We entered the cafeteria, and I immediately felt the eyes on me. The whispers from earlier had followed me like a bad stench. Jessica, always the center of attention, didn't seem to mind. In fact, she looked like she was thriving in it, smiling brightly at anyone who glanced our way. Gabriel, walking beside her, was playing along, laughing at something she said, his hand brushing her back in that annoyingly familiar way.
He had not asked about the Williams issue.
I kept my face neutral, the cold mask I had perfected in place, as I followed them to a table. Jessica, still rambling, took a seat next to Gabriel, while I settled across from them, folding my arms as I watched them with icy detachment.
"Isn't this nice?" Jessica said with a giddy smile, glancing between us like she was some kind of peacemaker. "Feels like old times, doesn't it, Gabe?"
Gabriel nodded, his smile wide. "Yeah, it does. We should do this more often."
I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. More often? I wasn't here to relive old memories. I had plans, and this lunch was just a small part of them. But for now, I'd let them think they were getting what they wanted.
As we sat there, the tension between Jessica and me thickened. I could feel it—the way her eyes kept darting toward me, as if she was waiting for the perfect moment to do... something. She was fidgety, her hands tapping the table in that annoying way, her smile never quite reaching her eyes.
"Kiara," she began, her voice dripping with fake concern, "you've been so quiet today. Is everything okay?"
I raised an eyebrow, keeping my voice cool. "I'm fine, Jessica. Just not in the mood for small talk."
Her smile faltered for just a second, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, I get it. It's been a stressful few days, hasn't it? With all the news about you and the Williams family… Must be overwhelming."
I didn't respond, letting the silence speak for itself. I could see her trying to gauge my reaction, but I wasn't giving her anything to work with. Not today.
Just then, a waiter walked by, carrying a tray of drinks. Jessica reached for her glass of water but, in her haste, tipped it over. The glass tumbled off the edge of the table, sending water splashing everywhere—right onto Gabriel's lap.
Gabriel shot up from his seat, a look of shock and annoyance crossing his face. "Jessica!"
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in mock horror. "I didn't mean to! I was reaching for—"
I watched the scene unfold, barely concealing my amusement. I could tell from the way Jessica was moving that she had been trying to pull some stunt aimed at me. She probably wanted to knock my drink over, make me look foolish, but in her clumsy attempt, she had soaked Gabriel instead. How fitting.
Without missing a beat, I turned to Jessica, my voice calm but firm. "Go get some tissues, Jessica."
Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide in surprise. "What?"
"I said, go get tissues," I repeated, locking eyes with her. "You made the mess. Clean it up."
For a moment, she looked completely taken aback, like she couldn't believe I was giving her orders. Gabriel, still trying to dry himself off with a napkin, glanced between the two of us, clearly uncomfortable.
Jessica blinked, her face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and irritation. "I—"
"Now," I added, my voice leaving no room for argument.
Her mouth opened and closed like she was about to protest, but something in my tone made her think better of it. She stood up quickly, muttering something under her breath as she hurried off to grab tissues from the counter.
Gabriel sighed, sitting back down with a grimace as he dabbed at his wet pants. "She didn't mean to, Kiara. It was an accident."
I smirked slightly. "I'm sure."
He shook his head, clearly not in the mood to argue, but the tension between us was palpable. Gabriel had no idea how close I was to pulling the rug out from under him, and moments like this only made me more determined.
"What are you going to do? That's your favorite shirt."
"Yes. Indeed. You got it for me on our last year anniversary."
I frowned when he mentioned it. Indeed I did. But in my past life, I had seen that shirt on Jessica. He said he had given it to her when she went her dress at work.
And after Jessica found out I was the one who gave it to Gabriel. She had spoil it by cutting it with scissors.
I squinted my eyes but then looked down at my phone. The shares of JFK company fell drastically in the future.
But I was too sick to be bothered but I did remember Gabriel complaining about it.
I frowned. Then scroll passed to another that was more promising. I clicked buy, spending most of my savings on a good amount.
In next one year we would see if it would shoot to popularity.
Gabriel was their biggest shareholder then but he had spent the money on Jessica it seems and other unrelated things.
Idiot.
Jessica returned with a wad of tissues, handing them to Gabriel. She gave me a sharp look, but I simply smiled back, enjoying every second of her frustration.
"Thanks, Jess," Gabriel muttered, wiping his lap.
Jessica sat back down, clearly irritated but trying to keep up her sweet facade. "Sorry again, Gabriel. I just wasn't paying attention."
I didn't respond, just watched them in silence.
****
Jessica wasn't happy by the fact that Kiara had ordered her to go bring tissue.
She was always the one doing those stuff to please Gabriel. What had gotten into her now.
Jessica eyes ran down her smooth skin, her soft hair and he frown deepened.
She looked beautiful.
Better than the Kiara who didn't care about skin or hair. Now she was cold. Beautiful and elegant.
Jessica hated it.