11 Still Married, We Meet Again

A private plane was headed towards the United States of America. Sitting inside was CEO Jeff Go, on his way to attend a college graduation.

His face showed concern; he appeared to be in deep thought. It was exactly four years ago when they had met and made a deal, a fake marriage that was supposed to be annulled when the deal was finished.

However, after consummating the fake marriage, Jeff left without saying goodbye. He's was getting more and more depressed by the minute thinking about what had happened and how the reception was going to be.

After getting a call from Asia, he had to rush back home. He didn't have a choice; it was an emergency. However, Jeff's conscience bothered him; he had wanted to say goodbye in person.

He only had one option back then; he had left a sticky note on Ann's bathroom mirror and a wad of cash under the pillow.

Now, four years later, they were technically still husband and wife.

The marriage never got annulled, and it was time to bring her home where belonged.

=========

Meanwhile, at Harvard University, Ann was preparing her graduation speech. She was graduating with the highest honors, Suma Cum Laude and as the class representative, she must give the graduation speech.

While doing the final check on her notes, she couldn't help but feel sad. She was graduating with honors, but she had no one to share her achievement with.

Her best friend and manager, Lea, was currently out of the country doing business on her behalf, and she had no other friends or relatives. Her mother was somewhere in Asia, busy ignoring her, and a biological father she never knew. But that was all in the past, what was important now is the present.

Her goal and dreams were being achieved little by little, but why wasn't she happy? 'If only Mother could see me now, would she regret never acknowledging me? How about my unknown father, would he be proud? He doesn't even know I exist in this world', this line of thinking left Ann looking feeling dejected on a day she was supposed to be at her happiest.

While Ann was deep in her thoughts, she didn't realize that a man had been watching her from the side, thinking and debating with himself over whether he should announce his presence or wait until after the ceremony.

The man was none other than the world renowned CEO Jeff Go aka scumbag as Ann liked to refer to him, the man she had a fake marriage with four years ago.

Jeff decided to observe for a little while more. He went to find his assigned seat and watched the ceremony.

Deep in thought, while observing, Jeff began to think, 'I'm so proud of your accomplishment my beloved wife, although I cannot share your happiness at the moment, that will soon change.

I have watched you grow from a protective cocoon into a beautiful butterfly. But you belong to me, and I cannot just let you fly away so quickly. Jeff squeezed his eye shut and his mouth curved into a mischievous smile.

'It's finally the right time; you'll be coming with me to our home, where you belong.' Jeff couldn't help smiling to himself; he was too excited.

=====

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce to all of you our class representative,

graduating with a Suma cum Laude, Joanna Wen." Ann heard the Academic Dean of the University announcing her name, and hurriedly went up on stage.

Before she started her speech, she looked around to check for any familiar faces in the audience, but she didn't find any.

When she was about to begin her speech, she suddenly glanced towards the front row and saw a familiar face.

Ann blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating, and when she looked again, the same person was in the audience looking back at her.

'She made it!' Ann's heart was bursting with happiness after seeing her best friend.

Lea traveled seventeen long hours nonstop to make it for her graduation. 'I'm not alone; I'm not alone anymore.' Ann put on her sweetest smile, showing her brilliant teeth, and began her speech confidently.

She smiled so sweetly that Jeff, who had been watching her all this time, felt as if his heart was going to leap out of his chest from the heavy pounding.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Then he saw Ann looking in his direction with a beautiful sweet smile, and he felt like it was meant only for him. He felt like he had died and gone to heaven all in one moment.

Lea had told Ann that she would be out of the country for a business trip on the day of Ann's graduation. Ann was devastated, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Ann had mentally prepared herself to be alone and planned to go straight home after the graduation ceremony. 'Who would have thought that Lea would rush back just in time for my speech and graduation?'

"Last but not least, I would like to say that without this person in my life, who knows what I would have become. They have supported me from behind the scenes, loved me for who I am, and encouraged me whenever I thought I couldn't do it anymore."

Jeff was sitting a couple of seats away from Lea and began to wonder if Ann was talking about him.

For four years, he had been secretly helping her in every way he knew how. He would fly in for a day to get a glimpse of her, but he never once approached her. Jeff made sure that Ann was never short of anything. He gave her all the comfort he could offer.

'Is she talking about me? Does she know all the things I have done for her?' Jeff was now very curious.

Jeff was still in deep thought but was interrupted by the closing line from Ann's speech "Lea, my best friend forever, thank you! I love you from the bottom of my heart!"

Ann made a heart shape gesture, then pointed towards Lea. "Thank you!" Ann smiled at the audience and exited the stage.

Lea rushed to Ann and gave her a hug with all her strength the second she walked down from the stage. "Congratulations! I'm so proud of you! Let's get out of here and celebrate!" Lea told Ann, with her excitement visible on her face. Ann nodded, grabbed Lea's hand, and left before Jeff had a chance to congratulate her.

All Jeff could do was sigh and take out his phone to call his assistant.

"Ronald, make the preparations. I want you to do something."

"Yes, Boss! I will make sure to arrange everything as per your instructions."

=

=

"Finally, I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel! Today is a new day; here's to a new beginning, cheers!" Ann said to Lea before holding her cocktail up and drinking it all in one go.

Jeff was sitting quietly in the VIP room, right next to where Ann and Lea were celebrating, he had a sad and cold aura emitting from his face.

Ronald didn't know what to do. He could feel the pain emanating from his boss's face. All he could do was sit quietly on the other side of the room, and wait for an order.

He wondered what was going on in his boss's mind, what could he be thinking about right now? Suddenly a thought occurred to him. *Ding!* He got up and excused himself. "Boss! If you'll excuse me, I will be right back!" Ronald turned and took off in a hurry.

'If this cold-hearted boss of mine is satisfied to sit there and admire his beautiful wife from afar, I will not, that will not do! I need to take action! It's for the sake of my sanity, let alone his!' Ronald started thinking of the best way to execute his plan for the couple's future happiness.

Jeff: 'Hmm? I wonder why that guy is rushing about like a headless chicken.' He thought about it with an emotionless look on his face.

===

Ronald was waiting by the door of the ladies room. Earlier, he had seen Ann getting up and making her way over here. That's when a plan came to his mind. If his method works this time, the couple will be celebrating this happy occasion together in future!

For the past four years, he had always been on his toes. One minute they would be in a meeting, and as soon as it was over, his boss would tell him to prepare the private Jet because he missed his wife. If everything worked out with his plan, the big boss might stay longer this time.

He could finally have a real vacation, the last of which was four years ago. Ronald was daydreaming while waiting for Ann to come out of the ladies room.

Ronald had been Jeff's assistant since he took over the position of CEO right after college. Besides being an assistant, they had been friends throughout their college years, so they didn't have a typical employer-employee relationship.

In all the time he knew Jeff, he had never mentioned so much as a girlfriend. 'Where did this girl come from?

Four years ago, his cold-hearted boss; who had never even give a second glance to all those women that were trying so hard to get his attention and throwing themselves at him; called him in the middle of the night and told him that he got married!' That was hilarious, he thought.

Ronald was still engrossed in his thoughts about the past when suddenly he heard a sweet voice saying:

"Hi! I'm wondering if we have met before. Do I know you from somewhere?" Ann asked curiously.

He was so deep in his thoughts that he was unprepared. He started stammering as he replied; "H-hello to you as well! Yes-Yes! We met some years back; you helped us with translating. Don't you remember? You did such a great job that we got the contract because of you."

"I see! That's why you look so familiar, so what brings you to town?" she asked him curiously.

"We are here to attend the graduation ceremony of my CEO's wife. She just graduated Suma cum Laude, so he wanted to celebrate with her." Ronald replied while looking at her confused reaction.

'Graduation class representative and CEO's wife? As far as I know, there was only one graduation ceremony held today, and graduating Suma cum Laude, I was the only one. But I'm not married to a CEO? Who could it be?' Ann was now perplexed.

'Something's fishy here. Wait a minute, could it be? No! No! That can't be true.'

Ann started to have an inkling who this person was talking about.' It was a fake marriage, and he wasn't a CEO. Why would he accept my proposal if not for the money? Don't tell me that he fell in love with me at first sight. No way!' Ann didn't realize that she was mumbling to herself.

"So, which college did your CEO's wife graduate from?" Ann asked slyly.

Ronald was stunned for a moment, as didn't expect the question and didn't know how to answer.

"Actually... Actually..." He started stammering, unable to think of an answer.

Then they suddenly heard someone saying "Harvard University," which was Ann's school.

Ann turned around to look at the direction the voice came from, hoping and praying in her mind that it wasn't him. Unfortunately, it was him, in the flesh, and right in front of her. She didn't know whether she should laugh or cry.

For the last four years, she had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about him, wishing so many times that their marriage was real. But in the end, the reality was that one day he just up and disappeared just like that.

She had woken up that morning realizing he was gone and only found a note and an envelope full of cash that was left behind.

She never heard from him after that, until now. Ann blankly stared at the man standing in front of her.

Time seemed to stop at that moment for Ann and Jeff. It had been four years since the last time they were together. "A very brief time..."

Ann turned around to look in the direction where the familiar sounding voice came. She was wishing and hoping that it wasn't him. Unfortunately, it was him. In person, right in front of her.

'The Jerk! Why is he here? Four long years later, the gal of this man was incomprehensible.' Ann was so shocked that she didn't know what to say. They had a staring competition with each other.

Ronald didn't know what to do either and just stared at both of them simultaneously when suddenly Lea showed up.

She needed to go to the ladies room when she saw Ann talking to some guy, then in a flash, someone passed by, and now all three of them were having a starring competition.

"What's going on?"

She rushed to Ann's side and whispered "Who's the hunk? Do you know him?"

Ann whispered back to Lea "The jerk!"

"Who?" Lea asked, now confused.

"THE JERK also referred to as the scam bag of the century! The one from before!" Ann yelled.

"Ah, that jerk!" Lea now fully comprehended what Ann was saying.

Jeff couldn't believe what she just called him. 'JERK! When did he ever change his name?'

Ronald : (????). "..."

Jeff: ( #%$@**)

He was now furious and fuming with steam coming from all orifices on his face. 'She has not seen me in the last four years, and this is the kind of reception I get. WTFFF!!!' Smoke was practically coming out of his ears and nose.

"Ann, I'll give you credit, I would have dropped my underwear in a heartbeat too, and more if that's the guy! Hehehe. "Lea jokingly told Ann.

However, Ann didn't find it funny at all, and said "Let's go! I have nothing to say to this JERK!" She then turned around and left.

Jeff followed them back to the VIP room. As soon as they entered, he told Ronald and Lea to leave them alone.

Lea looked at Ann, who didn't say a word. She took that as Ann agreeing, and grabbed Ronald's hand and left, closing the door behind them.

Neither spoke, even though they had so many questions they wanted to ask each other.

Ann poured herself a stiff drink and after the second gulp, continued looking at the glass in her hand, swirling it back and forth, taking a sip once in a while.

Jeff just stared at her blankly, his face void of any emotion. He was contemplating what to say or do. A minute passed... An hour passed.

Still, no one said a word; they just continued sipping their drinks.

They must have drunk a lot more than they expected. Ann's face had turned red.

Jeff's face looked the same as when he had started. [Blank! Frozen like ice.]

Suddenly, Ann had had enough and got up to leave. She rose too quickly as all the blood rushed to her head and she almost tripped and fell. Luckily, Jeff was able to react fast enough that he caught her just in time.

The closeness was too much for Ann to bear; by reflex, she automatically put her hand on Jeff's chest to prevent him from taking advantage of the situation. Jeff loved every minute of it, how he dreamed and fantasized about this moment for the past four years.

He couldn't hold it in anymore. It was like all the emotions inside him that had been repressed for years were ready to burst. He put his hands on Ann's beautiful face, pulled it towards him, then kissed her hard and sweet. It felt so good that he wanted to eat her up right then and there.

Ann tried to fight him at first, but when Jeff swirled his tongue inside her mouth, sucking it like sweet candy, she just let Jeff do what he wanted and enjoyed the ride.

They were at the height of passion and ready to get down to business when...

"Ahem! Ahem! AHEM!!!" Lea and Ronald both had a wide grin on their face.

"I think we all better get out of here before we get in trouble for indecent behavior. Hahaha!" Lea told them while laughing and teasing them at the same time.