Loving With A Heavy Heart 121 Your Sister's Grace

A few days of normalcy followed. Elle returned to work. Everything in her department had quieted down since their last major project had been completed. Only a few minor projects were still ongoing so her days went by quickly and peacefully.

Jacob hadn't gone to see her. How could he? He knew Abby meant well by her advice but she didn't know the whole story. If he went to Elle now he would just be pouring salt on his wounds. It was too late, there was nothing that could be mended between them now.

Since the incident his days at work had become more strained. Elle and the Director of Sales had both kept their mouth's shut regarding the matter but the manager's new something had happened. Jacob no longer received major opportunities like he had in the beginning. Every meeting left him feeling strained. Every time his coworkers glanced at him and whispered his imagination went wild with all the rumors that were likely spreading.

Jacob was in the cafeteria taking a break when he ran into a familiar face. A face he didn't want to see.

"Jacob." Michael said in greeting. "How are you?"

"I've been better." Jacob said bitterly.

"You're not still hung up about what happened are you?" Michael asked.

"That's easy for you to say. You didn't get punished for it."

"I told you that we should have quit while we were ahead. I warned you." Michael said with a frown. "Besides it's not like you're exactly getting punished either."

"It's easy for you to say. From the outside it might look like that but thing's are so different from when I first got here. I've lost so many opportunities."

Michael looked at Jacob with a conflicted expression. "Look, Jacob I like you. We got along well at the beginning. You won't like what I'm about to say but I'm saying it for your own good. The truth is that you don't have it nearly as bad as you think. They're not treating you poorly now because of your mistake; they were treating you uncommonly well before because you were the chairman's son."

Jacob felt as if he had been slapped in the face.

"Those opportunities were one's you didn't earn, that's why they were taken away so easily. If it wasn't for the chairman's last name or your sister's grace you would be out of a job right now. Consider yourself lucky."

There were those accursed words again. 'Your sister'. Jacob at Michael unable to mask the annoyance he felt.

"Listen, if you want to join the boys and I for a drink just let me know. Good luck buddy." Michael gave Jacob a rea.s.suring pat on the back before leaving the cafeteria, leaving Jacob in a worse state than ever.

~~

That night Elle returned to her family home for the first time in months. She was only there to pack up her things, but she didn't intend to tell her family that. Adam had helped her so the contract signing went smoothly. She would be moving in within the week.

Elle quietly entered the home. She needed to pack up her things but it didn't mean anyone had to notice her. Elle had finished packing most of her clothes and gotten into bed when she heard a faint knock at the door.

Her father poked his head in. "You're home?" He asked with surprise leaking into his voice.

"I am." Elle replied indifferently. "I'm surprised you noticed."

"Don't be like that."

"Be like what?"

Her father frowned at her. "There's no point in returning home only to sulk alone in your room."

"You're the one who basically demanded I return home." Elle retorted.

"Because you have been selfishly imposing on your friends to house you for far too long. What have you been thinking? If you're going to be like this you should just move out and live on your own. Stop bothering on everyone around you." Her father lectured.

Elle couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the irony of his words. "Maybe I will then." She said with her voice full of sarcasm.

"This is going no where. We can talk in the morning." Her father saw he was clearly going to get no where with her and strategically departed to his own room for the night.

Elle felt more relaxed once he had gone but even then she had trouble falling asleep. It was strange to be back in her own bed after so long. No matter how she tossed and turned she couldn't find a comfortable position.

After a laying there for a long time, unable to fall asleep, Elle suddenly pulled the sheets back roughly. She put a coat over her pyjama's and quietly snuck out the front door.

Elle giggled to herself as she sat in the front seat of her car. Even as a teenager she had never snuck out of the house like this. It was an exhilarating feeling.

Thirty minutes later Adam was opening the front door to his condo, wondering who it could be at such a late hour. His eyes widened with shock we he opened the door to find Elle standing on the other side, wearing a pair of cotton pyjama's and a mischievous smile.

"What are you doing here. I thought you were staying at your family home tonight."

"It seems I've developed a condition where I can't sleep unless I'm next to you." Elle said casually as she stepped over the threshold and past Adam into the house. "You better take responsibility."