5 - Jealousy

Jake Harold’s POV

“You are not my type.”

“On top of all—you are really a terrible kisser.”

I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. I clicked my tongue. Making sure that she saw all my disgusted expression—

I’m faking it.

I was just doing it on purpose to make her feel low.

Only God knows how bad I want to grab that small waist of hers, drag her curvy body to my car, room, penthouse, office, marking every place with that sweet voice of hers—

I hate it.

I hate it, because for several seconds, my body gave up to her and this urge to prove ‘I’m way better than him’ struck my primal pride.

When clearly, she was just using me as a lowly revenge tool.

I hate it the most. When a woman blindly chooses a partner out of their bad personality, still clung to a so-called pathetic ‘love’—

and ended up broken apart.

“Let’s go, Andreas.” After saying the most hurtful things, I grabbed my black gloves, left her in the middle of the crowds when everyone started to throw their eyes at her.

Before leaving the building, I took a small glance at her, “Pathetic,” I sneered. Then, let my car erase every single little trace of me.

Pathetic.

That’s it. The first impression of her, Elena Beaumont.

No words can describe how much I regretted being in that party that night, and staying all night…

…wide eyes, couldn’t forget the clumsy kiss from a woman none other than my nephew’s ex.

***

“The data we’ll show here is from our new branch in Canada. Based on the last three quarters, the arrow here is our plan to increase our annual—”

“Hoamph.” How bored. I rested my elbow against the armrest, didn’t even realize I yawned so much.

“Let us present our latest market expansion strategies. Secretary James, please, the projector.”

One team leader, two secretaries. Ten minutes had just passed since I sat at the center of the meeting board table, and I already wanted to go home.

If it’s not for that woman who didn’t stop pressuring me—I swear, I bought 60% of their shares only to make that crazy woman shut her mouth up.

The meeting kept going. Everyone pretended to be interested in this boring meeting. I sat at the center, as the main shareholder, kept flipping the lazy documents they prepared out of formality. I already read their data like, weeks ago. Now I can see why this company keeps coming so close to bankruptcy.

How disgusting.

“Andreas.” I raised my finger to my personal assistant. “You sit here. I’m gonna go.”

“Sorry!?” He fixed his glasses, jumped. “If you go, then what am I supposed to do!?”

I clicked my tongue, “You figure it out,” I said, irritated, “I don’t have time for this unprepared meeting. Tell them to bring us another set of data—”

My voice cut off my own breath.

The main door at the meeting room’s center opened. A man with a neat suit busy fixing his tie, rushed inside—my nephew, Gabriel Beresford. He walked inside first when another woman struggling to clutch a stack of documents, alone. While Gabriel was busy greeting other small shareholders next to me.

“We apologize for the delay, shareholders.” Gabriel stood with his face toward the projector screen. “We will present our team's sales results for these three quarters. Elena.”

I ignored Andreas's nagging. Suddenly, their ‘funny’ interaction intrigued my attention.

For the last 30 minutes, I couldn’t stop staring at that assistant woman, who’s just there, managing the projector slides, and Gabriel, who couldn’t stop ordering her around like she was his slave.

“Elena. Change the slide,” Gabriel ordered.

“Yes, Team Leader.” That woman was just doing whatever he told her to like a fool.

I couldn’t help but be drawn to their silly stages.

“Who is she?” I leaned my back, asking Andreas.

Andreas followed my gaze. “Who?” he asked back, then looked at her for a few seconds. “Ah, Elena Beaumont? You mean, Gabriel’s girlfriend?”

I widened my eyes. “He has a girlfriend?” I turned my head back, raised my eyebrow.

Andreas shrugged, “Unfortunately,” he said.

“I didn’t know that immature kid has a girlfriend.” I needed to look back at them twice, to make sure I didn’t just see a thing.

“And, we’ll show you our recent—”

The rest of the meeting didn’t pass my ears.

I couldn’t stop staring.

Dark-brown, yet, dipped in muted-crimson. An eccentric choice for a hair colour that contrasted with her pale skin.

I couldn’t help but keep glancing at her blue eyes. Is she mixed? It’s not usual to have blue eyes when your hair is brown-almost-red. The projector’s light makes her skin even brighter, almost like it’s glowing in the dark.

“The data shown here, we really worked hard to increase our sales when our new product from the new branch just launched—”

Gabriel’s presentation didn’t even pique my interest. For the rest of the meeting, all I could do was staring at her, following her small gesture, enjoying how fascinating it was that she picked a licorice suit covered with a maroon mini dress. Excellent taste. Is she from a well-off family?

Simple, elegant. Not the kind of taste you’ll find anywhere, especially, in a small secluded company like this.

Then, I looked at my nephew. That good-for-nothing nephew. Couldn’t help but think he was almost like winning a big lottery. That immature, childish kid really kicked the ball as a woman like her tailed him around like a puppy.

I didn’t realize that my eyes stared at them full of jealousy.

The meeting was delayed. I didn’t realize it was almost lunch break when they brought us, the shareholders, a drink and luxury snacks.

Gabriel’s here. Again, I couldn’t stop watching them secretly. He’s there—again, gaining the attention of the shareholders while ignoring his girlfriend.

I stared at her, busy fixing documents. She looked very exhausted. Then, at my drinks. Then, at her again. Before I realized it, my hand had already risen to call Andreas on the back.

“Yes?” He approached my seat. “Can I help you, Sir?”

“Here.” I dragged my drinks to him. Andreas seemed confused.

I pointed with my chin, “Give it to her. Just say that it’s from our company.”