TERRY
It's not just what happened. I may have missed recording the start, but I saw the entire scene.
However, now, I hesitate to tell Monica that it seemed Mr. Murray waited for Jessica on purpose.
I saw it myself.
As Jessica left the cafe's back door, Mr. Murray got out of his car right away, walked quickly over to her, and familiarly grabbed her shoulders.
They looked so intimate, closer than just acquaintances.
In that moment, I envied Jessica. But I won't admit I like Mr. Murray. I know well that Monica likes him too. Besides, Monica gave me free goods; thus, I don't want to be on her bad side.
So it's best if I stay silent.
If it is true that Mr. Murray likes Jessica, then there is a mistake about who is engaged to him—and Jessica? She did not covet her future brother-in-law...
'Ah, whatever, it's not my concern then… It's up to Monica to find the truth someday.'
I glanced at Jessica, but through her thick glasses, I could not read what was in her mind.
~ ~ ~
JESSICA
I looked at Monica and grinned inwardly. I saw right through her. Monica was clearly trying to make me look bad, but I won't let her get to me.
Monica had no idea that I now had a greater role in our father's plans.
"Dad?" I looked at Dad, waiting to see what he would do next.
I noticed a trace of hesitation in his eyes. It showed just how much I now mattered to him.
'I 'm useful to him now, of course.'
I wasn't just his pawn. I was a chess piece he could move any way he wanted.
But Monica intentionally caused me trouble. Gladly, Dad is siding with me. Even so, it won't change the truth that he is ashamed to introduce me as his biological daughter.
Now I get why he's suddenly been nice to me over the past few years. He wanted to use me for his company's benefits by selling me off to his business partners.
And now that his beloved daughter is home, he wants to push her to marry Chad. As for me?
Dad plans to sell me to his other business partner.
'He is absolutely making me his puppet.'
'How could I be free from this hellhole life?'
Every day, I mulled over the steps I must take to be free from Dad.
I don't care if he is my biological father. But before I leave, I have a few things I want to know the truth about.
Besides, I don't know where I should go after I escape from here, a place where this family cannot find me.
I want my dignity back and to forget about Chad, a part of my life I wish I could erase.
"Monica, darling, you are right. It's just a misunderstanding. Your friend saw Mr. Murray open a door for Jessica. He's probably just being courteous, since your sister is assigned to negotiate with him. Murray Holdings is our most prominent investor, so it's normal to see them together."
I heard Dad say that to Monica, and I couldn't help but laugh to myself.
'This family is a bunch of actors.' I mumbled.
"What are you saying, Dad? I—"
Monica tried to argue, so I cut her off. "Mr. Murray only offered me a ride."
She glared at me, then quickly pretended to be surprised.
"Really, sis?"
Her sound sounded fake and sweet. I know she hates calling me that, but she has to keep up the act. Dad needs to see me as the good, understanding daughter. She added,
"Okay. Then, you're right, Dad."
"But I clearly saw her and Mr. Murray…" Terry spoke up, but she abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
Realizing something, she quickly became silent.
"Miss Jessica…" Out of nowhere, Gregory appeared, handing me the folders I forgot at the table where I shared with Stefan.
"Assistant Gregory, what brought you here?" I asked in a business manner.
"You left abruptly and didn't finish breakfast with Mr. Hudson, forgetting the contract."
When Gregory mentioned Stefan, everyone gasped and started whispering, wondering who Mr. Hudson was.
"Is he the newly appointed CEO of Edison Logistics?"
"Yes, but no one has seen him yet."
"Omg! Maybe he is a sixty-year-old big-bellied man!"
"Thought so! She is truly shameless!"
"Then what Miss Monica is saying is that she is seducing Mr. Murray, which can be true!"
"She probably tries her luck to snatch her sister's boyfriend. But Mr. Murray never dated anyone except Miss Monica!"
"That's true! He is faithful to his girlfriend!"
All the gossip from my coworkers almost made me laugh out loud.
'I wonder what Stefan would think when everyone called him a big-bellied old man?'
I was amused, but thinking about Chadrick made me roll my eyes. If only these women knew that the man they call faithful keeps sending me messages, telling me to meet him in the parking lot…
"I'll revise the contract right away," I told Gregory as I took the folders from his hands.
"Alright. Then I would not linger, Miss Jessica. By the way, Mr. Hudson would like to thank you for joining him for breakfast earlier. He hopes you can join him tonight for another meal."
"I—" I hesitate to reply. I looked at Dad, asking his opinion.
"Yes, she's free tonight," Dad replied immediately.
Gregory smiled politely. "I'll inform Mr. Hudson of great news. Then, President Collins, sir. I'll take my leave now."
"Of course, Assistant Gregory, I would not hold you for long. Thank you for delivering my daughter's stuff."
"No problem, sir. My boss would like to deliver it personally, but he has important matters that need his immediate attention."
Seeing that Stefan Hudson hadn't turned down his daughter and that they had breakfast together, he looked pleased.
Dad still beamed long after Gregory left.
"Dad, I would like to take a half-day off. I want to go to the hospital to treat my bruises, then revise the contract."
I used this opportunity to step away for a break and clear my thoughts. I knew I would have to face Chadrick sooner or later.
Before I said that, I messaged his assistant to inform him of the situation.
His assistant moved forward and whispered to Dad, "Sir, Mr. Murray is waiting for Miss Jessica in the parking lot."
Hearing this, a flash of panic appeared on his face, but it disappeared before anyone noticed it.
"Of course, go ahead, Jessica." Dad dismissed me.
I glanced at Monica. Still, the employees were gossiping about me, and she looked smug as she heard them. But I didn't care if she got the wrong idea.
'Let's see if she can still smile once she learns the truth.'
*
*
*
"Could Jessica really be trying to seduce the Edisons' CEO?"
"She really has no taste. Maybe after Mr. Murray rejected her, she realized that only an older man would have an interest in her."
Monica liked hearing the employees talk badly about Jessica. Now she cannot wait to post them on her alternate socials.
"Dad, could it be that the rumors are true that my sister is sleeping with our clients…" she voiced out her thoughts. "Isn't it bad for our reputation if this gets out?"
"Monica…" Raymond snapped at his eldest daughter.
"Yes, Daddy?" she said with a sweet smile. But when she saw how serious her father looked, her smile faded. "What's wrong, Daddy?"
"I am disappointed in you. Now bring your friends out this instant." Raymond said. Without further explanation, he turned around and walked toward Edward Hans.
Monica never expected her usually doting father to tell her to send her friends away, especially in front of everyone.
'This is all Jessica's fault! Now Dad didn't listen to me. He is even considerate of her!?'
Monica knew her father wasn't just suddenly changing his mind, and she was resolved to find out why soon.
~
After grabbing her things, Jessica went to the parking lot. She didn't see Chad's car at first, but then she noticed a car he used to pick her up in before.
Meanwhile, as Jessica headed toward the parking lot, she was unaware that someone was watching her from a distance and following her.
A man reclined against a post in the parking lot and lit a cigarette as his assistant walked over.
"Mr. Hans, I've told Mr. Collins that you will not sign the contract unless Miss Jessica represents their company."
"Great," he hummed.
Earlier, Mr. Hans and his companion had watched the scene with interest.
He didn't catch all the buzz due to language barriers, but he clearly heard the names, Mr. Murray and Mr. Hudson. Somehow, it gives him an idea.
He knew both of those tycoons personally. They were about his age, young and competitive in business. But since he focused on entertainment, he rarely joined their circle.
He remembered a party from a year ago when Chadrick Murray carried a beautiful woman out of the VIP room.
Her figure looked more like Jessica's than Monica's, the rumored fiancée.
Now, seeing Jessica enter Chadrick's car, he confirmed his suspicion.
'So, she's just pretending to be an ugly duckling secretary. Hah. What are those two up to?'
Edward Hans was deeply interested in the rivalry between Chadrick and Stefan.
He pondered, his lips tugged with a grin.
'Should I join in the fun?'