4.

"Hey, Ma,” Jax said on the phone.

“Hi baby, how’s school?” Xara inquired. She was currently on a trip with Penny. Alianna and Val were both caught up with ‘something important’ so they couldn’t make it to Bora Bora with them; they were simply missing out on Xara and Penny's tropical paradise. Despite their absence, they couldn't resist the impulse to call their friends and live vicariously through their wonderful trip.

“School’s fine; I'm just missing you. Are you good? Eating well and sleeping well?” He asked, genuinely concerned.

“ I’m fine, Jaxon, and yes, I am eating well and living well. Currently in Bora Bora with Penny sipping cocktails on a yacht,” 

“ Oh, okay. I’m glad you’re fine, Mama.”

“ How are things between you and Giada? Are you good?” she asked out of the blue.

 “ Yes, yes. She was here last week to visit me," he smiled. He was glad he had been able to restore the broken relationship he had with his sister.

"Surprise, surprise," one of the bartenders said as Aly entered the bar. She hadn't seen him much since he left on his journey.

Aly rolled her eyes and sat down in her favorite position. "I don't always grace this place just because of—"

Right on cue, her phone rang, and it was Bazyli on the other end.

"What a coincidence," she remarked as she answered his call. "Do you know what? I'm in the bar, and Clinton is claiming that I only show up when you're there." She gave the smirking Clinton a mocking stare.

"Technically, he might have a point," hinted Bazyli.

Aly was having none of it. "Oh, no, not you too."

Bazyli laughed. "Anyway, Greece is being kind to me, and I'm making progress." I'll return this weekend."

"It's great to hear that Greece is treating you well," Aly replied, her favorite drink mysteriously appearing in front of her, courtesy of Clinton. "I can't wait for you to come back," she said, taking a sip. I hate to admit it, but I've missed you."

"I've missed you even more, and I'm counting the days until I see you," Bazyli responded. 

 ‘ I've missed you even more, and I'm counting the days until I see you,’ Clinton mimicked, making Aly chuckle on the phone, choking on her drink in the process.

“Oh shit! Here’s some water.” He quickly handed her the glass of water, and she took in a big gulp.

“ Are you okay?” Bazyli asked, worried.

“ I am fine, except for the fact that Clinton almost killed me here." She glared at him with her blood-red eyes.

‘ I am sorry,’ he mouthed.

“ Are you better now?” Bazyli inquired.

“ Aside from the fact that my throat is on fire at the moment, I’m okay.”

“ How’s Kimora, by the way? It’s been a while since I last heard from her,” she inquired, changing the topic.

“ She’s doing well, except for the fact that she’s having a hard time finding love. The person she loves went through a tragic loss, so he’s not reciprocating the love she has for him." 

“ She doesn’t need to beg for love from anybody. She’s beautiful and has a very good and kind heart. She should learn to love herself before anyone else. I need to have a tête-à-tête with her," she added, determined.

“ No doubt, but not everyone’s like you, Alyona. You’re strong-headed, know what you want, and will not let anyone walk over you. Kim, on the other hand, has always sought approval from everyone else, except herself. She wants to be loved despite the circumstances,” he explained.

~

Yara spoke to Jax on the phone while lying in bed, her voice frustrated. "Why can't I just give her a piece of my mind?" She moaned.

Jax said calmly and reassuringly, "Because I don't want you hurting yourself or getting into trouble, and besides, she's not worth it."

"Alright, I won't do it, for your sake," Yara said unwillingly. But I can't promise it won't come up again."

Jax tried to hear her words as she mumbled the last bit. "Yara, promise me you're not going to fight her. "Please," he begged.

"Why are you begging me not to fight her when it's clear that's what she's asking for?" Yara asked, suddenly sitting up with vigor.

Jaxon gently stated, "Because she's not worth it."

Yara was amazed by Jaxon's intensity of feeling. "And you still care about her?"

"Not in the way you think," he clarified. Yara was someone I adored. She was my first, but she was the one who broke me. That relationship's fallout eventually brought me to you, my love, my everything. Brynn may be everything you claim she is, but it isn't worth destroying your reputation. Trust me.

~

~

~

“ Why can’t you like him back?” Ximena said over the phone while walking to her apartment after lectures.

“ I don’t know; maybe it’s because of what happened years ago,” Giada added.

" It's King's loss." He decided to go along with his dumb sister's idea anyhow. But have you ever considered whether he liked you? Maybe you misread the signs." Ximena attempted to reason with her.

" You have a point, but I'd like to get to know Kye a little better." He's 6'5, attractive, with a chiseled jaw, expressive hazel eyes, and a messy, textured cut with a scruffy beard," she described as Ximena listened on the phone.

“ Seems like you have a tiny winy crush on this guy."

“ I do not,” she blushed.

“ Fine, whatever helps you sleep at night." Ximena retorted.

“ Hahaha,”

 “ How’s school by the way?” Giada asked her friend

  “ Apart from the stress involved in being a freshman, school is fine."

“ Ugh, tell me about it. I can’t wait to be done with university. I can’t believe we were so happy and psyched about it.”

“ But it’s not always stressful; there’s the fun part, like you meeting Kye," she teased.

“ You’re not wrong,” they both laughed on the phone.

“ Hey, how’s your mom doing, by the way?”

 “ She’s great; last time I heard, she was on vacation in Bora Bora. I’m glad she’s traveling more. It will help her not to overthink and also not miss Dad so much as compared to if she stayed at home. There’d be no one to keep her company. We’re in university, Elon’s married and taking over Dad’s empire, and Aly’s career is at its peak.”

“ I’m proud of her, though. She’s a strong, confident woman."