Ella’s POV

Derek had checked in on me and gave me instructions on what was the most important task to work on. “It’s good to have someone in the back office who knows what to do” He grinned and I rolled my eyes “Don’t act like you I am not just here because of Jake, Derek” I pushed the papers on the desk and he shook his head immediately.

“You know, I’m doing most of this myself, and I would lie if I hadn’t told Jake a couple hundredth times to ask you to work for us.” He said and I frowned “I never received that message, though”

“Well, no wonder, Jake knew you wouldn’t believe him and said you were happy with what you do, that you wouldn’t feel like you were appreciated here, which is completely wrong by the way.” He sat down on my desk and looked at me intensely.

“You know, we could really use you here, and if you like the job, let me give you a contract… No matter if you and Jake are a couple or not, this has nothing to do with him, but with your work. I know from him all the hard work you put in it, I followed your marketing steps when our last office member had to go. I- no we would welcome you with open arms, just think about it.”

I was a little confused that Jake hadn’t at least told me that his partner had the idea of wanting me to work for them, but maybe Derek was right, that I made it very clear that I didn’t want to work in his place. Shit, maybe I hurt his feelings with that, I didn’t mean to, but apparently I overreacted with all my refusal, as it seemed they could really need me, but… should I really consider working here completely?!

I had send out my documents to several companies trying to find a new job, maybe this was the easiest solution, while I waited for the others to decide… but then again, could I do that to Derek and Jake, using them and holding them waiting while I waited for something else.

Shit, I hated to make decisions like these; I needed more time to think about it.

“I see, you need to think about it… so just do that. If you need anything, I’ll be around today, so just come to my office, okay?” He pushed himself up and I nodded “I will, thanks Dee” I grinned, using the nickname, not many could use with him.

He opened the door laughing loudly “You are lucky, I like you, or you wouldn’t be able to get away with that, shorty” I grinned and he moved out still chuckling and I went back to work.
When it was around noon, I almost forgot that Matt had asked me to have lunch with him.

I felt uncomfortable to just go have lunch with him, maybe I was over thinking this again, maybe he really was just a nice guy and had friendly asked me, but I didn’t feel good with this. I pushed the thought away and decided to at least tell him, so he shouldn’t wait on me.

I walked out and stopped in my tracks, Matt was with his back to me, his muscle shirt hanging over his shoulder and I stared at his naked back and low hanging shorts.

I let my eyes wander over his body, the tattooed arms and brought shoulders, his muscles flexing and I think it took me a good minute to rip myself out of my thoughts and shake myself, what the hell was wrong with me, even though, I had to admit he looked damn good this way… and as a woman it was hard not to notice.

I looked down to my feet trying to shake me from my thoughts and back up to see he had turned my way and smiled when he saw me approach, he whipped the sweat of his brows and took a few steps towards me.

“So you decided?” He asked and I nodded “Yes, I did. And I have to decline… it was nice that you asked, but I have lots of work and my boss is around-” I said and saw Matt frown.

“Oh well, shame.. maybe another time…” He shrugged and turned away and left me standing there, I watched him walk away and was a little perplexed, maybe I did understand it wrong and he was just really interested in my opinion of the show… I looked around and saw how some of the other guys that worked out looked at me and I quickly retreated and walked back to my office.

I was in the middle of reading a concept when my phone started to ring. I pulled it out and looked at the caller, smiling when I saw Jakes picture greeting me.

“Hey babe” He said as soon as I greeted him.
“How’s your day?” He asked and I told him about my talk with Derek, I left out the part where he offered me the permanent job, I would rather discuss that with Jake when I made up my mind more.

“One of your customers wanted to grab lunch with me” I chuckled and Jake laughed too “Oh really, how was it? Did he have something interesting to say?” Jake asked and I frowned, he didn’t seem to think more into it like I did, god I was an idiot wasn’t I?

“I didn’t take him up on the offer actually.” I admitted feeling really stupid now, because I thought way too much into it, what apparently wasn’t there.
I mean he wasn’t just a customer, he was famous, why would he ask me on a date, when he could have hundredth of women every night.
And he didn’t even ask me out, he just wanted to accompany me to lunch, why had I thought so much into it?!

He probably just wanted to hang around because I was the only one he knew and could talk to about the show, damn Ella…

I heard Jake laugh lightly and could imagine him shaking his head at me. His deep voice was rumbling when he started to talk again, and the laugh was gone but seriousness sounded in his words “Does that mean you haven’t eaten all day?” Jake changed the topic and I frowned “Well, I… no” I looked at the watch up the wall to see it was already after 6. Whoa, that day had gone by so fast.

“Ella?” Jake’s voice sounded again and I licked my lips trying to come up with an excuse, that’s what happened with me, when I was so deeply concentrated on something I forgot everything around me “Well, I guess I kinda forgot…”

“Jake, what’s next I’m done with warm up?” A female voice asked and I sighed, out time was already up for the talking.
“I’ll be right there, do some of the stretching moves I showed you earlier then we move on” Jake said louder and away from the phone.

“Next time someone asks you to go eat, eat! God, woman… I don’t want to be afraid when I’m coming back that you are starved” Jake said an I rolled my eyes “I am not that bad… and I’ll make up with anice unhealthy meal in the evening with lots of calories, since you are not around to tell me not to eat so much garbage” I teased and Jake barked out a laugh.

“You woman, drive me nuts. I wish I was there, babe… but I gotta go again, last set for the day, we can talk later tonight. Love you”
“Love you too, bye” I ended the call and finished up the last markings in the text I read so I knew where to start off from tomorrow again.

“You still around?” Eric asked when I left the office “Yeah, but I’m leaving now… when should I be here tomorrow?” I asked and while he looked down on the schedule plan he just shrugged looking up to me, “I’m around tomorrow, so whenever you want.” I nodded “Wish you a good evening” I headed for the door and thought while walking to Jake’s car that he left for me to use, what unhealthy food I could organize and send Jake via picture.

Matt’s POV

This didn’t work out as planned yesterday, I had hoped Ella would jump on the train, but she didn’t… not at fucking all.
Maybe I had to rethink my theory, maybe I had to approach this with a new plan, if she didn’t want to go have dinner with me, then I would just bring dinner to her.

I would make her spend time with me, so she would see what a great guy I was, we would be getting closer and I would get a taste of her, I had no idea why I was so obsessed by the thought of having her.

So today, I would arrive later, do some work out like I planned to do and bring some sandwich along with me, some drinks so I just wouldn’t give her any chance of fleeing the situation, I mean, hell… what was so wrong in spending some time with me, I wasn’t a bad guy… was I?

“Sanders?! You home?” Brian voice sounded and I groaned, did this guy know that he had the worst timing ever?!

“Yeah, but just about leave, man” I yelled back when I heard the door fall shut.
“Whatcha up to?” Gates asked and plopped down on the seat on my kitchen island.

“Heading to the gym” I kept my answer short “Ah… alone?” He grabbed one of the sandwich I prepared and I slapped his hand away “Yeah!”
“Then give me one” He tried to grab it again and I snatched it away “No” I put in the fridge, not knowing how long he would be around so I could finally leave afterwards.

“What the fuck?” Brian narrowed his eyes and I rolled my eyes “I need both, I meeting someone there”
“Who?” Brian lifted an eyebrow at me a smirk coming over his face.
“A girl from the gym, duh” I told him and selected the drinks to put into the bag.
“Ahhh dude, really… it was fun, but it wasn’t that much fun that you really had to put an effort in it.” He replied and I frowned, how would he- OH, hell no!

“Not the receptionist, I’m not touching the women you had before, that’s just weird and gross” I shook my head with a disgusted face and Brian laughed.

“Which woman are we talking about then? I mean that you put such work into this means she is kinda special, I am guessing?” He questioned again and I really didn’t want to talk to him about her, since I knew he met her at the meet and greet and had already acted suspicious and let’s just say if he planned to have a certain woman, most couldn’t say no to him and I wouldn’t risk giving him the challenge. And beside that I had no idea how to answer him, I knew her just from a couple of meetings and still I was putting effort in it… I shrugged it off and stayed quiet.

“Fine, maybe I’m coming along to check it out, I mean… I could use some work out again” Brian stretched and I rolled my eyes “Fuck off, Haner. I don’t know why I am doing this, she refused to get lunch with me yesterday, so I thought I’m bringing lunch to her… that’s it… fuck do I know” I replied in defense and Brian looked at me for a moment without saying anything “Shame that I don’t have time now, but good luck anyway” He clapped my shoulder, and then left without another word making me frown, why the hell had he been here in the first place!?

I decided to ignore the weird behavior of my friend and packed the food into my bag and then left the house. When I walked into the gym it was already packed, noon was apparently a favorite time for people to work out.

I saw it was almost one, so I hoped I wasn’t too late, that she took the chance and had lunch already by herself or with one of her co-workers.
The reception was empty, so I walked right through, I walked past the office door, hoping if I knocked the right person would answer, or should I just walk in!?

I holstered the bag on my shoulder higher and knocked “You need anything?” A voice behind me asked and I cringed, shit. “Hey, yeah… you know if Ella is here? I’m a friend” I asked and stretching the truth a little.

“Let me see” The guy with the logo of the gym on his shirt said, opened the office door and walked in, only a moment later he walked back out motioned me to go inside. I tried to hide the smile but knew I wasn’t really succeeding, Ella could still refuse and wouldn’t that be an embarrassment?!

Before I could make the next step Ella rushed out of a room to my left almost running into me “Matt?! Hey, what’s going on?” She asked a little confused before waving to the guy standing at the door that it’s okay.

“I thought you refused having lunch yesterday, so I bring lunch today” I gave her a full dimpled smile and she looked at me for a moment, just staring and the smile just wouldn’t leave my face “You seem like a person who is very responsible and I guessed you didn’t even think about getting you food, so here you go… I just hope you like any of it… and I mean, I could just leave it here and let you eat alone if you don’t want me around and-” Shit I was blabbering, I should better shut my mouth now.

“I-I… don’t know what to say, that’s so nice… My office is here, come on” She brought me back to her room and motioned for me to take a seat.
“You didn’t have to do that… I mean, that…” She blushed and I wanted to walk closer to her and tell her that it was my pleasure, but I held myself in check. “That’s no problem really… I was coming here today anyway so” I shrugged and she nodded her eyes looking me up and down, when she noticed me looking at her she quickly looked away.

“So should I leave a sandwich here with you?” I asked, this would be the only out I would be giving her today, if she told me to leave, I would probably have to let go, but if she would let my stay, then I knew I was on to something.

“No, god how could I send you away, after you bringing me this…” She sat down on her table opposite of me and I pulled the sandwich and drink from my bag setting it before us.
“You get to choose, I didn’t know what you liked… so I’m hoping it’s something you like” I said honestly while she selected a water bottle for her and the ham sandwich, good choice.

“Will you tell me about the show, what you thought about it, I would really like to know” I said and meant it honestly, we loved to perform live and we wanted the fans to love it as well.

That was apparently the thing to break the ice, because while eating we were exchanging stories about the performance. She laughed at my jokes, she seemed ecstatic while told me how amazing she thought the fireworks was, and we both laughed when she told me how terrified she was the first moment she heard the fireworks and jumped in surprise, damn that made me wish to have looked closer at her during the show. Still she said she loved the fireworks and interaction with me and my friends on stage.

We switched topics in between and damn it felt good, she was easy to talk to and she had a good sense of humor, I liked to hear her laugh and wanted to make her laugh even more.

“So you would come to another show?” I asked and she nodded “Of course, it was awesome, and that you made this meet and greet thing, it was so good to see behind the whole thing, talk with your roadies and see the stage built up, meet the opening act, that is something unique, really.” She smiled at me and I leaned in closer, I could smell her perfume, damn she smelled good, and I would really love to kiss her right now. Just get a small taste, just a tiny bit… but I closed my eyes instead and tried to regain my composure, I mean, I wasn’t making this effort with her to just scare her away a moment later.

She asked me questions about how the band was founded and even though I had told these tales already a million times, it was fun to watch her react to it, I gave her some stories about us, something fun and embarrassing for the others, while I let out most of my parts, didn’t want to scare her away, remember!?

“You guys sound like so much fun! I know why Liz was so keen on going to the show and meeting you” She leaned back in her chair and when her eyes landed on the clock she quickly sat up straight.

“Oh shoot! Its already three! We talked for two hours!” She looked around in panic and I couldn’t hide the smirk, I haven’t even noticed the time has run by so quickly, while I could be sitting here more often and way longer if it was my decision.

“Sorry, I kept you from your work… I shouldn’t have overstayed” I grinned and she chuckled “No, its not your fault, I just didn’t have an eye on the time, I’m at work… shit… sorry. But I really have to get going or I’ll won’t get out of here before midnight” She said and I frowned “That doesn’t sound good. You said that you didn’t work here too long, will this get you in trouble?” I asked thinking I may have not made such a clever move in the end.

“No, I am not really bound to any times, this is more just a… in between solution if I am honest. I lost my other job, they had to let me go and this one I just got through-”
“Ah connections, huh? Good to have friends like that…” I finished for her and she frowned a little but nodded “Yeah, but really it’s-” She started again, but I saw her glancing at her watch again and knew I better leave now, before she really get into trouble, friends or not, if she didn’t get her work done that would suck and be my fault.

“I better go, I have a work out ahead of me, and you will do your work so no trouble falls onto me in the end” I winked at her and she laughed lightly “Okay, well thank you again for the food and company”

“No problem” I gathered my things from the table and left her to her work, and I had a smile on my face the entire time, this went better than I thought, and my hunger for more was just awakened.

Notes

How did u like this one?! Are they coming closer??
What did u think about Matt's move?

So here is another little voting:

Should the next chapter include a Jake POV?

A)Yes
B)No

Votes till 21st September!

Let me know what u think!!

Thank you guys!