"Do you need a reason, Richard?" Her voice was smooth, but there's a dangerous edge to it.
Richard gulped. He didn't want to be caught in the crossfire of whatever storm was brewing, but he needed to know what he is to work on. "Not at all, Your Majesty. I just need to know how deep to dig… and how hard to strike.
Jessica's finger traced the sink slowly as though in contemplation of the possible best answer while smiling at his careful phrasing.
"Make it loud, make it messy, but most of all—make sure they will have a good time and feel what it means to be at one's low moments." She instructed.
"Also, I will send you an evidence of Clara's scandal, it should be aired too, find out out the current project Risa is working on though it was paused but it is time to disengage her."
Richard felt another shiver down his spine. "Understood," he murmured.
"Am I too harsh?" She smirked. Richard gulped he can't possibly give an answer to this question of her.
"It depends on their offence." He said slowly. Jessica nodded "Okay". And ended the call.
Jessica smirked coldly, her fingers tapping lightly against the sink as she whispered to herself, "George, George, George… I was thinking of giving you some time to enjoy yourself for the sake of my mother. But unfortunately, you didn't cherish it and decided to provoke me. Well, good luck."
George had forced her hand. She had ignored them. But he has chosen to provoke her. A slow smirk played on her lips as she imagined the event of the next day.
Slowly, Jessica slipped out of her dress and stepped into the bathtub, the warm water enveloping her, she leaned back, her head resting lightly against the edge of the tub as she submerged her body into the tub.
The quietness, the stillness easing her tensed body, her eyes felt heavy that it became difficult to keep them open.
She decided to rest for awhile keeping her heavy eyes closed hoping to open them when the water is getting cold but—the warm water felt like a lullaby and she forgot the passage of time or when the water is getting cold.
In the bedroom, Davis hand continuously tapped on the armrest of his wheelchair waiting for her. "She is taking longer than supposed." He mused.
He glanced at the clock again, his brows furrowing.he. "This is no longer funny" he muttered. Unease crept into his chest as he wheeled himself toward the bathroom door. Raising a hand, he knocked lightly. "Jessica? Jessica, are you okay?" His voice carried a tinge of worry.
Silence.
His fingers tightened around the armrest of his wheelchair. He knocked again, a little harder this time. "Jessica!"
Still no response.
"Jessica, answer me!"
He glanced at his leg, how he wished he could walk. So many thoughts began building in his mind should something go wrong how will he be able to take precautions when sitting in a wheelchair.
With fear and trepidation, his strength increased as he knocked on the door with panic surging through him, summoning all his strength, he reached for the door handle, his hands trembled slightly as he imagined the worst case scenario.
In the bathroom, Jessica stirred as she heared the noise on the door. Slowly she opened her eyes looking around the bathroom wondering where she is but then it clicked—the bathroom, she exhaled and instinctively stood up but her foot slipped, she flapped her hand to get a hold on something but nothing within range.
Time stopped, Davis, who had just opened the door, felt his heart lurch out of his chest at the scenario of her slipping his breath caught as fear gripped him.
Without thinking, without hesitation, he stood up from the wheelchair instinctively in an attempt to catch her falling body.
Then—
Jessica's heart dropped into her stomach the moment she saw Davis push himself out of his wheelchair. He moved! But instead of relief, sheer panic overtook her as she watched him fall.
Her instincts kicked in faster than her thoughts, she lurched forward in the tub she has fallen back to. Her hands shot out just in time to catch his head mere inches from the sharp edge of the bathtub.
"Ouch," she hissed as pain shot through her arm as it trembled slightly from the sudden impact with the bathtub as her arms caught him while some part of her body was submerged in the water.
Water splashed around her, soaking the floor, her breathing was ragged, her pulse pounding. Davis hissed lightly as the cold tiles met him with a hard impact.
Noticing his head held by her hand. Davis froze and stared at her in shock. His chest heaved as realization dawned on him—he had actually left the wheelchair, fell down… but she had caught him.
"Are you okay?" Davis managed to help himself sit up, worry on his face as he grabbed Jessica's hand to check her arms which had bruised from the impact on the bathtub.
Jessica winced slightly as Davis gently took her arm, his fingers tracing over the forming bruises with a mix of guilt and concern. His brows furrowed, frustration flickering in his eyes—not at her, but at himself.
"I should be asking you that," she muttered, still catching her breath. "Why did you leave the chair?" She queried.
Davis sighed, shaking his head. "I didn't think much. I did it instinctively when I saw you slipping." His voice was laced with frustration.
"You're reckless," she finally said, her tone softer now. Despite the situation, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Jessica's face burned brightly red as she finally glanced down at herself—she was without clothes. Her breath hitched, and she immediately averted her gaze, feeling the heat crawl up to her ears.
"Can... you...?" She stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Davis blinked, confused for a moment. His gaze flickered between her flushed face and the way she hugged herself tightly. Realization dawning on, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"What?" he asked, feigning innocence, though amusement danced in his eyes.
Jessica clenched her jaw, knowing full well he understood exactly what she meant. She swallowed, her voice firm despite her embarrassment.
"Can you... leave?"
Davis chuckled, "Ah, I see. And how exactly do you expect me to do that when my wheelchair is all the way over there?"
Jessica's lips parted slightly to retort but was momentarily loss for words when she looked at the distance of the wheelchair.
With no other option, Jessica exhaled deeply, her cheeks still burning. "Close your eyes," she ordered, her voice firm despite her flustered state.
Davis arched a brow, amused, but he obliged, shutting his eyes with a smile playing on his lips.
"Don't peek", she shouted. Wasting no time, Jessica quickly wrapped herself in a towel, securing it tightly before maneuvering herself out of the tub.
"Open your eyes", She said as she bent down to help him back to the wheelchair. Once seated, she hurriedly pushed him out to the bedroom, her heart still racing.
Davis, now settled, reached for the medicine kit. Without a word, he took her arm and carefully applied ointment to the bruises from her earlier fall. His touch was gentle, his gaze softer than before.
"Rest," he murmured after finishing, placing the kit aside.
Jessica watched him for a moment before nodding. Without another word, they retired for the night rest.