"Sir? Excuse me? Sir?"
Assistant Ross cautiously tries to get Jerrod's attention. He doesn't know what kind of mood his boss has today, but he still needs his signature for a document, which ends up forcing him to approach Jerrod even if he doesn't want to.
"What is it?" Jerrod responded in low spirits.
He didn't get up from leaning his head against his table and continued to act as if his spirit was moving away from his body.
Jerrod's dinner at Larissa's place was so chaotic that he ended up not getting a wink of sleep. He doesn't know how Larissa concluded that he was a sick person, and no matter how much he wanted to clarify that he was healthy, Larissa would only smile and nod to his words.
He ended up leaving Larissa's house with an unsettling feeling that Larissa greatly misunderstood him and that this may affect his plans.
"I need your signature on this paper, sir." Assistant Ross handed the documents and was surprised to see Jerrod sign the documents without reading them. He immediately took the documents away from Jerrod and yelled at him, "You just going to sign it without reading it?"
Jerrod furrowed his brows and returned to leaning his head on his table.
"I'm too lazy to read it. I am sure you won't let me sign something that will destroy me." Jerrod speaks slowly and deliberately.
Ross was taken aback to see his manager so disinterested. The manager he knew was a meticulous man who did his work even when he was sick. Ross could still remember how Jerrod collapsed and was sent to the hospital in the middle of work. That is why he is curious as to what is causing his manager to lose enthusiasm for his job.
Ross put aside the important documents he should rush to get signed. He pulled a chair and sat close to Jerrod.
"Sir, is there something bothering you? I am always here to help!" Ross offered loudly. He knows that the thing Jerrod is worrying about is not work-related. Their team doesn't have a problem, and their performance is doing well. Ross concluded that something personal is greatly affecting Jerrod.
Jerrod is not the type of person who would share and have his work affected due to personal problems, but one of these days he becomes open to sharing his thoughts and asking for advice from his colleague, which makes Ross think that Jerrod just needs someone to talk to.
"It's nothing." Jerrod responded coldly. He sat up and fixed his tie, and he apologized. "I'm sorry for acting unprofessional."
Jerrod took the document that Ross placed at the side of his table. He started reading it, but he paused after he could feel Ross's eyes staring at him.
"W-what?"
Ross took the document away from Jerrod again and demanded he speak.
"Sir, you just said you trusted me. Please tell me. I'll do my best to help."
Ross's eyes were blazing with determination to make Jerrod spit out whatever was troubling him. It's obvious that his intention of asking is a mix of concern and curiosity.
Jerrod sighed and wondered if it was okay to ask for advice from his assistant. He pondered for a moment, then confessed, "There is actually a girl who misunderstood me that I was broke and had health issues. I was just wondering how she thought of it that way. I could only clear out that I wasn't broke, but she wouldn't believe me that I wasn't sick at all."
Ross immediately tilted his head and wondered, "Someone thought you were sick and poor? You?" He looked at Jerrod from head to toe twice and wondered what kind of person would think his manager was poor because of how he flaunted his wealth with his expensive clothes, accessories, and Jerrod even drove a luxury car every day to work.
And, in terms of health, Jerrod has the fittest body among the other managers in their company, whose bellies were competing to see who could break their shirt buttons first.
"It's surprising, right? But no matter how much I try to tell her, she won't believe me and will only smile at me with her sorry eyes. She's pitying me!"
"How did you clarify that you were not broke, sir?" Ross asked for more details on the current situation.
"Of course I showed off my car. Proving that I am not broke was easy. But how can I prove that I am healthy? It's too much to give her my medical records, right?"
"Yes, depending on who you show it to, that medical record could be useful. It depends on your relationship with her."
Ross becomes more serious about knowing more and solving Jerrod's issue. He touched his chin and acted like a detective investigating in front of Jerrod.
"Can you tell me, sir, what happens when she starts thinking that way? Maybe you acted weak in front of her or something happened that made her think that way. Just tell me what happened."
"W-well, I can't tell you." Jerrod replied while avoiding Ross's eyes.
"Sir! If I don't know the details, how can I help you? Promise! I won't tell anyone!" Ross vowed while putting his hand on his chest.
Jerrod fidgets with his tie briefly before telling Ross what happened. "S-she invited me to her house."
Ross's reaction suddenly changed to excitement. He thinks that maybe Jerrod was talking about love problems.
Jerrod didn't notice the sudden sparkle in Ross's eyes. As a result, he speaks truthfully." I ended up taking a bath at her house, and she saw me half naked. I am sure that she saw and touched my muscles! I worked hard in the gym, you know! And when we were eating, she suddenly asked that question, asking if I was broke or sick."
"Oh? Are we talking about your girlfriend, sir?" Ross asked excitedly, to which Jerrod immediately repose with a clear no. But Ross ignored his response and only mumbled while thinking about what happened to Jerrod.
"So she, after seeing you naked, asked about your health?"
"Half naked." Jerrod corrected. Ross was unbothered and looked at Jerrod from head to toe, but his eyes paused at Jerrod's lower body. "Maybe that one was the one not healthy, sir?"
Jerrod also looked down at where Ross was looking, and he was offended by what Ross was trying to say. He stood up and confidently said, "Do you want to check?"