Fraine looked at the lady who called her out. The moment she recognized who it was, Fraine widened her eyes.
"What are you doing here? I mean…"
Fraine couldn't move when the woman opened her arms wide and hugged her tight.
"It's been so long since we haven't seen each other! How are you?" the beautiful woman added.
She was still in a trance. Fraine didn't know what to say. She has a complex of feelings at the moment, whether to be thrilled or call it an unlucky night for her.
"Hello, sister Jessa."
In the end, she has to be courteous toward this woman. She is a famous international supermodel and talk show host, and her face is also on billboards around Mainland City and even in the city where she works.
"Gosh! I can't believe to see you here! Are you on vacation? Have you had dinner? How about if…."
Fraine immediately interrupted the woman, who was none other than Jessa Lopez Shwartz.
"I have already had dinner with my client. Thank you for the invitation."
Jessa studied Fraine's face. She immediately turned down her invitation and even was very polite toward her. She could also see that Fraine was somewhat unhappy to see her, and she was not surprised if this girl had an ill feeling toward her.
Jessa extends her arms to hold Fraine's hand. She could feel the ache inside her heart. "Fraine, I'm still bad about…."
"My car is here, sister Jessa. It was nice to see you again. But I have to go." Fraine took her hand and took long strides toward the door, ignoring the rain.
She used her attaché case to cover her head as she completely forgot that she had an umbrella, which she never fails to bring wherever she goes.
Meanwhile, Jessa was left sad in the middle of the hotel's lobby.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Jessa returned to her senses when Elijah wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I… I am fine, hubby. I just saw someone in the past who was once my neighbor back in P Country."
Elijah stared at his wife. He could tell how anxious she was. There must be something to that encounter. "You seemed disturbed by this encounter. What's wrong?"
Jessa bit her lower lip. She has no secrets from her husband, and so she cannot bear not to share them with him. "I will tell you everything when we get home," she promised.
Elijah was satisfied with her promise. He knew what his wife had been going through since childhood, the reason he gets worried easily.
"Alright. Let's go. Your cousins are waiting for us now."
Jessa nodded and let her husband lead her toward the elevator.
On the other side, Christian Dale joined his friends, who started drinking without him. He nodded at Rodney and teased the guy.
"I heard you were lost coming here."
Rodney cast a sidelong glance at Christian. He snorted, "And who the hell designed this hotel?"
Christian shook his head. "You are so cocky complaining just because Vincent Shen's face is all over Asia's Forbes Magazine."
Vincent has been recognized as an excellent architect and is proud of his cousin. Rodney stared at Christian with no notion, waiting for him to elaborate on his statement.
Christian chuckled and explained, "It was the construction firm of the emperor's wife who designed and built this hotel. It's the owner's request, so you can't complain about it."
Rodney shrank from his seat after hearing this. Of course, he has no way to complain about the Mafia Emperor!
"It's actually a nice hotel. I love the marble flooring, and even the restroom is cool!"
"Dude! I will tell brother Shun how you complimented the hotel!" Matt burst out laughing upon listening to Rodney's nervous praise.
Rodney frowned. He knew this guy was only joking with him, and he knew him very well. Tomorrow, he will become a dish to Matt's foul mouth in front of the emperor.
"You are only telling the opposite! I will treat you as only a stranger when you visit P Country!"
Matt laughed in his stomach at what Rodney had said to him. "Shut up, bro! They might think you are my boyfriend!"
Zaijan shook his head, watching Rodney and Matt bantering. He ignored these noisy men and talked to Christian instead.
"So? What happened to the person who you are supposed to meet tonight?"
Christian only shrugged his shoulders, showing how uninterested he was in talking about this matter.
"They would have no complaints as long as I will renew our deal."
"Huh. Your grandfather arranged this meeting, and how would you explain this to him?"
Christian frowned when he remembered how cunning an old fox his grandfather was. "He is such a nosy. Let him be until he gives up."
Zaijan did not speak further. Christian is not different from him. The family surrounding them loves to meddle in their private lives.
And speaking of the old Dale, Christian clenched his jaw, staring at his phone screen. He followed his gaze and read the caller named Grandpa on the phone screen. Zaijan noticed the indifference in Christian's expression.
Christian hurled an irritating sigh before he answered the call.
"Hello, grandpa?" Christian immediately put his phone away from his ear.
"You piece of sh*t! How dare you not appear at your dinner meeting!"
"It's a blind date," Christian retorted.
"So what? I want you to come home now!"
'I'm not fifteen years old anymore!' Christian wanted to reason out, but it's better to say it in person. He hung up the call and ignored his grandfather's nagging on the other line.
Christian apologized to the Lopez cousins and his friends, who came to have a drinking party for Matt.
"I'm sorry, Matt."
"It's okay. But you have to buy me a coffee tomorrow."
"Sure, bro. Come to our neighboring coffee shop in the morning." Christian said as he threw his knuckles at Matt and then gazed at Rodney. "Bye, bro."
Rodney salutes Christian and watches his receding back, swallowed by the door. "What is his problem?"
"His grandfather keeps introducing a woman for him to hook up with." One of Matt's friends answered.
"Oh. Is the woman pretty?" Rodney queried, although no interest was shown in his eyes. He was gulping his glass when Matt smacked his back, the reason the liquor choked him. "Are you planning to kill me?"
"And why are you asking if the girl was pretty? I thought you were not interested in women?" Matt laughs on his stomach, ignoring Rodney's scowling face.
"I'm not! But at least I want a beautiful person to conceive my child!"
"Bro, what are you talking about? Are you not planning to get married?" Matt asked with a serious face, which was only an act.
Rodney twitched his mouth, pondering what to answer because Matt was such a bully. "I will just marry someone if you get married first!"
Matt sneered at him. Rodney knows how he is allergic to the word marriage. "I don't want a WIFEZILLA."
"Huh? What is that?" Rodney asked, dumbfounded after Matt enlightened him about what WIFEZILLA means. "That is why I hate women!"
"What are you guys talking about?" At the door, Jessa and Elijah stepped inside.
"Cousin!" Rodney quickly stood from his seat and rushed toward Jessa for a hug.
But then, even after he tried to avoid being interrogated, Jessa still questioned him. She laughed in her stomach after Matt explained.
Jessa only settled down after she remembered Fraine. She sat next to Zaijan and watched him drink.
"What's wrong?" Zaijan found it ambiguous when Jessa looked at him like that.
"Zayn…"
"Spill it out," he urged Jessa. He could see that she was bothered by something.
"I saw Fraine."