Chapter 21: Chapter 21

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1 new message

From: Zach Boss

"Hi Jess. Talked with UM again. They said they might rehire a few but not this year. Sorry."

Today 02:43PM

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Jessi stared at her phone screen, quite saddened by the news from her former supervisor. But she shouldn't have kept her hopes up. She knew better.

The budget cuts weren't Zach's fault but he actually apologized to her after the company fired her. Like he felt kinda guilty for what happened.

The other day, she also asked him why the management had to cut back on expenses, but Zach couldn't give her more details.

He did promise her he would help her find a job, though, here in LA. She thanked him of course, but she also told him it wasn't his responsibility. She also called her parents to tell them the bad news.

So far, they still encouraged her to try finding other employment opportunities here in California. But they also reminded that she was always welcome back home, that she could relive a simpler life with them in the countryside.

"If after a few months, nothing works out for you there, then book a flight. We'll go on a trip. Take a break and just have fun. You deserve it, honey." It was her sweet mother's consoling advice over the phone last night. "Maybe LA's just not for you."

Both her mom and dad comforted her a couple of times, reassuring her she could come back home anytime. But for now, she would stick it out for another three months while hunting for good, legit modeling jobs and makeup gigs.

She might just get her break then.

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"I knew it. There's something off about that bunch. That guy you been calling your boss, especially."

"How d'you mean?" Jessi put the call on speaker, lounging in bed in her pajamas, still unmotivated to do anything productive today.

Joblessness left her lethargic all day. It was Monday noon now. Probably just her brain telling her to take a break. It wasn't like she'd been working nonstop the whole year, though. Maybe it was just depression? Talking to a friend might be a good way to release some of the frustration.

"I don't think Jenson had anything to do with it." Jessi stared at the emails on her screen.

"You sure?"

"He probably doesn't know yet."

"Nah. He's part of management. He must've heard already," Kel replied, her voice quite stern on the other line. She already voiced her concerns about Jenson two months ago upon hearing that he threw a surprise birthday party for Jessi on set.

Although they weren't good friends yet, the guy just made it his job to make sure everyone else on set made her feel special on her 25th birthday. Jenson even bought a two-layer birthday cake. The production team and the actors even sang "Happy Birthday" while they were at work.

Jessi appreciated the unexpected gesture, especially coming from him, one of her bosses. His efforts definitely caught her by surprise. But Kel thought there was something fishy going on. Like she didn't trust Jenson at all.

"I dunno. Maybe," Jessi murmured in reply. "Kinda miss 'em, though. Him and Darren's pranks, Zach trying not to get pissed whenever Darren tries something..." She chuckled. "I'll miss Nikki and the others, too."

"Yeah. I get it. You worked with them every day. Stuck with the guy in a small trailer all four months..."

Seriously? Back to Jenson again? "Relax. He's just being friendly." Jessi giggled at her friend's teasing.

Kel still suspected Jenson had a big crush on her or something. "Not what my dreams said, and my gut agrees."

"If ever it happens in real life, you're the first person I'll text." Jessi grinned to herself. Admittedly, she liked Jenson more now, only because he had proven himself over the last few weeks they'd been working together.

He wasn't the same guy who mercilessly choked Darren on the ground till Darren's face grew pale red, almost passing out. Jenson behaved like a real friend to practically everyone on the team. The staff liked him as much as they liked Darren and the other actors.

It made her see Jenson in a very different light. Actually, she was crushing on him a little. But no one needed to know. So she kept it a big secret. She didn't need the rumor mill at work gossiping about her and the boss.

"Nah, dude. It almost always happens in real life. No cap," Kel said with a forced laugh. "Just don't forget what I said. He's still engaged to that rich biatch. Right?"

Yep.

Kel also thought Jenson's Dutch heiress fiancée needed better manners. Some paparazzi videos online proved it, but Jessi had only met Charmaine once. Not really enough time for her to form a good, accurate opinion of the woman.

"Enough about them. Let's gossip about you." Jessi rested on her tummy now, the wrinkled covers getting warm under her pajamas. "You didn't send me a photo."

"Of what?"

"The ring!"

"What ring?" Kel muttered, feigning innocence. They both giggled.

"I'm serious. When's the engagement party?"

"And my graduation party," Kel droned on. "We're celebrating both on the same day. Less hassle."

"Oh! Sounds fun! Congrats by the way."

"Yeah. Since you're free now and no longer tied to that company...bunch of Hollyweirdos... I'll see you before the party. You're gonna help me cook."

Jessi laughed. "Who told you I can cook?"

"Wild guess, but, okay. Wash the dishes at least." Kel snickered on the other end. "After you make me pretty. Like last time."

"Dude, your boyfriend has a private jet. His family's got billions in their offshore bank accounts. He can't afford a maid?"

"It's his brother's jet. Anyway, you're still invited. Saturday. Three in the afternoon. Don't just say no." Kel scoffed.

"Fine. Fine. Whatever gets you through the night..." Jessi sighed, earning her another giggle from her friend. "You okay, though? Stressin' you out a bit? Or is Enzo planning to stay there for good?"

"Yeah. We talked about it. Miles and his cousins might attend the party. So, I'm pretty excited."

"Big party?"

"Nah. Just Mommy, Jill, David and the baby, Gaia. Maybe Enzo's sister will come, too. Maybe Miles and his mom, Ricchar and Cloe. All maybes. Except you," Kel stressed.

"Me?"

"I'm serious! Might be the last party we'll get to throw this year, since the number of cases are rising."

"Yeah. It sucks." Jessi pulled a face. "It's making me anxious, actually."

The public health emergency alert about a viral epidemic had reached the Western countries now. So far, only a dozen cases had been detected here in the States. All imported. Travel bans weren't being implemented yet.

"Same. But no acquaintances. No strangers invited," Kel went on. "But who knows... We might be under lockdown soon."

"Yeah. Like in China. Gee. Pretty intense."

"That's why Enzo wants it to happen, like now. He's the one who wants a party. Not me."

"Obviously," Jessi drawled. "He wants the wedding to happen, like yesterday. Oh. Hey. What about your brother?"

"Magnus?" Kel paused. "Um...I dunno. Haven't talked to him yet."

"Still?" Jessi made a face. It had been months. Maybe her half-brother just didn't want to be found?

"Yeah, but, maybe soon. I wanna meet him to talk about Ilya."

"Fingers crossed."

"So you'll be here before the party. Ayt? Just take a break. Have fun. Forget about those selfish liars who fired you. What booze would you like?"

"You're pretty hyped up, aren't you, Doc?" Jessi chuckled. She did want to join the celebration, though. She wanted to forget her failure of a career and for that, she would need a breath of fresh air indeed. New sights. New faces.

To take a breather and maintain her mental health, she would travel to New York for her friend's double celebration. The airfare would cost her some, but maybe she could also take her parents to New York that weekend. They'd never been to New York.

"Yeah, 'cause Enzo's driving me nuts just badgering me about it all week. Ugh." Kel sounded irritated now. "Like he's nervous I'm gonna back out, or something."

"No. No. No! Don't even think about it. You're gonna look so gorgeous in your wedding dress and him in his tux..." Jessi prolonged a sigh. "Don't say no. You already booked me for that day."

"Fine." Kel giggled again. "I won't. Just for now. But be here soon. Always wear a mask when you're out and about. Tell your parents, too."

"Yeah."

"Seriously, dude. This thing's definitely highly contagious."

"They're not hard-headed maskholes. Don't worry," Jessi reassured in a calmer voice, noting the genuine concern in her friend's tone. "And I sent them Dr. Cameron's new vids."

"Good. Thanks. Both your dad and mom are high-risk. Tell them not to be complacent."

"Yep. I did. Thanks, babe."

"Laters. Ugh. Enzo's sexting me again. Bye, loves."

Jessi laughed. "Later, Doc."

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"Jess?"

Oh no.

"Jessiah?"

"It can't be him. It can't be..." Her brain repeated the words as she faced the busy road, standing and waiting for a cab on the sidewalk with her hoodie covering her up. Or so she thought.

"Jessiah." The deep, husky, familiar voice sounded louder now.

Shit. The guy stood beside her now.

Her breathing paused. Her legs just froze up at the mere sound of his voice. Shock constricted her throat and chest, her heart just pounding in her rib cage. She didn't need to turn around to be sure.

The guy's grip on her arm told her enough. Reminded her enough. The prick always thought he could touch her without her permission.

What a dick. Almost three years later and he's still the same. Still the same conceited asshole she almost dated.

"Wow. Jessiah Kinley...in the flesh again." Armand Claude took another step closer, his suede shoes almost touching her sneakers. His lips and five o'clock shadow moved while he wore his trademark smirk, which unfortunately lingered in her repressed memories.

The expensive shrink appointments didn't really help.

"How long you been here in LA, Jess?"

What did he care?

"Not long." She didn't want to seem pleasantly surprised, but when she turned to him and caught the grin showing his nice teeth, her automatic response was her fake polite smile.

Her stiff legs told her running away from him wasn't an option right now. Her fight-or-flight response just became a tentative compromise.

Okay. Maybe it was purely an accident. Maybe he wasn't stalking her, or anything like that. Fine. She would allow him a minute of catch-up chat, just to not seem rude. Not that she owed it to him to be nice.

Dammit. She was just buying makeup brushes and some food. Why the heck did he have to be here in Los Angeles?

He kept staring at her face, too, as if thoroughly amused that he bumped into her after years of zero communication between them. "You work here now?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Attending a biz con."

"Right." Jessi faked another smile. She couldn't care less about him being here in Cali, but his dimpled grin and unwavering gaze almost convinced her that he wanted nothing but a friendly chat.

At least he stopped touching her arm. Or any part of her body for that matter. "Where you stayin'? You workin' corporate, still?" Armand's grin turned crooked again.

She almost rolled her eyes. Jessi faced the busy road again, her left hand gripping the paper bag full of makeup brushes and some takeout food.

For how long did he want her to play 20 questions?

"No. Not really," she muttered. Where did the cabs go? Shit. All she wanted was to get out of his sight.

But obviously he wasn't keen on leaving her alone. "Stayin' at The Arlington for a few. And you? Renting a house here?" Armand chuckled.

It almost sounded like an insult. "Just a small place."

The guy glanced down at her clothes again. His gluey stare just made her cringe. Despite her thick hoodie and long pants, his attentive gaze just felt like he was undressing her in his mind. "You look great."

"Likewise." She glanced around. Still no taxi cabs.

"Wanna grab a beer? You free tonight?" Armand put his hand on her shoulder now. It was a firm grip.

The feeling of him touching her again without her permission just made her want to shove him into another dimension. "Kinda busy. Some other time?"

"Hey. Wait," he mumbled when she started to back away. The grin he put on diminished into a little smile that didn't narrow his baby blue eyes. Nothing else about him denoted innocence. "You up for a quick dinner tonight? Or tomorrow. Won't be here all week. I gotta fly to Boston."

"Give me a second until I find some fucks to give," she wanted to yell. But she still had some patience left, surprisingly. If only it wasn't rude and cowardly, she would run off now just to be done with his attempt to reconnect.

He was talking to her as if they were friends. As if he didn't harass or sexually assault her for weeks, back when she was still a young, clueless temp assistant in his boring, overpriced office.

"Sorry. I gotta be somewhere," was her excuse while perfecting another friendly, apologetic smile. She gripped her phone, begging for it to ring just so she'd have a good reason to stop talking to the attractive, well-dressed overpaid tool standing too close to her. Totally invading her personal space. As if he thought he could still talk her into anything.

"Oh come on... You still mad at me?" Armand stopped touching her shoulder. When she kept avoiding his eyes, his pesky hand moved to her forearm with his cigarette-smelling mouth nearing her face.

"Armand, I really gotta go. Next time. Okay?"

"Old times' sake. Please. Let me treat you to dinner. Jess." The guy feigned a pleading look now, pouting and trying to look cute.

Gag.

"Just dinner, Jess. Please?"

"Sorry. I really gotta⁠—" She froze. Her loud ringtone just cut off her mumbled alibi. Her phone buzzed in her grip, halting the awkward exchange. She almost dropped the gadget upon seeing Jenson's name on the screen.

Just flashing before her eyes like a red-hot SOS signal.

"Hi," she greeted after taking the call.

"Jess."

"You gonna pick me up now? I'm here outside the mall."

"Huh? What mall?" Jenson murmured on the other end.

"Yeah. Okay. I'll wait." She glanced behind her and pretended to look for landmarks.

Hopefully the guy didn't need another clue. Beside her, Armand had backed off a few steps, as if he meant to give her some privacy now. But it was obvious the prick was listening in to her phone conversation.

"Just walked out of Darcy's," she told the guy on the other line, her voice quite animated. "The one along Vilmer and Charleston. Yeah. Just, um, take a right after the intersection."

"Hey, Jessiah. It's Joss. Why didn't you come in today? Nikki said they fired you," her caller replied after ignoring her instructions. The fairly loud traffic noise should keep Armand from hearing Jenson's voice on the phone.

"Yeah. Okay. I'll just wait here. Want me to buy you something?" Jessi smiled and faked a mellow, sweeter voice with her phone still glued to her ear. Her deliberately ignoring his questions should be enough clue.

Hopefully Jenson took it as his cue to play along. Best case scenario: he would realize she was asking to get rescued out of a run-in with the last person she expected to run into today.

"Like what?" Jenson paused. "Oh." He chuckled. Now he sounded less confused and more amused. At last. "Vilmer and Charleston. Right..." He sighed shortly. "Horrible date?"

"Yeah. Just be here in five. Please?" Jessi didn't bother glancing at the guy keeping her company and standing right beside her, still. "Please just say yes," she wanted to add. She even faked a more convincing pleading girlfriend voice. "My back and feet are killing me, loves."

"Sure." Jenson snickered. At last he figured it out. "

On my way," he said on the other end. "Be there in five, loves. I'm three blocks out."

"Great. I'll wait, babe. Thanks," she said with another smile before hanging up.

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