“Thank you for inviting us, I feel really honoured to be part of this meeting, Ruby Yu,” he said as he lengthened his strides to catch up, but her bodyguards ended up coming in between them. “I would like to have some private tea time with your partner, is that okay?” Ruby Yu suddenly paused, when she noticed that he wasn't giving up on going after Gift. “Gift is…” “She will be fine,” scarlet was the one who came in between them and said coldly.“Then, she can't handle too much cold and her leg is really sensitive right now because she had another issue with it yesterday,” he said nervously as he tried to reach Gift further. “I will look after my friend well,” she smiled at him as she found his actions comical and in total rivalry to the rumours she'd heard about him. He was supposed to be cold and clad that she was taken away, because he was in a bid due to his vice-president's corruption. Instead, he seemed really nervous about Gift. “Zenith really is in love with you,uhn?” Ru
“What?” Gift who was too immersed in the story really just wanted to know what and realised her mistake later as they both laughed it off. “I never wore them because I end up buying knew set of dressing for another party and the circle continued,” she said with a sigh. “So it's like an expensive hobby. I don't know much about clothing, but from what I see here, they definitely cost thousands of dollars each,” Gift tried to make a mental calculation, but she couldn't. The numbers were just too large. “Well, you're not wrong. It became an hobby that I enjoyed over time, but I'm getting older and I've grown out of the sizes that I bought then. There are some even twenty years old, you know,” Ruby Yu said and Olivia gasped as she moved her chair forward, looking at the cloths on display, some with their price tags on the front. The styles were so obvious by the time she reached the end of the closet which was more of a Walkways showroom. There were no cosmetics or jewelries in sight
“Boss,” she hurried to Ruby Yu's side and whispered, and that startled Gift who was still waiting for her death sentence.When she raised her head, she started to apologize profusely and Ruby Yu saw her younger self in her. It was the same with her lover right now, when his mother had found out about her after pretending that they were only friends for years. She had felt desperate, but his mother had smiled and accepted her without a itch, although she did it so she could make use of her for the power she had. “You don't have to apologize like that.” “Then do you want me to kneel down? I'm really sorry. If you'll accept my apology, I'll kneel,” Gift said as she tried to get on her knees but scarlet on Ruby Yu's command held her back. “And why would I want that?” Ruby Yu took a sip of her now cold drink with a smile as if she had no idea what she was tasting. “Because I betrayed you and…” “It's barely betrayal dear if I knew everything from the start. And like I said the other da
Zenith on the other hand couldn Focus, no matter how hard he tried. “If it isn't Kim Zenith, when did you become a member of the Clover Secret Club?” he paused just as he was about to sneak up again and turned around.“Mr vice president, I had no idea that you were a member of The Clover Secret Club.” “Of course, it's a secret club for a reason,” The Vice President of USB said with a smile, “it would be crazy if the country got to know about my doings like this, I'm supposed to be moving the country forward not having fun with other club members,” he chuckled. “It's an honor to meet you here sir,” Zenith, who needed a strong political figure to upscale his business, found himself retreating and trying to end the conversation as soon as he could. “Oh, have some wine,” the Vice president called a waitress over and took out a glass. Zenith out of courtesy had to do the same as they clicked glasses. In his mind, he wished the whole thing would end. “She must be feeling uncomfortable
“You don’t have to worry about anything. I can promise on our friendship that nothing will be traced back to you and you’ll be very satisfied with the results also.” Ruby Yu twirled the wine glass in her hand before downing the rest of the content in one go and immediately flicking her finger for a refill.“You make it sound like you’re going to do something evil,” Gift, who could very well understand the evil glint in Ruby Yu’s eyes.“I will be doing quite the contrary to that. A good cleanup as a favor to the society so that evil people like them will not have a chance to cause accidents and disturbances.” Gift didn’t quite understand, but she nodded along.“I will trust you with it then and also, thank you for your help, I’m really grateful.”“You don’t need to thank me everytime, what are friends for?” Ruby Yu smiled as she thought about how entertained she would be.“They dared to mess with Ruby Yu’s friend, so they shouldn’t blame me, so tell me, how are things between you and
Zenith had gotten to the end of the conversation with regards to his real estate diversification. “So you can come see me in the office with this pass anytime after next week,” The vice-president extended his hand with a card in it and Zenith gladly received it. “Thank you, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go look for my partner, we came in together but-” “I think it's high time you stopped using this excuse of a partner to try to run away, especially now that you've gotten what you wanted. It makes it feel like you used us for yourself only.” Senator Washington said and he sat back down. Knowing that him defending himself would only make her doubt and question him more, he looked around again for anything signs of Gift“That's right, everyone knows that you are single, so don't pretend like that and focus on what's in front of you, weren't you praising her earlier?” Vice President Washington asked as he scolded him. “I was only stating the fact that I learnt about, my former ass
“Godmother is around,” someone announced and everyone looked up as Ruby Yu appeared at the very top of the spiral stairs that had a red carpet from top to bottom. Many were anxious to have an audience with her, because even in this top circle, she had the highest position.It felt like deja vu for Gift and Zenith as they also walked slowly towards the center, but unlike the first time, neither of them were jealous and a few other things had happened in reverse and there was a heavy air between the both of them, with neither of them being able to look into eachother's eyes. Or rather, they tried as the approached the others, but it felt like electricity zaps and they would look away the instant the tried, sure yet unsure at the same time what was going on and this could be related to what happened ten minutes back. Zenith had left the Washington’s to find Gift exactly ten minutes prior to that time and he had found her sulking in a corner haven emptied two flutes of champagne and w
They gathered around Ruby Yu who walked down elegantly with a glass of wine in her left hand while holding the feathers of the Russian styled royal dress she had tried on back inside the room. “This really looks good on you, it kind of fits the theme more…” “Did I say too much, I'm sorry, I just…” “No it's fine, I think it's a better fit too. Let's continue looking through the closet for what you like,” and like that they continued, but she had held onto Gifts words and tried it on, this wearing her second dress for the party. Ruby Yu and Gift had an eye contact at that moment that she was having a flashback and they both smiled. “You look really good,” “Thank you,” we mouthed back before turning her attention to the crowd and hiding her smile. “Whoa, she looks so out of this world.” “She looks just like she’s in her thirties,” people started to whisper and murmur between themselves as she continued her descent. While all of that was happening and people were captivated by her
Gift's POV Today is the happiest day of my life, or rather each day has been getting happier for me ever since I met him, my boyfriend. We've had a lot of rocky days of course, but seeing him standing in that expensive suit, dressing to match my rhinestone dress which he had gotten for me to celebrate my matriculation just makes me feel even more happier and I have no doubt that he would find a way to make me happier woman by this time tomorrow. I can't help but smile at the thought of all the things he has put together and worked on for us to get here. He changed himself to fit me, a one of a kind man. “Gifty, where's my daughter?” I heard someone call from a distance as I looked around and saw Ruby Yu. She looked unlike how I'd ever seen her all the times we've met either physically or through video calls cos not once have I ever seen her in a pair of denim skirt and a white short sleeved button up shirt. I gasped as I walked up to hug her, “you look so stunning mom, I thought
“Who taught you how to make this” he asked with a voice so soft she had to be sure it was the same meanie talking to her. “No one. It's my first time making this,” she confessed.“How about your mother? She must have cooked this for you when you were younger, right?” He asked as if he was talking to a child, trying his best to be careful with his words“Uhn? I grew up in an orphanage,” She stuttered as she tried to form the words that failed to form. She wanted to tell him to stop acting nice as she had learned to be unrestrained and speak for herself over the months, however, there was a glistening in his eyes that made her stop. Something wasn't right. She watched as he set the chop sticks aside with shaky hands before rinsing a fork and grabbing a small ceramic plate for himself as he sat on a stool. After serving himself a small portion of everything which was a surprise for the young man who was around to assist in the supervision that he stood and watched with his mouth sligh
An hour down and the kitchen was left with just six of the original contestants; Gift, Beauty's mom, an Italian through and through, the lady with a fringe from earlier and two others who seemed to be sisters. “We can do this. Let's learn under Master Luca together,” the sisters cheered for themselves as they continued cooking, arranging the ingredients and trying their best to stay till the end. “It's a little too soon to address me as your master, don't you think?” Chef Luca said coldly and the ladies went silent, but that didn't diminish the brightness in their eyes. They were set and the determination was evident. Gift wasn't lacking behind either although she was with nobody to cheer for her beside her, she worked between sitting and standing while trying her best to remember and incorporate the basics that she had learnt over time. She only had her motivation and occasionally water and candy breaks to keep her company and that satisfied her. “And where do you think you're
“You tell me why you decided to choose this particular cucumber even though it's already starting to ripen?” He asked and the lady who had a fringe gulped and adjusted her expression before answering him. “This is a family dish and although people would not go for the ripe cucumber when buying in the market, I chose it so that that part could be served for the younger ones, l-like the child dish…,” she cleared her throat with a little stutter before continuing, “since the cucumber is not going to be steamed according to the recipe, this is the best way to make it easier for the child,” she said nervously, blinking up to ten times per second. Chef Luca had a straight face as he dropped the cucumber back in the ingredients plates before turning to look at Gift and saying with so much tenacity, “the competition can start, but I'll have you know that I won't hesitate to kick you out for the slightest of errors. Do your best if you want to prove yourself!” He said as the stuttering lady
“You are only standing here because you're lucky I will do anything for my godmother,” The moment chef Luca returned to the kitchen, he glared at her and Gift knew that he wasn't lying about that one, so she nodded and offered a small smile which he didn't bother to appreciate.but the moment he turned away from her, she let out a sigh of relief but she knew how much he valued ruby Yu from the way he personalized ‘godmother’. At this moment, Gift and Winifred had already set their ingredients on the table and were having mini talks until the next phase of the cooking competition would start when there was suddenly a noise coming from the storage area where they went to pick their ingredients.As they turned their head to the side, they saw the pompous lady from earlier who was bragging about her servants run out if the storage room with tears in her eyes. “You just wait until my I tell my husband about this,” she cleared her throat and sniffled before pausing to raise her head up so
“I like puppies more than cats,” Beauty said as she carried the furry car that had two long white stripes running from the back of its two ears to the tail where they joined as one, making the fail complete white on the top and black underneath. “Them leave my cat alone, you aren't even being true to yourself,” Olivia scoffed as she took a sit beside her and started to pet the other two kittens that had run to her laps. “The cat's for your mother, plus you named this very beautiful cat after me. How could I not pet it when we sure the same name?” Beauty argued back as she hugged the cat closer, her hand still brushing it's fur on the back. “I wish she gave Jonold my full name too, but instead she made me share with this fatty,” Arnold lamented as he kissed the face of the cat on his laps. All four of them were seated on a cushion with Beauty,Jornold and two other cats whose owners they didn't know. “Are you blind or do you need me to remind you that I basically can't gain too much
She had some friends who supported her this time, unlike those who considered her as competition back at the orphanage. This time around, her distraction was the genuine love she recieved from her family and not from someone who wanted to bring her down. She was genuinely supported, however, unlike those times when those exam papers were marked without a care for who owned them, those times when they grades were given fairly and without partiality, Gift felt a heavy dose of partiality weigh on her. Winifred squeezed her hand to support her,but they both decided to let it go. “I'll just raise my hand next time,” Gift muttered tl herself and hoped that was really the case. “Now you all will move on to picking out the ingredients as described in the recipes. Just twenty minutes for this stage and there is just enough for everyone.” The Italian in white said and they all nodded stiff for a moment. Him saying just enough for everyone sounded like a declaration of scarcity for Gift and
“These recipe is so strange, I never even knew that such a combination could exist,” Gift muttered to herself as she picked up the small pamphlet that was handed to all thirty of the contestants. While every single one of them was each given the same meal to cook, it was still all strange to them as Winifred and Gift showed eachother their pamphlet and they were able to.confurm it when others started murmuring. Just one dish written in Italian and English, Luca Bellucci family meal, but even those who claimed to have cooking certificates have the little pamphlet the same confusing look as Gift. It was safe to say that they were about to cook a meal based in written steps and no idea of how to go about it or how it should even taste beforehand. Some of them had never even heard of it before.Gift who didn't have the luxury to eat many foreign food due to her financial status before had spent the past two months watching YouTube videos, because she had gotten another helpful tip fro
“Please cooperate,” he was past being stubborn and had to lower himself to make Gift concede. There was still the issue with the cats and the children which included Joseph, Beauty and Olivia as it so turned out that Beauty's mom had connections enough to let her know about the competition and what better way to form a good relationship than cooking together. However, she had gone in ahead while leaving beauty with Olivia and Joseph after begging and confirming that there would be no traces of Scarlet or any friends with a gun. “The kids, but not Zenith. He can't go to somewhere like that, it'll stress him,” Gift said as she remembered how Zenith had to be rushed to the hospital at midnight of the night the cat's were first adopted. He had tried to force himself to adapt to the pets by hugging them through the night but there was only little his body could take then. However he didn't give up the two months that followed, training himself and diligently following the doctor's presc