Chapter 9 Jealousy

When Vasti stepped out of the elevator, she noticed the office felt even quieter than usual. Heidi spotted her right away and motioned for Vasti to come over.

What's going on? Vasti asked.

Heidi leaned in. "Mr. Gonzalez's in a foul mood. Nobody knows why, but he showed up this morning looking like he wanted to bite someone's head off."

Vasti frowned at that. Adônis MacGyver had seemed calm when he left her at the hospital. What could have happened between then and now to put him in such a bad mood?

Alright. I'll just focus on my own work. The last thing I need is for him to come after my job-again.

Heidi nodded and got back to her own tasks. By now, Vasti had learned the ropes. Heidi trusted she'd be able to manage the office and keep Mr. Gonzalez's schedule on track when the time came for Heidi to take her leave.

The morning slipped by without much drama. Adônis MacGyver called Heidi in a few times, and every single visit left her looking more rattled than before. The last time, Vasti shot her a questioning look, silently asking what was up. Heidi just shook her head and hurried back to her office, keeping whatever it was to herself.

It was well past one in the afternoon when Vasti finally left her desk and walked over to Heidi's office, knocking on the door to get her attention.

May I go grab some lunch? Vasti asked.

She skipped breakfast that morning, worried that if she missed the hospital shuttle, she'd show up late for work-a risk she couldn't afford. With her boss already in a terrible mood, losing her job felt like a real possibility. This time, he'd actually have a legitimate excuse to fire her, since the mistake would be her own. Sure, running a few minutes behind might not usually get someone canned, but with her luck, she wasn't about to test it.

Yes, of course. Go ahead, Heidi said with a kind smile.

What about you? Aren't you going to eat?

Not yet. Don't worry about me. I'll go after you get back.

Vasti nodded and headed out. Calling it hunger didn't do justice to how empty she felt- her stomach was practically eating itself!

She pressed the elevator button, ignoring the surprised gasps that had just erupted behind her. If it didn't concern her, she wasn't about to get involved. Right now, the only thing on her mind was food.

Just then, a shadow loomed behind her.

It must have been another employee waiting for the elevator, Vasti thought. Still, Vasti didn't know everyone in the building-she hadn't been there that long. "Come on, elevator, move it!"

The elevator doors slid open, and she walked in with her head lowered, fishing her phone out of her purse. Just as she reached out to hit the button for the ground floor, someone's hand cut her off. She glanced up to see who it was right as the elevator doors shut behind them.

We need to talk, Adônis MacGyver said, his voice grave. Vasti arched an eyebrow.

Alright... She could tell Adônis MacGyver was more intense than usual. He gave off a suffocating energy, and she couldn't decide if she should ask what set him off. "He'll tell you himself, Vasti. Otherwise, he wouldn't have called you here," she told herself. "Oh, sir, what did I do this time? But I had to eat first. Let me eat something before we talk, Mr. Gonzalez," she told Adônis MacGyver.

Lunch? Vasti caught a strange glint in his eyes and narrowed her own, watching him closely.

Yeah. It's late, and I haven't eaten a thing today, Vasti replied, forcing her voice to stay steady as she looked away.

I thought you'd already eaten-with your little friend, Adônis MacGyver said.

Vasti looked up at him, puzzled. "What... What little friend?"

The elevator doors slid open and, before she could react, Adônis MacGyver took her wrist-firm, but not rough-and steered her straight to his car. "Mr. Gonzalez!" She protested.

Get in, he said, leaving no room for argument. Vasti hated being bossed around, so she dug in her heels. Adônis MacGyver let out an exasperated sigh, tossed her an impatient smile, and added, "Please."

Vasti shot him a look that practically said, "This better be worth it." Without another word, she nodded and slid into the car.

Would you care to explain what that was all about? Why did you drag me out here?

Adônis MacGyver gripped the wheel with both hands, closed his eyes, and drew in a slow breath before facing her.

Who was the man with you at the hospital?

Vasti needed a second to process. What man...? And then it finally clicked.

He's the doctor treating the person I went to visit, Vasti said.

Are you going out with him? Vasti frowned, puzzled by the question-especially since Adônis MacGyver sounded more intense than usual.

She blinked, thrown off by his tone. Was he really... jealous?

No, that's not... she muttered, then cleared her throat. She straightened up and looked him in the eye. "With all due respect, Mr. Gonzalez, I don't owe you any explanations."

Vasti! Just tell me-are you two together or not?

She wanted to tell him to mind his own business, but honestly, what was the point of dragging this out? If he wanted an answer, she'd give him one and maybe, just maybe, he'd finally leave her alone long enough to eat.

No, Mr. Gonzalez, I'm not seeing that man. Not the way you're thinking.

Relief washed over Adônis MacGyver, softening his whole demeanor. He reached out and gently brushed Vasti's cheek with his hand.

I didn't like seeing you that close to him, he admitted quietly. "He... He held your hand..."

He reached for her hand, as if to point something out, then brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

Vasti sat there, utterly bewildered. Adônis MacGyver switched moods like flipping a light- one moment, he only seemed interested in sex, the next he acted like he cared, then he'd get mad out of nowhere, only to suddenly turn gentle again.

Honestly, he acted like a jealous boyfriend-which made no sense, since they didn't have that kind of relationship. If she had to label it, maybe there was some flirting, but that was the extent of it.

He's just a friend. And like I said, I don't owe you any explanations, she replied, her voice softer than she intended- almost a whisper.

Adônis MacGyver leaned in, pressed a light kiss to her lips, and rested his forehead against hers. "We need to talk after work," he said quietly.

Vasti licked her lips and nodded, already regretting her curiosity. She always managed to land herself in trouble. What could this man possibly want, other than sex?

Fine, she said, keeping her answer short. "That conversation was wildly inappropriate, but... Let's just get some food. Please."

Adônis MacGyver chuckled, sat back, and buckled his seatbelt. One hand gripped the steering wheel, the other shifted the car into gear.

So, what do you want to eat today?

I don't care... Honestly, I just need food.

I just need to eat too, he said, smirking. Vasti stared at him, half-annoyed that he'd even tried that joke.

He lifted his hands in mock surrender, still laughing. Just like that, the tension vanished. Suddenly, he was the same Adônis MacGyver she'd seen that morning-easygoing, relaxed, even friendly.

He started the car and drove out of the garage. Adônis MacGyver had already decided: he was going to take her somewhere for one of his favorite meals, something he rarely allowed himself to have.