Ding dong.
The sound of the bell echoed outside as Mika froze, her fists still trembling. She swung the door open. Standing there was Jaden, his face a mix of confusion and concern.
"Oh my God, what happened to your face, babe?" Jaden's voice cracked with worry, his hands instinctively reaching toward her.
Mika crossed her arms, glaring. "Can I come in before you start interrogating me?" Her voice was sharp, her body rigid.
"Mika…" Jaden's voice softened as he stepped aside, letting her storm past him into the living room. "Did you get into a fight with someone?"
Mika began pacing the room, her shoes clicking against the hardwood floor.
"Mika, babe, can you stop for a second and talk to me? Please," Jaden pleaded, his eyes following her every move.
"Don't touch me!" Mika snapped as Jaden tried to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Jaden froze, confused and slightly hurt. "What happened, Mika?" he asked, his voice firm but tinged with worry.
She stopped pacing and turned to face him, her chest heaving with anger. "How dare she? How dare that—" Mika clenched her fists, her knuckles whitening.
"Who?" Jaden asked, stepping closer, his confusion deepening. "Who hit you?"
"Emily, of course!" Mika spat the name like venom.
"Emily?" Jaden's jaw tightened, his fists balling up instinctively. "Emily hit you? Are you serious?" His voice rose, anger bubbling to the surface.
"She didn't just hit me," Mika continued, her voice trembling. "She humiliated me—no, us! She insulted us, Jaden."
Jaden's expression darkened, his brows knitting together in fury. "What did she say?"
Mika's anger shifted, her tone softening as she turned on the waterworks. Her voice broke as she began to sob. "She said…she said we're fools. That we deserve each other."
Jaden's eyes widened. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "She said what?"
"She said you're useless and weak," Mika added, her voice a mix of anger and feigned heartbreak. "And that I'm nothing but a desperate woman clinging to someone like you."
"That's it." Jaden's voice was like thunder. "Who does she think she is? She has no right—no right—to talk about us like that."
Mika sniffled, stepping closer to Jaden, her tears now flowing freely. "I tried to walk away, Jaden. I really did. But she grabbed me, and when I told her to let go, she slapped me!"
Jaden's face turned crimson. "She hit you because you stood up for us?"
Mika nodded. "And when I tried to defend myself, she shoved me into a wall."
"That's it." Jaden grabbed his jacket, his movements swift and deliberate. "Where is she? Where's Emily now?"
Mika placed a trembling hand on his arm. "Jaden, no. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me."
"This isn't just about you, Mika," Jaden said, his voice like steel. "It's about us. And no one—no one—disrespects us like that and gets away with it."
Mika's lip twitched, a flicker of satisfaction crossing her face. "Just promise me you won't do anything reckless."
Jaden's gaze burned with determination. "I promise I'll make sure she regrets ever laying a hand on you."
As Jaden stormed toward the door, Mika watched, a sly smile creeping across her lips as she whispered under her breath, "Perfect."
Mika watched Jaden's retreating figure as he stormed out, her heart sinking deeper with every step he took. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wiped them away hurriedly, composing herself, and reached for her phone. Her fingers trembled as she dialed.
"Hello, Mr. Richard," she began, her voice steady but hollow. "I will be meeting you in the morning ."
She ended the call abruptly, her hand lingering on the phone as if it anchored her to the present. For a moment, she sat still, staring into the emptiness around her, the weight of unspoken emotions suffocating the room.
---
Jaden stormed into Starlight Entertainment with a fiery determination that burned in his eyes. The building was eerily quiet, its halls dimly lit and deserted. It was late—far past the usual working hours—but that did little to deter him.
As he scanned the empty reception area, he spotted a young staff member emerging from a side corridor.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice clipped but polite. "I need to see Emily Petals."
The woman hesitated, her gaze flicking over his tense posture and clenched fists. "She's in her office," she said cautiously, pointing down the hall. "Second door on your left."
Jaden gave a curt nod and strode off, his footsteps echoing ominously in the silence. When he reached the door, he didn't bother to knock. He pushed it open with enough force to make it slam against the wall.
Emily looked up sharply from her desk, her expression one of mild irritation rather than surprise. She leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes narrowing at the uninvited guest.
"How dare you?" Jaden's voice was a low growl, trembling with barely restrained fury. "How dare you lay a hand on Mika?"
Emily arched an eyebrow, her composure unwavering. She remained seated, her gaze cold and assessing. "I beg your pardon?" she said, her tone sharp, each word slicing through the tense air.
"Don't play dumb with me," Jaden snapped, stepping closer to her desk. "You heard me. What kind of person are you to hit her?"
Emily chuckled—a cold, humorless sound that sent a chill down his spine. She stood slowly, her movements deliberate, and crossed her arms as she approached him.
"Jaden," she began with mock sweetness, "have you forgotten how to knock? Or are you just incapable of basic manners? Because if you need a lesson, I'd be happy to teach you one right now."
"Cut the crap," Jaden snarled. "Why did you lay your hands on Mika?"
Emily smirked, tilting her head as if amused by his audacity. "You came all the way here for Mika?" she sneered. "Are you really that dumb?"
Jaden's fists clenched at his sides. "Say one more disrespectful word, and I swear you won't like the outcome."
"Oh, the irony!" Emily mocked, her voice dripping with disdain. "You've already disrespected me by barging into my office like this. And for what? To defend Mika? You both are fools, and you deserve each other truely."
Jaden's rage boiled over. "Enough!" he shouted, slamming his fist onto her desk with a resounding thud.
Emily flinched slightly but quickly masked it, her expression turning venomous. "You're pathetic," she spat. "A coward, coming here to rant and rave about nonsense. If you have any shred of dignity left, walk out of here and shut the door behind you."
Jaden raised his hand instinctively, the fury in him blinding, but before he could do anything, a commanding voice sliced through the tension.
"Enough!"
The voice boomed like thunder, freezing Jaden in place. He turned to see a tall figure in the doorway. Noah's presence was overwhelming, his stern expression making the air feel heavier.
"Who do you think you are," Noah said, his voice dripping with disgust, "to storm into my company and create a scene? And worse—are you seriously about to hit a woman? Have you no shame?"
Jaden's anger dissipated instantly at the sight of the man he both feared and respected. His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his hand, his gaze dropping to the floor.
"I'm sorry, sir," he mumbled, his voice subdued. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the office, his earlier bravado replaced with quiet humiliation.
Noah's piercing gaze shifted to Emily, who stood frozen, her earlier confidence replaced with a flicker of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, sir," she said quickly, her tone uncharacteristically meek. "It won't happen again."
Noah ignored her apology, his eyes scanning her as if assessing her worth. "Why are you still here? It's late," he said coolly.
Emily straightened, regaining a shred of her composure. "I was just finishing up some work, sir. I was about to leave."
Noah gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. "Good. Have a good night."
With that, he turned and left, his departure as sudden and commanding as his arrival. Emily stood there, her hands clenched at her sides, a mixture of relief and frustration coursing through her.