Zaijan had rendered speechless. He pressed his lips but didn't open his mouth to reply to Jessa. He remained motionless on the couch with a solemn expression on his face.
Jessa felt uncomfortable in her heart when Zayn remained silent. She said, "Do you want me to look for her?"
Zaijan lifted his gaze and stared at his cousin. No news reached him that the Michaels family had moved to Mainland City.
"Have you asked why she's in the city?"
Jesse nodded. "I invited her for a meal, but she said she had already had dinner with a client. She looks like she's in a business meeting."
Zaijan nodded his head. He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. At least Fraine finished college, and it looks like she is doing well.
If her business appointment is at a five-star hotel, her client must be a big shot. Zayn mused inwardly.
He wondered whether Fraine often does business in the city.
Zaijan lowered his head and stared at his glass. The ice that was mixed into his cognac slowly melted. But he could not decide to drink it.
His chest filled with uncertain feelings. He wanted to see Fraine, but he was somewhat afraid.
Zaijan hurled a deep sigh, which Rodney heard him, now looking at him, creasing his forehead. He asked them a series of questions, shifting his gaze back and forth between Zaijan to Jessa.
"What was that? What are you guys talking about, and both of you are too serious? Did something happen?" He was busy chatting with Matt's friends, so he didn't hear whatever they discussed.
Jessa glanced at Zaijan before she shifted her attention to Rodney. She smiled and replied,
"It's random stuff. I'm just asking Zayn if things are good back in P Country. It's been a long time since I haven't visited Metro City."
Jessa sighed in relief when Rodney believed her excuse and now chatting with the others again. Anyway, that was true.
Whenever she visited her Mama Sol, she would board their private jet and fly straight to South Island.
*
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city. Christian Dale had arrived at the Dale mansion.
A teacup shattered a few steps from his foot when he appeared at the door. Christian lifted his head and frowned at the older man who intended to throw that expensive teacup at him.
"You have the nerves!"
Christian suddenly had a headache listening to his grandfather's scolding. He walked toward the sofa, sat down, and crossed his legs.
The next minute, he turned himself deaf from his grandfather's berating; occasionally, he rolled his eyes.
"Why didn't you meet, Miss Michaels?" Chairman Dale gritted his teeth upon asking his grandson.
"Would you give up arranging a blind date for me?"
"I would not arrange one if you are dating or have a girlfriend!"
"Is that all? But what was that? Are you serious about paying someone to drug us? How could you drag an innocent person into your madness, Grandpa?!"
Chairman Dale hissed as Christian would never back down but only refute him every time. "Is it wrong if I help you look for a wife? I need an heir!"
"I have my daughter. You seem to have forgotten that!"
"That is my point here! My granddaughter needed a mother at the same time, a woman who could produce you a son!"
Assistant Hobert Lee stopped in his tracks when he heard the chairman quoting that. He was debating whether to go into the back door to avoid the chairman or the front door. However, before Hobert could decide, Chairman Dale's thunderous voice echoed in the living room, calling his name.
"Assistant Lee!"
Robert rushed inside without a second thought, bowed, and greeted the older man. "Good evening, Chairman Dale."
"Where is the contract?" he asked Hobert, who was stunned for a brief moment.
Instantly, Hobert takes out the folder inside his leather bag and places it on the coffee table. Robert bowed, then took three steps back from the sofa where the older man was sitting.
"The CEO of D Company informs me you delay signing the contract. What is your problem?" The chairman's brows knitted, and the veins on his forehead are now visible from his rage toward his grandson, who never listens to him.
Chairman Dale only made a quick glance at the folder; he pushed it toward Christian. He ordered, "First thing in the morning tomorrow, and you will sign this in front of Miss Michaels!"
A protest surged inside his chest, but Christian carefully thought about avoiding another setup his grandfather tried to achieve in front of him.
"Would you stop meddling with my private life, grandpa? It's best if you stop these nonsense blind dates. We don't know what kind of woman this Fraine Michaels you want me to hook up, and you don't…." Christian didn't finish his sentence when his grandfather cut him off and didn't let him speak again.
"I know what I am doing! I already ran an investigation into her family. She only has an older sister now, and her parents are dead. She didn't have a boyfriend at the moment. So there is nothing to worry about."
'I don't care!' Christian thought. 'He's really unbelievable!'
The other families are too keen to remind their family members to choose who they've dated or are in a relationship with and reprimand them for stopping sleeping around.
But his grandfather is a legend! It was he who orchestrated for his grandson to have a one-night stand with someone stranger!
'Why is he desperate to have a great-grandson? I'm still well and young! What is he afraid of?'
Christians' train of thought was interrupted when Chairman Dale spoke again.
"Samantha's mother is long dead. Isn't it best if you move on in your life? You must be thankful to me, and I am thinking of your future!"
'And what kind of future is that? You are forcing me to marry someone I barely know! Moreover, I don't love her!' If he gets married. Of course, it will be to someone he loves.
Christian's head filled with his reasons, but he chose not to voice out to his grandfather as he would not listen to him anyway but would insist on what he already believed in.
"I can't meet with Miss Michaels tomorrow morning. I already scheduled a meeting with President Zaijan Lopez."
This is the best excuse he could come up with to stop his grandfather's craziness. They just made a huge deal with the Lopez Corporation his grandfather couldn't afford to compromise.
Christian glanced at Hobert to give him a hint to support his reason and say a word. However, his assistant remained silent, and he glared at Hobert, who seemed frozen on the floor.
Indeed, Hobert starts digging a pit to bury himself.
Earlier, his boss instructed him to make up a story for Miss Michaels to believe in. And so, he and Fraine agreed to meet in the evening instead.
Now, what is he going to do? His boss wanted him to lie again to be saved from the chairman's scrutiny.
Can he call Fraine when she already has another appointment?
'Ah! Why did I choose to be an assistant as a career? I should stay in the Army and catch a bullet rather than make my life miserable by this grandfather and grandson's endless bickering!'
Hobert kept mumbling in his head, praying that someone would save him.
'Assistant's job is the hardest, you know!'