***

Days Later

"Write up the minute for the meeting and send them to me." Jade instructed Mr. Tim.

"Yes, I'll do that right away, sir."

"And as for the plan for winning the governor over... We'll be doing it."

"Um, okay sir." He and others chorused as they left the meeting room.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Jade checked it immediately, and it was a message from Sapphire.

'I won't be able to come today.'

Jade frowned as he read her text.

"Imagine? How annoying!" An hissed escaped his lips.

'So sorry, it's going to be a long day today, and I just. Can't. Come....' She sent him a crying cat's meme.

"What's it with this woman, huh? She's not even reading my text now?"

Meanwhile, others were gossiping about him.

"Is our CEO really in a relationship?" Barbara asked her colleagues.

"Well, according to the rumours. He is." Mr. George answered.

Miss Barbara peeped through the transparent glasses. I don't know who the woman is, but she sure has a peculiar taste.

Jade walked out of his office and slammed a file on Mr. Tim's table. He didn't say a word, he just left the office. Others stared at him in total confusion, wondering where her was going to in such a rush.

Jade stepped into the lift that was going downstairs, then he walked to say hello to Chloé. She was with an elderly man in his early sixties.

Meanwhile, Sapphire just came back from school. She took off her wristwatch as he phones rang. It was Jade. Sapphire was about to pick his call when she read someone banging the door from outside.

"Fire! Open the door for your mother!"

"What? Mum?!" Sapphire wondered confusedly and rushed to open the door.
Opening the door, a shocked expression spread on her face.

Mrs Fiona threw the bags of foodstuffs that she was carrying, on the floor and squeezed herself in. Sapphire tried to carry the bags with so much struggle and difficulty while she took it to the kitchen.

"Oh my world!" Fiona stretched out like a cat as her eyes searched her daughter's room.

"Why are you here, mum." Sapphire asked, curiously.

"What do you mean? Is it bad to visit my daughter?" Fiona sneered at her daughter and placed her bag on Sapphire's reading table.

"There's a reason why you came so suddenly when you usually don't, right? Spill!"

"Rome said something strange..."

Sapphire closed her eyes as she knew he must have spilled the beans already.

"...that the person you're seeing is rich." Fiona continued. "Is it true?"

Sapphire grabbed the front potion of her hair in confusion. She looked anxious, but she tried to calm herself down by letting out a heavy breath. Fiona was just waiting for her daughter's reply. She'd already know by Sapphire's reaction.

"Ummm... Yes mum. It's true. The guy is rich." She bitterly confessed.

"Fire! Are you out of your mind? How dare you date a rich guy? What kind of foolishness is this?! You know your dad would never agree!" Fiona whooshed out in frustration.

"Yes, I know mum, that was why I didn't tell you." She took a seat beside her mother.
Reading the looks on her mother's face was a little disappointing.

"Don't worry about it, mum, I'm not marrying him. I'm just seeing him for a bit... for Gabbie's sake. We said we'd only date each other for six months. He'd invested so much money into the school I'm working so, that's the least I can do. He's not like we're ever going to have sex. He just wants to grab a meal together once in a while." Sapphire said the last sentence with an unnecessary chuckle.

Fiona slapped the back of Sapphire head as she held it in pain.

"Mum!" Sapphire whined like a baby.

"What did you just say? Having sex?" She raised an eyebrow at her daughter's words.

"No, I told you we're not going to do that! That's exactly what I'm trying to explain, mummy! Can't you just trust me?"

"How can you trust anyone these days? Where my daughter or someone else's son... No sex before marriage, okay! He's going to dump you, and you'll be left heartbroken. You know how these billionaire sons are. How dare you date one!" Fiona fired at her daughter as tears clouded in her eyes.

"I told you it's a contract. I don't have any feelings for him mum so, I won't get heartbroken." Sapphire pointed out.

"I don't care whatever it is, just stop this already!" Fiona placed her hand on her head as she let out a heavy sigh of relief. Then she took a brief look at her daughter.

"I'll tell to your dad and tell him to help Gabby." Fiona sounded with a promising voice.

"This isn't something that dad can do. Also, I've signed the contract already."

"What kind of contract? Exclusive or non-exclusive?" She clamoured interestedly.

"I'm not talking about your books, mum! I mean, Jade and I signed a relationship contract."

"You brazen girl! Despite our efforts in connecting you with an Agriculturist?! So his name is Jade, huh? What does he do for a living?"

Sapphire went silent, not wanting her mum to actually know he's a CEO.

"Mum, do you think I'd be really dating someone with a contract in place if I were to marry them? Look mum, that guy has no interest in getting married, either. Which is why he asked for a contract to be signed up, and it was for his grandfather's sake. It's kind of complicated, mum, but trust me. This is just a business transaction! I can't even meet people now or do any supporting work like I used to."

"Are you sure that this is strictly business? Because your dad mustn't hear about this with his health condition."

"Yes mum. Yes! Yes! Yes!!! It's strictly business, I swear on my life!" Sapphire tried to convince her mother.

"Okay, fine then. I'll keep this a secret until all this madness is over in two months." Fiona gazed at her daughter lovingly and then smiled. "Come on Fire, I'm famished. Let's make lunch together, it's been a while."

Sapphire love cooking with her mother. She stood up immediately as they prepared one of her favourite meal.

Catfish soup.

***

Jade tried calling Sapphire, but she wasn't picking. He dialled her contact over and over again. Just then, the elevator opened, and he saw Chloe standing in front of him. By her side was an elderly man in his 60s. A shocked expression played on her face immediately she saw Jade, but Jade rolled his eyes at her. He wasn't interested to know, either.

They got into the elevator to the seventh floor.

"You're not curious why I'm coming out of a suite with a man?" Chloe asked in an alluring voice, without turning to Jade.

"As if. That's your own business." He hissed at her, looking through her shoulders.

Immediately they walked out of the elevator, Chloe turned to the elderly man.

"Mr. Gilbert, please go ahead. I'll be right back. I just ran into my friend." She explained.

"Okay..." He replied as an escort took him away.

About to leave, Chloe placed her hand on Jade's masculine arm, seductively. He wore an eagle eye at her immediately, she smirked and gently took her hand from his body.

"Mr. Gilbert is a VIP at our gallery in Florida. He's staying at this hotel." She explained.

Jade, acted as if he didn't hear and wanted to walk away, but Chloe held his hand back. He turned to her with disgust and flinched away from her touch.

"I meant it when I said let's start over again." Chloe tried to explain.

"And I meant what I said too." Jade turned to her, trying to make this clear and precise. "I don't have any reason to start dating you again. It's over between us, Koko. Give it a rest."

"Not me." She pouted her lips as if she was trying to tempt him or something. She had full red lips, the exact colour of a rose. Then she nibbled softly on her lower lip.

"Truly... I thought about it and no other man measures up to you. I know you're not capable of loving me forever, but why don't we just give it a try." She innocently confessed.

"Keep trying, then. But I'm not interested!" Jade whirred to her face. It felt as if the silence between then got heated. An annoying grin appeared on Chloe's lips as jade let out a heavy sigh.

"Keep your hopes up and you'll find, at least, one perfect guy who'll acquiesce to your demands." He hummed with his teeth, gritted, as if the words were difficult to say.

There were guests passing by, and her conversation was boring to him already.

"I'll sign a prenuptial contract with you." Chloe raised her gaze to him as they both share an eye contact. "For you, only for you, Jadee. That's what you wanted, right?"

"That was what the chairman wanted, but not any more. Look, I don't care the fuck about you, okay? It's not like you'll be marrying me, after all. And stop it with the Jadee stuff." He warned.

Chloe let out a soft laughter as she looked at him again.

"What's it with you? Why aren't you free around me any more or... Is it because of my absence? You're not acting like your usual self. Why are you sounding so awkwardly towards me? As if we've never fucked?"

Jade cast a brief look at her and looked away.

"Good. You can't even look at me in the eye. The Koko you've so much cherished. Okay, fine. Let's look at it pragmatically." She muttered convincingly.
"I'm my parents' only child. The company shares you'll get through marrying me will definitely be useful."

"I'm not interested in such stupid business, Koko. If you like, be the only girl in the world, I don't care! You can go and whine to your parents, so they can hook you up with someone else. Don't come crying to me again, got it?!" He peeled a stern look at her before walking away, leaving Chloe to ponder alone.

She scoffed as a mysterious smirk formed on her lips. "He's avoiding me yet, he calls me Koko. Same as ever, Jade. I see you'll never change. Well, bring it on because I'll never leave you this time. Or ever..."