Chapter 113 - Act

Jade was stunned by the appearance before her when she stepped into the room. Her eyes fell on the infusion line which was attached to the hand of the pale looking man lying on the bed, his eyes were closed.

Jade turned to look at Patrick who was standing beside her. The man was also surprised by his boss attitude, but he was smart enough to hide this, since he knew this was only an act, he shouldn't act surprised. The way Jake was lying on the bed like he was critically sick was so convincing that he was almost sold out to Jake's act.

"What's wrong with Mr Jake?" Jade asked with genuine concern. She didn't know it would be this serious. Just as Patrick opened up his mouth to reply, Jake's eyes fluttered and he let out a low groan.

"Mr Jake?" Jade called out softly when she noticed the sudden movement from Jake. Jake turned his head towards Jade and he flashed her a smile which Jade interpreted to be a fake smile made to mask his pain.

"You're here" Jake motioned her to come closer. Jade walked closer to Jake and from a closer look she could see that his face wasn't that pale as he looked few seconds ago.

"Good morning Mr Jake. How are you feeling?" Jade asked, concern written on her face.

"Fine" Jake replied with a small smile. He could tell the girl was worried about him and to him that was a good sign.

Jade doubted if he was truly fine. If he was, why then was he lying on an hospital bed. But the most important question was, why did he request for the contract to be reviewed when he was this sick? Did he care so little about his health?

Jake panicked when he saw a frown between Jade's brows. She hasn't cut onto his lie right? What should he do?

"Mr Jake if you're this sick why have you asked for the contract to be reviewed?" Jade couldn't help but ask. Jake was cut off guard by her question. Yes why did he ask for the contract to be reviewed now? He could have waited to be fully recovered first.

Jake racked his brain to come up with a convincing lie, but the more he tried the more he came out blank. He has not yet realized that when it comes to Jade, he has never come up with a well proofed plan. He practically does whatever comes in to his mind.

Jake scrunched up his face and winced softly. "Are you okay?" Jade felt her heart skip the moment she saw Jake wince in pain. She turned to Patrick who was still by the door silently observing his boss foolish antics. Wasn't he going too far? was the thought on Patrick's mind.

Patrick was both stunned and amused by Jake's new antics on winning a woman. Patrick could swear his boss has lost all sense od reasoning and was practically acting childish. Even high schoolers wouldn't go this far.

He was familiar with Jake's style of getting women. All he does was flash his killer smile, or wink at them, call them beautiful name and flaunt money before their eyes and they came running to him, buzzing around him like bees. Sometimes he didn't even have to make a move and they'll come clinging to him.

Seeing Jake act this way was definitely new. It was something he had never expected, even if someone had told him in his dreams that his boss would be capable of doing something as stupid as this, he was sure he'd kill that person with a sledge hammer. Sincerely, he found Jake's move to be annoying.

Patrick could see the call for help in Jade's eyes, but he found himself unfazed and rooted to the ground. What was he supposed to do, join in this foolish fascade?

His eyes dashed from Jade to Jake and he felt cold chill run down his spine when Jake flashed him a threatening look. He understood that look at first glance. It was the silent order for him to get into character.

If he was to keep his job, he knew he had no choice but to join his womanizing boss in winning this woman.

"Let me get the doctor" Patrick said panickly. Just as Patrick turned the door knob, he was surprised to see the doctor has materialised himself by the door. Patrick quickly stepped aside to let the doctor in.

"I see you're awake" The doctor said as he slowly approached Jake's bed. He did some physical examination on him and asked, "Is there still any discomfort, any pain" He asked as he gently pressed on Jake's stomach, with his eyes was darting to the lady at the side.

The doctor was Phil's elder brother, Leo. He was surprised when Jake called him over the phone and told him of this crazy idea of his. Leo had thought Jake was merely joking not until he saw him in his office this morning. He had almost declined Jake's request but he knew that man was adamant and turning him down would only make Jake pester him more. But Jake had failed to tell him was that the person they were supposed to trick was lady. But Leo had guessed it anyway.

'This womanizing punk' Leo cussed in his mind as he applied more pressure on Jake's stomach, making the man to imperceptibly glare at him. He knew what Leo was secretly complaining about.

"Yes, but it's mild" Jake said almost in a whisper. Jade watched silently as she let the doctor do his work. Jade thought like she saw a silent communication between Jake and the doctor, but it was quick enough to make Jade think she had imagined it.

"None of your family members has arrived yet?" The doctor asked audibly, so Jade could hear, while Jake shook his head.

"Then who'll look after you. You need someone to be here to take good care of you"

"You don't have to worry about that. I can manage. I'm used to it already" Jake said with a sad smile which pulled on Jade's conscience. She was observing the man's every expression and she could feel herself sympathizing with the man. It seems not only was he lacking some things in his life, he was also lonely.

Leo turned to Jake's secretary Patrick who was fixated by the door. "Maybe your secretary could stay with you?" The doctor suggested. He was trying not to be so obvious with their plan.

"No, Patrick has to fill in for me at the office" He turned to Patrick who was still standing there like a statue.

It wasn't his fault, poor guy didn't know what to do to assist Jake's plan. He was entirely clueless on what to do. When he heard Jake, he knew that was his cue to leave.

"Sir, I'll be taking the documents back to the office" Patrick moved quickly to grab the file from the bedside table. He knew Jake was giving him a coded message to leave.

"I'll give you more instructions over the phone"

"Yes sir" Patrick gave a quick bow before hurrying out of the room.

"What about her?" Leo finally asked their main target. When Jake told him about the friend he was trying to know, Leo knew it had to be a woman. Jade lifted her eyes to the doctor in confusion. Her??

How was she expected to take care of him? She had a job and that was what had brought her there.

Before Jade could open up her mouth to say anything Jake was done that, "No she can't. She's here for business" Jake said. Leo shot him a quizzical look. He didn't understand this guy at all. If she was here on business, then why was he here? Couldn't they have held their business meeting somewhere? Or did the hospital room look like a board conference room?

Leo sighed inwardly, he couldn't understand this guy at all. No wonder the guy was good at his job. His thoughts were indiscernible.

"Well I'll get a nurse to come administer your drugs. But you have to eat something before that. Try not to eat something spicy, so you won't aggrevate your condition" Jade was attentively listening to their conversation. Well it wasn't like they were whispering or something, they were audible enough for her to hear.

"Okay" Jake nodded.

Leo turned his back to Jade so she wouldn't see what he was about to do. 'You owe me' He mouthed to Jake.

Leo looked at Jade one last time before walking out of the room. He was sure going to milk Jake for this. Helping someone like Jake was a rare opportunity, and since he was opportuned to he was sure going to make good use of it.

Jake eyes followed Leo as he walked out of the room, before returning his gaze to Jade. Finally it was just them.

"Come sit" He said pointing to the empty seat beside his bed.