Chapter Thirteen
Juliette went inside Xavion's room where he lay silently, all alone. She drew the chair softly forward and sat down beside his bedside. He was on IV drips, maybe he was more serious than earlier. Silent tears fell from her eyes as she sat there watching him. Why did he do such things to himself? Why couldn't he just be happy with Candice and let her live in peace?
A soft sob escaped her and Xavion opened his eyes. He saw the frail figure of Juliette sitting beside him, sobbing. Was he dreaming or was she really here? He tried to talk to her but his throat was parched.
Juliette got up and brought a glass of water to his lips which he drank up thankfully. So she really came to see him.
"I I l love you, Julie," he croaked but she just broke down into loud sobs and ran out of his room. The door softly closed behind her and he lay there helplessly, staring at the door.
Juliette came back to her empty apartment and sobbed into her pillow. She felt more heartbroken seeing Xavion at the hospital than ever before. She couldn't concentrate on anything for the next few hours. Images of Xavion lying helplessly in the empty hospital room kept flashing through her mind. He needed someone with him. Why wasn't Candice beside him? She didn't want to think about them but whatever she did, the same thoughts and images hounded her.
She tried to submerge herself in her studies but without any success whatsoever. The next few days Juliette spent in a very restless state. She wanted to know whether Xavion was alright and released from the hospital or not. She just couldn't figure out how she could get that information.
Her exams started and was over in ten days. She hadn't met Xavion after that day at the hospital. After her exams, she went to Travis Springs for her term break. She kept remembering the time she spent with Xavion at the Adventure camp on their last term break.
When university reopened, she returned and concentrated on her studies. Angela called her and informed her that the baby was growing up well. She hadn't informed her father yet about the pregnancy. She also informed her that Xavion wasn't well and had slashed his wrists. He was again admitted to the hospital. Angela asked about her relationship with Xavion and Juliette told her everything that had happened. Angela felt very bad for her.
They finally disconnected the call and hung up. Juliette picked up her handbag and drove to the hospital to see Xavion.
Xavion stared at the door waiting for Juliette. He knew that Angela would tell her and she would surely come to see him. That was the sole reason why he did it.
She opened his door and walked inside the room. He was lying on the bed with his wrists bandaged up, his eyes closed.
She walked up to his bedside and sat down quietly on the chair beside the bed, staring at him with tears in her eyes. She had lost a lot of weight and there were dark circles under her eyes. Xavion wanted to stretch and take her in his arms but he had to talk to her first.
He opened his eyes slowly, "Please don't run away, Julie, listen to me," he said and she became wary of him, like a deer caught in the headlights.
"I love only you, please believe me. I can't tolerate Candice. She's playing tricks with us. What you saw isn't the truth. I can explain, " he said, trying to tell her everything before she ran away again.
"I will listen only if you stop landing yourself at the hospital," she said, calmly.
"I did it only to see you," he said, looking down at his hands.
"Next time you do it, I won't come, Xavion. So stop these things," she said, getting up and walking towards the door.
"Ok, I won't do it, please stay. We need to talk," he shouted after her, panicking that she was leaving without talking to him.
"There's nothing to talk about. There is nothing between us. You killed it. You killed all my feelings for you. I'm just a walking, talking dead body. Move on Xavion. Leave me alone. Don't worry, I forgive you," she said in an emotionless voice and opening the door, walked out.
He noticed that she didn't call him 'Xavi' anymore. It pained his heart. The coldness in her voice was too much to bear.
He stared at the closed door and swore to himself,"It's not so easy to get rid of me Julie. I swear to God that I will pursue you till I die or till you're mine again," he said, closing his eyes and rethinking a strategy.
Juliette returned to her apartment swearing to herself that she would never become weak again and goto visit Xavion in the hospital again. It was clear that he was harming himself to get her attention. But why did he need her attention? Wasn't Candice giving him what he needed?
Leaving the thoughts of Candice and Xavion aside she thought of keeping herself occupied. She had to take up a part-time job or she would go crazy. So she searched online for part time jobs nearby. For a week she searched and sorted but couldn't find any appropriate job. She approached her university placement cell for help. After two weeks they got back to her with a part time trainee assistant's job at a startup architectural company. The pay was meagre but at least she would be occupied enough.
She had two rounds of interviews with the owner of the firm and finally got selected with some recommendations from her university because of her excellent academic performance.
She was to start immediately. The timings suited her well. She could easily freshen up after college and go to work at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Her duty was of 6 hours and she could return home and complete her homework for the next day.
So with lots of excitement, she drove to her office. It was just a five minutes drive away from her apartment. The building was quite impressive and she parked her car in the parking lot and went up the elevator to the 9th floor.
She saw a few offices and stopped in front of her new office.
F. R. Architecture and Designs
She went inside and a pretty receptionist looked up at her, "Good morning ma'am. Welcome to F.R. Architecture and Designs. How may I help you?"
"Hi, I'm Juliette Meyers. I was supposed to join from today as a trainee assistant to the CEO, Mr. Felix Robson," said Juliette.
"Oh, yes. Please come this way, "she said, getting up and leading the way to the CEO's chamber.
She knocked on the door and pushed it open after he granted permission to enter. Felix Robson was a young man of twenty-six with an average height of around 5ft 10 inches. He wasn't drop-dead gorgeous but wasn't bad looking either. In fact he was quite handsome in a good, sober way. His formal suit was meticulous without a single crease. His hair was perfectly combed. Maybe he was a perfectionist.
Juliette went inside while the receptionist left to go to her desk.
"Good afternoon sir," she greeted him politely and he smiled.
"Good afternoon Ms. Meyers, come I'll show you to your desk, " he said getting up and leading her to a small desk at the backside of his chamber. A glass partition separated it from his chamber. It was perfect. Juliette loved the cozy and small cubicle.
"Thank you, sir," she said.
"Start the computer and study about the company from the files that I've sent you in the company email. The password and username are saved on your homescreen. You may change it if you want," he said.
"Yes, sir," she said, nodding at him.
"You can sort the work that we have done client wise in the folder that I am sending you and send it back to me in zipped format. Clear?" He asked and Juliette nodded.
"Yes, sir," she said.
"Good, " he said and went back to his chair. He could see that she was very young and extremely pretty. He liked her the moment her university sent her for the internship. He was excited to work with her.
Juliette did as she was told. She finished the work given to her dedicatedly and sent the completed work to her employer. Then she got up and went to his desk.
"Sir, I've finished what you've asked me to do. You can give me more work," she said, hesitantly. She had never worked anywhere before. She heard that CEO's were very moody people who always shouted at their assistants.
Bring a chair and come and sit here, " he said, indicating the space beside his table. Juliette's eyes widened but she did what he told her to do.
"Good, now look at these designs that I've made of a commercial shopping mall. Can you point out any errors in them?" he asked her and she stared at the designs. They were extremely good. How could a second year student point out errors from her employer's designs?
"Go ahead, there's nothing to fear, " he said.
Juliette stared at the designs. The first two were flawless. There was something wrong with the third design. She scrutinised it minutely unaware of Mr. Robson's stare. He loved to watch her from so near. She looked so innocent and beautiful from so near.
"Sir, there's no door leading from the mall to the upper basement parking lot," she said and he came back to his senses and looked at his design. She was right.
"Very good Ms Meyers. Continue please, " he said and she poured over the design again. He continued his scrutiny of her gorgeous face. He had always been a nerd throughout his life. He started this company with his sheer hard work and perseverance. He didn't have time for any relationships but now this teenage girl made his heart beat erratically.
"Sir, this wall here would look better if it were made of etched glass instead of brick. The flow of light wouldn't be disrupted and it would illuminate this corner with lots of natural light," she said and he looked again at his design. He thought it was perfect already, but this young girl really pointed out faults. He had to applaud her for it. She was good at her chosen field.
"Excellent, Ms. Meyers. You can leave for the day. I'll see you tomorrow," he said and Juliette nodded.
"Thank you sir," she said and picking up her handbag she left. It was already 9:10 at night and she had her assignments to complete too.
She rushed to her apartment only to find Xavion sitting on the stairs outside her door.
"What are you doing here?" She asked irritatedly.
"Where were you? It's nearly 9:30," he asked angrily.
"It's none of your business, Xavion. Move now. I have assignments to finish, " she said trying to reach her door.
Xavion blocked her path, "You are my business. You are my everything. I will only move away if you tell me where you were," he said stubbornly and Juliette sighed. He was stubborn and she knew it.
"I've joined work as a part-time trainee assistant to a CEO in an architectural firm," she said, tiredly.
"Which firm?" He asked, his eyes very serious.
"F R Architecture and Designs," she answered, in a bored tone.
"You've joined Felix?" he asked with his eyebrows reaching his hairline in surprise.
"Yeah. How do you know him?" She asked curiously.
"He worked for my company for three years, " he said.
"Oh. New please move, Xavion, " she said, trying to push him to reach her door but he was like a block of stone. She couldn't move him an inch. He grasped her hands and pulled her flush into his chest.
"Are you dating Felix? I'm sure he's in love with you already, " he growled.
She rolled her eyes at him. He really was impossible. She tried to extricate herself from his grasp but failed. "It was just my first day today. Please stop disturbing me Xavion. Let me live my life. Why don't you go to your Candice. I'm sure she's giving you what you need," she said.
"What do you mean?" He asked her frowning.
"You need only sex and she's been giving it to you day and night. Why do you need me then? Just go," she yelled.
Xavion stared at her in shock. She took advantage and pushed him with all her might. She went into her apartment and banged the door shut in his face.