Chapter 146 - CHAPTER 146: JADE, WAKE UP!

"Hey, where are you? Mr. Jess is looking for you." Jessa's loud voice can be heard on the other line.

"I'm enjoying my morning coffee. Why is he looking for me? It's not even the time of my shift." Jade pouted especially when her cinnamon bread as well as her macchiato isn't half-done yet. 

"Starbucks again? Is that enough for a breakfast?!" Jessa sighed. "You'll end up dying before my mother because of your unhealthy lifestyle."

Blah-blah-blah….  Jade rolled her eyes as if mocking Jessa's opinions.  "I'm fine with it."

"Tsk! what an inconsiderate woman!"

"I know that full well." Jade continues to annoy her friend. "Back to Mr. Jess, did he tell you why he's looking for me?" 

"No. It's just that…."

"What?"

"He came with a bright smile. He was leaping and jumping as if he won a lottery. He didn't want to tell me why though. Guess he wants to tell you some good news."

"Well, since it doesn't seem bad and urgent then I'll finish my coffee first then."

Jessa heaved a sigh. "Fine, fine… Do what you want. But if he gets mad then don't blame me for not warning you."

"When did I ever blame you?" Jade laughs before hanging up. "Thank you, Jessa." She muttered sincerely before putting back the phone in her bag. 

Twenty-five minutes…. Twenty-five more minutes before her shifts starts. It's more than enough to finish the coffee. However, her eyes suddenly glanced at the busy streets. It's early morning but people are rushing to who knows where. They can't even spare a second to apologize to the person whom they bump into. Cars that come and go, bicycles running along with the cars as if they have the fuel to chase the cars before them.

All those scenes are not new to her. Every single day, these events hadn't change over a year. same old scenery. She got used to it but she's getting bored. Same old setting, same old feelings, same old routine…. But to be honest, she's getting tired of her life right now. She's trying to get through each day, she's trying to be happy, to enjoy the things that she has right now. However, there's a part of her that feels so empty.

Something is missing. She still feels the emptiness within her.

She heaved a heavy sigh. She wants her life back…. she wants her identity back. There's a part of her wanting to go back to where she once lived. 

Her eyes then stared at the black sedan car that was stuck in the traffic. Or not stuck, it's actually looking for a parking space. She may be gawking at the car, but her mind is in another dimension. 

"Okay." He answered and got down the car. He's walking towards the café when a young man riding a bicycle almost hit him. Good thing he dodge on time. 

"I'm sorry!" He turns to face the man wearing a dark Ray-Ban Aviator sunglass. His suits look expensive and the young man apologizes continually. Fear is evident on his face. He has the thought that if he grazed this man even a little then he won't be able to pay for the damage even if he gives his life!

Meanwhile, Jade came out from the rest room when she saw the commotion at a distance not far from the café. From her view, she could only see the young man with his bicycle apologizing nonstop. She wanted to watch and see the end when her phone rings again. 

"Jade! Where are you?!" She heard Jessa nagging on the other line. "Come here quickly!!"

"Is everything okay?" Her heart skips a bit. She can hear the urgency in Jessa's voice. 

"Just come quickly!" Then Jessa hung up. She raises her brows before picking up her stuffs and immediately run outside to wait for a ride. 

"It's fine." Marcus replied. "Just be careful next time." Then he turns towards the café. He was about to enter when his eyes suddenly caught a familiar figure. He turns around to check but saw no one. Just a cab who just drove away. 

"Is everything okay?" Zenia's voice brought him back to his senses. 

"Ehm." Marcus shook his head before entering the said café. Was it just his imagination? His thoughts were filled with the familiar figure he saw earlier. 

Marcus took the paper and types the passcode in his phone. His phone couldn't get any signal since the day he came to the City. It's true, this is one of the many places in the country where modern mobile phones are useless. But then, as a business man, he needs to check his emails as often as possible so he asked Zenia to search for a place who have an access to internet. 

According to her search, starbucks offers Wi-Fi to customers therefore Marcus and Zenia headed there first thing in the morning. 

"Any update about the Kerie's?" Marcus started a conversation.

"They'll be done at exactly three in the afternoon, sir. But they are willing to meet you during the dinner party." Zenia reported. "Here's the details of the dinner invitation." She handed him a small piece of paper.

"Okay. You can wait at the hotel or it's up to you if you want to explore this city. Your call." 

"I'll stay at the hotel. I will wait for you, sir." Zenia delightedly suggested. She feels like a real wife waiting for her husband to come home from work. She unknowingly giggled when fantasizing a budding romance between them.

"Is everything okay?" Marcus asks when he noticed how the woman chortled to herself. 

"Y-yeah… Everything's fine… Sir." She radiantly smiles at him. 

Her smile suits her best. It actually highlights her beauty. Marcus must admit that her secretary is beautiful and looking innocent. However, it does not capture him at all. He kinda knew that Zenia seems to have a feeling towards him that's why he did his best not to be too attached to her in any ways. 

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"Hey, are you okay?" Jessa pat Jade's shoulder. "You don't look fine to me. Are you sick?"

"I'm feeling a little dizzy." She muttered weakly while holding the edge of the table. She needs to find a support if she doesn't want to fall on the floor.

"Don't force yourself. Stay in the lounge."

"I'll just rest for a few minutes. I'll get back to work as soon as I feel okay." Jade doesn't want to idle but she knew her body more than anyone else. Forcing her body would only cause trouble. 

"Okay. I'll see you later then." Jessa helped her settle on the sofa before going back to the dining hall. The Kerie's who hosted the conference decided to throw a dinner party for all the guests. 

Everyone, including Marcus was invited. Hearing that everyone was invited to the party, Zenia decided to sneak in. She wanted to watch Marcus from afar. Since it's a party, she made sure to look fabulous on her red dress outfit and put on a daring make-up.

Thirty minutes has passed when Zenia secretly sneak inside the dining hall. There are a lot of guests. Everyone looks great in their outfits; they are obviously great men of different professions. Her eyes are looking everywhere but she's particularly looking for Marcus. 

She smiled when she spotted the good looking man talking with some people. He's beaming and anyone who sees him will surely be captivated with his undeniably great charm. 

"Excuse me, can I have one plea-----" Zenia paused for a while. The woman looks like-----

No! It can't be her! Her eyes widened in shock as she staggered backwards. No! It can't be her! 

The female server doesn't look fine, Zenia can tell it. "Y-yes… P-please t-take one…" The woman couldn't even look at Zenia in the eyes. She still feels a little dizzy. 

Zenia's hand is shaking when she reaches one glass of wine. And as soon as she took one, the female server walks away from her. However, she didn't take many steps when she suddenly falls on the floor and the sound of broken glasses echoed in the hall.

It caught the guests' attention and Marcus, who isn't that far from the fallen woman was about to walk towards the commotion when a hand suddenly stopped him. 

"D-don't go near… I-it's too dangerous." It was Zenia. Confusion is painted all over Marcus' face specially when he felt Zenia's tight grip. 

"I think someone needs help." He replied. They could hear people murmurs everywhere. A female staff fainted. He was about to take another step when the woman embraces him from behind. 

"Don't… go… please… I… I'm a little bit dizzy." She tightens her hands around him.

Marcus tried to get off her embrace when he heard a man's worried voice. 

"Jade, wake up!"