Chapter 5

Sandra woke up early, ready for a trip to the rooftop gym. She slipped into her usual workout clothes… a loose T-shirt, jogging pants, and rubber shoes. After grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator, she stepped out of her unit with a spring in her step.

She walked quietly toward the elevator. As she drew closer, she noticed two men waiting as well. There were two elevators side by side, and when she saw that the one they were waiting for was going down, she chose to wait by the other door instead.

She stole a quick glance at the two men and her stomach lurched in recognition. They were the same friends she had interrupted last night while playing in the gym. The man who had been so skilled at dunking looked her way, and she felt heat rush to her cheeks. She quickly lowered her gaze.

Did he recognize her?

She braced herself, waiting for him to confront her… but to her relief, the doors to their elevator slid open at that exact moment.

When the elevator doors opened, Jessica Lopez stood before the two basketball players. Her flawless, fair face seemed to radiate a subtle glow. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, perfectly complementing the large pearl earrings she wore.

Just like in her magazine photos, her style was both elegant and sophisticated, a black pea coat over a black-and-white printed mini skirt, paired with gold stiletto heels that showcased her smooth, slender legs.

The two men stood there with mouths slightly open, staring in stunned silence as she stepped gracefully out of the elevator.

Jessica, however, didn’t notice the two men still spellbound by her beauty. She hurried out of the elevator, and upon spotting Sandra, she immediately took hold of her friend’s right arm and pulled her back toward the unit.

Meanwhile, Jerome and Justin stepped into the elevator in a daze. For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

"Did I see that right? We just ran into Jessica Lopez," Justin finally said, breaking the silence.

Jerome could only nod in response, still unable to speak. He wanted to pinch himself to be sure he hadn’t imagined it that the renowned author he admired had truly been standing right in front of him.

Even on the drive to the training gym, the elevator scene replayed in his mind over and over. Each time he recalled Jessica’s goddess-like beauty as she stepped out, his heart pounded a little harder.

He couldn’t help but wonder what Jessica Lopez was doing in their building. He knew there were other well-known personalities living there, but in the more than a year he’d been a resident, he had never once heard that the famous writer was among them.

And who was the woman she had pulled away from in front of the elevator?

He had caught a glimpse of the woman, but her face was mostly hidden as she kept her head lowered. It struck him as unusual that she hadn’t greeted him. Most people recognized him instantly, offering a quick hello or even introducing themselves. Maybe she simply hadn’t seen him? But then again, he was certain he’d caught her looking at him, and it was only when their eyes met that she quickly turned away.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts when they reached the front of their training gym. As always, the entrance was swarming with cameras, reporters, and eager fans.

But today, the crowd seemed twice as large and most of them were women holding up photos of Priasa Diaz, each one defaced with various negative messages. Some had large X marks drawn across her face, others had devil horns, and still others bore crude words expressing disapproval of his alleged involvement with the actress.

The moment he stepped out of the car, reporters swarmed around him. As expected, the questions came fast and direct. Every one of them was about the rumors linking him to the actress.

"Priasa is a good person, and I have nothing negative to say about her. But the rumors aren’t true, so I hope this doesn’t get blown out of proportion. Thank you," he said. Short, direct, and firm.

With that, he walked toward the gym as security guards stepped in, blocking the reporters and fans who still tried to push closer.

One of the things people admired most about Jerome was his honesty in addressing every issue thrown his way. Not once had he been caught denying or lying about anything, which was why his fans believed every word he said.

Charismatic and eloquent in every interview, the NBA superstar knew exactly how to answer any kind of question without leaving a negative impression. Even the media respected his words, never twisting them or adding false interpretations.