The elevator arrived at the fiftieth floor. The doors opened up. JC stepped outside. It was almost 9:00 AM. He was having a brutal hangover and hated the fact, that he needed to pass Nicole’s desk. She was looking at him with deep regret. She felt ashamed and guilty, but not being sure if he knew what she did or not. 

„Good morning, JC,“ she said nervously. 

He ignored her and entered the open space office. Nicole bit her lips and took a deep breath. Then she grabbed the handset.

„He knows.“ 

„Thanks for the warning, love,“ Richard replied. 

On his way into his office, all eyes were on JC. He felt like a monkey in the zoo. He noticed Eve’s desk was empty. His frustration couldn’t get any bigger. Richard didn’t dare saying anything, as he passed his desk. JC finally entered his office, closed the door and let himself fall at his chair.

Richard glanced at him through the glass wall. He was sure something bad must have happened, feeling like the worst person on that planet.

Eric noticed that JC just arrived. He finished a phone call, left his desk and went into JC office. 

„Not now, Ricky. Whatever it is, I don’t wanna talk about it,“ JC immediately said. 

Eric didn’t listen. He sat down at the chair opposite of him and crossed his arms. 

„Now we’re having the mess. The whole team is gossiping about you.“ 

JC looked at him.

„Don’t do that,“ he warned his friend. 

„Did you fire her, at least? I mean, it’s a little late for this, but as she didn’t show up…“

„I said don’t do that,“ JC interrupted him, feeling deep anger rising up. 

„I warned you,“ Eric continued talking. „I saw all of this happening in my mind’s eye, but you never listen…“

„Shut the fuck up!!!“ JC yelled at him. 

„You fucked the only chick you shouldn’t have fucked! And now you dare taking your anger out of me?!“ Eric yelled back. 

„Don’t you dare telling me what I am allowed to do or not!!!“

„I am your friend!!! All I do or say is to your own good!!!“

„All you do is acting like giant asshole since Eve is working here!!!“ 

Eric stood up and gave JC a dismissive look. Then he turned around and left his office. 

„You’re sure you wanna do this?“ Sandra asked concerned. 

Eve just nodded. She was sitting in bed and watching her friend getting ready for work. 

„Skipping work was never an option for you, no matter what.“ 

„I don’t wanna see him, Sandy.“ 

Sandra sighed. Then she sat down opposite of Eve. 

„Does it mean you quit?“ 

„All I know right now is, that I can’t work for him under the current circumstances. But… who knows… maybe he’ll fire me anyway…“ 

„You really think that?“ 

„He made very clear yesterday night, that the firm comes first, no matter what.“

„But you can’t stay in den US without having a job.“ 

„Ya. But I can still work for Christian."

„You mean, you would just leave me and go back home?“

Eve lowered her head. 

„Maybe I should have done that from the start. Maybe I was pushing it too hard. Maybe all of this wasn’t meant for me…“

Sandra grabbed Eve’s chin and gave her a deep look. 

„Don’t do this to you, okay? Overthinking makes no sense.“ 

„You’re already late,“ Eve changed the subject. 

„Don’t worry. My boss is on a business trip,“ Sandra answered. 

Then she kissed Eve’s forehead and stood up.

„I’ll finish work early and make dinner for you.“ 

Eve smiled calmly. 

„You’re the best.“ 

„I know. See you later, sweetheart.“ 

Richard took a deep breath. Then he stood up with a folder in his hand. He went to JC’s office and knocked at the glass door, before opening up. JC was staring at his screen. 

„Boss…?“ he said quietly.

„What?“ JC said, his eyes still on the screen. 

„The headhunter found few candidates for my team. Do you wanna have a look?“ 

„Ya, I’ll go through the CV’s later.“ 

Richard came closer and put the folder at his desk.

„Um… JC…?“ 

JC turned in his direction and looked at him. Richard saw the sadness in his eyes and felt like throwing up any second. His bad conscience was killing him. 

„Where is Eve?“ he asked carefully. 

„I don’t know.“

Richard lowered his head.

„I feel like shit.“

JC was still staring at him. 

„Me, too.“ 

Eve found some cereals in Sandra’s kitchen for breakfast and returned into bed with a bowl. She switched on the telly and continued watching a series. Few minutes later her cell started ringing. She glanced at the bedside table, seeing JC’s name at the display. Her heart dropped. 

„He just wants to complain that you didn’t show up at work,“ she thought and let it ring. 

Seconds later a message came in. 

„Where are you?“ [JC]

Eve put the bowl aside and grabbed her phone. She thought about how to reply. 

„I’m sick.“ [Eve]

„That’s not true.“ [JC]

„The truth is, you’re an asshole. And that makes me sick.“ [Eve]

JC called again. She didn’t pick up. 

„Just fire me. I couldn’t care less…“ she talked to herself.

Of course she didn’t mean it. But her injured pride didn’t let her think rationally. 

Short before lunch break one elevator arrived at the fiftieth floor. Justin stepped outside and went towards Nicole’s desk. She looked terribly tensed.

„Hi“, he said friendly. 

„Hi, Justin,“ Nicole replied. „JC isn’t here. He’s in the studio.“ 

Justin checked his wristwatch. 

„That early?“ 

„Ya…“ 

Both looked at each other, thinking the same. Then he smiled calmly. 

„Don’t worry, Nicole. Things will be okay.“ 

She sighed. 

„Did you hear from Eve?“ 

„Didn’t she show up for work?“ 

„No, she didn’t. And she’s not answering her phone.“

„Stubborn brat.“

Nicole gave him another sheepish look.

„What happened between her and JC after I called yesterday night?“ 

„I can’t tell you that. But I promise you, I’ll do my best to fix it.“ 

Justin left the building and entered the backseat of his driver’s car. 

„Where are we going, boss?“ 

„Just drive, I’ll give you the address in a minute.“ 

Eve was still in bed watching TV, as her phone started ringing. She was sure it must be Nicole or Richard again. They tried to reach her several times that morning. 

„Hm.“ she was thinking, as she saw an unknown American number at the screen. 

She grabbed the phone from the bedside table and picked up. 

„Yes?“

„Hi.“ 

Eve needed a moment to sort her mind. The voice sounded very familiar. 

„Timberlake? Is it you?“ 

He chuckled. 

„Yap.“

„Really? You call me… NOW?“ 

„Sounds like you’re disappointed, that I didn’t call earlier.“ 

Eve decided to ignore his teasing.

„What do you want?“ 

„Have coffee with me.“ 

„Why should I have coffee with you?“ 

„Because we’re friends.“

She scoffed.

„What makes you believe we’re friends, Justin?“ 

„The fact that my bestie loves you. That makes us friends. It’s a law.“ 

Eve laughed out loud. 

„You have a great kind of humor.“ 

„Why would you say that?" 

„Because the only thing your bestie loves and cares for is his firm.“

Justin sighed.

„Have coffee with me and give me the chance to convince you that you’re wrong.“ 

„Did he ask you to do that?“ 

„No. I swear he has no idea that I am talking to you.“

There was silence.

„Eve, trust me. I’m not lying.“ 

„I’m not in the office, Justin.“ 

„That’s fine. Just tell me were to find you and I’ll be there in a minute.“

Again there was silence for a short moment. Eve was thinking about, if she should really meet him or not.

„Okay,“ she finally said. „I’m in Mid City.“