Chapter 269 - Out of vases

JoAnna looked through cabinets in the kitchen, pantry, storage room, and anywhere else she saw cabinets… and found one more vase. She got her phone and texted Jeff: "If you get me more flowers, keep in mind that you are out of vases."

...

Jeff is in a meeting, one woman, Martha Hindin, is presenting financial data from marketing department on the big screen. About dozen other people are attending the meeting.

Jeff saw his phone lit up with notification that he got text from JoAnna. He unlocked it and read the message. He kept his cool expression while texted her back.

[Jeff]: "Noted"

After a second he sent another message.

[Jeff]: "Correction: WE are out of vases"

People in the meeting noticed that he texted and thought how they never saw CEO White send texts during meetings before. Jeff would check the message occasionally, but he would not reply until the meeting ends.

…

Back at the penthouse, JoAnna was surprised that he responded right away. She saw his 'correction', and it's obvious that implies they are living together. JoAnna didn't tell him that she is considering staying with him in LA. 'How can he be so confident?' She texted back.

[JoAnna]: "It's not WE. I'm only visiting. All vases here are yours only."

…

Jeff read her message and a smirk appeared on his face for a second before he reverted back to his cold demeanor. He didn't hesitate to text her back.

[Jeff]: "It's just a matter of time."

…

JoAnna was amused and at the same time upset to see him saying that with such confidence. She can see that he is deciding without asking her, felt vexed. She can't leave it be. JoAnna decided to tease him, and at the same time to let him know that nothing is certain.

[JoAnna]: "How can you be so confident?"

…

Jeff was thinking for few seconds how to respond, and then a mischievous smile appeared on his face. He remembered previous night and how JoAnna expressed herself. Just thinking about that got him excited. The fact that he can bring her to such a state where she loses herself made him delighted.

[Jeff]: "I know you need me, hard."

He was smiling while looking at his phone. Message status showed 'Read'. Jeff was thinking what JoAnna's reaction is now while she is reading his message. It took some time for him to realize that Martha, woman who was presenting is not talking any more. No one was talking. Everyone in the room was looking at Jeff and wondering, 'Is that CEO White smiling???' He always had a cold and distant expression. Everyone wondered what made him smile like that. Well, everyone except Steve who had a good idea.

Jeff cleared his throat, and his expression went back to serious.

"Continue", he told to the woman who paused her presentation, dazzled by his smile. She got startled and stumbled to find where she stopped before continuing.

…

JoAnna read his message and embarrassment hit her. 'Is he teasing me? Is he referring to last night???' She face-palmed herself and looked at his last message thinking how this man is getting more and more cheeky.

For someone who has a reputation of being cold and not talking much while keeping people at a distance, JoAnna found Jeff to be the total opposite... And it seems that even his sense of humor was showing up.

She threw herself on a sofa in the living room and thought about Jeff. His smile, his deep dark eyes, his firm body, his warmth… his care… his love… 'Oh, how I wish to hug him… snuggle next to him.' Jeff made her feel safe. She likes that. JoAnna knows that when she is with him, she does not need to worry about anything because he will take care of it. He will take care of everything. For her. 'It feels good to be cherished.'

She looked around, and the apartment looked so empty without him.

She didn't want to play games any more… she unlocked her phone and texted him: "I miss you."

…

Seeing that there was no response for some time, Jeff thought that JoAnna will not text him anymore. When he got a response, he was ready to tease her again, but then he saw simple three words she sent, and his face softened. He missed her too. Her image appeared in his mind and he saw her smile, and he felt her arms wrap around his body, and her breath on his cheek. He could not stop himself from missing her like crazy.

Jeff smiled while staring in space toward the big screen where presentation was ongoing, and Martha saw him. She was sure that she saw him when she turned to glance at the audience… CEO White was smiling while looking at her!

Jeff didn't realize the emotional stir he caused in the woman who was presenting. At that point he forgot that there is someone presenting at all… and that he is in a meeting.

He checked his schedule and found that it was full because all meetings from previous day got moved to next few days and filled up his day completely... but he would make time for her.

...

JoAnna's eyes lit up when she saw Jeff's message: "Let's have lunch together."

She wanted to meet him.

She typed: 'Yes' but deleted it.

Second attempt: 'If you have time'. That one didn't get sent either.

Third attempt: 'I can come to your office.' JoAnna hesitated. She deleted that message as well. At the end, she typed another message and sent it.

She kept roses in the vase and went to get her laptop. JoAnna's task before lunch time was to find hospitals in Los Angeles who are good candidates for her to do her residency in.

...

Jeff looked at the last message he received.

[JoAnna]: "No, I'm busy. See you when you get back."

Immediately he understood that JoAnna said she is busy only because of him. 'She is such a considerate person.' He was smiling while typing "OK" as a response.

After that meeting no one talked about the important financial presentation woman did. They all discussed strange change in their CEO, wondering what caused him to smile, suspecting various causes like disease, alcohol, and drugs.

As for the woman who did presentation, she actually had hopes that Jeff smiled at her. She was disappointed that she didn't get a chance to talk to him in private and to confirm her suspicion.