TW: Sexual Assault

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Jasper glances curiously at Pippa, observing her as she silently murmurs the words on her computer screen. Deciding to interrupt her, Jasper taps on her desk with his ink pen. Pippa looks away from the computer, shooting a raised eyebrow at Jasper. He smiles sheepishly.

"Just wanted to tell you that Scarlett is still finding the cats. She found two yesterday and one this morning, before you got here," he announces. Pippa perks up, giving Jasper a small but mischievous smile.

"That leaves 56 cats!"

Jasper nods slowly, mirroring her facial expression. Then, thinking of something Mary mentioned to him when he walked in this morning, Jasper straightens up.

"Mary told me your Secret Santa stopped by your house yesterday," he says, swivelling from side to side in his chair as he scoots himself closer to Pippa's desk. Pippa nods absentmindedly, leaning back in her chair.

"A vase of White Jasmines. Fudge nearly toppled them over on the porch." Jasper widens his eyes in mild interest.

"Why, was he sniffing them?" Jasper asks, an amused smile making its way into his face. Pippa nods again.

"He saw them and went right up to them, sniffing to his heart's content." Pippa smiles at the cute memory, crossing her right leg over her left. Jasper laughs, imagining the big chocolate lab running up to a vase of flowers and sniffing them.

"He cracks me up," Jasper admits, watching as Pippa smiles fondly while thinking of her crazy pet. Silently, he wishes she were smiling while thinking of him. His grip on his pen tightens and Jasper rights himself, nodding as Pippa talks about Fudge's antics yesterday.

"—and he ran into the bathroom door, and he plopped right on his heinie! He had bubbles everywhere! It was the funniest thing!"

Jasper laughs to break the silent thoughts in his head. Pippa laughs along with him, shaking her head.

"It sounds like your day off wasn't too bad, then," Jasper says casually, stretching his arms out and folding them behind his head. Pippa shakes her head, the smile slowly fading.

"Nope, not too bad at all," she confirms, watching Jasper for a moment as he stretches again, his shirt pulling tightly against his toned abdomen. Pippa licks her lips slowly, then clears her throat when she realises Jasper's watching her as well.

To hide her blushing face, Pippa heads into the break room under the pretence of refilling her coffee mug, which did happen to be quite low. She enters the room, pouring the black liquid into her mug as her thoughts consume her.

She can't believe Jasper caught her ogling at him! God, what did he think of her now? That she likes him? He can't know! It'll ruin their friendship!

Pippa sets the coffee pot back in the machine and picks up her mug, bringing it to her lips and taking a small sip. She leans against the counter, resting her elbows on it as she places the mug down.

She'll have to pretend it didn't happen and move on. This way, her friendship with Jasper isn't ruined, and she can look at him and talk to him without becoming a stuttering fool around him. Yeah, that's what she'll do.

A hand is placed on Pippa's butt, squeezing the right cheek firmly. Pippa whirls around quickly, flashbacks to her hellish childhood filling her head, and dread plummeting into her stomach. She comes face to face with Rhys.

Rhys, who is now decidedly placing his hands on Pippa's hips. Pippa tries to push him away, but Rhys doesn't budge.

"Rhys, stop it. This is highly inappropriate," she tries to cajole, but Rhys doesn't seem to hear her, and he digs his fingertips into her hips. Pippa, with tears welling in her eyes, tries to push him away again.

"Rhys, please stop. You're hurting me," she pleads, still trying to shove him off her. Rhys only comes closer, pinning her to the counter. Pippa closes her eyes tightly, feeling tears roll down her cheeks.

Suddenly, she can feel her father's touch feeling her up, his hot breath on her cheek and his chapped lips as he plants kisses down the column of her neck. Pippa cries silently, the smell of Jack Daniels' overwhelming her nose as she relives those horrific moments where her father would 'play' with her.

Then, she's cold.

The person is ripped off her abruptly. She hears shouts of protest and a sickening crunch. The sound of the door opening and slamming closed fills her ears, and Pippa sinks into the floor.

Why didn't she get away? Why couldn't she run? Why did her feet always feel stuck? Why did she feel helpless?

Pippa cries harder, burying her head into her hands. 

"It's all good now." It's Ewan.

"Hey, Hey. It's okay now. I'll get Mark to do something about him. Don't worry," Ewan says quietly, squatting next to Pippa.

He nearly falls on his butt when Pippa flings her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Ewan rubs her back soothingly.

"God, woman. You're strong as fuck," he murmurs. Pippa's cries quieten and she offers him a small smile. Ewan returns her smile with a grin. "There ya go. Cheer up, sweet cheeks. Rhys is a dead man, don't worry."

"Thank you, Ewan," Pippa says gratefully, kissing his cheek before getting up, off the floor. Ewan follows suit, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the counter.

"Look, I may be a womaniser, but I'm not total douchebag. If I want a woman, I don't sexually assault her. That's fucking vile. Naturally, when I see people pull that shit, I fuck them up." Pippa reels at the strong language, but schools her shock. "Don't worry about a thing. Rhys will get what's coming for him."

And with that, Ewan leaves.

Pippa returns to her desk without her coffee mug. She doesn't notice.