Jesse waited until the shareholders had excused themselves before stepping closer to his mother. He greeted her with a small smile, his demeanor casual but respectful.
"Madam Adams," he said with a slight nod, addressing her formally as he always did in public settings.
His mother turned to face him, her expression sharp and full of curiosity. "You annoying brat," she said with mock sternness, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "You brought a lady to an event like this and didn't bother to introduce her to your mother? What exactly were you thinking?"
Jesse smirked, his hands slipping into his pockets. "I was thinking you were already busy, deep in conversations with shareholders and directors. I didn't want to interrupt."
"Don't give me that," she retorted, raising a perfectly arched brow. "You've been dodging my questions all evening. Who is she, Jesse? And don't even think about giving me some half-hearted answer."
Jesse tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Mum, I will eventually bring her to you and Grandmother when the time is right."
Madam Adams' eyes narrowed, but there was a spark of interest there. "Eventually? That's not good enough, Jesse. You know how much I despise surprises."
"It's not a surprise," Jesse said, his voice calm but firm. "It's just not the time yet. Trust me on this."
Her sharp gaze softened slightly, though her curiosity was far from satisfied. "Does she have a name, or are you keeping that a secret too?"
Jesse hesitated for a moment, then said, "Her name is Xsmyv."
"Xsmyv," Madam Adams repeated, testing the name on her tongue. "Unusual. And judging by the way Cynthia was practically foaming at the mouth earlier, this Xsmyv isn't just any colleague, is she?"
Jesse's smile widened slightly, but he didn't offer more. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."
Madam Adams studied her son, her intuition telling her there was more to this woman than he was letting on. "Fine," she said at last, her tone indicating the matter was far from over. "But don't keep me waiting too long, Jesse. If this woman is as important as you seem to think she is, I want to know everything about her."
Jesse nodded, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Goodnight, Mum."
As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him. "Jesse."
He glanced back, his brow raised.
"Make sure she's worth it," she said, her tone softer now, almost maternal.
He smiled faintly. With that, Jesse walked toward the car.
Meanwhile, in the car, Xsmyv sat quietly, her hands clasped in her lap. The evening had been draining, but she still felt the rush of satisfaction from standing up to Shante.
When Jesse slid into the car, she glanced at him. "Done with your goodbyes?"
He gave her a slight smile. "Yes. Let's get out of here."
As the car pulled away, Jesse leaned back in his seat, his gaze resting on Xsmyv. "You did well tonight," he said after a moment.
Xsmyv looked out the window, her voice quiet but firm. "I've learned that people like Shante will never stop unless you make them."
"Everything okay?" she asked, glancing at him.
"Perfect," he replied, his voice steady as the car began to move.
At Home: Shante's Fury
Shante stormed around the living room, knocking over vases and tossing cushions in every direction. Her face was twisted with rage, and her voice rose with every word.
"Mum, how does Xsmyv know President Jesse?!" she screamed, grabbing a throw pillow and hurling it across the room.
Claire stood to the side, trying to calm her daughter, though her own confusion mirrored Shante's. "I don't know, Shante. Maybe… maybe it's not what you think," she said hesitantly.
"Not what I think?!" Shante snapped, pacing back and forth. "Do you think a nobody like her could just show up on the arm of President Adams by accident? How is that even possible?"
Her hands clenched into fists as she stopped in her tracks. "If I can get Jesse to notice me, I would dump Aaron without thinking twice."
Claire nodded in agreement.
A malicious grin spread across her face as a thought struck her. "We're starting the movie shoot soon, right? Perfect. Xsmyv, you've entered my world now. I'll make sure you regret it."
At Lakeview Mansion
As Jesse's car pulled into the driveway of the grand Lakeview Mansion, Butler Peter and the head maid stood at the entrance, bowing politely.
"Welcome home, sir," Peter greeted as he opened the door for Jesse.
"Welcome, Madam," the maid added with a warm smile as Xsmyv stepped out.
Xsmyv offered a small nod, still shy and adjusting to the lavish environment. She quietly excused herself and headed upstairs to her room. Once inside, she closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. Her eyes drifted to the large mirror across the room, and she froze, catching her reflection.
The elegant dress she wore made her look so different—so refined. She stepped closer to the mirror, studying her silhouette. "Is this really me?" she whispered, her fingers brushing against the soft fabric.
Turning her back to the mirror, she began trying to unzip the dress. She managed to get halfway but struggled to reach the end. Huffing in frustration, she tried again but froze when the door opened behind her.
Jesse walked in, his expression unreadable as his eyes fell on her exposed back. The room fell silent for a moment, the tension palpable.
"Do you need help with that?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with amusement.
Xsmyv's cheeks flushed crimson, and she nodded shyly, unable to meet his gaze. Jesse walked closer, brushing her ponytail to the front of her shoulder to clear the way. His fingers found the zipper, and he began to pull it down slowly.
As his fingertips grazed her skin, Xsmyv shivered, goosebumps spreading across her back. Her eyes darted to the mirror, and their gazes locked. Jesse's dark, intense eyes seemed to draw her in, making her forget where she was for a moment.
When he finished, the dress slipped off her shoulders and started sliding down. Realizing too late, Xsmyv gasped and screamed, clutching the fabric to cover herself. Her neckline was exposed, revealing the curve of her collarbone and the top of her chest. The dress could only cover from her nipples downwards.
Jesse's brow arched in surprise, and then he chuckled.
Mortified, Xsmyv bolted for the restroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Inside, she leaned against the door, her face burning with embarrassment.
"You… you keep doing weird things!" she whispered, hitting her forehead with her fist. "He probably thinks I'm trying to seduce him. How am I supposed to face him now?"
Outside, Jesse stood by the door, hearing her muttered complaints. A deep laugh rumbled from his chest. "She's a funny one," he said under his breath, shaking his head.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. The head maid stood there, informing him that dinner was ready.
"Thank you. I'll be down shortly," he said, then walked to the dressing room to change into his pajamas.
Xsmyv peeked out of the restroom door to ensure the coast was clear. Jesse had already left. Tiptoeing into the room, she grabbed her pajamas and darted back to the restroom to change. Once dressed, she took another deep breath, steeling herself to face him.
When Xsmyv walked into the dining room, Jesse was already seated at the head of the table, his posture relaxed as he scrolled through something on his phone. He glanced up when she entered, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Come, sit," he said, gesturing to the seat beside him.
Xsmyv hesitated, keeping her head low as she sat down across him. The head maid served the meal, and Xsmyv kept her focus solely on her plate. She was too embarrassed to look up, her face still flushed from earlier.
Jesse watched her in silence, amused by her shyness. He cut into his steak leisurely, glancing at her every so often.
"You're awfully quiet," he remarked after a few moments.
Xsmyv finally looked up, her cheeks still tinged pink. "I… I'm just not used to all this," she admitted softly.
"All this?" Jesse repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"The house… the people… everything," she said, gesturing vaguely. "It's overwhelming."
Jesse leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. "You'll get used to it," he said simply, then added with a faint smile, "Take your time."
Her lips parted as if to respond, but she decided against it, nodding instead. She resumed eating, her gaze fixed firmly on her plate.
Jesse hid a smile, finding her flustered demeanor oddly endearing. The room fell into a comfortable silence as they finished their meal, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating.