I can faintly hear Axel's voice talking to my dad in the dining room. I exhaled slowly several times. Don't understand my mood today which changes up and down quickly. Suddenly I became nervous to meet Axel. I lifted my finger and stared at the diamond ring that glowed so beautifully under the lights. Never imagined before that I would belong to a man. I have to try really hard to be a good lover. I can't let Axel down.
"Hi. I didn't expect you to come."
I made my face as bright as possible and hugged Axel warmly when Axel stretched out his hand to welcome me.
"Oh hi, honestly I miss you. It's a surprise."
Ohh... that's so sweet. Does everyone do this when they're in love? I guess so, because I've seen this tacky stuff from Jayde and Rachel a lot.
"I miss you, too. Ahh I mean because today we didn't spend long at the restaurant during lunch."
Dad watched me and Axel without blinking. But I know what that look means. Dad was contemplating how far this arrangement would benefit him. How much increase in shares will he get from the two companies that are merging. Tsk, I really hate this condition.
"I guess it's only natural that you miss me?"
Axel seemed to want to kiss me. But his gaze moved to my dad's somber face, and he slowly backed away.
"The day after tomorrow we will go to Columbus to see the progress of the hospital construction project. Ivy, I am so lucky to have you as my future wife. You're a good woman. You and your foundation are raising money to build a hospital in Columbus. That's glorious, honey."
"Tsk, you have quite a poisonous mouth. But thank you, I'm very flattered. But now it's time for dinner. You must join us."
"Sit down, Axel. We'll talk business over dinner."
"That's good. My dad just came back from Southeast Asia. There are good mines there and wide open land. If you are interested in opening a new mine there."
"I think it's time for me to open a new mine to meet market demand. If you have the proposal, I would be more than happy to study it."
"Certain. I'll send the proposal tomorrow to your office."
I pursed my lips in a pout as I pulled up the chair to the left of dad's. Even at the dining table, and on our first date, dad had to talk business with Axel. Isn't there anything else daddy can talk about? Dad should have paid more attention to my mental state, which was very bad because I was exposed to business every day and without a touch of affection.
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner. By the way, one day I want to taste your cooking, Ivy."
"O-oh, sure. I will cook you a delicious meal someday."
I chuckled lightly as I pulled my plate closer. Cook? God, I can't. I mean I can only cook something very simple, like frying eggs, making toast, cooking instant noodles, and other simple things that are very inappropriate to serve in front of Axel Krueger.
But if Axel likes a woman who is good at cooking, and asks me to cook something for him, is he an old-fashioned man like dad? I hope not. Because if so, I have to think of another plan—which until now I haven't thought of, to cancel this match. Jayde didn't even give me good advice when I asked him. Then, what should I do? My goal in marriage is so that I can get freedom and not be shackled in this golden cage. So I have to think of another plan soon if my wedding plan with Axel doesn't work out.
-00-
"Hey, how was dinner?"
That sound. That jerk Jayde was staring at me from the balcony. I narrowed my eyes at him, and moved to catch up with him. Even though I was just about to go to my room and sleep. But I couldn't ignore Jayde being there and my feet seemed to have a will of their own to walk towards him. Sometimes just throwing a joke at him can make me happier.
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your bedroom in the back building?"
"Why are you so cynical tonight?"
"You are not allowed to roam around my bedroom."
"I didn't go into your bedroom, Ms. ivy. I was just standing on the balcony."
"What are you doing here? Go to sleep." I kicked him out cruelly.
Actually tonight I'm lazy to talk about Axel or the dinner that turned into a meeting for business. Throughout the dinner, dad and Axel didn't stop talking about business. Even though I had tried to divert the subject from something else, they just kept on going about business and ignored me who was starting to get annoyed. Nothing special tonight. Even though the dinner should be something very warm, away from work matters, and only filled with simple things about everyday life.
"Your face is so ugly and you are pouting. It must be because today's dinner didn't go according to your plan."
"Hmm, if you already know, why ask? You make my mood even worse. Dad and Axel are both annoying. They kept talking about business, companies, tenders, profits, and badmouthing their business partners who had bad attitudes at work. Tonight's dinner really felt like having a meeting at the office."
"Easy Ivy. You're just too emotional. Let's take a deep breath and exhale slowly."
"Don't try to comfort me in that way."
"Ahh... That hurts, Ivy!"
I slapped Jayde's hand that just touched my shoulder. He pissed me off even more.
"How do you think a lover should behave? I don't understand."
Jayde frowned at the sudden change in topic.
"So what is this really about? I don't understand."
I pulled Jayde's hand to follow me to sit on the balcony. I have a few questions for him about me and Axel. As a man who has experience in romantic relationships, I'm sure he will have the answers to some of the questions that bother me. Well, even though it could be said that Jayde wasn't a master, but at least he had knowledge several levels above mine. As far as I've seen his love story with Rachel always looks exciting so far. Who knows. They actually spend time together with simple things, but that actually looks very special in my eyes because they do it with sincerity and there is no pretense at all between them.
"Why did you pull me here? Didn't you kick me out?"
"I changed my mind. And you have to answer my questions."
"So it's not just one?" he asked teasingly. I ignored him and dropped my ass beside him.
"Tell me how your love story with Rachel so far."
"Everything is running normally. Nothing strange during our dating, Ms. Ivy."
"I told you only Ivy. Why do you like to make me angry so much?"
"Tsk, I think you're really in a bad mood right now. What has Axel been up to, hmm?"
"He ignored me during dinner. He was busy talking to dad about business."
"It's not his fault is it? Axel might want to ask about your condition, talk a little more about you, but your dad is there."
"Well that's true. But Axel also enjoyed the business conversation."
"Take Axel for a walk to the park. There you will meet many couples who are dating. You can make him more humane by doing what most couples usually do. After all, you and Axel are very similar to each other. You've been stuck in the corporate environment for too long, so you find it difficult to start living like normal humans.
"So you think we're crazy humans?" I hit his arm hard.
"You suck!"
"It really hurts. You have palms as hard as copper."
"Tsk don't make fun of me just because I'm the daughter of a copper mining owner."
Jayde rubbed his arm many times exaggeratedly. I didn't hit him too hard though. And he also has tough muscles on his arms. You drama king!
"Stop stroking your arm. I'm sure your arm is fine."
"It hurts a little."
"Then I'll hit you again."
"Don't!" Jayde screamed in horror and inched backwards.
I burst out laughing at his silliness. All my annoyance disappeared after seeing his cuteness.
"You're weird. Are you okay?" I asked while holding back laughter.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure." He answered with a wide, ludicrous grin.
Oh, I'd rather see him with a cold style that looks dignified than his weird style that looks like an idiot like this. Since earlier he hasn't stopped showing his sickening wide smile, then goes back to stroking his arm which he says hurts after I hit him a few moments ago.
"Have you ever kissed Rachel?"
Suddenly his stupid laugh disappeared. Jayde had choked on his saliva many times before meeting my gaze with a strange expression. What? Why was he suddenly getting tense like this? So Jayde did kiss Rachel?
"That's a personal thing. You shouldn't know."
"Why? I just wanted to know. If you've kissed Rachel before, you might be able to teach me how not to look stupid in front of Axel. I've never been kissed before."
Suddenly the atmosphere between us became silent. For a few moments Jayde stared at me intensely while wetting his lips with his tongue. God, does he know that he's hot when he does it? I couldn't take my eyes off his handsome face, who was currently looking at me with eewwhh... sexy. But he suddenly turned his face to the right, and laughed loudly.
"Shit! You're laughing at me?"
"Ssshh... you can't swear in this house." Jayde tried to cover my mouth with his hand while laughing loudly.
"Take your hands off me. I don't care if my dad hears me swear. You're the one who makes me want to curse you!" I shouted angrily as I slapped his hand away.
"Ssshhh lower your voice."
Jayde finally stopped his laughter and looked at me more seriously.
"Okay, I'm sorry. That was too evil. I shouldn't laugh at you."
"You're such a damn annoying bad guy."
"I said don't swear." Jayde held my shoulders and shook them gently.
"I wouldn't swear if you didn't laugh at me."
"You are so cute and innocent, Ivy. Why are you so honest in front of me?"
I thought his intense stare was a sign of sympathy for me, but it turns out he just wanted to make fun of me like this. All right, you really suck, Jayde! I regret having you as my friend.
"What is wrong with it? Remember, I only have you as a friend. No one else will hear me talk like this but you. So have you ever kissed Rachel?"
I've repeated this question several times. I hope Jayde doesn't make me have to do it again this time.
"Almost."
"Almost? How do you mean? So you've never actually kissed Rachel?"
"We always almost kissed before Rachel's friends came or before you called me. So next time don't bother me when I'm with Rachel. Maybe then we'll kiss."
"Tsk, you are paid to work here, not to dating. I always tried to protect you from my dad so he wouldn't fire you if he found out you were dating Rachel. My dad very disciplined man, you know? Not even just me, he's always been like that to everyone."
"Abraham Milano is a good man and full of responsibility. You should indulge everything he wants and not try to argue with him. No dad wants to see his child suffer."
"I know, but just imagine if it continued for twenty-three years. And next month I will have my twenty-fourth birthday. At dinner last night my dad kept pushing me and Axel to get engaged before we got married. Even though dad promised to give me a little leeway before, wasn't he very inconsistent. My dad always wanted to interfere in my life so that I could not really determine my own path in life. I—"
Omegosh! What is this man doing? Why suddenly pull me like this and look into my eyes intensely. Jayde's face moved very close to mine. His warm, coffee-scented breath stroked my face gently. Gosh, is he going to do something bad to me? Oh no! I have to scream right now.
"Jayde..."
"Ssshhh... Don't you want to learn about kissing? You have to pay close attention to this part. First, the hands of the guy who is going to kiss you should be on the nape of your neck or on your hips. Like this, to make it easier for him to kiss your lips. Then as his face continues to move closer to yours, you should slowly close your eyes and wait for the guy to kiss you. And after that you will feel the incredible sensation of a very sweet kiss from your man."
"Shit! Why didn't you say it from the start? Why did I cut my words short and suddenly do this?" I shouted annoyed in his face. Jayde totally made me think that he was going to kiss me.
"Arrghh why are you screaming in front of my face?"
Jayde reflex pulled his face away and removed his hands from my hips. I pushed him farther away from me, giving us enough distance that I could shake off the burning sensation on my face.
"Why are you screaming? I'm just trying to be a good teacher for you. I create romance between us so you feel the real sensation of kissing."
"But it surprised me. After all, you've never actually kissed Rachel. How did you know that kissing would have such a great effect on you? You tricked me, huh?"
"I didn't trick you. I've read about it in a book."
Tsk, he has invalid information. But next time maybe it will be useful for me. My knowledge of romantic relationships is zero. Jayde is the only human who can teach me that. For now I might be able to follow his suggestions. Maybe it will come in handy when I go out on a date with Axel.
"Okay, I appreciate your effort to teach me how to kiss. But it's late at night. It's time to go to bed. Tomorrow you have to take me to the office early because I will have guests from Canada."
"What time are you going to the office?"
"Seven."
"Why did that person come so early to your office?"
"I guess it's because he is a very disciplined person. His name is Alscot Silas. He was a representative from Silas Corp who was sent to Cleveland to work with our company. You know, Silas Corp. is the largest construction company in Canada. They have gained worldwide recognition. Come on, don't ask me anything else. I'll go to sleep now. And you also have to go to sleep so you won't be late to take me tomorrow."
While yawning a few times, I stepped away past Jayde who was still hanging on the balcony. Maybe he wanted to stay there longer to mourn his fate. Or maybe he just wasn't sleepy yet. Who knows. But I did hear him sigh heavily many times. Like something was bothering him. I thought Jayde was the most relaxed creature on earth, but I was wrong. Jayde is just an ordinary guy who sometimes has problems in his life.