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I returned to the waiting area and began going throughcalls frouys for the Rio job In between, I checked withAs much as I wanted to be home so I could keep an eye on everyone, I needed to follow through on this job

As the day turned to night, Si just me and Jude I hadn’t seen Jude all day Since I wasn't sure if he’d eaten anything, I ended up calling out for a couple of sandwiches to be delivered and then knocked on his door Not surprisingly, there was no response, but the door wasn't locked either I opened it slightly and peeked in, fully expecting to find him asleep like I had the one time, but he was hard at work on his computer

I stepped into the office and closed the door behindin front of his desk and then he seelasses off and bit out, “What?”

"I wasn't sure if you’d eaten today," I said as I held up the sandwiches "Do you have time for a dinner break?"

Jude i his head "No," he said before putting his glasses back on and turning his attention back to his co to learn was associated with hi focus

I left the bag with his sandwich on his desk and slipped back out of the office Hours later as the clock began to approachuntouched on his desk and he was still working on the computer Andy had offered to co, but I'd been reluctant to leave Jude in his heightened state of agitation so I’d told Andy I was good for the evening

This time, when I approached Jude’s desk, he didn't seem surprised to see me He did, however, seem very annoyed "I told you, I need to work," he snapped iard and pale

"You need to take a break," I said softly

“No, what I need is to be left alone!" Jude shouted

"Talk toon?"

"What's going on is that you're not the only one who has a job to do," he bit out

His anger was over the top but instead of taking the bait, I cal on"

Jude jumped to his feet and sla on is that I' deal and you want to knohy?"

He didn't even give me a chance to respond, not that I would have anyway because he clearly needed to vent

"Because instead of closing the deal yesterday like I should have, I let you call the shots The biggest deal of et past this ridiculous need to play the role of ratulations, Nik, you did your job Too bad it's going to cost me mine"

His blistering attack leftI couldn't reconcile the man before me with the one who'd held my hand the day before The one who'd put his arht The one who'd stayed by my side as I’d faced my fears and sorrows

For once, I was at a loss for words as well as what to do next, so I simply turned away froave hi on But not tenout of the office He looked disheveled and wasn’t wearing his suit jacket He was still beyond agitated and didn't speak to me, nor did he wait for me to clear the hallway before he left the suite He’d reverted back to his behavior fronored rab hi on I told myself that his behavior was likely due to extreht’s sleep

Once ere safely inside the SUV, I told Tony to take us back to Jude’s apartment, but Jude cut me off and said, "No, Club Four"

My eyes latched on to Jude's Even in the darkness, I could see the defiance in the way he held himself