felt mix of emotions... 'I manage not to think about him for a minute, and he makes sure that my mind drifts back towards him.' She kept her phone down and went to the bathroom.