Jade was on his way to a meeting, so he tried calling Sapphire's contact, but she wasn't picking.

"Why isn't she picking up?" Jade asked himself curiously.

Then, Mr. Tim called.

"That's a relief."
Although, Jade felt heartbroken too, he drove back to his hotel. It was such Abad day, indeed. Thank goodness no one died. Lost in thoughts, Jade's phone started ringing again. He picked up while his eyes focused on the road.

"Yes." He fixed his earpiece onto his ears.

"I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"Did you contact Mr. Johnson's family, too?"

"Good, look into some flights in California, so I can arrange something in case they want to come here."

"Yes." He replied and dropped his earpiece.

"Fuck! This driving is driving me crazy!" He grunts to himself, adding more speed.

That night, Jade couldn't sleep. He kept on writing and researching and working without even looking at the teddy bears key-holder this time.

Till the brightness of the day. Jade was still on the work. He went to have his bath in the shower. Since he owns a hotel, Jade has an executive suite placed by his office for him. Most days, he prefers sleeping in office rather than going home.

The warm shower sprinkled down his entire body. He couldn't help but to feel emotional under the shower, which made him think of Sapphire again. It's clear that he couldn't to be able to live like this for too long either. Jade rubbed off his neck and back at were hurting like hell. He'd worked throughout the night, and he'll continue again. That's the life of a CEO. Always BUSY.

***

At Zoey's Boutique

Zoey's boutique is a tall duplex. It's named Mermaid's Change Boutique. The arrangements of her clothes are always arranged in colours, varying from white, red, orange, yellow, green to blue, purple, pink, black and any other colours in between.

It was a Sunday morning so, Sapphire decided to visit Zoey to ease off her mind.

"So, tell me. How was yesterday? Because I know you guys had big Saturday plans." Zoey joked but Sapphire couldn't say anything.

"Just tell me a little then, even if you can't tell me all." Zoey pressured.

"Nothing happened yesterday." Sapphire murmured.

Zoey who was arranging the new cloths in their lines and rolls turned back to Sapphire.

"What?! Wait, you got stood up?! That's weird." Zoey stuttered.

Sapphire helped her in packing up some clothes. Although, inevitable sadness danced all over her face. She looked so pale and bored without even saying it.

"When I saw you guys, it looked like he was really into you." Zoey admitted as they walked to her office upstairs.

She made Sapphire try some of her new, tacky clothes that Jade might buy for her.

"Does it make sense that he didn't come to me because he was busy?"

"Well, that part makes no sense. Guys make time for the girls they like no matter what." Zoey explained.

"Really?" Sapphire quirted an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"I didn't expect that he'd like me or anything like that. He's always taking me to work related functions when we meet after all." Sapphire pointed out.

"So, does that makes you feel disappointed?" Zoey gave her a quick look.

"Well, not exactly, but I've definitely come to realize something now."

"What?" Zoey turned to her.

"Don't get it twisted just because we've just met a couple of times now. I won't fall for that arrogant CEO no matter what. Just think about this as practice for when you're dating for real." She closed her eyes talking to herself, drunkily.

"Is that an incantation?" Zoey chuckled at her bestie.

"I wish it was really an incantation, I'd have stopped this hell of a relationship that's bringing me down. I can't concentrate on school work, neither can I concentrate on myself. I'm just tired." She murmured and the vibration of her phone.

Sapphire quickly took it out of her pocket, hoping it was Jade's call. Instead, it was just an application reminder she needed to update. A disappointed look covered Sapphire's eyes as she looked that the emptiness of her phone. She let out a fake smile that almost brought tears up to her eyes again.

Zoey felt emotional too. She gave her a side hug and a mysterious look.

"Let's go and eat. I'll buy you something delicious and a drink too." She smiled.

"Awwwwn... You're the best friend ever!" Sapphire hugged Zoey with a mild smile. "I'll give you a good job stamp for that!"

"Thank you ma'am." Zoey sounded in a baby's voice. They both of the chuckled lovingly and went out.

Jade, on the other side of the dice, was still checking out some files. Fed up, he dropped it and grabbed his phone. He was about to call Fire's contact when the general manager called. And he just. Had. To. Reply. It.

Outside his office were the others. They'd been working overnight too. No one leaves when the boss is still inside his office.

"I'm so tired and hungry. I'll die of exhaustion." Miss Barbara yawned like a cat and cried.

"Me too." Mr. George muttered and stratched the back of his neck like a lazy dog. "We've been working like robots for three days now!"

"Hey, stop complaining already!" Mr. Tim butts into the conversation and handed Miss Barbara some pain relief pills.

"Here, take some of these. They'll help." Then he faced the George. "Our boss has been doing all-nighters for the past three days too, he didn't die neither did he complain. And he's doing triple the work of what we're doing." Mr. Tim encouraged others. They took blank stares at him like cats at night.

"Gosh!" Miss Barbara scoffed. "He must be a robot, a working machine that never gets tired. Does he have supernatural powers? I guess he doesn't even need sleep since he has such a nasty temper."

Just then, Jade came out of his office, his gaze, facing Miss Barbara. She just swallowed and looked away.

Startled.

"Talk to the PR team and bring up the opening of the hotel in Hawaii to the board meeting." Jade retorted immediately. "And I'm, think about the goods we'll give out as grand opening gifts, too." He added.

"Okay sir." The three of them chorused, respectively.

"I'm going to report to the chairman. And I'll only be gone for three hours. Please, hold down the fort until then." He directed.

"Yes sir. Please, get some rest today." Mr. Tim suggested. We'll report to you if anything comes up."

Jade smiled and muttered a 'thank you' before leaving the room.

Dumbfounded, Miss Barbara faced Mr. Tim.
"Why is he bringing up the hotel in Hawaii issue, now? Wasn't that supposed to be confidential?"

"Well, it's to make sure that the media doesn't get a whiff of this." Mr. Tim explained. "So we're giving them a decoy. Do you even know what that means? Amateur!"

"Did you just called me an amateur?! Are you crazy?!" Miss Barbara fired back at him. As if the work he'd bombarded her with wasn't enough, he's adding another.

"Umm... That was a joke actually, but I'm s...sorry." he apologized.

"Sorry for yourself!" She hissed and concentrated at the work on her table.

"Should I get you water or something?" Mr. Tim requested.

"Just leave me alone!" Miss Barbara hissed at him.

At The Chairman's Mansion, Jade went to visit the chairman. They were in his grade chit-chatting about business.

"It doesn't seem like that was just a simple prank." Jade reported to his grandpa.

"What's the reason for that?" Stephen asked, interestedly.

"The so-called bomb was a toy. But they put too much prep work into it for this to have been a mere prank."

"Do you have any ideas who might have been behind this? Is there anyone you're suspicious about?"

"As if, now, I just have one suspect."

"Well, who's it? Shouldn't you look into them if you have doubts? Don't you realize how risky this is and why haven't you taken care of them yet?"

Jade turned to Stephen, earnestly.

"To be sincere, you're the most likely person to have done this."

Hearing him say this made the chairman cough hard. He almost choked on the bitter lie that Jade just told.

"It's true, grandpa. Just admit it, because I know, my hotel isn't exactly huge, but it's gained more prestige from my hard work. Apart from that, you sold the hotel to me in cash. So, you're just waiting for a chance to steal it back, aren't you? And you're doing tons of snooping on someone else, hotel."

Jade's candid look turned into a smile.

"I'll report to you as soon as the report investigations are out." He walks away, making the chairman burst out into an uncontrollable laughter.

"But please, keep monitoring the status of the media." He retorted.

"Yes, bye." He ended the call and zoomed off.

***

Sapphire just came out of the bathroom when she checked her phone.

[2 Missed Calls: From The King Of Devils]

She started at the screen of her phone, hoping he would call back.

Just then, a call entered. She was excited but it wasn't Jade cling. It was Gabby.

***

Later That Day...

Sapphire went out with Gabby. She went to buy some good-looking face caps and dark shades for Gabby. It was in BB Malls so, Ace caught her. He had two guards always following him wherever he was going.

"Look into the stuff I told you about the last time." He commanded. His two guards left immediately.

Checking the caps, Ace watched her closely when he noticed she wasn't alone.

"She has another guy?" Ace quirted an eyebrow and watched the both of them closely.

They tried more caps on and then went to the buy dark shades. Later, Gabby brought out a book for Sapphire to explain.

"The value if constant m when x-1 is perpendicular and approaches that. Try to solve that." She muttered.

"Okay..." Gabby replied her as he solved the sum.

Sapphire watched how Gabby solved the questions, yet, all she could think of was Jade. She scrolled through her phone and saw a message.

[3 Missed Calls From The King of Devils]

Thinking about it, Sapphire realized that he must have called while she was picking caps for Gabby. Unsettled, she went outside to ponder on what next to do. She wasn't comfortable awaiting his calls yet, she's eagerly expecting Jade calls.

After a while, Sapphire decided to swallow her pride. She hated him for wasting her time a day before, and he deserves a severe punishment, but she missed him already. It's already three days without hearing from each other. Sapphire decided to dial his number. Calling him made Sapphire's trembling hands sweaty, but he wasn't picking. She was about to dial his number for the second time when she mistakenly bumped into a woman while Sapphire's phone crushed on the floor. She was chatting too, so, she wasn't looking straight.

"I'm so sorry ma." The lady apologized immediately.

"I'm sorry too." Sapphire apologized back as she watched the woman leave. She quickly grabbed her phone confusedly and noticed that it's screen was shattered.

'What's wrong with me?' a voice cried in her mind as her shaky hands picked up the pieces, one after another.

***

7:00 p.m

Jade came to Sapphire's apparently and knocked on the door, but there was no reply. He gently pushed and pulled the door knob, but it seems there was nobody indoor. He failed her number the tenth time, but it was switched off.

Eager to meet Sapphire, he sat at the placement next to her door. The weather was cold and misty. He needed to see her at least, to make things right.

After a while, Jade dialled her contact again, but there wasn't any reply.

"Fuck!" He wailed to his wretched life.

After a while, Jade angrily went to bang the door, but there was no one inside. He then decided to wait patiently. Sleep took him till he almost staggered to the floor.

Just then, Sapphire walked upstairs. She was surprised to meet him by her door step as he waved her with a suspicious look.

Sapphire walked closer as she gave him a sly leer. To Jade's surprise, she passed him without uttering a word.

"What's that all about?" Jade asked impatiently.

About to go in, Sapphire turned her back and walked towards where he was standing.

"Mr. CEO. If I may ask, why are you here?" She wore a vulture eye at him this time.

"Mr. CEO? I thought you started calling me Jade. And you're asking me why I'm here? Aren't you getting home too late?" He groaned while she rolled her eyes at him as if he meant nothing.

"It's none of your business. Why are you here anyway? You're super busy, aren't you?"

"I'm super busy right now but... I managed to make time, Fire! I waited two long hours for you already!"

"Wait, how is that my fault? Who told you to drop by without calling?" Sapphire raised an eyebrow.

"And why didn't you pick up your phone?"

"You keep calling at the wrong time and because of you my phone..."

"Well, I need to explain myself to you. It's been a while since we had dinner, let's go."

"You're free to go if you want to, but I need to rest." She hissed at him. "If there's something you want to tell me, I'm all ears."

Hearing this, Jade smiled at her.

"Hurry up, it's freezing outside." She pressed.

"You really want me to tell you right here?"

"Yes." She nodded eagerly.

"Let's go and grab a bite first. I'm famished." He clutched his gimpy stomach and walked out.

Sapphire scoffed at him unwillingly. All she wanted to do was to sleep and now, Jade is here.

"I haven't had dinner. I'm so hungry." He stuttered as he walked away.

Sapphire was contemplating between what to do. To sleep or go out with Jade, but she had no choice here. She just had to follow her heart.

"What kind of hotel are you running. I thought you're the CEO."

"I didn't have the time to eat and yes! I'm the fucking CEO of that hotel so let's go."

***

They went to a classy restaurant across the street and ordered for something delicious.

"A bomb threat?" Sapphire clutched her mouth in disbelief. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

Jade gazed at her, convincingly.

"I'm not saying the bomb actually went off. It was just a prank. Well, I'm not sure if they'll actually plant a bomb next, though." He explained.

"Geez, that would have ended terribly?" She asked.

"If it had been a real bomb, it would've been awful. I can't begin to imagine what might happen." He muttered and takes a bite of pizza from his fork.

"Oh, maybe this happened because of you. Sapphire retorted. I mean, how mean were you to people that this sort of thing happened. That stuff only happens to people on movies and stories. I know with your kind of temper, you have a lot of enemies than friends, right?" She takes a spoon of chocolate-baked cake.

"That might be true." Jade hummed softly to himself. "You might be right about that."

"Do be nicer from now on. Or something worse might happen. You should be careful with people you relate with as well." She warned.

"I haven't done anything bad enough to get bombed, though, okay?" He admitted.

"If you say so Mr. Jade." She smiled at him as he replied with a cuter smile.

"But seriously, I never knew such dangerous things ever happen in hotels too. I thought that it's just a place for sleeping."

"Well, all sort of people came and go, so we don't know everyone and their intentions. Behind closed doors, not everyone in the hotel are sleeping." He pointed out.

Hearing him say this made Sapphire feel guilty. She just realized how much he's been going through, and she was so selfish to send him back to work three days ago.

Tears clouded in her eyes as she concentrated on her chocolate, whipped cake.

After eating, Sapphire went to the ladies to wash her face. While coming back to her seat, Jade grabbed her by the hand and made her seat on his chair while he sat beside her.

"What are you doing now?" She jerked.

"Making up for the time we didn't spend together." He grabbed her by her hand, making his fingers intertwined with hers.

Sapphire tried to take her hands off his, but he held her tighter. Although, her hands felt tiny, and cold and soft. He wouldn't let her go for any reason.

Sapphire stared around, vacantly. They were the only ones left in the room. Scared of ever falling in love with Jade, she felt his head on her shoulders.

Sapphire looked at her side, Jade's head was leaning on her shoulder. Trying to take a look, she noticed his eyes were closed and he looked so pale and tired. So cute, yet annoying. She glanced at her hand, and he still held unto her like his life depends on hers.

***

Meanwhile, Ace was scrolling through the pictures of Sapphire and Gabby he'd taken earlier.

"Who is this guy, again?" The thought of confusion stroked him, leaving him with nothing but a terrible headache and more worries.

One thing for sure, he wanted to know every single thing about this mystery girl.