Luna woke to the sunlight shining down through her long, open window. She smiled at the sun as she stretched on the bed. The birds sang their songs in different rhythms, and the leaves on trees flapped in the mild wind. It was a beautiful morning.After stretching, Luna got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. She took a quick shower with some ocean breeze-scented body wash. It gave her the feeling of being by the sea, and she loved it. “I think I need to visit the beach," she chuckled.After taking her bath, she quickly put on her rose dress and went down for breakfast. She couldn't tell what it was, but she knew she felt differently that day; unlike her frequent moody nature, she felt lighthearted with smiles all over her face.“Hello, Ariel. It's a beautiful day, don't you think?" Luna asked as she pulled the chair at the dining room and sat down.“It seems someone woke up from the right side of the bed this morning. You look happy this morning, tell me, what are we celebratin
Luna forced a smile as she tried to maintain composure. "You've been busy these days and I figured out you might have missed a couple of meals so I felt it's wise to bring you lunch,” Luna said she stared at him to see what his reaction would be, but his face was expressionless.“Lunch? You came all the way to my office just to bring lunch?" Jasper asked in a harsh tone."Yes. I just wanted to… help in any way I can. I know work has been stressful and you've been under pressure.” Luna replied, feeling a bit uneasy.Jasper stood up from his seat, turned his back to her, and walked to the window. He put his hands in his pocket as he stared at the next building through the office window glass. “I don't need your help, Luna. And who told you I'm under pressure?" “I just felt…" “You just felt what?” He barked, cutting her words short. "Look here young lady, this isn't some fairy tale where a packed lunch fulfills one's wish, so stop trying." Luna's smile suddenly turned sore, but she
Luna woke up to the sunlight shining through her window, but she didn't feel its warmth. She lay flat on the bed with her back as she stared at the ceiling. All that happened at the office the previous day replayed in her mind—how Jasper treated her without taking a single note of her feelings. Her kind gesture turned into a reason for his mockery.A gentle knock on the door broke the silence. Not getting any response, Ariel opened the door slightly, peeked head in, and saw Luna lying down. Then she walked in.“Good morning, Mrs. Jasper. I brought you tea; don't worry, I made it just the way you like it, no sugar, extra honey." She smiled warmly.Luna diverted her gaze from the ceiling to Ariel; her face was expressionless as she stared at Ariel. Without saying a word, she forced a smile and stared back at the ceiling.Ariel knew this feeling; it was now a routine for Luna. “I just hope she doesn't go into depression; she's so young for this." Ariel pondered. She placed the tray on th
Luna woke up to the sound of Jasper's voice. With sleepy eyes, she stretched gently before sitting up while robbing her eyes with the back of her palm. Jasper waited patiently for her to finish.“Is there something wrong with your room?" He finally broke the silence."Good morning, Jasper. I actually slept off on the couch while waiting for you. Hope all is well at work.” "Waiting for me? Interesting… You never cease to amaze me, Luna. When did you start waiting for me.” He smirked.“Ariel told me about the party, so I decided to help with the decor. I waited so I could hear your opinion." Luna explained calmly, feeling a bit nervous.“You did this?" Jasper asked with a stern look on his face.“I thought it's wise to help with the decoration.”Jasper walked around the room; he got to a table and ran his finger along the edge of the table. He then stopped and glanced at the bright red and golden table setting. He tightened his lips and turned to Luna.“This is too much. The colors are
"What am I doing? I-I don't understand." Luna stammered looking confused."Don't claim you don't know what I'm talking about," Jasper warned in a low tone.“What do you mean Jasper, I was only talking to Mr. Finn. He's calm and lovely and—“Lovely? Did you say lovely? You think that is what this is about? Flirting with one of my most important clients in front of everyone? Making me look stupid and weak? What exactly do you take me for Luna?" Jasper queried, a wild look in his eyes."Flirting? Jasper, I wasn't— “Don't play innocent Luna, I saw everything. I saw the way both of you looked at each other, that was beyond talking." Jasper's voice rose slightly, which by now attracted some curious glances from guests. Luna gasped and for a moment, she stood still and confused. She tried to process what she just heard but she couldn't. “Why's he accusing me? What did I do wrong this time?" She pondered.“All I did was to mingle with the guests. I thought I should get to know and talk to
Luna sat quietly as she sipped her tea, her thoughts traveled to all her efforts so far, how she has tried to find little cracks on the walls he has surrounded himself with so she could break through, but so far, all her efforts meant nothing. Jasper walked back inside after his call, sat back on his seat and started eating silently as he scrolled through his tablet.After a few minutes, he dropped the tablet on the table, then he stared at Luna.“My mother will visit and stay for a couple of weeks. She'll arrive tomorrow morning." He said calmly. This was the first time Jasper has ever sounded calm. Luna blinked at his statement, she was caught off guard. She had not expected in her wildest dreams that Sophia would be visiting any time soon.“Oh… I see. Will she be staying here at the Mansion?” Luna said, trying to be careful with her words.“Of course. Where else would she stay?” Jasper replied impatiently.“Alright, I'll make the necessary arrangements for her.”“Make sure you do.
The dining room glowed with the light from the chandelier. Beautiful chinaware and golden ware were set on the table. Ariel added the finishing touches by placing fresh lilies in the center of the table and surrounding it with lighted candles. Luna stood at the corner of the room and watched Ariel do what she knew how to do best. Jasper walked in with a plain expression on his face, his hands fixed in his pockets as he strolled to one of the seats at the dining table and sat comfortably. Luna followed suit, but she sat opposite Jasper. Sophia walked into the room like royalty, her eyes scanning the details of the setup of the dining. She curved her small lips and smirked, nodding her head simultaneously in approval.“At least someone in this house understands the importance of presentation. You've done well, Ariel," Sophia mentioned as she sank into the chair at the head of the table.“Thank you, Mrs. Mason. I wanted everything to look perfect for your first dinner here after a very
“What did you just say, ma’am?” Ariel asked curiously.“Yes, Ariel. I want to leave. Can’t you see what I’m going through? I know I need the money for my mother’s treatment, but all these insults are uncalled for.” Luna cried out, tears rushing out of her eyes as the pains she felt speculated around her body.“I know exactly how you feel, ma’am, I—”"No, you don’t, Ariel. Stop saying you know how I feel because you don’t. Every day I try hard to make Jasper see my worth and love me for who I am, but what do I get in return, rejection? I get rejected over and over again. Do you know how that feels? And now, his mother dislikes me totally. How in the world am I to cope? How Ariel?” She bent her head over the table and cried out her heart. Ariel went close to her and parted her back while she lamented in pain. “It burns in my chest, Ariel; I just want it to stop. Please make it stop, please... She spoke in between sobs.“Please, don’t let it break you, ma’am. You’re stronger than this.
Back at the mansion, Luna was seated in the sunroom with a book in her hand. Aareil entered with a tray of tea; she had a warm smile on her face. “Hello ma’am, you’ve been quiet today. Mind to share what you’ve been thinking about?” Ariel asked as she gently placed the tray on the stool beside Luna.“Well, I’m just reflecting, I guess,” Luna replied with a faint smile as she closed the book and set it aside.“Reflecting? Hmm.. On what exactly?”“On how strange life can be. I never imagined myself here, in this house, with... him.”“I admit that Mr. Jasper is difficult, yes, but I think you’ve broken a bit of the code. You’ve managed to get through to him in ways no one else has.”“I have?” Luna asked, chuckling softly.“Of course you have. Haven’t you noticed the way he looks at you recently? Well, if you haven’t, I have noticed his unusual movements. He even listens to you in ways he doesn't listen to anyone.” Ariel replied as she poured the tea into the teacup and handed it over to
The Maksoft Technology conference room had activities going on. Evans and Harriet prepared for their presentation session with Jasper. The room had a slight scent of freshly brewed coffee; the humming sound from the projector filled the room as Harriet and Evans tested the presentation slides. A few minutes later, Jasper walked into the room, his black suit hung perfectly on his body as he walked to the head of the conference room table, pulled out a seat, and sat down.“Right on time, boss.” Evans hailed as he adjusted his suit and straightened himself.“Good. Spare me the formalities—I want updates and results. Let's get to it. What do you have for me?” Jasper said as he opened the documents that were laid on the table before him.“Oh, you’re going to love this, boss,” Evans replied as he leaned back in his chair.“We’ve been working hard on rolling out the loyalty program to the top ten suppliers. Here’s where we stand as of today.” Harriet smoothed her blazer as she stood up to pr
Jasper ignored their reactions. “We need to lock in our key suppliers and clients with multi-year agreements before Gregor gets to them. Contracts that offer performance-based bonuses, fast delivery guarantees, early payment discounts, and possibly special benefits for our top-tier partners.“Hmm.. it’s not a bad strategy at all. This suggestion shifts the conversation from price wars to value-added benefits.” Harriet said thoughtfully.“And it puts the pressure back on Gregor. I don’t think he can compete on speed or reliability without cutting his margins.” Evans chipped in as he scribbled something in his notebook.“Plus, it plays to the tone of Maksoft Technology's strengths. We might not be the top tech company, but we’ve been known for our efficiency.”“And our charm, of course.” Evans grinned at his joke.“Try to contain your charm, Evans,” Jasper replied, dressing forward on his seat.Harriet laughed slightly, while Evans pretended to be angry as both of them stared at each ot
After finishing breakfast, Luna decided to walk around in the garden. Since she was grounded, the garden has been one of the few places in the mansion where she found solace. She usually went there to calm her nerves, but today she went there to let in the peace she had always longed for. The neatly trimmed flowers and the calm sound of water falling from the central fountain made the environment serene with suited her mode. She strolled along the stone path as her thoughts replayed her encounter with Jasper at breakfast. “Was that all a show or has there sincerely been a shift?” she mumbled beneath her breath.Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heels clicking against the stones on the path. Luna’s heart sank as she turned and stood face-to-face with Sophia. She might have dealt with Jasper’s cold nature a bit, but Sophia’s torment was not what she needed at the moment. Sophia wore a spotless ivory suit, and her face carried an unreadable look, although there was
The next morning, the sunlight shone through the tall windows, casting a warm glow into the dining room. Ariel moved briskly between the dining room and the kitchen, arranging breakfast. She had woken late that day, and it was quite unusual. Luna entered quietly; she wore a lavender dress that flowed behind her as she moved.“Good morning, ma'am.” Ariel greeted Luna with a warm smile.“Good morning, Ariel. Has Jasper gone to work?” “No, ma’am, he hasn’t come down for breakfast yet,” Ariel replied as she wiped her hands on her apron, her face holding her usual cheerful expression.“Jasper? He’s usually gone to work by now.” Luna replied, looking a bit surprised. “That’s… unusual.” Luna tilted her head.Ariel shrugged slightly, then continued setting the table. The last thing she wanted to experience was Sophia's early morning wrath. Luna took her seat and reached for the jug of orange juice when the sound of approaching footsteps made her pause. Her heart skipped, then raced afterward
Luna was shocked to hear Jasper's voice; she never expected he'd come to his study that night. She quickly closed the journal, clutched it to her chest, then turned to face him.“Are you dumb or what? I just asked you a question.” Jasper asked with a wild look; his veins visibly bulged out as he boiled in anger.“I-I I'm sorry, Jasper; I didn't mean to intrude but—” Luna paused, her hands trembling; she didn't know what to say so as not to piss him off."But what, Luna? What exactly are you doing here?“I… I needed to understand, Jasper. I was confused; so many thoughts came to my head; I felt lost at some point, and I needed answers. I didn't know what came over me, but I felt I could get answers here.” Luna let it all out; the words poured from her heart.“You needed answers? Answers to what exactly? Jasper asked coldly.“I'm sorry, Jasper, but I found this in your drawer." Luna moved sideways and dropped the journal on the desk. The expression on Jasper's face darkened, he clenched
“What did you just say, ma’am?” Ariel asked curiously.“Yes, Ariel. I want to leave. Can’t you see what I’m going through? I know I need the money for my mother’s treatment, but all these insults are uncalled for.” Luna cried out, tears rushing out of her eyes as the pains she felt speculated around her body.“I know exactly how you feel, ma’am, I—”"No, you don’t, Ariel. Stop saying you know how I feel because you don’t. Every day I try hard to make Jasper see my worth and love me for who I am, but what do I get in return, rejection? I get rejected over and over again. Do you know how that feels? And now, his mother dislikes me totally. How in the world am I to cope? How Ariel?” She bent her head over the table and cried out her heart. Ariel went close to her and parted her back while she lamented in pain. “It burns in my chest, Ariel; I just want it to stop. Please make it stop, please... She spoke in between sobs.“Please, don’t let it break you, ma’am. You’re stronger than this.
The dining room glowed with the light from the chandelier. Beautiful chinaware and golden ware were set on the table. Ariel added the finishing touches by placing fresh lilies in the center of the table and surrounding it with lighted candles. Luna stood at the corner of the room and watched Ariel do what she knew how to do best. Jasper walked in with a plain expression on his face, his hands fixed in his pockets as he strolled to one of the seats at the dining table and sat comfortably. Luna followed suit, but she sat opposite Jasper. Sophia walked into the room like royalty, her eyes scanning the details of the setup of the dining. She curved her small lips and smirked, nodding her head simultaneously in approval.“At least someone in this house understands the importance of presentation. You've done well, Ariel," Sophia mentioned as she sank into the chair at the head of the table.“Thank you, Mrs. Mason. I wanted everything to look perfect for your first dinner here after a very
Luna sat quietly as she sipped her tea, her thoughts traveled to all her efforts so far, how she has tried to find little cracks on the walls he has surrounded himself with so she could break through, but so far, all her efforts meant nothing. Jasper walked back inside after his call, sat back on his seat and started eating silently as he scrolled through his tablet.After a few minutes, he dropped the tablet on the table, then he stared at Luna.“My mother will visit and stay for a couple of weeks. She'll arrive tomorrow morning." He said calmly. This was the first time Jasper has ever sounded calm. Luna blinked at his statement, she was caught off guard. She had not expected in her wildest dreams that Sophia would be visiting any time soon.“Oh… I see. Will she be staying here at the Mansion?” Luna said, trying to be careful with her words.“Of course. Where else would she stay?” Jasper replied impatiently.“Alright, I'll make the necessary arrangements for her.”“Make sure you do.