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An hour later, my mind still mostly on the recent turn of events, I wasa customer, only for me to look up and be faced with Cole’s recent ex, Jessica

She strode to the desk with her usual exuberance "Hi, Shannon Is Cole free?"

Confused, I shook ot a client"

"I’ll just wait"

"Umokay"

She smiled and planted her bottom on one of the leather couches andin

Cole had broken up with herright?

For the next forty minutes I attempted to put my head into my work, but every now and thenblonde was still there

She was

As I studied her I decided she was definitely all wrong for Cole Too young, too bubbly and in your face, and

Hearing Cole’s voice approaching, I waited curiously to see how this scene would unfold Appearing in theaftercare with his custouy over to me and while I smiled, I subtly nodded in Jessica’s direction

Cole flicked his eyes over and was about to return them to me before he did a double take His eyebrows i Cole’s custoood-bye, as did Cole, and waited for the gentle for you for the past forty minutes," I told hi, he wandered over to her, not even halfway to reaching her before she jumped up off the couch and dashed toward hiirl and Cole staggered back, iently push her away "Jessica, what are you doing here?" he asked

"We need to talk," she said, batting her pretty eyes at hiood enough "Jessica, we said all we had to say"

"But Imode that raisedwithinto think that maybe, perhaps, -on Cole had accused her of being

"Jessica, you don’t have to do anything" Cole continued being nice, which I thought was decent of hiuys would have bounced her arse out of the door by now "We’re just not right for each other, sweetheart"

Her eyes filled with tears "We are I love you"

My n began blinking in my mind’s eye

Cole seee to rescue him overtook me "Cole," I called out "Siaze flew to ht, of course" He turned to Jessica "Look, this is a really bad ti i to happen"

When she continued to stare at hi out fro over to the front entrance The bells tinkled as I yanked it open, drawing Jessica’s attention

She caughtWith an overdone sniffle she hurried out of the studio, clutching her bag to her chest as though we’d just killed her puppy and refused to apologize

I shut the door behind her andback behind my desk

Cole cautiously approached me, his expression filled with suspicion I returned his stare with an innocent one of my own

"Thank you," he said with not a tiny amount of wariness

"You’re welcome," I said, my tone kind

He blinked rapidly and it was clear his suspicion had only increased

Cole stared at ed toaway slowly, Cole heldme with every step he took He turned around, but then just before he stepped into the hallway he looked back atand he disappeared into the hall I broke out into a rin I quickly hid when Cole’s head popped back around the door The hilarious sight of his see by the distrust in his narrowed eyes Schooling my features into innocent politeness, I endured a short staring ave up

His head disappeared and I began to shake with silent laughter

"You’re freakingas he took the coffee I offered hi off balance, I gave him the speech I’d prepared for the moment he called ht I’ like a brat I’m sorry for what I said I don’t know you It was uncalled for and unprofessional of me"

Cole didn’t even try to hide his surprise, and I liked that about hi to realize that Cole was pretty transparent He didn’t play games like most people He wore his mood on his sleeve for everyone to see, and hts were out there too "Wow Did not see that co unsure all of a sudden I’d been holding on to Hannah’s assess it to assurehad ever happened "Does that y?"

He stared at me a second and I think he did it to make me squirm It worked He finished off, however, with a nod "Of course Thanks for the coffee"

His response was ht I wanted, but I walked out of his rooy with all the war under my breath, I berated myself I did have onlyall that friendly toward the woman who completely annihilated his character without an ounce of proof to back up said annihilation

"Making nice with the boss?"

I let out a startled squeak and spun around to find Rae ently down the hallway and into the main studio away from Cole’s ears