Chapter 208: Not a like but far from dislike 2

Outside the entrance of Saint Hotel, a young boy pulled over and got down from his car and Ever walked out of the hotel to meet him.

''Sis, I didn't take up to 10 minutes, right?'' Cody said expecting to be praised.

''Yes, at less you are not so useless. Thank you''

''Sis, you and elder cousin, will you get back with him after you spend a passionate together with him?''

''Cody, are you done messing with me?''

''Well, it will be a waste to just go with him and not make any progress. I really liked the time you two were dating. You looked much happier than now'' Cody said and pulled Ever in for a hug, ''let this big brother give you some boaster, I can tell you are already nervous, but don't worry, you will do well. If there is anything to be anxious, it should be elder cousin and not you. My sis is so pretty''

Ever closed her eyes and frowned before she opened them and pushed Cody aside berating him, ''you little rascal, I wished someone was doing sibling exchange. I swear I would go and swap you for a non-talking unicorn''

''Sis, stop beating me'' Cody said and held Ever's hands together stopping her from hitting him further. Ever looked at him and they started laughing.

Jayden and Ann walked out and saw them. Jayden immediately smile as he watched them.

''Miss Ever seems to be rather casual with a lot of men'' Ann said and Jayden frowned.

''Who do you think that boy is? That is her younger brother. You used to be close to her back then, have you forgotten of her brother Cody?'' Jayden askedd and saw Cody waving at him.

''Elder cousin, save me, big sis wants to take the iPad she gave to me away'' Cody said and ran over to him. He looked at Ann and smiled awkwardly at her before turning to Jayden.

''Cody'' Ever called out and went closer to them. She stood awkwardly aside.

''Cody, don't trouble your sister too much, I can't bear to watch it'' Jayden said and tussled Cody's hair. His words entered Ever's ears and she turned at once to look at him, he had his attention on Cody and had no idea that she was watching him but Ann who was standing by his side heard and saw everything. She looked at Ever and when their eyes met, the latter looked away.

''Okay, I won't trouble her, but you should take care of her on my behalf. Make sure you stop by the pharmacy and get her digestive drinks, my sister can't sleep without drinking those''

''Don't worry, I know that already''

''Then, come back safely. Big sis, love you'' Cody kissed Ever's cheek before running of to his car. She watched as he drove away and she shook her head.

''Jayden, I already communicated to the management of Neo Island and told them we will go over today'' Ann said making the two people who were stealing subtle glances at each other to look at her.

''Okay, you stay here and watch over things. You can join us tomorrow''

Jayden said and took the file from her. Her hands that held the file remained in the air for a while before she put them down. ''Did you arrange for accommodation?''

''Yes, I did''

''Are you ready?'' He turned and asked Ever and she nodded.

''Yes''

''Let's go then''

Ann watched them as he opened the door for Ever to get in after taking her bag and putting it at the backseat.

When the car sped away, she took out her and made a phone call to Neo island. She thought she was going there alone with Jayden and had booked a single room with the aim of getting them to spend the night together in one room, who knew he had other plans which involved going with Ever.

''Pick up the phone you bunch of idiots'' she screamed into the phone after the call went on without anyone answering.

...

In the car, Jayden slowed down at the traffic. He stretched his hand over towards the front cardboard and Ever leaned against the seat.

''What are you doing?'' she asked as her hands clutched tightly against her purse.

''I want to take something out for you from the cardboard for you'' he said and opened it, he removed a drink from the board for her.

''Oh, thank you'' Even hurriedly took the drink from him and looked at it. It was pine juice she used to like drinking back at high school. It was hard to get now because a lot of drinks have come to replace it, she looked at him as he drove away. Feeling the urge to ask him where he got it from, she cleared her throat and he turned.

''I got it after making a huge sum of money. The company that made this doesn't make them again, so I got them to make it specially for you'' he said and Ever's grip on the bottle tightened. Why did he have to put in so much effort for her. Didn't he hate her?

''Don't you hate me?'' Ever asked after not being able to contain her curiosity.

''You are the last person I would ever hate, Everest France. You know that very well''

''Why? Why don't you hate me? I was harsh to you at the family dinner. You even said in front of every one that you were allergic to walnuts. Wasn't that an indirect way of telling me to get lost?''

Jayden busted into a fit of laughter after hearing her sentence, he calmed down and found a parking space and pulled over.

''You have such a wild imagination, it's a shame you aren't a writer, Everest'' he said to her.

''What?''

''Before you were my girlfriend, you were my family and after that you were my best friend and the last stage was lovers and now we are not. if we are not lovers, we are still family. If what I said hurt you, I apologise and if you think I hate you because of the way I treated you the first day I went to the hotel, I apologise again, I know, I was been a jerk. I was just a little angry with you but I realised it wasn't worth it, hating you takes so much of my energy and time, so I would rather remain as a family and a friend. Are we good?''

''That's a whole lot of information, how am I supposed to process all of that?''

''In short, let's stop the cold war and be friends. we work at the same place and will be seeing more of each other, so it's better to be friends than enemies. Unless you still feel awkward around me?''

''Who feels awkward around you. I just thought that you hate me''

''Instead of thinking, try asking me next time''

''Why did you sleep with her? I wanted to ask him that question but I realised no matter how hard I tried, the question could never come out of my mouth' Ever said to herself as she stare back at him.

''Are you listening to me?'' Jayden asked after seeing her pace out.

''We are going to get there late if you don't hurry up. I have to call my parents and tell them about the business trip''

Ever said and took out her phone. She called her mother as Jayden drove away.

''Hello, mom. Yes, en. Don't worry, I will be fine'' she looked at Jayden ''he is driving. Loudspeaker? Okay'' Ever placed the phone on loudspeaker and said to Jayden ''my mother wants to speak with you''

''Okay, hello aunt Jules''

''Oh, Jayden'' Julieta's voice could be heard from the other side, ''Ever told me you two are going to Neo Island''

''Yes, aunt Jules''

''Okay, take care of Ever, okay?''

''If you make her cry, don't bother coming back because not even Aaron Saint would be able to save you from me'' Kash said into the phone and Ever flushed.

''Uncle K, don't worry. Ever is safe with me. I promise to make her happy''

''Don't mind him. I won't disturb you anymore. Drive safely, bye Ever love''

''Bye mom, bye dad'' Ever said and hung up. she looked outside the window embarrassed.

''Why didn't you expose me last night? I lied to Jade and Channing that we decided to be friends again and you didn't say anything'' Jayden asked after thinking about it. Last night, he had impulsively lied that they were now friends but she didn't expose him but rather agreed to it. He was quite surprised.

''I didn't want to shame you, that's all''

You really know how to say the nicest things'' Jayden said sarcastically and they chuckled. ''Have you settled on what to make for the contest yet?''

''Huh? No, I'm still researching''

''You will do well, don't worry too much"

''I'm not worried. the worse that could happen is for me to go back home and freeload on my parents while I look for another job''

''That won't be the worse, Ever, after everything happening, to you getting into the contest without your knowledge. Do you think this case is simple?'' Jayden asked and she turned and looked at him.

''What do you mean?''

''Someone is messing with you in the hotel and we need to catch that person or this won't be as simple as you think it would''

''Well, I know someone is trying to mess with me but I just can't figure why that person would do that. I have a good relationship with everyone in the kitchen, except Benita but she wouldn't be so vicious, right?''

''Aye, what am I going to do with you, Ever?'' shaking his head, he asked her, ''do you trust me?''

''Huh?''

''Do you trust me?''

''Why?''

''Let me handle this. I will get to the bottom of this and fish out the culprit in no time''

''Jayden, do you trust me?'' Ever asked back.

''I do without a single doubt''

''Then, let me handle this on my own first. If I need help, I promise to let you know''

''Okay'' Jayden nodded and she yawned, ''get some rest. I will wake you up when we get there''