"Do you want to go back now?" Jess asked while hugging Fathia. The lecture session had ended ten minutes ago, but Fathia didn't want to leave yet. She chose to stay in the classroom while waiting for all the other students to leave. Laziness overwhelmed her greatly, especially after remembering Clara's presence earlier.
"Yeah. When else can I hang out, other than the weekend?"
Jess chuckled. "Your uncle is extraordinary indeed. How about eating first? Asya said she made a new menu. I have to taste it before it's included in the main menu."
Fathia was actually puzzled by Jess's orientation towards the future. She loved culinary arts. Cooking was her expertise, but she ended up in business classes like this. Her reason was one: building a business required more than just mastering one field, but also strategizing. Apart from business classes, nothing else described how a business ran better.
"If it's not delicious, I won't pay."
Jess laughed even har
Fathia thought that after having dinner, she could rest peacefully and peacefully as usual. She was mistaken. Clara was still wandering around Sebastian's apartment. As if she owned and ruled the place."When did you arrive?" Sebastian asked casually. He immediately took off his coat, which was still clinging to him, but Clara immediately took it and assumed possession. Seeing that made Fathia suddenly feel nauseous."I'll go to my room, Uncle. Good night." She had to be polite to her guardian. Without waiting for Sebastian's response, Fathia quickly moved away from the two people who she felt were about to quench their desires somewhere. Perhaps in the living room. Seeing Clara's restless behavior, it could be predicted that it would happen later.She quickly locked her bedroom door. Instead of taking a shower right away, she chose to greet her tidy bed. Inhaling the faint scent of the fragrance that spread softly in her nostrils. Ah, it must be Summer who repl
Sebastian answered with a confident nod. What Sebastian didn't prepare himself for was Fathia jumping out of her seat quickly. Approaching him and immediately giving him a tight hug. Along with words that sounded like music to Sebastian's ears, suddenly warming him up."Thank you, Uncle. I promise I'll make the most delicious coffee for you later."It took a few seconds for her not to move excessively, especially to return the girl's hug. "Yes. I'll wait."And during this breakfast session, Fathia spoke a lot. About anything. Sebastian only responded when necessary. It's not that he didn't want to, he was just used to not saying much but knowing for sure every change in this bright brown-haired girl. Especially her emotional state.Since her arrival a few days ago, Sebastian felt that Fathia was limiting herself. Ah, it was Sebastian himself who did that. His words were indeed too much. Working in two very different fields made his brain stiff. He shouldn
"Hey, why didn't you tell me?" The girl greeted Sebastian as he opened the door. Fathia had been eagerly waiting for him as the evening approached. Or was it already night? Fathia didn't care; right now, all she wanted was to meet Sebastian and talk to him in person. Ever since she received his message, Fathia couldn't wait to bombard the man still dressed in his formal attire with many questions. Sebastian wouldn't appreciate being bothered with trivial messages unless they were really urgent. "What?" Sebastian asked, confused, looking at Fathia who was blinking excitedly in front of him, like a little child welcoming their father home, urgently asking for something. It had been a long time since he saw Fathia like this. Was it because he had spent too much time not being there for this lonely girl? Ah... Sebastian suddenly regretted it. "Oh, pretending like you don't know! You're the speaker at the seminar on my campus in two days. How come?" Sebast
The car parked smoothly in the basement of Sebastian's apartment. For now, she made sure that Sebastian wouldn't be able to resist her. Two cups of coffee were in her hands as belongings. Gracefully, she walked towards the unit she had memorized by heart. Occasionally, she exchanged friendly greetings with the security guards at various corners of the lobby.Her frequent visits here made her familiar with the faces of the people working here, and they knew her too. She checked her appearance once again, feeling that she looked her best, but there was no harm in double-checking. She applied a touch of bright red lipstick. Her figure was covered in a thick, knee-length coat, accentuating her beautiful curves. The perfume she wore filled the elevator she took.Clara sniffed briefly, "Hmm... Sebastian will definitely like it."The phone she had been holding was now used to inform the recipient that she would arrive shortly. Tonight, Sebastian would be hers. She woul
Afterward, Sebastian bent down again, reclaiming Clara's slightly messy lips from their previous actions. He gently sucked, but as the seconds passed, his suction became filled with desire. He devoured each part that tempted Sebastian to explore further. In reality, he already knew every inch by heart, as Clara was never shy or reluctant to kiss him whenever they were together. Even when his tongue pushed in, Clara welcomed it with cheers. They clashed with each other, unwilling to lose, as if Clara had to win at this moment."Ehm ... Sebastian," Clara whispered softly. Her breath was gasping. The kiss broke momentarily, but its effect left them both disheveled.Sebastian makes the most of having to pause. His hands deftly pick at Clara's dress, which is only thinly lined at the shoulders. Without having to look any further, Clara's d*da is already sticking out for attention. Her light-skinned body is left in a bra that can't wrap her breasts perfectly. Whether it's be
Sebastian knew he was going too far. Very much so. However, he couldn't shake off the shadow of Felice Leah Claire, his beautiful fiancée, who added a unique color to his life.Her touch. Her affection. Her whining.All of it was still perfectly engraved in Sebastian's memory. It had been five years since the news of her death shattered Sebastian's world in an instant.Under the shower's downpour in his bathroom, Sebastian lowered his head even deeper. He forced himself not to feel sad anymore. He had used these five years to learn how to forget and accept, but it was all just words. Felice was not that easily replaced. Not even Clara Jasson's intervention could compare to Felice's place in his heart.The cold that continued to hit his half-naked body was ignored by its owner. He felt it was only fair punishment for ignoring Clara earlier. Countless times, his touch on her never led to any release.Never.Tired of bowing his head, sup
Sebastian never prepared himself for the fact that the promise had already been uttered. It was already deeply ingrained in Felice's mind. She smiled in relief; a smile of release. Because several dozen hours later, the accident happened.It robbed Sebastian of hope.Leaving two unrelated individuals bound together until now."Sebastian, does this dress look good on me?" she asked while twirling slowly. The knee-length dress, which showcased her slender, white, flawless legs, left Sebastian incredulous."No, it's not. That looks great, but I don't like you wearing it in public."The girl pouted playfully. "I'm wearing it to a friend's party. It's in the afternoon. Why can't I wear it?"Sebastian shook his head firmly. "If I say no, it means no. You have many jeans and t-shirts, right? Wear those instead.""Ugh... how can I go to a friend's birthday party like that, Sebastian?" Fathia approached him and immediately hooked her arm with
Or she could sit in her favorite corner in Jess's cafe. Eating her favorite cheese pasta.Full, right?Taking a deep breath, Fathia finally stepped into the bathroom. A short soak might help distract her from the gloomy thoughts. But just as she was about to start, her bedroom door was knocked on, causing her forehead to furrow."Fathia."The girl closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. Sebastian's voice, and she was sure he would bombard her with questions, especially about breakfast. Fathia had no intention of sharing a table with the Fox with nine tails. She would never agree to that, especially when she remembered how relentlessly Clara pursued Sebastian.The shameless and disgusting woman. But what could Fathia do? Who was she to refuse? Just the younger sister of Sebastian's former fiancée, intentionally left in the care of this cold man."Yes?" Fathia tried to greet him with a smile. "What's up, Uncle?""
What Jess fears the most when delivering orders is not just the payment. As for that, Jess doesn't worry too much because she's confident they will pay. What Jess worries about is suddenly receiving a message with a complaining tone from the customer. Even if the complaint is constructive, it still makes her feel small."Can you sit still, Jess?" Fathia had warned her friend not to be so tense. They had been in the apartment since the afternoon. The cake order had arrived safely and on time for the host's party there."I'm nervous!"Fathia shook her head in amazement. "You're usually the most confident one. Just now?""Ugh! This is different, Fathia. I'm not an expert at making cakes yet. I'm afraid it won't taste good. And it's not overly sweet."Seeing Jess's nervousness, Laras, who had been observing the two of them, approached. She took a seat right next to the girl whose hair always stood out with its cotton candy color but whose beauty contin
"This can't be allowed," Sebastian said angrily, his eyes flashing with rage. It sent a shiver down Jess's spine. They were in the middle of a discussion, especially after Vino had sent evidence of Sammy's crimes the day before. It included the name of the Mercury Company, which turned out to be true, just as Jess suspected.She was surprised herself, that it could be so well-orchestrated without many people knowing."I never thought Uncle Akmal would be like this," Fathia whispered, her eyes scanning each page of the reports."We need evidence to prove if Uncle Akmal is really involved," Jess replied.Fathia looked up from the rows of numbers she was examining."Because," Jess immediately handed over a report she was holding, "here it says that Uncle Akmal approved the amount the residents requested."Fathia immediately shifted her focus to the page Jess pointed to."And here, Mr. Sebastian. You can check," Jess handed another report
"It seems like we can't stay at my place, Fathia," Fathia, while gently pinching Gwen's chubby cheeks, looked up at Jess with a puzzled expression. "Why?""You're crazy, seriously. The house has been left for years, only peeked at occasionally to keep it maintained and not falling apart. There must be a lot of dust. Poor Gwen," Jess replied, her affection for Gwen was always genuine. Fathia could feel how sincere it was. "In that case, we'll just rent a hotel if it gets too late. It's not good for Gwen to stay in the car for too long. She won't be able to move freely."Jess agreed with that plan. In Fathia's luxurious black SUV, they decided to head to Ranch Village right away. They would return to Beverly Hills after a few days. Mirah and Laras joined them. Laras said, "Auntie wants to accompany both of you. And Gwen too."Both Jess and Fathia never wanted to refuse her. In fact, they were delighted when Laras joined them. At least, it meant she wouldn't be thi
Pulling out a regular notebook that she always carried around, it contained her activity planner and life goals. Jess liked planning like this, determining what should take precedence and what could be gradually worked on.She opened a new page, grabbed a blue pen, and started jotting down some notes. "High Priority," she wrote, thickening the letters and underlining them, adding a few small doodles around her words. She shifted slightly to the right to start with what she needed to prioritize.The cafe? It was stable; she didn't need any specific planning except for maintenance regarding quality and service to make it even better. However, she noted the order from Bu Loissa's friend who had already entered the place. Luckily for her, they were going back to Beverly Hills tomorrow. Fathia, Gwen, and Mirah were all going with her. The apartment Jess lived in was adjacent to Fathia's property. Her friend had gifted Jess a unit in the same neighborhood, even though Jess h
"This is the project in Ranch Village." Fathia handed over a rather thick file to Jess, who looked at her in surprise. "I know you need this, right?" she added with a grin on her lips, which made Jess laugh. Then the girl immediately examined each file that Fathia had handed over. Since Sebastian didn't come home today, Jess could freely discuss with Fathia, although occasionally she was interrupted by Gwen's presence. Ironically, she was the one who spent the most time playing with the adorable child."When I was found at Ranch Village the other day, they said it was for a supermarket construction. But, the price they offered is really low, Fathia.""Who offered it? Azure Group?""So here's the thing," Jess straightened her back. "There, residents often borrow money from loan sharks, like in one place. Mr. Imam said the name of the cooperative is Mercury PT. They use house certificates as collateral.""Mercury Company?" Fathia repeated with a furrowed br
As Jess talked to Kenzo about her burdens, half of that weight diminished. And when Laras hugged her tightly, Jess didn't expect the middle-aged woman she respected to say anything, and that reduced her burden even more. Even when Jess expressed her fear of Laras blaming her for Asmara, Laras pouted."Mami's not that heartless, Jess.""Sorry, Mi," she said, lowering her head. Fathia had gone back inside. Gwen was crying, asking for milk. She intentionally left them and gave them some time."This conversation should have happened a year ago, shouldn't it, Jess?"Jess frowned. "What do you mean?"Laras handed her a cup of her homemade jasmine tea. "Drink this first to relax a bit. Tea helps us calm our tense nerves, Jess.""Mami's right. When I was in Beverly Hills, I enjoyed my own jasmine tea. So when I went to Green Lake yesterday, I stuffed Kenzo with tea because he had too much coffee.""Oh, really?" Laras furrowed her brow in conf
"Your extra cheesy pasta always wins, Jess," Fathia says as she continues to eat her pasta without a trace of worry. Her body is naturally lean except when she's pregnant, and even then, it requires a lot of food to show.Jess just nods but feels pleased that what she's served is still her friend's favorite. After returning from the airport, Jess took a rest because her body was incredibly tired. She didn't even realize how long she had been asleep. When she opens her eyes again, morning has arrived. A series of messages flood in as Jess grabs her phone from the nightstand.Honestly, the past week has been exhausting for her, despite the enjoyment she shared with Kenzo. As she checks through the messages, most of which are from Kenzo, Jess can't help but chuckle.Jess. R: Sorry, I fell asleep last night. So tired, Ken. I still have a day off, right? Only back to work tomorrow?Just as Jess peels back the covers, getting ready to change, wash her face, and
Stopping by New York City, Jess didn't stay for long, just a few hours because Kenzo had to catch his flight. And for this time, using Dennish as a driver was the wisest choice. Kenzo was quite tired from driving from Beverly Hills to New York City and had to get to the airport right away. He didn't carry too much luggage, just a small suitcase, but he still needed to check if he had left anything behind.Meanwhile, Fathia advised Jess to go back to her place."Me and Mr. Dennish will manage it. How can I get back to Beverly Hills right away?" Jess smirked, but then she smiled. "Wait for me, okay? We'll gossip."Fathia, who was carrying Gwen, just shook her head in amazement at her friend's behavior. But really, Jess's eyes seemed more alive than they had been for the past few months. She felt like she was meeting the Jess she knew when they first met. Not the Jess who had been keeping to herself. Fathia knew Jess was close by, but not as close as she used to be
"Sebastian's been on a big expansion, you know, setting up a supermarket and all that. He's been working on that project for about a year now. Originally, it was in Uncle Alif's department, but it got stuck during his trial. It was handed over to Uncle Akmal for the continuation, and it's been running smoothly again," Fathia explains from the other end.Jess sits in one of the chairs on the balcony. She deliberately placed two chairs and a table to enjoy the evening. Just like now. Her gaze wanders far ahead, enjoying the chilly night atmosphere in Beverly Hills. She's sure Fathia might not know the exact location earmarked for development, which includes her parents' house and their graves.Talking to Fathia about this was the right decision, and she also feels like she needs to find out if Roy is deeply involved."Why are you suddenly asking about the Azure Group?"The pink-haired girl doesn't want to hide what's happening to her. "I'm going to New York