EPISODE 11
"Jackson?"
"Yes, that's me."
With questioning eyes, she looked at the man in front of her. "Wha... What? What are you doing here? You told me a few days ago that you will be in Japan for a few more days. So... How?"
" I already finished with my work this afternoon and then I flew straight here. I just arrived five minutes ago"
"It's okay. It's a good thing that you are here with us," she said soothingly.
He nodded curtly in response, then turned back to where he was standing, gazing at the ocean.
"How were the trips? " He asked without looking at her.
Mimicking his action, Anya shifted her body facing the ocean view. " It was absolutely entertaining and rather tiring."
They waited a few seconds in silence, still appreciating the view upon them, before they heard rhythmic footsteps approaching the door. There was a knock on the door. Jackson mussed his hair with one hand and excused himself to open the door. Soon after, Anya could recognize the owner of the person who knocked on his door.
"When did you arrive? "
"A couple of minutes ago"
Walking out to Jackson's room balcony, he noticed Anya was there too. " Oh hey, Anya. Didn't know you would be the first one to meet Jackson," he chortles, "aren't you cold? "
Excusing herself as she came to the realization that she was only wearing a robe with nothing else under it. She quickly closed the balcony door as she blushed after realizing how foolish she must look.
Henry continued to laugh at them as he caught they were together alone. They surely didn't waste any time to reconcile again after a few days of absences.
Jackson ignored him while he was taking out his clothes from his bag, and walked into the bathroom to take a shower.
He flipped off the light switch, leaving the room bathed in total darkness but for the soft light of a glowing nightlight in the corner. After taking a refreshing shower, he pats his towel around his body to clean off the excess water before he dresses up in more comfortable clothing.
"Why are you still here?"
" I would like to invite you to join us for dinner, if you are okay with that," Henry said. "Anya will be there too."
"When?"
"Now. Everyone is already down there waiting for us."
"Fine. Let's go." He then picked up his phone and his wallet as they walked out of the room and into the hallway, meeting Anya who had her back towards them.
"Anya!" Henry yelled out as he ran to approach her. "Let's go together. Shall we? Come on, Jackson. We can't let them wait for us any longer, can't we?"
Walking side by side, three of them entered the dining room. Henry looked over and detected the others were sitting near the window in the corner of the room, which had slightly larger tables.
As usual, the dining room was bustling with lots of high-end people that had influence and power. Each of the tables was occupied with people whose background wasn't to be underestimated.
Gratefully, Anya was wearing a silky red camisole paired with a black cardigan and a pair of high-waisted jeans that defined her curvy body even more, along with a pair of nude-colored heels so she still looked classy and comfy at the same time. Jackson, on the other hand, wore a nude-colored jacket with a white polo under it, which was tucked into a pair of chinos showing his well-cared muscle underneath. Walking into the hall together alongside each other, they couldn't deter the attention away from them, as they looked perfectly ravishing and equally attractive.
Add on Henry, who has such classically shaped features and a wonderful chiseled jaw and a sturdy body. He has an undercut, long fringe and messy hair that enhances his visual. Even if he just wears a knitwear shirt along with simple trousers, he can still send someone to look back at him again and again. As an example, as soon as they came into the dining room, there were already several people ogling at him.
Ignoring the stares, they continue walking to their table with powerful stride. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the server asking for their orders for dinner.
Kitty enthusiastically talks about how luxurious the room is, and the views that are very breathtaking and undoubtedly worth the money. Plus, the food is also very scrumptious, and Anya ordered a roast beef tenderloin with Cognac Butter and steak frites.
When she finally put a slice of the beef into her mouth, she moaned with pleasure, as it had crisp, golden, crackling and tender, juicy meat unlike anything she had tasted before.
She did a funny little expression of delight as she particularly devoured her dinner, which Jackson and Samuel couldn't help but laugh at.
Pleased with her appetite, Jackson cut some of his beef and put it on her plates. " Try this too," he said; "You'll love it too."
"Thank you! "
She takes the meat that Jackson gives her and gives it a bite. Surprised by the flavor, Anya's chartreuse eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, trying to speak, but no words came out.
"Like it?"
She nodded her head in satisfaction. He smirked inwardly, the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth the only outward sign of his amusement.
Others find it amusing how Jackson acts like a caring husband as he keeps cutting his steaks and putting them on Anya's plate while she gladly eats them. The whole scene will make whoever passes their table think that those two were a married couple of years old, giving on how their acts with each other.
Cindy wiped her mouth with a napkin and slid the empty plate away from her. Feeling content with the dinner, Kitty took her hand, dragging her to the garden pavilion not far from where they were dining at.
"Ah, I'm full"
" Me too," Anya said as she stretched.
" Nice show you were giving us there," Kitty says as she smirks knowingly at her. Pulling Anya's hand down, they sat face to face.
"Did something happen between you and Jackson?"
Furrowing her eyebrows, Anya denied that question. "No, nothing happened between me and him. Why?"
" You two always act like you guys are in a relationship. We thought you guys were considering how he acted just now."
"We are just friends. Nothing to worry about."
"But if you say so," she shrugged it off. Still, she wouldn't believe there wasn't anything happening between the two, but she knew Anya would tell her. Perhaps Anya doesn't have any special feelings towards Jackson, but what about him?
Considering the rumors she had heard about Jackson, who is a silent charmer and the one who doesn't like commitment, he can easily fool Anya with his good intention and then play with her heart. Kitty doesn't want that to happen to Anya, but she couldn't restrain her from befriending him. She wanted Anya to be with Jackson as they looked good together and how good he was towards her, but she was afraid it would be just too good to be true.
In the middle of their conversation, Kitty's phone rings, and it was from Maxwell's number. She picked up and talked briefly about something.
" Okay, wait for me to ask Anya first." She pulls away from the phone and looks at Anya. " They invited us to go to the bar. Do you want to join?"
Shaking her head, she answered, "No, I'll pass. You can go ahead"
"Okay, Anya said she still wants to stay here. I'll see you there in a sec"
Putting her phone back in her pockets, she looked at her, "I'll go first. Rest well and have a good night. See you tomorrow, babe"
"Bye, see you tomorrow, darlin".
Both of them hugged and kitty, leaning in slowly, she pecks her on the cheek and says goodbye before walking out the door.
She wasn't really alone there, as there were a few more people sitting and chatting around the pavilion.
Staring at the stars as she admired the sky. It was a clear night, the stars shone brightly over the ocean, and the city lights were reflected in a spectrum of colored points in the water.
Suddenly, a little Calico kitten mottled with orange, brown, and white had caught her eye. She looked down at the kitten, and started to pet its head as it began to purr. The kitten, in turn, nibbled on Anya's finger and looked at her with its striking blue eyes, and gave a tiny mew.
Clik!
"You were so distracted by playing with the kitten that you didn't notice me." It was Jackson who caused the sudden sound that startled her.
The way he practically whined it made her smile, and eventually she began to giggle. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Five minutes ago. I don't want to disturb you playing with it, but I couldn't help but take a picture of you. Hope you don't mind"
He showed her the picture, where she was scrunching down, petting the kitten on its head, completely focused on the kitten. Anya shook her head, blushing slightly in embarrassment as she looked at them.
" Why don't you go with them?"
" I'm not feeling it today, so I decided to just stay here, admiring the view and see the stars? It looks very pretty tonight, don't you think?"
"Yeah, it is." He sighed in agreement, but he wasn't staring at the sky. He was looking at her when he said that.
Anya blushed, smiling softly, and looked away, scratching an itch on her shoulder. Amused, he didn't say much to her and diverted his gaze at the stars.
Both of them sit there, staring at the views of the sky and the ocean. She could hear the soft lapping of the lake water on its shores, and the rustle of the breeze through the leaves of the trees.
Anya closed her eyes, light-dancing around her, her long hair blowing backwards from a sudden uprush of air, and in a matter of seconds she fell into a light sleep.
Jackson pulled her head very gently to lay at his shoulder, and he hugged her shoulder to make sure she didn't fall forward to the ground. She liked the touch of his fingers through her hair as feel his presence close by her. She knew Jackson would keep her safe, so she was willing to lower her guards. Jackson looked at her face, she seemed as though she were asleep, content and peaceful.
With another sigh, she huddled closer to Jackson's body beside her, shivering slightly in the damp mist. Moreover, she was wearing a quite revealing dress, and the temperature was getting colder as the night changed.
Knowing that she could easily get sick, he lifted her up smoothly, like she weighs nothing. As he brings her back to her room, one of the hotel workers notices him and asks if he can do anything to help. Anya's room card was in her handbag, and he couldn't put her down to take the card, so he asked the worker to open the door considering they have door cards that can access any room in the building.
He quickly dismissed the worker and closed the door as he walked over to the bed. Jackson gently laid her body on her bed, and he took her shoes off and covered her body with her duvet cover. With gentle strokes of his fingertips, he rubbed her cheeks and brushed the hair from her face.
Seeing her sleeping very soundly, he went out of the room and returned back to his own room. He changed his clothes and brushed his teeth. He sits on his bed, pulling out his work and continued typing away on his laptop until five in the morning.