Chapter 56 - Finding Out His Identity

''So, what I'm trying to say is this. Forget what happened yesterday, forget that I came here, forget that I spoke some nonsense and misled you. if you want, I can talk to your boss and let him reinstate you back here and everything will be back to normal. As you know, I am an actress and I have to be careful about my image. If news of what happened goes out, I could sue this place and your boss could get angry with you. So, what I'm saying is this. Let's help each other. Can you clear the CCTV recording of what happened here? I promise to put in a good word for you to your boss. I know your boss very well. He is JSC, he sponsors all my clothes. When I tell him to let you off, he will. Guess what, I heard he has a crush on me but I don't date old men, so he is not my type. I can't date an old man whose son is probably older than me, right?''

''So, JSC is the man behind all the beautiful clothes that you've been wearing?'' Josh asked and Mikael looked away. He was trying hard not to laugh and blow Josh's cover.

''Yes, even you testify to that, right? it's a pity he is too old for me. I like young men''

''So, you like young men. Last night, you said my face was exactly your type. does that still stand?''

''Alice blushed and chuckled, ''well, you are a pretty face but, I can't date you''

''Why? Is it because I am poor?''

''No, I feel like I will be betraying JSC if I date right now. I want to wait till he is able to face me so that I can tell him he is not my type. If he has a son, I can try dating him but not himself''

Mikael coughed and started laughing. He couldn't hold it on anymore. Josh also joined in and started laughing.

''Why are you laughing? What is funny?'' Alice asked, confused.

Josh sighed and looked at her with a smile, ''you look so cute when you're flustered, Miss Jun'' he felt so happy for that moment.

''What?'' Alice was still confused.

''Alice, for a smart girl like you, how could you be so gullible?'' Mikael asked as he went to sit closer to her.

''What are you talking about?''

''You've been coming here for how long and you don't even know the owner of this place?''

''The owner of this place…'' Alice turned to look at Josh and asked, ''he… he is the owner of this place?'' Alice started coughing when Josh nodded his head.

''Yes, Ma'am'' he said to her.

''For real? I… I… wait, how is that possible?'' Alice asked him.

''You should really start reading business news. I'm surprised you never knew who Josh is'' Mikael said to her.

Alice frowned and asked, ''who are you?''

''Is this where I have to introduce myself to you?'' Josh asked and stretched forth his hand towards Alice.

''I… you already know me. there is no need to introduce myself'' Alice said and looked at her.

''I am Josh Steve Cobbs''

''Josh Steve Cobbs… whoa, I didn't know you had the same name as my sponsor…?'' Alice face turned pale and she almost fell from the seat and Josh held her hand.

''Be careful, Miss Jun. we can't have you getting hurt, right?'' Josh smiled and Alice chuckled dryly.

''So, you're that JSC, the same one who owns Black Horse hotel where we stayed and did most of our filming? The same JSC who sponsors all my clothing? That JSC?'' Alice asked incoherently. Her soul seemed to have left her as she asked while looking at Josh who kept nodding his head.

''Yes, Miss Jun''

Alice got down from the chair abruptly and bowed in front of him. her reddened face made her look drunk even though she wasn't.

''Sir, I am so sorry. I didn't know who you were. I even spoke such nonsense. Please, can you forgive me?'' she said to Josh.

''Took you so long to find out'' Mikael shook his head.

''Hey, I'm serious here'' she noticed Josh smiling and composed herself. ''Sir, whatever you saw before that is not the real me. I am not that kind of woman. Actually, if you get to know me, you will find out I am a very simple and good nurtured lady and not uncultured. It was the drink. I already promised my elder sister that if I took even a sip of alcohol, she should call me a pig''

''Are you rapping?'' Mikael asked and laughed saying, ''wait, there was alcohol in the cocktail. Does that make you a pig?''

''Hey!'' Alice was tempted to hit Mikael but she kept her calm because of Josh. She had just found out he was her sponsor. She didn't want to disgrace herself any more than she had already done.

''Miss Jun, relax. I am not judging you''

''Really? You really…?''Alice stuttered.

Josh nodded his head. ''Yes''

''So, you won't stop sponsoring me, right?'' Alice leaned over and asked.

''I won't. Sit down, I am actually doing this to be low key. Only a few people know me''

''Oh''

A man walked to the counter and sat down. ''I will be back' Josh said and went away to serve the man.

Alice pulled her chair closer and hit Mikael's shoulder asking, ''how could you do this to me? You knew who he was and yet never bothered to tell me''

''Little sister, you never asked me'' Mikael said back and Alice glared at him.

''How was I supposed to know he was old money. He is the one who gives me free expensive clothes and I didn't even know him. I feel like digging a hole and crawling into it right now. I even asked such a man to be my boy toy. Do you know how I feel right now?''

''Don't worry. He is into you, so he won't mind that you asked him to be your boy toy'' Mikael teased.

''You...we will talk about this when we get home''

Mikael frowned and asked, ''how long do you plan to freeload on me and your sister?''

''Niania has gone back to her hometown to visit her parents. You don't expect me to go to my place and be alone especially now that I feel so depressed?''

''You don't look depressed at all to me at all. You look excited, your face is all red''

''Mikael, why can't you let me win for once in this conversation''

''Your sponsor is coming'' Mikael said and Alice straightened herself and smiled as she turned to face Josh who had returned to stand in front of her.

''Hi, Mr. JSC'' Alice said and Mikael chuckled.

''Just call me Josh like everyone else. You don't have to change the way you address me''

''Then, am I forgiven?''

''No!'' Josh replied an Alice looked at him.

''Huh? No? Why no?''

''I will think of a way you can compensate me later'' Josh said and Alice pursed her lips as she looked at his eyes.

''Why is he so handsome?' she muttered to herself.

''What did you say?'' Josh asked and Alice's phone buzzed. She shook her head and removed the phone from her purse and saw her sister's name on the ID.

''My sister, I have to answer this'' Alice walked out to receive the call leaving Mikael and Josh.

''You're practically removing her clothes with those eyes'' Mikael said and Josh asked worriedly.

''Hey, do you think her attitude will change after this?''

''Alice? No. She is only afraid you will stop sponsoring her clothesline. Apart from that, you don't have to worry about her change of behaviour. She might know how to act but outside the camera, she doesn't pretend''

''Are you sure?'' Josh was still doubtful. The last thing he wanted was for her to change her behaviour towards him. He didn't want her to grow apart from him or simply sees him as her sponsor.

''Trust me, she is as opened as you've seen her''

''I envy the relationship between you two. She acts freely with you''

''That's because we're almost a family now. She will come around''

Alice walked back to them and said to Mikael, ''Mikael, we should go. My sister is back and is hungry'' she turned to Josh and spoke, ''I'm sorry but, I have to go''

''Sure, go ahead. Feel free to come anytime''

Alice smiled and nodded her head. ''Okay''

''I will see you, around Josh''

''Sure, man'' Josh looked at Alice as she walked out of the bar and he smiled. He had mixed feelings about their encounter tonight. She finally found out about him but he wasn't sure what her impression was of him. He was happy he didn't have to hide his identity in front of her but he was afraid she might not relate to him the same way again. He was torn apart.