Hey guys!

So, I feel this book should have a sequel but I'm not sure yet. I want to know your thoughts on it. Would you line to read 2 books of 80 chapters each or you'd like to read one book of over 160 chapters.

Please, reply this question as there won't be updates until I get a correct answer. I feel it's going to affect this story one way or another.

I'm thinking of titling it: 'Not So Perfect' as the sequel. It's going to be the perfect series. What do you think about this?

***

The half–light at dawn seeped into his office. The down chorus of melodic bird chirping drifted in. Jade rubbed his bleary eyes as he raised his head from the heap of papers and documents laying on his table. Wondering what the time is, Jade walked to the window. There was pearly glow in the sky.

'Another day has begun bringing with it new hopes and aspirations.' Jade smiled as he went to take his seat to start his daily activity when he heard a sudden knock on his mirrored door.

"Yes, come in." Jade muttered,as Mr. Tim entered.

"Good morning sir." He started off with a bow. "The first reporter to write this was David Armstrong from The New York Times. But they refused to tell me who gave them the information."

Jade thought about who it might be... Or might likely be but he had no idea. 'Maybe Charles Chemicals.' he thought.

"How much did the prices of Charles Chemical's shares rise yesterday?"

"We issued a rebuttal, but it still went up 6.28 percent." Mr. Tim reported.

"And is there any evidence that Chairman Charles sold any shares yesterday?"

"I haven't received reports about that yet, sir."

"Jade let out a soft sigh as he gave Me. Tim an instruction.
Watch the prices of Charles Chemicals' shares for the time being. And keep an eye on the chairman as well."

"Yes, sir." Mr. Tim answered, diligently.

Something is definitely off. I have all the pieces of the puzzle, but they don't seem to fit. How strange.

Just then, a call entered into his phone.

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

It vibrated as Jade picked it.

There was a cold silence as he picked the call.

"Hello, who am I speaking with?"

"Somebody." The deep voice replied.

"Pardon?"

"Someone you've never met. Somebody you've stepped on." He spoke with so much audacity and boldness that Jade begin to wonder who the person might be.

"What do you want, Mister?"

The unknown man cuts the call making Jade look at his phone again. He tried dialing the number but it wasn't reachable.

"Who's that?" Mr. Tim asked, concerned.

"I have no idea." Jade pointed out knowing fully well that the person might be the one making treats to spoil his good name and image.

"Track this number for me, Mr. Tim. Jade handed him his contact. "I want to know about every tits and bits about this man. His home address, occupation, his pasts, his future and all, okay?!"

"Okay sir." Mr. Tim replied before leaving his boss's office.

A wild glare appeared on Jade's face as he started thinking about who the person might be.

Meanwhile, the man that called Jade was seated in a dark room. He had black hair and seductive honey-brown eyes that any lady would fall for. He lights up the stick of cigarette in between his lips with a lighter, as the tattoos on his body revealed on his built muscles. In an instant, the mysterious man puffed out a cloud of smoke out if his nostrils, grabbing the burning stick of cigarette on his left finger.

"Jade Alejandro." He muttered as a deep smirked curved on full his lips as he thought of another plan.

On the other hand, Sapphire was going through the calenders on her table as she flipped through the best page. It was the first of August. The relationship contact would expire exactly 24 days from now.

"Wow, it must be nuisance having a strict schedule for dates!" Zoey clamoured while she say on Sapphire's dressing table.

"Wow! It's weekend. Aren't you two going on a date?" Zoey asked as she watched Sapphire brush her auburn, wavy hair.

"I have to meet Gabby."

"And apparently, hotels are busy on weekdays, too. Sapphire replied her bestie with a pretty smile.

"I bet that CEO would come running when you tell him you're seeing Gabby, no matter how busy he might be.

That's why I'm not planning to the him. Sapphire revealed as she blushed at the thought of it. Zoey too, chuckled as both girls laughed out loud. They know how controlling Jade could be and it would be good if she isn't even in town.

"You sky girl!" Zoey muttered.

****

Smooth like butter
Like a criminal undercover
Gon' pop like trouble
Breakin' into your heart like that
Cool shade stunner
Yeah, I owe it all to my mother
Hot like summer
Yeah, I'm makin' you sweat like that
Break it down

Ooh when I look in the mirror
I'll melt your heart into two
I got the superstar glow so (ooh)
Do the boogie like

Side step, right, left to my beat
High like the moon, rock with me, baby
Know that I got that heat
Let me show you 'cause talk is cheap
Side step, right, left to my beat
Get it, let it roll

Smooth like butter
Pull you in like no other
Don't need no usher
To remind me you got it bad
Ain't no other
That can sweep you up like a robber
Straight up, I got ya
Makin' you fall like that
Break it down

Ooh, when I look in the mirror
I'll melt your heart into two
I got the superstar glow so (ooh)
Do the boogie like

Side step, right, left to my beat
High like the moon, rock with me, baby
Know that I got that heat
Let me show you 'cause talk is cheap
Side step, right, left to my beat
Get it, let it roll

Chattering of applause followed immediately after the music. Gabriel ended the song as the children went to give him cold cuddles and sweet kisses. They love Gabby too as well.

Later, Gabby's mum walked into the room with a joyous face.

Even Daniel cast me aside for Gabby. Sapphire reported to Mrs. Anderson, Gabby's mother.

Looking up beside her, her eyes caught Ace standing right next to Gabby's mum as her eyes widened in disbelief. He looked at her with a cute smile like an obedient son reporting to his mum.

"Mall manager." Her lips mumbled. Going outside, she met about a thousand wrapped boxes from BB Mall.

"Wow! Aren't these too much?" Sapphire asked as they walked to where the gifts were placed.

Gabby told me about it. BB Mall is doing lots of philanthropic work right now as well, so I figured that there would be some synergy between this and the small concert.

"He even said that he'll be providing is with scholarship money." Mrs. Anderson commented.

Thank you. She bowed to his, respectively.

"Wow! You're doing great things, Gabby!" Sapphire retorted excitedly.

"Isn't that right, ma?" She turned to Mrs Anderson.

"Yeah." She nodded with a bright, smile.

"You need to head back to the company dorms today?" Sapphire asked Gabby.

"I got permission from my manager. He said I could stay overnight." Gabby revealed.

Meanwhile Ace was taking secret stares at Sapphire's tiny figure. For some reasons, he admired her a lot especially with the colour of her eyes and hair that looked so natural.

"Alright then, good job." She gave him a thumbs up.
"I bet the kids will be really excited to night. I'll come back next week, Mrs. Anderson." Sapphire told her.

"You should hurry and head back. It'll probably be a long trip. And don't get lost either, okay?" Mrs. Anderson advised.

"I'll drive you back." Ace butted into their conversation.

"Oh, no. It won't take long if I take the bus. You don't need to worry, sir." She replied him with a curtly smile. Trying to be as polite as possible.

"There aren't many roads here, so I don't think that the bus would be here soon." He retorted while taking a close look at Sapphire's eyes. "There's nothing to worry about. I'll gladly take you home, miss."

An awkward silence reigned through then for a while. As it is, Sapphire didn't want to mingle with anyone knowing Jade would get angry whenever he finds out.

"Yeah. I agree with him." Mrs. Anderson persuaded. "Perhaps, it's already getting late as well. Going to the rain station would take more of your time. Don't you think?"

"Well..." Sapphire scratched the nape of her neck with a small smile. "Let's go."

"Good girl." Mrs. Anderson commented as they accompanied her to Ace's Hyundai Elantra.

****

An Hour Later

"You can drop me off in front of the subway station."Sapphire broke the silence that had lasted between them for like, forever.

Where do you live? I live at Los Angeles. He muttered, finally facing Sapphire, eye to eye.

"Oh, me too!" She revealed.

"Fine then. I'll drop you off when we get to South Windsor, then." He concluded while Sapphire agreed with a small smile.

Ring Ring Ring!!!

Sapphire grabbed her phone to see it was Jade calling. A thrill ran through her as she immediately picked up the call.

"Where are you?" Jade's bossy voice sounded.

Sapphire slightly cupped her mouth and whispered. "On my way home."

"Yeah, so why are you whispering? Where are you, exactly?" He smiled. At least, she picked up his call without so much stress.

I'm on my way home from the orphanage. She muttered, a little bit louder.

"Oh. When are you getting back? I'll be done with work soon." Jade muttered. "Should I come and get you?"

A shocked look plastered Sapphire's face. She knows if he goes to Florida because of her, he might find out she'd left with a guy.

"No, I told you I'm on my way home. See you on the weekend." She abruptly cut off the call.

"What's going on? How come she didn't ask me to come to get her, even as a joke!" Jade frowned as he went through his phone.

"That's the boyfriend you mentioned last time, I presume?" Ace muttered immediately after the call.

"What? .... Oh, yes." Sapphire stammered as she remembered their first meeting.

"Are you two going to get married by chance?"
Sapphire turned to him in amazement. She could believe he just asked her that.

"Oh, pardon my rudeness." Ace apologize to her immediately. He realized what he just said had touched her.
"I shouldn't have asked such a personal question but I was curious. I'm sorry, really."

"No, it's fine, ac-tually." She looked a little timid and uncomfortable.

"We're dating but that's all it is for now. Oh, you can just drop me off in front of the crosswalk." She pointed.

"We're already here, so I'll just have to take you home." He insisted on apologetic tone.

"No, I'm thankful enough that you brought me this far. She replied but Ace continued driving.

Meanwhile, Jade was already waiting for Sapphire in his car. It was dark and ghost-quiet outside her apartment. Lonely and a little devastated, Jade raised up his eyes and saw Sapphire in a car with another guy.

As if a feeling of hysteria welled up inside him, Jade climbed out of his black, shiny range Rover and walked towards the both of them to get a better view.

"Thanks a lot for the rid—"

"Sapphire!" Jade called as she turned to him without completing her words.

"Jade!" She turned to Jade in total shock.

****

I just had to stop here. Almost 2k words already. Please, vote and comment on this chapter. I really need to know your thoughts and opinions about this. I feel I'm writing it all wrong and should start afresh. What do you think?🥺😩