"Are you dating your boss?" Jeanice screamed from the shower, wrapped in only towels as she sprinted to the bed.
"Finish your shower first, Jeanice," I nagged her like a mother.
"You better tell me now, Cora!"
"No, I'm not! How many times have I told you?"
"Then explain this." She shoved her phone at me, showing an Instagram post from an account named Briannaofficiallove. The photo was from last night—all four of us, with the caption: Double Date ❤️.
She must have lost her mind.
I gave her phone back, "No, I told you! I just happened to meet Dan and Brianna."
"Yeah, but you didn't mention any double dates."
"Fine. I'll tell you the full story once you finish your shower, okay?" I persuaded her, and she dashed back into the bathroom.
For the next hour, I told her everything; the dinner, how Axel pretended to be my boyfriend in front of Brianna and Dan, and how they almost clashed because of how well Axel treated me.
"Axel's totally your opposite. He's such a dating expert."
"Hey, I'm not that bad at dating! I just... don't date. That doesn't mean I'd be bad at it."
Jeanice laughed, practically mocking me. Maybe it was karma for all the times I teased Axel.
"You seriously have no feelings for him?" She raised one of her eyebrow, scanned my face.
"For who? Dan? No way, Jean. It's been years; I don't feel anything for him anymore."
"Not Dan—Axel!"
I shrugged, "No way! He's not even my type."
She gave me a skeptical look. "I don't trust you, but I trust your red cheeks a lot more." She squeezed my right cheek like a toy.
I frowned, feeling my face get warmer. "You looked so happy every time we talked about Axel."
She got closer to me, bombarded me with her foolish interrogation, "Cora, just admit it! You really liked him, didn't you?"
"Shut up Jeanice!" I tried to ignore her but I couldn't because I felt my face was warmer as she kept teasing me,
"Cora fell in love with Axel~~ they are kissing." She's singing her own made up song,
"Why don't you just confess to him?" My heart was beating so fast, I can't help to imagine that specific scenario because of Jeanice.
"Are you crazy, Jean?" I threw a pillow to her face, she laughed so hard and took a bigger pillow and threw it back. We had a pillow fight for a couple minutes before finally we got exhausted and passed out.
Sunday.
By the afternoon, Jeanice was in full stylist mode. She made me wear a face mask, air-ironed my dress, and styled my hair. Now, I found myself staring into a small mirror in my hand, trying to recognize the woman in the reflection.
"Cora! You should let me do this more often," Jeanice beamed as she drove me to the Suma mansion.
The dress was a deep, black velvet that hugged my figure perfectly. The fabric contrasted with my fair skin, making my collarbone look more defined. My hair, which I usually tied back in a messy ponytail or bun, was now loose and softly curled, brushing just past my shoulders. I hardly recognized myself. My eyes looked bigger and brighter than usual, thanks to a touch of warm brown eyeshadow that made them stand out. Jeanice had carefully applied mascara, curling my lashes until they fanned out in a way I'd never seen. My eyes seemed wide and open, almost doll-like, with a bit of eyeliner that made them pop even more. A hint of highlighter on my cheekbones added a soft glow whenever I moved.
But what surprised me most were my lips—a deep rose color that made them look full and inviting, the shade rich against my skin. The look was bold but soft, balanced perfectly between natural and elegant.
It was strange to see this side of me, a feminine glamor, I felt like I was stepping into a new skin.
"If Axel saw you today. You will no longer be single. There's no way he will reject you." said Jeanice jokingly somehow made me like I really going to confess to Axel,
After talking with Jeanice last night, I just realized that I do really like him. But for confessing… I still don't think It's right for a secretary like me to confess her feelings to her boss, and also I'm scared of what will happen if I really did it.
"Try to think this way, If you really date him. You'll get the money!" She reminded me of the offer that Mr. Kusuma made for me at the start of my job.
"There's nothing to lose for you Cora."
"No, Jeanice. Maybe that's what I used to think too, but now to receive the money doesn't feel right, no matter if he likes me or not," I shook my head, "he's actually a kind person, I just can't do that to him."
"Maybe about the confession, I will do it." But not the confession that she thought I would make, another confession that I should make to Axel about the love mission, and also a rejection to Mr. Kusuma's wishes.
"Really?" Jeanice's eyes sparkling with joy.
We almost arrived at the place, Jeanice looked around the residence in awe, "Wow all the houses are mansions." I asked Jeanice to stop her car in front of the biggest mansion at the end of the street.
"Thank you Jeany, for making me pretty and for driving me." I winked at her, I think Axel really did something to me
She gave a full look one last time before saying, "What do I do? I think my Cora will really go home as taken woman." I took my clutch and before I left the door, I answered, "We'll see." playing along with her teased, she screamed excited hearing my answer.
"People are looking at us Jeanice!" I whispered, at the window car that rolled down, side glancing to other invited people who were entering Suma's House.
"Have fun!" said Jeanice one last time before really going home.
I saw more luxury cars than last time I was here parked at the parking lots of the Mansion. Grandfather too humble to always call it home, but for me this place is more like a modern palace. Even more majestic now after the stunning decoration lights.
This dress and heels made my walk slower than ever, and it's super uncomfortable considering that I have to walk a lot. And because I can't notify Axel, I think I have to find Grandfather first.
After walking about 10 minutes, finally I arrived at the main door, and a staff member helped me to open the door. "May I know your name miss?"
"Cora. Cora Davis." He found my name on the list, and let me in.
"Could I know where Mr. Kusuma is?" Hearing my question he looked confused, "The host of this party." I added, "He entered that room." said the staff.
"Thank you." I thanked him and dragged my feet to enter the big room in the hall.
I knocked on this big brown door two times, because the door was too thick. I don't think my knock was heard inside. "Mr. Kusuma?" I called him while opening the door. In contrast with the bright hall, the room was dimly lit.
The back of the man stood there, he was tall and had broad shoulders, his neck bent as he was reading a book, "wait, let me here for a while." a deep voice of his heard.
"Grandfather?" he turned around, He's not the Grandfather nor Axel.
A sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and an intense shade of green pair of his green eyes stared at me coldly, his eyebrows were super thick. His hair was sleek black, neatly styled to the back, thin lips. He looked the young version of the grandfather but with more fierce eyes.
"Who are you?" I asked him,
His eyebrows lifted slightly, "You are in my workroom" so he is one of the Kusuma's family member, I think I might disturb his alone time,
"I'm Cora Davis, and I'm looking for Mr. Kusuma." I tried to become more polite,
"I'm Mr. Kusuma." replied him.
"Are you Mr. Kusuma too? I meant Adam Kusuma."
"Grandfather is with the guest in the dining room." He answered lightly,
"I see, thank you."
Wait, did he say grandfather?
Perhaps he is…
"Are you Axel's brother?"
Hearing that, his serious face gradually changed, he even let out a low laugh, "It's been a long time since anyone called me that."
"So you are really Axel's big brother?" asked me again,
"Technically yes."
I waved a little from my place, "Nice to meet you, and that's a good book that you read." It was 1984 by George Orwell, one of the books that I love.
Because I didn't think I could stand another second in Axel's brother's presence, I tried to leave his room quickly. But as I turned, my heel stuck on my dress, making me stumble. I reached out to steady myself on the nearest table, but it sent a small steel miniature suit of armor on the top of the table crashing to the floor.
I let out a shaky sigh of relief when I saw it was still intact. "I'm so sorry," I pleaded, bending down to check it over. Turning the miniature around, I noticed that the mouthpiece was bent really badly.
Shoot.