"Welcome back, sir. How was the event?" The old man who serve as the guard in the luxurious classic mansion greeted Alec, the moment he went out of his Lamborghini.
It was already night yet the fountains are open and the lights were on, exposing the sculptures displayed outside the whole modern palace.
"Normal," he typically replied. The guard just nod at him, who seem to get used at his one word treatment.
"Would you like me to call the chef for the dinner?"
Alec just raised his hand, giving him a gesture that he's fine. After that, the guard didn't bothered him anymore.
The guy, who was still wearing the suit all day long continued at the shining halls and went in one of hundreds of classic elegant rooms inside the mansion. It's 10 PM when he finally went back, and he has nothing in his mind right now but to take a rest.
"Young master," someone knocked on the perfectly turned-out closet door before he entered. "This is me, Sebastian."
Alec didn't even mind to take a look as he was busy undressing himself, so the old professional man started talking.
"The ambassador..."
"What about my father?"
He coughed a little. "He...heard what happened on the event...specifically with Mr. Chang." Sebastian's words seem to be very calculative.
"I told him to cut ties with that man already." Alec quickly replied. "I don't know why he still partner up with that incompetent man though I warned him about his schemes and illegal subcontracts without my approval." He said, then finally stared at Sebastian through the huge ten foot mirror wall, revealing how humongous the closet room is.
"It's not about business anymore, you see. He keeps him because my father has a favor to that old man's father which made them friends. That's ridiculous."
"Do you have friends, young master?"
That made him stopped from removing his necktie. Sebastian took the opportunity to move closer to him and finish the work.
"It would be nice if you've got someone to remove this for you," he sounded like a caring father.
"Someone?"
"You see..." He cleared his throat. "Your job is to build relationships, not cut ties with it," the butler reminded him. "Isn't it more ridiculous than having none?"
"Two things I strictly follow," he enumerated. "One is I only build business relationships, and the other one," he said, finally able to go half naked.
"I strictly do not partner with people who tell lies."
"Hmm," the butler stared at him, making some space.
"I know what you're trying to point out."
"I'm sure you do," he quickly agreed. "People call you Sherlock, because you know how to read minds." Then his gaze went down when Alec pulled his pants.
"I'll be taking a shower first."
"And..." Sebastian added. "May I know where I should put this one?" He bent his body to pick up a folded paper. "Your room of achievements were kinda full, I'm afraid this certificate for today will not—"
"Then throw it."
That made him a little bit problematic. "But—"
"That's just a paper for me."
"Your dean gave you this as a recognition," he said, while reading what's on the certificate. But the moment he realized, his heartless master was not in the room anymore.
After a refreshing shower, Alec lied on his bed, water still drips around his body. He opened the hearthstone, along with the television just to avoid the room with silence.
"Can you give me a background about quantum physics?" A six year old kid suddenly appeared and hopped on his bed.
"How come you're not sleeping?"
"I am about to!" She giggled, sniffing how this guy smells incredibly good. "This is my bedtime story."
"Dawn, did you dropped by at my library again?" Alec groaned, brushed his wet hair with his hands, then sat on properly on the bed.
"But..."
"You have two floors for your own library."
The child pouted her thin lips as she watch her brother poured some wine and stared at the television. Dawn followed what he was watching, totally surprised, for seeing her brother stared at the TV is something new to her. She knew, that her brother never watch television since fetus.
Hell, he rarely even make eye contact unless something is really worth his attention.
On the TV, Dawn saw one woman who accidentally tripped in, and so the guy rushed to catch her from falling.
"Terrible," Alec murmured, then drank his wine.
"Why?"
"Why would the guy catch her?" His face went poker. "She obviously intended to do that."
"She might be into him! To the point where she has to get his attention by doing that."
"Terrible."
"How? People call it love!"
Alec stopped.
"What's wrong?" Dawn asked, getting nervous seeing his brother lost his coolness a little, as if he remembered something.
"What did you say?"
"Love?" She innocently repeated.
"What do you know about that?" He tilt his head, "go get some sleep."
Dawn didn't bother anymore because she knew she would not win to Alec no matter what happens. As a revenge, she turned off the lights and quickly ran outside, leaving the door wide open.
Alec doesn't seem to be affected at how playful his sibling is. He went back from lying and got his thoughts lost for a while, staring at the chandelier.
He cannot sleep.
All of a sudden, something silly clicked on his mind. He stared at the TV and closed the door; maybe he cannot afford the fact that doing this will put him in shame.
Alec adjusted his glasses, and it made his eyes narrowed. Once he make sure that no one's around, that's where he opened his laptop and search something.
'What is love?'
Then he hit the enter button.
Jade's POV
"And that's the reason why we deserve this new coffee," Aubrey swayed her fingers like a wand. "Eava won't stop not until we drop, you see."
I pull out my latest phone and the girls automatically squeezed themselves to be in the same picture. They all dying to be with me, I just can't.
"Aside from dick, what do you guys wanna grab?" Jameeka asked, while we set our foot to the front door.
Today was the cafe's soft opening, and as expected, there were many people and students who wanted to visit this as well, but they gave the way to us because, duh that's obvious.
"Is that Jade? The star of Cheerleaders Guild?" I heard the sophomores whispered, describing my today's OOTD. Some even pull their phones to take a video of me, visiting this cafe.
"Queen B's coming, get your flat boobs outta way," Aubrey shoved off the students on the counter. They were about to fight back but they held back when they saw me behind Aubrey, as if they went stunned at my charm.
"Let's order that," Jameeka pointed the menu with her long nails. "They said that they sprinkle some 24 carat gold in the drink."
"Yeah," I said, not even looking at the menu, acting like price doesn't matter to me. But when Jameeka said the name of the coffee, I took my phone out, and secretly search the price on the internet.
It made me difficult to gulped.
I opened my wallet and cursed at the back of my mind. How the hell a coffee can worth 139 dollars?!
"Oh my geesh! Look at this sexy ass!" Jameeka giggled the moment waiter handled her our order.
I only have 140 dollars to be exact, now I'm left with one dollar. Sigh. I was about to plan paying for a taxi because my legs hurt like hell due to that sick practice but in order for me just to keep up my image...I guess I have no choice but to walk towards home...again.
We took thousands of photos with almost every angle with the coffee. My girls were so privileged not to encounter problem in life that they even have to argue what tag will be proper for their Instagram post. Meanwhile, my thoughts were not at the cafeteria, as I was computing at the back of my mind, how to budget my allowance for the next two weeks.
That made me motivated. So I post a photo of me pouting at the coffee, with a caption, 'coffee date?' so that I could hook some customers.
Then I posted it.
"Gosh. What filter did you used?" Aubrey asked. "Your skin is so radiant here!"
"I refreshed it and your post had reached 145 hearts just now, geesh, I wouldn't question if this cafe made you as their model or ambassador." Jameeka added.
"That's impossible," she laughed. "Jade's not in good terms with the owner of this cafeteria."
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"It's none other than the golden prince of SNU, Alec Iverson."
"Oh, my bitch, if he was the gold in my coffee, I'll be sipping him right now," Jameeka daydreamed.
"He literally is a walking god, shut up."
I rolled my eyes and focused on they compared the Heartthrob boys. I keep refreshing my feed but still, I am not receiving any messages, renting me to be their girlfriend. Come on.
Until one notification popped up on my screen. I hurriedly tap on it but was quite disappointed to know who left me a message.
Chace replied to your story: how I wish I was the cup
I pout, then fixed my hair since I've noticed some students were secretly taking a photo of me.
You: I've got no scheduled dates, you can book me
Chace: Lol how come a Jade Mackenzie isn't fully booked
I rolled my eyes, if he only just knew that his one damn friend from Heartthrob Guild had ruin my image that time! Swear to God!
You: STFU I'm ready to be spoiled
Chace: Are you dead serious because I think my friend needs one
You: OMG yes
Chace: Woah why are you quick like a mad hot woman
You: Shut up, I need sugar daddy, if you can't be one, then find me some
Chace: Anything for you, shawty
You: How I pray you'll give me a millionaire
Chace: Billionaire, actually
I smiled, with my teeth out.
Chace: Why? How much will be the worth to date a Jade Mackenzie if in case?
I was about to type my words when I noticed that Jameeka and Aubrey were exchanging glances, probably thinking why I am getting creepier.
"You good with your own coffee?"
"Yeah," I chuckled, then went back to my poise. "I was just happy, tastes like the gold is coming."
"Exactly..." Jameeka was still thinking for the best answer. "I wish they could have pink gold or what not."
"What the fuck is gold but color pink?" Then off they started arguing again.
I stared back at the digits I typed in...brows raised up in the air, I finally sent it to Chace with full confidence.
Gold is coming, Jade, I told myself.
Gold is coming.