Jessie exited the room, hoping she was making the right decision. Well she was wearing flats it couldn't be right, oh well she had already come this far. She kept to the backgrounds trying to avoid any attention, thankfully the staff uniform included a full face mask. It was kind of cute too.

As she neared the party she stopped above the stairs that lead to the ball room below and scanned the area. Her eyes fell on Jason and Patricia greeting the guests as they came in. She frowned, her plams forming fists. She wanted to lie to herself and say it was because of the hate she currently harboured for Patricia but she would be deceiving herself. Why the hell was she clutching his arm in that way?

​​

Suddenly she felt so inferior, a few meters from her Patricia stood in a red dress, typical. Flowed elegantly to the ground. The back was so low and she was sure there wasn't as much in front as well. Her dress sparkled as she moved and her elegant silky hair was curled into an updo today. Jason on the other hair looked breathtaking in a navy blue suit that hugged his slender but powerful frame. His hair slicked back as usual but they was a side partition today. The looked so good together, she swallowed hard at the thought. Immediately regretting her decision of coming out in this tacky uniform.

"Jessie?" A familiar voice that sounded very close pulled her focus.

Jessie turned around and met gazes with Jonathan. "Oh my, Mr. Kang? How did you know it was me?" She asked him.

Jonathan's lip tilted at the side in a small smirk. "Please call me Jonathan."

"Ah.. pardon me, I must have gotten into character." She laughed nervously.

Jonathan smiled at her, this time a genuine smile. He lifted his hands and touched a stray strand of her, "you're hair is already growing back." He stated.

"Ah, my hair has always been quick at growing, too bad it's just fast and not full. Unlike some others..." she trailed off looking at Patricia.

They were dancing?! Of course they would have the first dance as host and hostess, Jessie eyes widened as she watched their waltz. Everyone in the room had looks of admiration and open jealousy. They looked divine, neither of them missing a step and flowing with the orchestra. It was so smooth, you'd actually think they were really in love. Her lips parted slightly as she scoffed at the sight before her.

Jonathan noticed her line of sight and I'm stiffened, he frowned as he saw her watch his brother with such longing. While he was standing right before her, it was as if she couldn't see him, or rather she saw right through him.

"Jessie, we should discuss the plan now." He said in an attempt to distract her attention he succeeded for a short period.

She looked up at him with a blank stare.

"I assume you already made your choice, so what else should we wait for?" He said looking down at her outfit.

"Ah ofcourse I shou-" she stopped looking down again, there was a small crowd gathered at another corner of the ball room. It wasn't something you could easily see from below but Jessie saw it clearly. Wasn't that?

Her jaw dropped when she saw an older woman slap another woman, Katherine.

"I'm sorry Jonathan but I have to go, find me later or I'll find you!" She yelled as she ran down stairs.

**************************************************

"Are you okay?" Paul asked her as they walked into her room.

Jessie nodded, "you should be worried about Katherine right now. Did you see where she went?" Jessie asked.

Paul shut his eyes and sighed. "I didn't, I have no idea where anything is in this place. You're really sure you're okay? Because your cheek is red."

"Really? Ah your mother really packs a punch." She said rubbing her cheek. "Thank you for helping me out there."

"You don't have to thank me, it's was necessary. Your the woman by best friend is in love with." He said with a teasing smirk.

Jessie scoffed. "Yet his acting all lovey dovey with another woman."

"No way, are you jealous?" Paul huffed, he began to laugh.

Jessie blushed furiously and looked away. "Why would I be jealous?" She choked out. "I'm just uncomfortable about how close he is with the enemy. Besides things must not be easy for you right now." She said in an attempt to change the topic.

"Why because my dearest friend and my mother fought? This has basically been my life since I was eight." Paul replied, using his middle finger to push away hair from his forehead.

"How did you manage it?" Jessie asked.

"I never chose sides, but this particular one seems to want to force my hand. My mother was too much but she always is, and Katherine said some real hurtful things as well. I just don't know what to think anymore. She was never like this, no matter how much my mother provoked her she never fought back." Paul explained. "But recently she has been speaking up, it seemed amusing the first time, today they both crossed lines they shouldn't have."

"So? Which side are you going to choose?" Jessie asked.

"Katherine's." Was his curt and blunt reply.

Jessie brow rose in question, "really?"

"Well Katherine has no one right now, my mother has her good friend" he said with a sneer. "Today is Katherine's birthday and my mother did not receive life changing news either. So regardless, Katherine is still the victim in all this."

"Gosh I feel so bad for Katherine." Jessie sighed. "This is all your fault you know." She pointed a finger at him.

"My fault?"

"Katherine told me all about what you did in the hospital the other day, how exactly would you have expected your mother to react?" She asked him.

"How is that a fault? I was protecting her for crying out loud, why do you guys keep acting like I did the wrong thing?" He huffed his forehead folding into angry lines.

"Because you did do the wrong thing! Huh... I don't understand what you guys think protection is, Jason doesn't want me to lift a finger or go outside and you keep putting Katherine in uncomfortable situations with your overbearing mother. How is that protection?" She huffed.

"You know what I'm done with this conversation, get out I want to change. It high time I take things into my own hands, that jerk thinks he going to have a swell time at this party? We'll see!" She said grabbing the dress from her bed forcefully and walking into the wardrobe.

Preview 145: So be it.

"It may seem like betrayal but I'm doing what I think is right sir. It's obvious that you truly love miss Jessie, if anything this week has been a proof. I don't know about Mr. Kang, but I know you. If you love her you would do anything you can to keep her safe. After all she's been with you two months and she is still alive and well." Agnes explained. "I don't like to gamble sir neither do I like trying new things , I might sound boring but I prefer to remain confident and comfortable with my choices. I am confident your intentions for Miss Jessie aren't malicious but quite the opposite."