In the lobby, Stella and Jenkins stayed, waiting for Jason’s secretary to come back. They could have barged inside Jason’s office but Stella wanted them to stay on a low profile and do the normal protocol. Jenkins would choose otherwise but he decided to stick with her.“What are we even doing in here?” Stella asked, looking around at the designs.“Nothing. Just want to know how my rivals are doing.”“I remember you said you’d be the heir so why are you still checking them out?”“Silly you, Stella.” Jenkins released a short sob of laughter, looking at her with a smirk. “It’s not about the selection. My bad for referring to them as my rivals. I meant I just want to see how my cousins are doing with their work.”Twitching her lips to the side, Stella noticed sarcasm in what Jenkins stated. But what is she even doing here? She should have stayed in the car and waited for Jenkins.“I think this is a bad idea coming here,” she stated.“How so?” he immediately countered, his curious eyes fo
Charles had a long day and a surprise freakin’ visit from Andrea. What he hated is the fact that she was acting too friendly, too clingy, hugging him all of a sudden. He has to break away without acting like an asshole. Why did he even put himself in this stupid situation?Like he always was, Charles got home late, around two in the morning. This was always his ideal go home time; even sometimes he doesn’t go home but to his condo near his company or worse he stays in his office. But it’s different when Stella’s in the picture.As soon as he got inside their room, he closed the door softly to avoid waking Stella up. It’s not like she could hear it but still, it was better not to risk her sleep.Just when he turned around and enter the doorway to their bedroom, he pauses when he saw who kept the lamp on and off. Stella, looking like one of those ghosts in a horror film.“Jeez, baby!” He held a hand on his chest. “What are you doing and awake? It’s late.”“Yes, it’s late.” She finally
“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Jason had a frown, blinking as he shakes his head slightly. “Contract? What contract? Is that with Charles?”“It’s not important anymore, Jason. No one knows and you said I could trust you. So please keep it as it is.”This sudden news kept Jason at his feet. His brain is processing this a little slow. Stella is leaving? But what is that act about loving Charles? “I’ll keep it but just— help me understand, Stella. Why are you leaving when you said you love Charles and you’re pregnant! Don’t you want a ha—““I do,” she interrupts him. “But there are things that just won’t click because you want it.”“Charles loves you and he wants the child! So what is it that doesn’t click, Stella?”He waited for her to tell him what exactly is her reason but instead she gave him a smile. And just like that Stella cheerfully swayed her hands, humming as she walks ahead of him. It’s like Jason just talked with Jenkins. He knows Stella and Jenkins were close with eac
“What are you plotting, Jenkins?” Jason asked.“The question is, what are you going to do, Jason?” He tilts his head a little to the right. Horror in Jenkins's face in broad daylight. “I wouldn’t talk Stella out of it. I won’t tell what made her decide to leave too. I’m rather tired and it’s the grown-ups thing. I’m just a kid.”“You’re not just a kid,” Jason uttered, remaining calm when he is about to lose cool. His hand was in a fist and he bet Jenkins is happy about it.“I’m still ten,” he said. “If your business with me is over, you should just head back inside. I want my peace right now. A kid should take their nap they say.”Jenkins had motioned his hand and again laid back down as he were before Jason came. He doesn’t have much information obtained but there is one thing that was sure. There was something that happened. But the hell is it?For the few days that Stella stayed in Charles’ room, she had memorized where Charles put most of his stuff. He would always carry the contr
***Charles didn’t know anything about doctor Akira coming to their mansion and now he looks like a fool facing the doctor once again. It looks like everyone knew and when he glances at Stella, she just looked away.The two of them haven’t been talking as much. Every time he wakes up, she is gone. The office has been busier than usual and now it keeps him from getting home earlier than he expected. When he’s home, she’s usually asleep or with the grandparents.So now Stella brought doctor Akira in without mentioning it to him. It’d be rude to just grab Stella for himself.“We meet again, Charles!” Doctor Akira faced to him and he smiled. “I apologize for not bringing up Stella’s pregnancy. I am her doctor after all.”“Of course, I understand, doctor. You didn’t lie but you made me guess and allow me to assume. Good to see you again.”“Should I show you your room, doctor Akari?” Crolletta asked. “It is best for you to rest first. I’m sure you woke up early for your flight!”“Oh, yes! A
Stella was hesitating to let herself listen to a liar but she knows there was no escaping him anyway. So, she stayed in the bed and put down her phone.“What is it that you want to talk about?” she asked.Charles made his way to her, sitting on the edge of her side of the bed. Then he suddenly took her hand. He looked at it while he rubs the back of her hand with his thumb and looks at her.“I don’t know what’s wrong but I know something is, baby. I won’t be able to understand if you’re not going to tell me,” he said.“Why would you assume that there’s something wrong?” Stella pulled her hand out of his hold. It seemed to have shocked Charles for a little while and he looks at her.“That is why I know something is wrong,” he answered. “What’s wrong, baby?”“Hormonal changes,” she uttered. It’s not, she knows it isn’t.“How do I make you feel better? Do you want me to take days off? A week just to be with you?”His sweetness is something she shouldn’t tolerate. If he continues doing st
At dinner, Jenkins noticed how Stella’s smiles brightened and Charles holding on to her hand tightly. He glances at Jason and saw that he also noticed the change in the atmosphere. Looks like they made up.The escape route that he has was brilliant and though it might seem like it will go to waste, he will be holding on to it. Jenkins is glad that Stella gave his cousin some chances to explain. He could’ve sworn Stella was ready to leave Charles.After their dinner, the grown-ups were still talking and Jenkins couldn’t find the timing to steal Stella away. She was surrounded by the adults, let alone the doctor who arrived earlier. And now he is on the upper balcony bored.Soon enough as Jenkins was still watching them below, he heard some footsteps coming his way. He turned to see and surprisingly it was none other than his twin sister. Trixie sat on the chair next to him and with a grumpy face gazed down.“What’s with that face?” he asked her while looking at where Trixie’s gaze is;
“Why are you here?” Vanessa asked Jason. She always hated surprises, especially when it’s Jason doing a sudden visit to her unit.“Aren’t you going to welcome your guest?” he fires back, a look on his face that says too much about being in a bad mood.No choice, Vanessa opened her door wider for Jason to step inside. Like police with a warrant, Jason welcomed himself and felt at home, sitting on her sofa with a leg up on the center table.“Didn’t your family teach you manners when you’re in somebody’s house?”“Who got you this unit?”Jason has those dull sharp eyes and it made her sigh, intimidated by his stares. She made her way to the kitchen and shouted, “Do you want something?”“No. Not like you have anything good to offer,” he remarked.Hearing his indirect insult made her suck in air sharply. She opens her small fridge and took a can of soda for herself.When she first stumbles into Jason, he wasn’t this devil guy that she’s seeing now. He was rather polite, even offered her a c