Chapter 3 Catching

Sophie's POV

For the next few days I tried to meet with Jackson again but to no avail, I thought about calling him but the moment I picked up my phone, I realize that we never exchanged contact numbers. Whenever I visited him, he is never home, at first I began to think that he was intentionally trying to avoid me but even though I showed up at his doorstep at odd hours, no one answers no matter how much I rang the doorbell.

I even began a lookout for him through my window but I never caught sight of him. I made two assumptions, either he was intentionally avoiding me because I was too outspoken with him or he wasn't available. I wasn't sure what to think anymore, I didn't even realize that my parents had noticed my change in behavioral pattern.

"Hey sweetie, are you okay?" My father asked me one evening when we were having dinner together.

"Yes I'm fine." I replied casually and started picking my food with my fork before I let out a loud sigh.

Then I noticed how my father abruptly stood up and muttered about getting something from the kitchen, I scoffed in my mind, I knew what he was trying to do. He was giving my mother and I privacy to talk just in case I was uncomfortable explaining what was wrong with me while he was around.

"Darling are you okay?" My mother placed a hand over my free one and squeezed it gently with a reassuring smile on her face.

I nodded stiffly and forced out a smile to sound a little more convincing. "Yes mother, I am fine, don't worry about me."

"Your father and I noticed that you've been off for a few days. You know you can tell me anything, is it about someone special?"

My smile froze on my face but only for a second. "Uhh-" I wasn't sure what to tell her, I could neither deny or accept her words. I was thinking about someone, an older man that had fascinated me and even ignited pleasure in me. "It's really nothing mum, I'm just nervous about my job," The lie came out really smoothly, that was the only convincing thing that could come to mind. "Yes, I'm worried that I might not do well, that the superiors may think they made a mistake by choosing me and I might get laid off." My words came out in a gentle flow and in a way, I was trying to convince myself that it was really the case.

"Oh dear, that's not true. You don't have to worry about it because you'll do great," She stretched out her hand and pats my head lovingly. "Your father and I believe that you'll do exceedingly well."

"Thank you mum." I smiled, genuinely this time. Within me, I knew I had lied to her but she knew how to reassure me.

When I went to bed that night, I imagined how the next day was going to be like. It would be my first day as a secretary at the Federal Court House and I was determined to put in all my best.

The next morning, I felt relieved, I dreamt of Jackson the previous night so I had a good feeling about what the day would bring. "Morning mum." I rushed to the kitchen clad in nothing but a bathrobe and grabbed a cup of juice from the counter.

"Morning dear, how was your night?"

"It was awesome, I can't wait to get to work. I'm pretty excited about it."

"I'm glad about that. Get dressed on time and return for breakfast." She called out to me as I rushed out of the kitchen.

"Yes!" I entered the room and twirled a little in front of a full length mirror. Soon I got dressed in white shirt and a short black skirt, my red hair was packed up in a ponytail and a few strands were curled and fell on the sides of my face, dark mascara lined my eyes and brought out the sparkles in my eyes. To compliment, a pair of black flat shoes that felt very comfortable.

I rushed down the stairs, ate breakfast as quick as possible and made my dad drive me to the Court House. When I arrived, I got a very warm reception from the people there and I couldn't help but notice that I was the youngest there. I was shown my desk where I would be working and some duties were assigned to me, I realized that my immediate superior was not on seat and I got curious.

"Hi, is there a way I can get through to my superior?" I asked a very enthusiastic woman who seemed happy that I approached her.

"Oh, the marshal. He hasn't arrived yet, he was on a job and would be back anytime soon. He would properly instruct you on your duties when he returns." She carefully explained before she excused herself.

I sighed, I guess I have to start off all on my own but I couldn't help but think the marshal that the woman spoke of was related to Jackson. After I few minutes, I cleared the thoughts from my head, there was no way that he is Jackson. I began to arrange the files in my superior's office into catalogues and made records of them just for future reasons.

I was halfway done when the handle of the door was pushed open and a man walked in, as my eyes fell on him, a gasp left my lips.

It wasn't possible!

It was probably a coincidence but he was standing right in front of me. The man I have been trying to reach for days, the same man that had occupied my thoughts for more than a few days was standing in front of me.

"Jackson-" I started but I was rudely interrupted.

"You! Why are you here?" He immediately shuts the door behind him to avoid drawing attention, his eyes were wide in shock as he strode towards me in a fast pace. I smirked and crossed my arms in front of him, I finally found him and he won't be getting away from me anytime soon.

Jackson's POV

My life reverted back to normal as soon as I left Sophie at her doorstep, the attraction between us was strong but at the same time, it felt wrong. Even though she didn't mind, I was worried that I might be taking advantage of her. I buried myself in my job, I took a field job as an undercover agent and went in search of a homicidal murderer, it wasn't the best of jobs because he was as slippery as an eel and had bested some of the best field agents. But his success streak was put to an end the moment he met me, it was like a cat and mouse chase, it took a lot of thinking and calculation before I was able to apprehend him and that too without spilling any blood.

The job alone was enough to keep my mind off the little succubus I had helped. I was informed that I had a new secretary, the former ones always threw themselves at me and wanted to keep their jobs with their bodies which was highly disgusting, they played petty tricks that I could easily see through in a matter of seconds. I was level headed and no one seemed attractive enough, their perfumes were always too strong and offensive, coupled with the fact that they couldn't do their jobs and stay within their limits,I was more than happy to fire them. I looked forward to seeing what my new secretary was up to, it was fun to watch them play silly games and fail, it was amusing- scratch that, it was exhilarating. But I was in for a rude shock, as I entered my office and my eyes fell on my new secretary, I tried to prevent myself from groaning out in frustration.

Sophie?

Why was she here?

Was she-? I didn't want to think about it but the answer was right in front of me.

From the way she was dressed, she was my new secretary and knowing her, it would be difficult to get rid of her easily. She is different from the others, I knew it, I tried to get away from her but in the end, here we are again.

Red haired women spelt danger, I never understood that term until I laid my eyes in her once again.

I swore under my breath before I shut the door behind me, I didn't want us to become and office gossip for anyone. She crossed her arms in front of her and smirked as I approached her. "Why are you here?" From her presence in my office and the way she was dressed, I could easily tell why she was here but I needed to here it from her for confirmation.

"Good morning sir, I am Sophie Reed, your new secretary. Please instruct me on what to do and I'll make sure to do it to the best of my abilities." She lowered her head.

I coughed, "Okay then, keep doing what you're doing." I stride towards my seat and settled down. Sophie carried some files to her desk which was not too far from mine, I tried to avoid looking at her but I couldn't help it.

I could feel her eyes on me most of the times, she would flash me a sultry smile each time we locked eyes. She was really asking for trouble, I stood up and walked to her desk, she stood up the moment I was in front of her. "What are you doing?" I mentally facepalmed.

She puts up a very innocent expression on her face. "Nothing, Can you help me with this? I don't know whether or not to record it." She stretched out a file to me.

As I collected it, I gave a once over, I would be stupid to admit that I liked the way she looked, with her big green eyes and the short skirt that hugged her hips, I found it hard to retract my gaze from her shirt where her ample breasts were secured. We were all alone, behind closed doors, what could likely happen?

"I don't know what you are trying to do Soph-" I didn't give her a chance to speak as I reacted instinctively in much the same way I would have to a gunshot or knife at the back. Action came before thought, I caught her chin in my hand to hold her still. "But there is a lot of risk involved in this."

I captured her mouth in mine, she tasted sweet and I couldn't get enough of it, our tongues tangled and fought for dominance which I won in the end. Her hands made its way into mine as her lips parted helplessly under mine. It was perfect but I immediately released her. I stared at her for another moment and cursed myself in my head.

The sexual tension was strong in the air, I needed a quick relief or a distraction. But Sophie was right in front of me, with her flushed cheeks. She was breathing heavily as she chewed on her lower lips and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I am sorry." She muttered softly and lowered herself to her seat. "What are we going to do?"

She apologized but it wasn't her fault. I deeply exhaled. "About what?"

"About this thing between us."

"Do we really need to talk about this right now?"

"No matter how much you try to deny it, there's some attraction between us. It's up to you to make the decision, if you want me to leave, I'll back off and ask no questions." She grinned, tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and settled back on her seat like nothing had happened.