Chapter 25: Suspicious
Jark whispered something to the driver before leaning back.
Kathe couldn’t make out if his eyes were shut or open because of the eyeglasses he had on.
"So, no explanation?" Jark asked. Kathe sensed that he had been meaning to ask.
"Explanation of what?" she teased back.
Jark turned to her. "Don’t play games with me."
Kathe still didn’t know if his eyes were still closed because of the glasses, but she could feel his gaze through the dark-shaded lenses.
"What game?" she feigned innocence.
But Jark wasn’t in for the game. He quickly grabbed her to himself. Before she could make out the situation, she was already leaning on his chest, her face breaths away from his.
Jark’s hand was behind her head, holding her in place, while his free hand took off his glasses as his icy blue eyes stared at her. She couldn’t help but shiver. She didn’t know why her eyes drifted to his lips, because they were really tempting.
"I need an explanation, little lamb," he asked again.
"Can you release me?" She didn’t feel comfortable speaking that way.
"If you are willing to cooperate."
"I’m willing." She didn’t want to stay in his seducing position.
He released her as a smirk found its way to his lips. Kathe quickly kept her red face down, while the space separating their lips touched by mistake.
Kathe didn’t know where to hide her face, but she endured his assaulting gaze as she began explaining everything to him. The more she explained, the more Jark frowned. His icy aura made Kathe stop and look up at him, trying to figure out what was going on in his mind.
"Continue," he urged her.
Kathe nodded and continued.
When she was done, Jark’s expression had gotten worse.
"This isn’t as simple as you thought. Something seems fishy."
"What do you—"
"Don’t worry." He took out something from his car and handed it to her. "Take it and read it. It contains the rules of the company."
Kathe nodded and took the file. Though the job employment seemed usual, she couldn’t help but feel excited and overwhelmed as she went through the files. He returned to his position, but all through the time he was looking at her from behind his glasses.
............
Jacklyn walked into the room and found Shashe staring out of the window.
"I hope the old lady wasn’t so mean to you."
Instead of replying, Jacklyn bounced on his bed, staring into space with a wide smile on his face.
Not hearing a response from her son, Shashe turned to face him.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Isn’t she a mystery?" he said, with the creepy smile still on his face.
Shashe was already confused.
"Who?"
"Kathe. She’s interesting." He covered his face dramatically.
Shashe was already getting irritated by his words.
"I didn’t bring you back to chase after a woman. Worst of all, your brother’s wife."
"Mom, please. There is always a second option." His smile grew wider as it became creepier.
"What’s that?" Shashe asked curiously.
"Divorce, of course."
Shashe slapped him out of anger.
"Fool! Don’t forget your main goal back here."
"I’m not stupid, Mom. It won’t hurt adding her to my primary goal. It seems we are meant to be together. We met again after four years. Don’t you think it’s destiny bringing us together?" He turned to face his mother like a child seeking advice from an adult.
Shashe couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his silly talks.
"It’s useless talking to you, but get prepared for tomorrow," she said before exiting his room.
When Shashe left, the earlier childish smile vanished from his face. He stood up from the bed and walked to the mirror. When he got there, he took out a pair of diamond earrings and played with one of them.
"I’ve kept this safe for four years. Who knew that I would meet the owner today?" he said as he brought the earring close to his nose.
He remembered how Kathe’s earring had gotten stuck to his shirt that night when he had asked her to keep her head low, but instead she kept her eyes open, lost in a trance, and he had to use his own hand to lower her head. Her earring got stuck on him, and her scent from that night kept haunting him for years.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
The call interrupted his little wild dream. All the smile vanished from his face as an unknown number was displayed on his phone screen.
"Hello."
"Hope you are well settled," a female voice came through.
"You never told me I would meet her here," he said.
"Hope you have settled."
"It’s my home. Of course, I was already settled."
"Good."
"What’s the next plan?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean, nothing?"
"Yes. Nothing is nothing."
"Why did you let me come back then?"
"For a purpose."
"What purpose?"
"You will know at the right time. For now, wait for my next plan."
"As you wish, but if I may ask, what should I do with this free time?"
"You are already a handful for Jark, and that’s enough distraction I need for now before my next plan."
"Thanks for the compliment."
The call was later disconnected, and he returned back to his wild dream, staring at the mirror.
..............
Unknown Location
"Has he settled in?" the man with the covered hat asked as he poured a drink into the masked lady’s glass.
"Yes, he has settled in. It’s time to play another chess game. Hope Jark can catch up to it this time."
"Do you want that?" he teased her.
She ignored his teasing words.
"I need you to do something for me."
The man leaned in as she whispered into his ear. When she was done, he looked at her and nodded before walking out of the room.
When it was just her in the room, she took off the mask and stood under the reflection of the sun. With her glass in her hand, she drank it all in one gulp before exiting the room.
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