Yey! Now we will get to know Jessy! :D
That evening, I met Jessy at our favorite bar. She was already there, sitting at a corner table with two drinks in front of her, waving enthusiastically as I walked in.“There she is!” Jessy called out, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Come on over, Haven. We have a lot to talk about!”I couldn’t help but smile at her infectious energy. Jessy was the kind of friend who could turn any situation into a fun adventure. As I joined her at the table, she pushed one of the drinks towards me.“How are you feeling, Jessy? You were sick, and now here you are, drinking alcohol,” I said, raising an eyebrow in concern.Jessy waved a hand dismissively. “I’m fine, totally fine. It was just a little bug. Besides, I need to enjoy tonight before heading back to a dreadful Monday—especially now that you’re no longer there to keep me sane.”I chuckled, feeling a pang of guilt. “Yeah, about that… It’s been a whirlwind.”“So, what happened?” she asked, leaning forward with eager curiosity. “Was it Joaquin
Jessy approached us, her eyes wide with surprise. "Joaquin? What are you doing here?" she asked, glancing between us.Joaquin gave a subtle nod to his secretary, who had suddenly appeared beside him. I blinked in confusion, not having noticed the man before.‘His secretary is here now? When? How?’The bouncer soon led us to a private room in the club, giving us some privacy. My head started pounding. I was just having some fun a while ago and now this?A lot of things happened in just an hour… everything’s so spontaneous with this man!As soon as we were inside, Jessy turned to Joaquin, her eyebrows raised. "Did I hear that right? You just called Haven your fiancée? How? When?"Joaquin ignored her, instead guiding me to the couch and kneeling in front of me, checking if I was alright. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now."I'm fine," I mumbled, still reeling from the events. Joaquin sighed in relief, then his expression turn
Hazy and groggy, I lay there in a strange bed, my head pounding like a drum. I heard an alarm ringing somewhere, and I yawned and stretched, feeling oddly comfortable and warm. However, when I felt an arm draped around my waist, my entire body stiffened in shock.I slowly opened my eyes, squinting against the morning light filtering into the unfamiliar room. Panic surged through my veins as I took in the surroundings—this was definitely not my bedroom. The walls were a different color, the decor far too elegant and opulent.‘Where the hell am I?’My heart pounded in my chest as I cautiously turned my head, only to be greeted by the sight of Joaquin lying beside me, sleeping soundly and topless. My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open in a silent scream of bewilderment.‘Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…’Trying to keep my breathing steady, I took a peek under the covers, relieved to find myself dressed in a knitted sweater and dolphin shorts. Despite the comforting realization that I
The ride to work was quiet, filled with the unspoken tension of everything that had happened. As we pulled up to the office, I could already feel the eyes on us. People whispered and stared as Joaquin and I walked in together. I kept my head high, determined not to let their gossip get to me.Inside, the buzz of office chatter was almost deafening. I caught snippets of conversations—speculations about why we arrived together, murmurs of disbelief at Joaquin’s announcement that I was his new editor.Some of the women in the office shot me icy glares, their eyes full of jealousy and suspicion…“Who does she think she is?” I heard one of them hiss as we walked by.“I bet she’s just like the last one,” another whispered. “Remember how close she was with Joaquin? She was practically his girlfriend.”“Bah, you guys are making a big deal out of it,” said another. “He keeps changing editors, anyway. Let’s bet how long she’ll last.”I tried to ignore them, but their words echoed in my mind. Wha
After the day's whirlwind of emotions and surprises, we finally arrived home. The moment we stepped through the door, Joaquin headed straight to his room without a word. I watched him disappear down the hallway, his determined stride indicating he had no intention of lingering.I felt a slight pang of disappointment but shook it off, reminding myself that we both needed some time to unwind.I made my way to my room, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly as I entered my personal space. The quiet offered a stark contrast to the bustling office, and I welcomed it. After setting my bag down, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jessy’s number.I needed to hear a friendly voice, to ground myself after everything that had happened.The call connected, and Jessy’s cheerful voice filled my ears. “Hey! How are you? What the hell, you didn’t tell me you’re now engaged to Joaquin!”My eyes widened in shock. “How did you know about that?”Jessy laughed. “When Joaquin showed up to get you yesterd
I woke up with a start, my eyes snapping open in the darkness. I squinted at the clock on my nightstand and groaned softly. It was 3 AM. I let out a sigh, wondering why I always seemed to wake up at the most inconvenient times.After tossing and turning for a few minutes, trying to will myself back to sleep, I gave up. A cup of tea might help soothe my restless mind.Slipping out of bed, I wrapped myself in a cozy robe and quietly made my way to the kitchen. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, the only sound being the soft padding of my feet against the polished floors.As I rounded the corner to the kitchen, I paused, surprised to see a faint light coming from within.Joaquin was already there, sitting at the kitchen island. He was wearing a robe, but it was untied, revealing his bare chest and boxer shorts. I felt a flush creep up my neck and quickly looked away, letting out an awkward cough to announce my presence.Joaquin glanced up, looking as surprised to see me as I was t
Determined to make a point, I set my alarm earlier than usual. When it went off, I jumped out of bed with a sense of purpose.I took a long, hot shower, blow-dried my hair, and straightened it until it was smooth and shiny. I tied it back in a half-up style, leaving a few tendrils loose to frame my face.I chose my outfit with care: light blue slacks and a matching light blue blazer. Underneath the blazer, I wore a white bralette top that showed just a hint of my midriff. It was daring, but I figured the blazer would make it office-appropriate.I applied my makeup meticulously: a light powder to even out my complexion, a precise line of eyeliner, and a bold lipstick that made my lips pop. When I looked in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. I felt beautiful, confident, and ready to face the day.I wanted to surprise Joaquin, so I spoke to one of the maids and arranged for a driver to take me to the office earlier than usual. When I arrived, I felt the weight of everyone's eyes on m
As the office buzzed with chatter, I could feel the eyes of my colleagues on me. I tried to focus on the document in front of me, but their whispers were impossible to ignore."Can you believe she's engaged to Joaquin?" one of them murmured."No wonder she's here," another responded. "I thought it was weird she got the job so quickly.""Did you see how he made coffee for her yesterday? He never did that for any of his previous editors."I sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to defend myself. Engaging in office gossip would only make things worse, and besides, I had a contract with Joaquin to protect. Instead, I pretended not to hear them, keeping my eyes fixed on the screen in front of me.The clock on my desk showed it was almost lunchtime. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten much this morning. I decided to head to the pantry to grab something to eat. Just as I stood up, Joaquin’s voice cut through the murmurs."Haven, let's have lunch together."I glanced over to se
The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of the monitors. Joaquin lay in the bed, his face pale but peaceful, a bandage wrapped around his side.The doctors had assured us that the wound wasn’t deep, but he had lost a significant amount of blood, necessitating an overnight stay for observation. I sat by his bedside, holding his hand, my mind racing with everything that had happened.Ethan had worked quickly to block the news from reaching the media, preventing any commotion that might alert Joaquin’s father. He stood by the window, speaking in low tones with hospital staff and making sure everything was handled discreetly.I squeezed Joaquin’s hand gently, the events replaying in my mind. He had rushed to protect me without a second thought, and the thought of him being hurt because of me was almost too much to bear.I worried about the state Joaquin’s beloved bachelor pad, unsure if I had turned off the stove in the chaos. But Ethan had reassured me that the officers ha
I woke up with a start, the room bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. The clock on my bedside table read 7 PM. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and stood up, feeling the lingering effects of the nap. I decided to check on Joaquin.As I approached his room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Peeking in, I saw him still asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed.Not wanting to disturb him, I decided to do something nice for him. I’d cook dinner. Quietly closing his door, I headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I saw that most of the meat needed to defrost.Letting out a sigh, I rummaged through the cabinets and found some canned meats: spam and corned beef. I settled on the corned beef and decided to mix it with onions. I also decided to cook some rice since it would make a hearty meal.We hadn't eaten since lunchtime and both of us would be hungry when we woke up.As I prepared the ingredients, I decided to listen to some music. The beat of the song filled the kitchen, creating a
As we arrived home, I headed straight to my room to sort through the new clothes we’d bought. It felt surreal to have so many new outfits.I’d never had this much before, even when I was living alone. I happily folded each piece, admiring the various styles and colors. It was a luxury I wasn’t used to, but it felt nice.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I looked up to see Joaquin leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face."What's up?" I asked, returning his smile."I just wanted to see what you’re up to," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "Are you happy?"I nodded, still smiling. "Yes, I’m happy. I feel very spoiled, actually.""Good," he said, stepping inside and sitting on the edge of my bed. "You deserve it.""I almost feel guilty about all of this," I admitted, folding another shirt. "But since you keep reassuring me that it’s alright, I thought maybe I could abuse you more financially."Joaquin laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "It will never be an abuse
“Did you see their faces?” I managed to say between fits of laughter.Joaquin nodded, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “I think we might’ve just ruined their date.”“Well, at least we’re having fun,” I replied, grinning.Joaquin looked at me, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “That we are, Haven.”As the laughter subsided, we continued eating, sharing small, amused glances and smiles. The earlier tension between us had completely dissolved, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. It felt like a real date, a real connection, even if it was born out of an arrangement.I realized then how much I enjoyed Joaquin’s company, and how, despite the odd circumstances of our relationship, moments like these made it feel genuine. We finished our meal in high spirits, ready to see where the rest of the day would take us.Just as we were about to head home, I stopped in my tracks, a sudden realization hitting me. “Wait, Joaquin, we forgot to buy underwear!”He chuckled, clearly amused by my oversig
We walked through the mall, our matching outfits drawing occasional glances and smiles from passersby. It felt surreal, being in a couple’s outfit with Joaquin, especially considering our situation. Despite the pretense, it was surprisingly enjoyable.We had just returned from the parking lot after stowing our numerous shopping bags in Joaquin's car. The rest of the day stretched ahead of us, and I was looking forward to it. "Let's have lunch together and then watch a movie before heading home to relax," Joaquin suggested.I smiled at the idea. "How about we watch a movie first and then eat? That way, we can talk about the film while we eat.""Sounds good to me," he agreed, and we made our way to the cinema.As we stood in line, I glanced at the posters of the showing movies. There was a range of options: romance, action, and horror. Joaquin turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "What would you like to watch?"I felt a thrill of excitement. "Let's watch a horror movie."He arched an eyebro
Joaquin and I walked through the mall, my arms laden with bags filled with beautiful clothes. Dresses, blouses, jeans, shorts, and even office wear—everything I had always wanted but never allowed myself to splurge on. Joaquin had insisted on carrying most of the bags, which made me feel both spoiled and grateful."I really feel like a fiancée," I said with a playful smile, glancing at him.Joaquin laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made me smile even wider. "Even though it's an arrangement, I'm more than willing to spoil you. Not because of the contract, but because I want to."His words warmed my heart, and I felt a rush of happiness. "Thank you, Joaquin. This means a lot to me.""Next, let's get you some footwear," he said, steering us towards a shoe store. "Sneakers, slippers, sandals—whatever you need."I grinned, feeling a bit giddy with excitement. "Are you sure? Because I'm really loving this shopping day."He laughed again. "How many times do I have to reassure you, Haven? It
I stood there, awkwardly shifting my weight from one foot to the other, as Joaquin rubbed his temples. The tension from my ill-timed question about Clarise still hung heavily in the air.Joaquin sighed deeply. “Alright, let’s get ready to head to the mall,” he said, his voice strained but calmer.I hesitated. “What should I wear? My clothes from last night are office wear, and I don’t really want to put those back on.”Joaquin, clearly still affected by my earlier question, responded with a hint of irritation. “Just make do with what you find in my closet.”I let out a sigh, recognizing that I had overstepped and that he was dealing with his own emotions. Without another word, I turned and went back to his room. I knew his reaction was valid; I had asked something deeply personal that he clearly didn’t want to share.As I rifled through his closet, I noticed an oversized white hoodie. It looked comfortable, and I decided it would work as a makeshift dress. I pulled it on, finding that
As we finished breakfast, my curiosity got the better of me. "So, who do you think this woman could be? If it's not one of your exes, could it be a stalker? Someone obsessed with you?"Joaquin sighed, leaning back against the counter. "It's possible. There have been women who took an interest in me, especially those within the same social circle who thought a connection with me could benefit them. Some even suggested merging businesses through marriage."I chuckled at that, shaking my head. "Sounds like something out of a drama or a book. But would they really go so far as to cause a scandal like this?"He shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face. "No, they wouldn’t risk their reputation like that. But you’re right, someone with enough resources to pay off my maid and make her fear for her family... that’s someone with a lot of power."I frowned, contemplating. "Who could be rich enough to threaten your maid? And if they’re that rich, why would they even bother with something like
I woke up with a splitting headache, my body aching all over. The sunlight hit my face directly, making me squint as I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was Joaquin still on top of me, snoring softly. I stared at him in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation hitting me all over again."Joaquin," I mumbled, pushing him gently. He didn't budge. I pushed a bit harder, but it was like trying to move a boulder. Being six feet tall and heavily built, he outweighed my five-foot-four frame significantly. I sighed in exasperation. "Seriously?"After a few more futile attempts to shift him, I gave up and wiggled out from under him. Once free, I sat up, rubbing my sore shoulders.Damn it… sleeping with him here on the couch in only one position… it really does hurt the body.My face heated up as fragments of last night’s events flashed through my mind. The kiss, the touching, the way he made me feel… and then him falling asleep on my chest."Unbelievable," I muttered, shaking my