Chapter 5

JAZZLYN stared blankly as she sat at her desk. She hadn't touched a single one of the papers assigned to her for audit. Her mind was occupied by the unexpected events. The shock of seeing Erwan had left her in daze, she felt like it was the end of this world.

She needed some fresh air, so she stood up and left the office for a while. Her heart raced as she tried to process everything. First, if it wasn't for her love for her best friend, she wouldn't have done something reckless pretending to be Camille. And now, the unexpected encounter with Erwan and knowing that he was actually Kevin's cousin.

She messed up her hair and then leaned against the wall. It feels like her life turned upside down. How did everything get so complicated?

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She checked her phone to read a message from Kevin.

Kevin: I’m so excited for our dinner tonight :)

Her heart skipped a beat after reading that message. This was not exactly the distraction she needed, but then she quickly typed, “See you!”

Jazzlyn took one last deep breath before heading back inside, she felt heavier after what happened to her.

***

“JAZZ, I badly need your help. Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure, what is it?”

Diane grabbed her hand and pulled her toward her desk. “You know I'm busy with my taxes, right?” Jazzlyn remembered that Kevin assigned her to do the company’s taxes. “I need to submit this monthly sales report to the executive office. Can you please give this to the executive assistant—Mr. Sean?” Diane held up the folder.

Jazzlyn pointed to herself. “M-Me?” She laughed nervously and in disbelief. She was just trying to avoid Erwan, and why was fate insisting to meet him?

“Yes, please, Jazz?” Diane pleaded.

Jazzlyn shook her head. “I'm sorry, Diane, but I have so much stuff to do. Look, I'm also buried with these audits,” she gestured to her bulked papers on her desk.

Diane showed Jazzlyn her painful cut on her foot from her shoes. “It's hard for me to walk because of this wound.”

Jazzlyn sighed. It seems like she had no choice. “Fine, I’ll take it to the executive secretary. But if Sir Kevin comes to see me, you will cover me up.”

Diane smiled brightly and nodded. “Sure. Here, take it.” She handed the sales report to Jazzlyn.

Jazzlyn heaved a sigh as she made her way to the 16th floor. The closer she got, the more nervous she felt. She didn't know what face to show him after what happened between them last night.

She scanned the entire room as she entered, but no assistant was around. She has no choice but to walk towards the CEO’s office.

She knocked twice. “Sir, I'm here to give the sales report for this month,” she said but there's no answer.

She was about to knock again when she jumped at the sudden voice of Erwan.

“Come in.”

Her breath caught as she opened the door. She entered the office and slowly walked to the CEO’s desk. Erwan stood with his back to her, looking outside a window.

“Just leave it there,” he said coldly.

Jazzly set the folder down. “I'll be going now, Sir.”

She was about to leave, but Erwan’s voice stopped her.

“You’re the woman I was with last night, am I right?”

Jazzlyn widened her eyes. She took a step back as Erwan turned to face her. Her throat went dry, and she swallowed hard. It feels like a spotlight was pointing at her. There was no escape pretending she wasn't a woman he slept with last night.

“I-I’m sorry, Sir. I-I didn't know you were the one I was with last night. I didn't know how I ended up in your room. I was drunk, I can't remember anything except…”

Erwan took a step closer. “Except for what?” His gaze showed no sign that her imperfections mattered to him. He seemed to enjoy cornering her regardless of her flaws.

“I-I really don't know, Sir,” Jazzlyn stammered, feeling trapped. She stepped backwards until the walls of the office closed in around her.

Erwan locked his gaze to her, and Jazzlyn fought to look away.

“Jazzlyn,” he said, lowering his voice as he moved even closer. “We both know that this isn't going away. You can't act like nothing happened.”

She swallowed hard as if her throat became dry again. The heat flowed into her cheeks as she felt cornered by him. “I—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Erwan reached into his desk drawer and pulled out her wallet and necklace. “You left these behind,” he said.

Jazzlyn took a step forward, her hands shaking in embarrassment as she reached for her things. “I-I didn't mean for any of this to happen,” she murmured.

Suddenly, the door opened and Sean walked in. “Sir, I have news from—”

“Not now, Sean,” Erwan cut him off while his eyes were still on Jazzlyn.

Jazzlyn seized the moment to snatch her wallet and necklace from Erwan’s hand. “I-I’m sorry, Sir, I really have to go,” she said while avoiding his gaze.

“Jazzlyn—” Erwan began, but she continued to open the door and slipped out.

Sean cleared his throat and began scrolling his laptop. “Your mom's golden birthday is coming up. Aren't you going to attend?”

Erwan felt irritated. He hadn't seen her mother Alice in years, and honestly, it didn't matter to him. She had left him when he was just four years old. What he remembered was Alice chose a life with a wealthy man over her own family. It still stung to think about it.

His father Romeo worked tirelessly to provide his needs. He poured all his energy into his business to become successful. But when he turned six, everything changed. Erwan witnessed a traumatic event when he and Romeo were kidnapped. He remembered everything when his father got shot right in front of him. It haunted him up until now and he blamed everything on his mother.

“I don't want to see her, Sean.” Erwan could still hear the echo of her mother's name. He just hated her for abandoning him.

“I mean it's her golden birthday. Maybe you could at least send a gift.”

“A gift?” Erwan scoffed. “How about a nice piece of jewelry? That's what she always wanted, right? Expensive things over her own son.”

“You could at least show yourself for a moment, Sir.”

Erwan shook his head and then his fist clenched. “There is no point in visiting her. She has her own family now, and it is disgusting to think that the thing I hate more than her are gold diggers. I’ve seen many women who only care for money.”