Jasper left the president's office and went back to his own."How did it go, sir?" Xavier asked worriedly, giving him a warm mug of coffee. "Mr. Javier … didn't push you, did he?"Jasper went to sit on the sofa, taking a sip of the coffee. "No."Xavier sighed in relief."He did worse."Xavier scowled and started exclaiming, "I knew nothing ever good comes from him when it comes to you! He's not a good father at all!""Sometimes I wish he wasn't," Jasper murmured, swallowing the now-bitter-tasting coffee. Unfortunately, I have 50% of his blood in me."Xavier slumped over, not knowing what to say."Javier's given Betty full power to handle Ada's wedding.""What?" Xavier exclaimed, then cussed aloud. "What the hell is he thinking? You were the one who spearheaded all discussions, negotiations, and plans regarding Ada's wedding, from trying to win her over to even suggesting that our hotel hosts it in the first place! "Is he blind? You're the last person who would want to see us
No woman had ever left Jasper feeling as defeated as Alyssa did. Even when Liana had used and betrayed him, the strongest emotion he'd felt was rage.Staring at the newer and tidier lobby than Berenike Hotel, Jasper smiled helplessly.When Alyssa had married him, she always seemed unworldly and acquiescent. He had never looked down on her countryside background, but he always believed that they were worlds apart and shared no common ground.He finally understood that he was too far removed from her world, even if he tirelessly played catch up.He realized that Alyssa had put aside her pride to stay by his side for three years. That was the only time she was within his reach.She was never out of his league. It was the other way around.Sean happened to engage in a work discussion with two hotel managers. He turned around and was shocked to find Jasper standing in the lobby. His eyes darkened."That's all for now. Go.""Got it, Mr. Lynch." After the managers left, Sean marched u
Alyssa might not be in the lobby, but she was aware of all the happenings in the hotel."Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Beckett and Mr. Schmidt are here. They wanted to meet you. What should I …" Sean placed a finger on his Bluetooth earbud and turned around, lowering his voice.Jasper and Jameson immediately straightened up, their expressions growing tense."Meet me? What for? Are they looking for a discount?" "They won't leave without meeting you. I can't call the security on them, can I?" Sean was stuck between a rock and a hard place because of the two obstinate men."Ask them what they're here for." Alyssa's voice was devoid of warmth, like a judge in court."Ms. Alyssa would like to know your purpose for meeting her," Sean said with a hint of irritation."I'm here to invite her to dinner as a thank you." Jameson smiled and nudged his glasses. "I have mailed the signed CD to my mom, and she loves it so much. She wanted me to treat Ms. Alyssa to a meal, or she'd feel bad."After explaini
"Ms. Alyssa wants you to go in." Sean turned aside as though Jasper was infectious."Thank you."Sean snickered, openly displaying his disgust. "You don't have to thank me. It's all because of Ms. Alyssa's generosity. I would have beaten you up and thrown you out." With that, he left the back kitchen.Jasper inhaled and stepped into KS World Hotel's spotless back kitchen that looked like a sterile lab with white decor and stainless steel tables and equipment.The air was quiet. The only thing he heard was his breathing and his beating heart.Turning a corner, he spotted a slender figure standing by the wide table that only highlighted her petite frame. Today, Alyssa was charming in the white chef uniform, her hair tied and tucked neatly into the chef's hat. She wore a transparent mask on her face and was fully focused on shaping a ball of dough into pastry. She did not even notice his presence.His eyes turned misty when he recalled Mrs. Rosie's words. She told him, "Mr. Ja
Alyssa's eyes wavered, and she sprung to her feet by pushing herself away from Jasper's muscular chest. She hurriedly stumbled backward and slammed her back against the fridge door.Her breathing remained uneven. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Despite having a face mask on, she could feel the heat from his lips lingering on hers.Damn it! Why did she …Gasping for air and flushed with emotion, she angrily tore off her mask and tossed it to the floor. It was now contaminated and utterly useless.Meanwhile, Jasper slowly rose to his feet, leaning against the table's edge. There was a hint of exhaustion in his face, like a beast after a hearty meal.He pursed his lips to maintain composure, but his heart continued to race."Does your back hurt?" He was still in a daze after the accidental kiss. Still, he maintained his composure. His tone sounded icy, just like usual."None of your business!" She seethed with anger over him helping himself to one of her pastries. "I never perm
"Sophia is a calculative cunt. I'm concerned that they might try something against you. I wanted to give you a heads-up so you can be prepared," said Jasper.Alyssa's clear eyes flickered before she turned away."That's all. I'll leave you to your work now." He shot her another loaded gaze before leaving."Wait, Jasper," she suddenly called out to him. He felt his chest tighten as he swiftly turned back."Why did you tell me all of that? You're the type to look at the big picture. Whoever from the Beckett Group takes over the Ada Kingsley account will still boost the influence and reputation of Berenike Hotel. It's something you've been working on." She threw him a quizzical look. "So, why did you tell me that?""Because I want you to win," he responded with a genuine and innocent look in his eyes. It was a rarity after his many years of hustling in business."And why do you want me to win?""You were once my wife—"She cut him off with a scoff. "You never showed me any kindnes
Two weeks away from Ada Kingsley's wedding, Alyssa was busy updating the proposal from Ada's comments. She also had to oversee the on-site decorations and review crucial documents concerning materials, costs, and manpower. On her worst day, she managed to grab only three hours of sleep.Still, she enjoyed the hustle. As long as there was something in it for her, she would feel invigorated by the frenzy.After joining the team meeting in the morning, Alyssa returned to her office, where she munched on her sandwich and approved documents.Sean knocked on the door to deliver coffee and shook his head at her tired and adorable look. "Eating while working is bad for your health.""I don't have time! I have another fashion event to attend later this afternoon," Alyssa replied, taking a hearty bite of her sandwich without once looking up from the documents."Why is your schedule so packed today? I was about to book a spa for your relaxation during your free time." Sean felt sorry for h
"That's not all! How could they walk the red carpet after Ada Kingsley? Who do they think they are?""I didn't take any photos of them. Just a waste of my storage space.""I know Betty is Javier Beckett's daughter, and I heard that Zoe is Landon Harper's sister. They might not be famous, but they're filthy rich. I bet they paid a huge sum to show up last!"Betty and Zoe entered the venue with satisfaction, thinking that they had garnered enough attention.To their dismay, they found reporters clamoring to interview celebrities like Ada or brand designers. No one wanted to interview the two young ladies at all."This is unacceptable! Are they blind?" Betty stomped when she was given the cold shoulder. "How dare they ignore us? They don't know their stuff! Don't they know I could end their careers if they get on my bad side?""Reporters are only after those who are worth something. They'll come after you like sharks lusting for blood if you're famous, well-connected, or influential