Published: Oct. 20, 2019---Sept. 30, 2020

"Isn't this the temporary assistant?"

She heard Charlize's voice, which made her turned around and be confronted by a death glare of the latter.

"So, this is her, the one with ambitious dreams and trying to snatch your boyfriend from you?" In a sarcastic voice, the woman, together with Charlize, asked while looking at her from head to toe.

Katelyn had seen the woman's face in the billboard adds but never known her name. She has been one of the models of a famous lingerie line.

"Only in her dreams, she can do it."

"Yeah, you are right. Will your boyfriend lose you for a little girl who will not fit in his glamorous life?"

A sarcastic laugh came out from Charlize.

"Little girl, if I were you. I will do better in my secretarial job; maybe success will come my way through it."

The other woman looked at her as she said those words, letting her know those were intended for her and needs a reaction.

She decided to ignore their cutting remarks as she knows they are baiting her for a war of words with them. She turned to face the mirror and finished retouching her makeup so she can go out of the powder room.

"I am talking to you. Why are you not responding?"

The woman with Charlize knock the powder brush on her hands, but still, she didn't say a word. She bends on her knees and picks it up, where it falls on the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry it slipped in my hands."

A breaking sound echoes as her powder case fell and landed near her foot.

She can forgive about her brush, but the powder is a different matter. It is one of her expensive things.

She stands ups. Though she knows the two women tower her, their height didn't hold her back as she confronted the other woman. "What is your problem? I don't want to engage in conversation with you, and you take it on..."

"You are the problem." Charlize interrupted while shoving her aside and then pointed a finger on her.

"Your presence pissed us. Women like you who use their bodies so they can catch rich men to buy them expensive things. Not caring if he has a girlfriend already." Charlize accused.

She steps backward to avoid the latter's manicured fingers. But it seems like every step back she made, Cahelize's followed.

Once she hit the wall on her back, she stopped, with no room to escape; she straightened her back and looked up.

"Who are you to accuse me of using my body to entice rich men?" provoked by the latter's threatening behavior, she retaliated.

"Do you think I don't know about you and Jared staying in a hotel?" Charlize whispered on her.

The latter's words stunned her in silence. So she just looked up at the beautiful face that bends down on her, with anger on it.

"Surprised? Do you think because you slept with him, he will leave me? You are not the first one who tried, but he always comes back to me. Enjoy your grandiose dream because it won't be too long, and you will lose it all." Charlize sneered. She then straightened her back after warning her and then turned around.

Before Charlize walked a step further away, she took out something from her bag.

"Oh, by the way, John Griffins told me to give this to you." She threw a card in the air and added, "He may not be a billionaire like Jared, but he is eager to have his leftover, so better pick it up and Good luck."

"Common Charlize, we better leave this room. Her cheap perfumes made me giddy."

She almost protested with their insults, but thoughts of the words Charlize imparted stopped her. The door also opened, and Lizzy came inside.

"What is happening here?" Katelyn saw the worried look of her friend as she asked.

"Oh, Lady Elizabeth, better use the other room as this one stinks of that woman's inexpensive perfumes."

Lizzy looked at the other woman's face and, with anger in her voice, said. "How dare you to say the perfume I gave her is cheap?"

Her friend walked towards the other woman and sniffed.

"Smell yourself first before insulting someone."

Vexation was seen on Lizzy's face with the other woman's insult, but she didn't fight back, just clenched her fist.

"Lady Elizabeth, if I were you refrained from befriending any woman just because you came from the same country. Know her background first." Charlize told Lizzy.

"Why will I have to do that?'

"Well, there are a lot of gold diggers around. They might use you to gain connections."

"Ah...I get it now, but who are you to insult Katelyn?"

"She is the future, Mrs. Steele." Charlize's friend interrupted, feeling proud to introduce her friend's status.

"Don't talk rubbish," Lizzy told the other woman and then faced Charlize and look at her from head to toes and back again.

"As far as I know, Mr. Steele never admitted he has anything to do with you." Lizzy then turned to another woman, "so how come she will be his future wife?"

When no one answered, Lizzy faced Charlize and then told her. "Maybe it's you who is the gold digger, not my friend. I can vouch for her behavior. I've known her since we were in school as a daughter of a Viscount with good moral character."

Charlize's friend gasps while Charlize's face went pale while looking at her direction. Even the blush on cannot conceal the change in her color after hearing what Lizzy had said.

"The two of you are surprised. Just because Kate didn't tell anyone of her background, it doesn't mean you can shame her and treat her like a shabby person."

"Lizzy, I think it is time for us to go out now," Katelyn told her friend while walking to her side.

Softly, she pulled Lizzy's arms so they can go out of the room else before she can reveal more than her identity.

Before they can close the door, she heard the friend of Charlize asked the latter.

"She is a Viscount daughter? And what did Lady...

She didn't hear any more as the door closed.

They walked back to their table in the next room to the hall where the runway show was held earlier, in silence.

"I am so sorry for blurting out your secret, Kate." Lizzy apologized to her once they are seated.

"No worries, Lizzy, sooner or later it will come out. Besides, they will not talk about it to anyone. How come you came inside? I thought you need to get something in the backstage."

"Oh, about it, I asked Aunt Melanie's secretary to get it for me. So I waited for you in the lobby. When you took the time, I decided to check if you are still inside, and the rest was history.

"Hmm, okay."

A woman came into their table and took Lizzy's attention. Left alone to her thoughts made her face boiling with a rage of the two women's behavior towards her. It's just reason which stopped her from bursting in anger.

Part of her is in guilt on what Charlize had accused her; she did entice her man. She let her emotion be in control over her mind and forget her boundaries.

Seems like all the warnings of "don't get involved" she posted in every part of her brain were uprooted from its place, hence her forgetfulness.

She made her fantasy world wherein there are only she and Jared, no Charlize so that she will be happy.

The latter's pointing out to her of the fragile state of her happiness made her realized Jared never told her he loves her. If his past is to be judge, Charlize was right. He always comes back to her.

Granted, nowadays, his attention is with her but isn't it because Charlize was busy with her filming a film and other commitments?"

He has the time to spare and used it to get to know her, as Meme stated in the agreement.

Her eyes drifted to where Jared stands in front of Jewelry's displays with Meme and Mrs. Blake. He is pointing to what is inside of the glass. It was also the time her nemesis walked beside him.

She diverted her eyes from the picture of them looking so perfect together, or maybe it was just her imagination.

"I am so frustrated with Jared; he said before they are not an item but looked at the way he treats her."

The irritation on her friend's voice echoes what she felt simultaneously in agreement with the vision she saw.

"By the way, what is the reason of her bullying you earlier?"

"Ah!" I don't know, maybe because I work with Mr. Steele?" Her friend's question startled her, and so she was caught off guard.

"Hmm...She got intimidated with your beauty and got scared you will get his attention.

"Oh no, I think she is just insecure about her position in his life. So she is suspicious of all his staff inside the office."

"Speaking of them, they are walking in our direction with her holding into his arms like a leech."

"Do you think it is time for us to exit from this place?"

"We will run like a coward? No way, after what she had done earlier? We must let her know she cannot win over us."

Lizzy was right. She mustn't be afraid to face everything. It is time for her to fight for her place in his heart wholeheartedly. She should trust him as he told her.

But how come no matter how she convinced herself still part of her want the other way?

"Darling Lizzy, come and meet Mrs. Steele." She heard a familiar voice in their back said, which dragged her mind away from Jared's problem.

Katelyn turned around and saw Mrs. Baker with Meme already a step away from them. Lizzy stands up, and so she did too.

Meme is all smiling while looking at Lizzy, introducing her.

"Oh, my little Tori is friends with you, dear?"

The latter, as well as Mrs. Baker, was surprised at the familiarity of Meme to her.

"Hi Meme, it's been a while since I saw you." Though a bit rattled of Meme's sudden acknowledgment of knowing her, she still walked to the older woman and kissed her cheek.

"Aunt Amanda you mean she is the little Tori you talked about before? I never associate her with the granddaughter of your friend because Lizzy introduced her as Katelyn."

"Yes, she is. Tori is such a modest child. She doesn't want it known about her connection with us."

"Oh my," Mrs. Baker uttered as if drained of energy, she sit down on the chair she had just vacated with the help of Lizzy.

"Maybe Mrs.Baker's reaction was due to her snobbish behavior towards her the last time they had lunch in her house." Katelyn thought while she guided Meme to sit down where Lizzy sat before.

A waiter with two extra chairs approached them without being called as if he was following the two older women with it in hand.

Once they were seated, and Mrs. Baker had already digested the information she had received, she asked Meme. "Aunt Melanie, I remembered you had said before you wanted Jared to marry her. Is it the reason she is her because of it?"

"You know Jared; he is like Teddy before. Already engaged to the woman chosen by the family, but he still married you. Children nowadays were different from before. In our time, our parents will only say a word, and we will follow it. I just let little Tori came in case he will like her but no pressure on it."

Katelyn almost laughs at Meme's convincing words, "No pressure at all." The latter holds her hand under the table as if telling her, "not to contradict what she had said."

With Meme's action, she found out she is not the only one who's good in making up stories just so their marriage will remain in secret, Meme too."

For her, it is because it's not just money she has to pay as compensation but also a child.

For the latter, she is not sure but maybe for his grandson to accept her chosen bride.

Mrs. Baker moved closer to Meme to whisper something; Katelyn knows it was not good with how the latter's brows furrowed.

"Hey, Meme, have a nice evening?" Blake asked.

Before Meme can answer, he bent and kissed the older woman's cheek and then his mother's.

"I was looking for you since the start of the show. Were you with Tessadale at the back?"

"Yes, Mom."

"I have not seen you lately without her in your arms. So, where is she?"

"She went to the lady's room first before coming here."

Like Mrs. Baker, she and Nicole had seen their friend just once since she started dating Blake. Though they missed her but rooting for her happiness is more important for them.

Blake then asked Lizzy about the show in which she answered it being a successful one.

Before he turned in her direction, Mrs. Baker asked him if he knows about her identity before. In which he shrugs and nods to his mother indignation. But the presence of Meme stopped her from any negative comment. Besides, her son also left while muttering, "someone needs me to rescue him."

Katelyn's eyes followed where he would go and saw him went straight to Jared.

Charlize all smiles to Blake while he approaches them, but once he took Jared away from her grasp, her face betrayed her disapproval. It was also the time she looked in her direction. Katelyn diverted her gaze to avoid a confrontation and looked at Lizzy, who is busy with her phone, texting.

So she turned to Meme.

"Meme, how come you told them we know each other?" she asked the older woman in a voice enough for the two of them to hear.

"I never wanted it not known, but I noticed you wanted to keep it secret, so I let you. But your Aunt Amanda will know it later, so better it comes out from me first."

"Yes, Meme, you are right."

She felt Memes hand touch hers on the table as if thankful for her understanding. She smiled at the older woman as a response.

Jared and Blake approaching them minus the clinging woman startled Katelyn as the former stand on her back while greeting everyone.

Though disappointed with his attentive behavior towards Charlize in public, she didn't let it be known in front of anyone. Instead, she just acted as if they are friends by greeting him in a casual manner.

Lizzy asking Jared of Charlize whereabouts alarmed her. She signaled her friend not to say anything about what had happened earlier.

Because of it, the former excused herself at the same time invited her to go out too.

They both went to the next room, where the show was held earlier.

Lizzy asks why she doesn't want her to tell Jared about his doxy's behavior. Her answer is only to let it be between the women.

Though not satisfied with her answer, Lizzy accepted her decision.

She also asked about her excuse for not mentioning her being a family friend of the Steele's.

Just as Meme had said, she doesn't want to be treated, especially by anyone while here in New York.

They went back to their table and saw Mrs. Baker standing up while Mr. Baker Senior helps Meme getting up from her chair.

It turns out the two older women were waiting for Mr. Baker Senior to finish his business so they can leave.

Once they all left with Meme telling them to enjoy the rest of the night, Blake invited them to go to the bar, which Chased had already prepared for them.

Tess was already sitting in the middle of a u-shaped sectional bar sofa with her sister when they go inside the private room. They greeted each other and afterward settled on the couch with Jared sitting beside her.

The waiter served them with their wine, and the conversation about the show started.

Everyone had a drink or two, but she could not even take a sip on hers. Jared stopped her hand when she was in the process of taking her glass earlier. He didn't answer her questioning eyes but hold her hand.

She almost forgot they were not alone, if not for Blake asking Jared about their scheduled business trip. At once, she pulled her hands from his grasp before anyone noticed, aside from his cousin.

Jared is still in conversation with Jared when Lizzy comes closer to her. The latter took her untouched glass of wine and handed it to her.

She took the glass from her friend, but as if Jared has eyes in all directions of his head, as soon as she holds it, he removed it and returned it to the table.

"I've cheesed off with you, Jared; I had noticed you had been stopping Kate from drinking. Why?" The now tipsy Lizzy asked.

"It is because she cannot hold her liquor."

"I don't get it," Lizzy stand up from her chair and face him, "You have a girlfriend who is so possessive of you and here you are being concern with another woman. What is that? It's no surprise then she goes berserk with any one. Why don't you marry her so she will be at ease and leave Kate to my brother?"

"Lizzy calm down," in a gentle way she pulled her friend to sit down again.

Once seated, Lizzy still look at Jared and said. "This is not a sloshed talk, I mean it."

"Lizzy, your brother should have done the pursuing. Not all the time you have to remind everyone your brother wants her. If he does, he had come already. I think it's you who fancy Kate as your sister in law." Blake told her.

"He doesn't need to come. He will only be disappointed if she is married and pregnant." Jared said which made all of them in the sofa stopped from whatever they are supposed to do including her and just looked at him, wide eyed.

END OF CHAPTER 28

Thank you for all my readers for the continued support. Happy reading...❤❤❤