Jessica whipped her head around, surprised to see Chadrick appear at the cafe.
"How did you know I was here?"
Chad's expression stiffened. He clearly didn't like her question. Annoyed, he blurted out, "I know you always stopped by at this cafe after you slept with me."
Jessica's eyes grew wider in embarrassment. She looked at the driver, who tried to hide his smile. The word 'always' could easily be misunderstood.
"I think you two need to talk." The driver left, leaving Jessica feeling helpless.
Just as she thought, the driver misunderstood. Now she had no way to get away—first from Stefan, and now from Chadrick.
"Let me go." Jessica tried to pull away, but Chad grasped her elbow even tighter, as if he was afraid to let her go.
Chadrick ignored her plea and pulled her to his car. She kept struggling, which only made him more upset.
"I said let go, Chadrick Murray!"
Finally, Chad turned to face her.
"What? Do you prefer being with Stefan instead? Do you know he is a gigolo? Changing one woman to another? I don't think he is even clean."
~
JESSICA'S POV
I was surprised to hear Chad talking like that. He usually says very little, as if no one deserves to hear his speech at all.
After years with him, I never saw him care about anyone but his business. I'd never even heard him mention Monica.
But saying all that to keep me away from someone else? It almost felt like he wanted me to hold on to this contract-lover relationship. Still, I knew it had to end, and it should have ended sooner.
"Mr. Murray…"
I sighed loudly so he would hear me. Once I pulled myself together, I lifted my head and looked him in the eye.
"Sir, you're the owner and the CEO, so you don't have to worry about when you show up at your company. But as an ordinary employee, I have to be there before work starts. Please, don't make things harder for me."
Even after learning that I'm a Collins by blood, it doesn't change the fact that I'm just an employee in my biological father's empire.
I still need to work hard and earn a living.
Unlike Monica, who gets a monthly allowance without lifting a finger, everything is handed to her, while I have to work hard to afford clothes and basic things.
"You are Collins… you don't need to—" Chad didn't finish the words he was about to spout. He heaved a frustrated sigh. Then, surprisingly, he let me go and opened the car door, gesturing for me to get inside. "Fine. Get in…"
I didn't expect him to yield so easily and let me go.
According to our contract as his lover, I have no right to refuse if he wants my company.
I have to drop whatever I am doing, no matter where I am. Thus, rejecting his request was a breach of contract.
'Would he punish me for turning him down?'
"My chauffeur will drive you to the office," he added when I didn't speak.
I couldn't help staring at his handsome face. He's so good-looking, it could make any woman's knees weak and her heart race.
But Chad is someone I shouldn't covet, nor dream about.
'So this is the end?'
I muttered to myself. For some reason, I was a little disappointed, so I scolded myself as I got into the back seat.
'Stop having the illusion that he genuinely cares about you. He is only enjoying his privileges and benefits in the collaboration—nothing more.'
I was absorbed in thought when Chad leaned on me. Instinctively, I gasped and hugged myself, crossing my arms over my chest.
Chad constricted his pupils upon seeing my reaction. Without words, he grabbed something from the seat next to me. Then placed on my lap. It was a blanket.
"The temperature has been dropping lately," he whispered before he straightened his back and closed the car door.
I looked at him in surprise. Even though the car was slowly rolling, my gaze remained fixed on his handsome face. I wasn't used to him being this attentive to me in public.
He always acts reserved when we're out together at events the two companies are invited to, keeping things professional, almost like I don't exist.
~ ~ ~
Jessica left the cafe, looking confused. She didn't know that Stefan had seen what happened downstairs.
Meanwhile, Chad watched his car disappear, then looked up at the man standing by the floor-to-ceiling window upstairs. His eyes narrowed when Stefan grinned and raised his middle finger at him.
"Childish," Chad muttered, rolling his eyes as he turned away from the man. He got into his other car and drove off.
"Speak," Chad ordered the man sitting beside him. It was one of the people working behind the scenes for him.
He had chosen one of his trusted bodyguards to look into an incident from over a decade ago. Since then, he'd been getting regular updates.
"Boss…" The man coughed to clear his throat before he handed the folder in his hand.
Arnoldo Guevarra had worked for Chadrick since their high school days, so what he just saw was new to him.
But since Arnoldo knew Chadrick well, he knew better than to tease him. Otherwise, he'd have to face the consequences.
"This is the information I found recently. Our tech team told me they've almost recovered the CCTV footage from North Avenue from thirteen years ago. You'll be able to watch the video soon."
Chadrick looked through the report and nodded in satisfaction. "Good. What about your investigation into Stefan Hudson? Why did he come to the city?"
"Ah, regarding that boss, in my initial investigation about Stefan Hudson's background… he isn't a biological grandson of Thomas Hudson."
"What?" Chadrick snapped his head to the right, giving Arnoldo a cold glare.
Arnoldo swallowed before explaining. "He was only the adopted son of Lector Hudson, who was supposed to be the heir of Edison Logistics."
"Lector Hudson, huh?" Chadrick didn't know much about Lector Hudson, since he'd never entered the business world. The patriarch had managed Edison Logistics alone all these years. Thus, he didn't know Stefan Hudson had a connection with him. 'No wonder that bastard has the confidence to challenge me in the past.'
"Did you find more information about Lector Hudson? Like his whereabouts?"
Arnoldo shook his head. "Not much yet, boss. I'm still looking for more information."
"Then tell me what you have so far."
Listening to Arnoldo, Chadrick looked out the car window. He suspected that Stefan had a reason for getting close to Jessica, and he wouldn't let anyone ruin what he'd worked so hard for.
"I want a complete report as soon as possible, Arnoldo," he said, his voice anxious.
He was growing impatient, and he hated making compromises.
So, anyone who got in his way had to disappear.