Chapter 256: Day Two: A Couple of Idiots

Staring at the computer screen, Elias tilted his head sideways.

Any social platform he went to, news about a certain couple always came up. The photos had circulated everywhere that he had seen them too many times to count. A bit more and uninterested people might become sick of them. 

But it seemed like things were going well for the couple—which meant someone shouldn't be happy. He looked up Jane's birthday party. The search results were still a lot. The good managed to outweigh the bad which was only one and it had caused a little debate on the truth of who was at fault.

He considered it as a generous amount of publicity still except she wouldn't be thinking that way. What would be her next move? His gaze flickered towards his mobile phone. The deadline in their conversation was tomorrow.

Would she call now since this happened?

A dull ache seeped into Elias's head. As much as he dreaded it, Jane should make her move soon. Then, he'd be free of anything associated with her. 

He closed the tabs and stood up from his swivelling chair. His arms stretched over his shoulders. He had a project to do today but he'd keep his phone on vibrate. Who knew if someone would make impulsive decisions again?

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Jane stared blankly at the dining table. 

The food on her plate was untouched. No matter how well lit the room was, she couldn't bring herself to feel the same. Her insides felt hollow. Her body felt numb. She became nothing but a shell. It had to happen.

At least, the pain wasn't there anymore.

Stuart set his fork down. He had hope that she'd do the same after he took a few bites. His hand reached out to touch her, reminding her of anything about the physical world. She needed to come back if they were to discuss this plan.

"Jane…" he uttered. His throat constricted, making it harder to talk. "Please eat, dear. Don't let this affect your health. The chef made your favorite souffle pancakes today. She's really concerned about you. We all are."

But her lips remained sealed.

Sighing, Stuart scooted his chair closer. He sat at the head of the table while she took up his left. The seat to his right laid empty. "Dear, if this hurts you so much, I will have to take action. I can't let people think they can hurt you however they want. If I could, you'd bear no pain at all."

Jane snapped her head towards him. Her blank eyes widened in shock. 

"Don't touch Ambryan," she warned him. "You've always blamed him but it's me who isn't good enough. Nothing I do is enough for him to see me as a woman."

"How could you not be good enough for any man?!" Her father protested. He slammed a fist onto the table. An exasperated sigh flowed out of his lips. "There are other men out there, honey—"

"But I don't want another man!" Jane yelled. Her neck twisted to the other side while her eyes glared at the floor. "You've told me that you'd respect my wishes even when you've disapproved of me having a relationship with Ambryan."

Her hands gripped tighter on her lap.  "I thought you loved me. But you wouldn't set your pride aside just to make me happy—just because Ambryan refused to help sponsor your election campaign."

Stuart stiffened at the mention of funds. The Hathaway wealth and influence were part of the reasons he could tolerate the idea of having Ambryan as a son-in-law. They both knew how to act civilized in public which made their interactions easier. It would work in its own way despite his objections.

The advantages were too tempting to set aside.

He gritted his teeth. Even if Ambryan refused, there was still a way to get those funds. After all the previous partnerships they had, this should be reasonable enough. Anyone would be bitter from being cut off like that. 

"Is this what you really want, dear?" He spoke softly, taking her hand in his.

Jane shifted her gaze back on him again. The daze expression on her face sparked a bit of life. Her dull eyes saturated at his sudden interest and support. 

"More than anything," she breathed out.

"Then, if we're doing this, we have to get rid of roadblocks first." Her father nodded. This time, determination fuelled his nerves. "Starting with a woman named Evangeline Reed."

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"Missy! You're late! Late, late, late! I heard it from someone else already! Our friendship is over! This is utter betrayal! How could you let someone else know before me?!"

"You mean you found out on the internet?" Eve yawned, not the least bit worried. She wore a long-sleeved flowery dress—glad to have something decent to wear. She couldn't imagine wearing that robe all day. 

Her eyebrows shot up when she saw Cale on the other side of the door. He wore a mischievous grin on his face, eager to ask her questions about the night. She quickly grabbed the paper bag and thanked him for the help. 

Just when she thought she had escaped, she spotted the underwear he provided—

"Yes! The whole world knows!" Andie wailed as she paced around the kitchen of her apartment. Jarrett sat on the stool, enjoying his plate of pancakes. "I can't believe you let this happen! I should always be the first person in on the gossip! What other use is being a best friend other than that?"

Eve rolled her eyes. She sat on the bed with her legs crossed over the edge.  "Gee, Andie. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"I miss yoouuu," she gushed, half-meaning it and half-puckering up to her best friend. 

Andie narrowed her stormy blue eyes. "And why is that?"

"You always made the best breakfast." Eve grinned.

"So you only miss me for my food?"

"Well, the way to my heart is through my stomach so yes."

"I'll try to remember that next time," Ambryan spoke behind Eve. He lied on the bed with his back on against the headboard and a laptop on his lap. The keys tapped softly as he typed about urgent inquiries from the board of the directors.

"Is that Ambryan in the background?" Andie sat on a stool across from Jarrett. The latter poured coffee from the pot and into her mug. She grabbed it, puckering up her lips in his direction for a flying kiss.

"Yes, it is."

A slight smirk began to form on Andie's lips. "Did you spend the night together?"

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Eve rose to her feet, heading for the balcony. This was a conversation she'd rather not have her boyfriend hear. Her predictions indicated that it would only fuel his growing ego and shamelessness. 

"Oh?" Andie challenged. Her eyebrow arched up. "Is there something the world doesn't know yet and I get the privilege to be the first person to hear this news like it should always be?"

Eve sat on a bench and chuckled. "That depends if Cale hasn't figured it out yet."

"If it's Cale, I can forgive."

Another chuckle escaped her lips. "So Ambryan told me that he knows about the dual identity."

"Yes, we've talked about this before." Andie frowned, not realizing what she meant yet. "He knows your name is not really Evangeline Reed and that you could be this random stripper from a club or this jobless hobo in a dark alley."

"That's quite an imagination." Eve's face turned into a deadpan expression.

"Well, he seemed pretty confident in accepting whoever you might turn out to be. I'm just stating whatever extreme possibility I could think at the moment. There should be better ones but I haven't taken a sip of coffee yet."

"You might want to have that drink before I tell you more."

"Okay," Andie muttered, raising the mug to her lips. 

Eve listened for the slurp and timed her news perfectly. "What I mean to say was that Ambryan knows that Evangeline Reed is his former secretary, Everlee Hart."

The glorious sound of spitting coffee reached her ears. 

"Say that again?!" Andie demanded. She pushed herself off the stool and set the mug down. She resumed her pacing around the kitchen while catching Jarrett's confused look from the corner of her eye.

She paused from walking and repeated the words towards him. "Did I hear you right, Eve? Ambryan knows that he has been dating his secretary who he spends 5 days a week with this whole time?"

Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Is Jarrett there?"

"Yep, he is."

"Tell him he can't use my coffee mug," she said. "I don't want the trace of his spit on it."

Andie glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Jarrett wash down the mouthful of pancakes with a drink from Eve's coffee mug. She grinned, saying, "Jarrett, Eve says you're an amazing fiance for keeping me company since I'm alone at the apartment."

"That's a lie," he responded, not bothering to look up.

"It's true!"

"Andie!" Eve scolded from the other line. "Focus!"

"Right, right."

Andie peeled her gaze off her fiance. "What was our topic again? Right! Mr. CEO finally knows your identity. Tell me all the details!"

Eve pressed her lips together, deciding how to narrate this. "I would but I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Because he wouldn't tell me how he found out."

"Wait, wait, wait…" Andie said. "He figured it out?"

A tired sigh came from the other side. "Yes."

"But he's an idiot."

"Andie!"

A hand snatched away Eve's phone. She opened her mouth to protest but Ambryan already had it pressed against his ear. He gestured for her to make room on the bench. Like Eve, he changed out of the robe for a simple white shirt and dark blue trousers.

"I heard that you know," Ambryan spoke into the mic. "Is that really how you should treat the person who helped you? I doubt an idiot would manage to do what I did."

"Hey, back off, mister! This is a girls only conversation!"