Chapter 22
Nadia didn’t want to take Hubert’s call right now, but she knew dodging the issue could not solve it. So after prepping two different lies, she swiped to answer. “Dad.”
Hubert launched straight into an interrogation. “Why the hell are you just picking up?”
“I was in the shower, that business-”
“I came to the hospital today,” he cut her off. “Doc said there’s barely any chance Pat’ll wake up.”
Nadia’s fingers tightened around her phone like a vice, her face draining of color.
She had not given Hubert what he wanted, so now he was playing the Pat card again.
Kate saw her go sheet–white and grabbed her hand. Nadia’s fingers were ice–cold and shaking.
“Those machines are just gonna wreck his body twice over.” Hubert’s voice was flat as roadkill. “He’s suffered enough in this world. You wanna send him to meet your mom looking all beat up? They say the payment covers till the month’s end. Might as well pick a date…”
“No!” Nadia’s voice spiked. “Even if it’s a one in a thousand chance, we don’t give up.”
“What’s the point of being stubborn? The last resuscitation nearly snapped his rib. You think he doesn’t feel pain?” asked Hubert.
Nadia swallowed hard, choking back tears. “Jason’s tied up with an overseas project; he has no time to pick shops for you. Text me the location, I’ll talk to him.”
Hubert paused and lit a smoke. “Sounds like I’m holding Pat against you,” he said, milking the martyr vibe. “I’ll have Doran touch you about the venue.
“As for Pat, he’s endured enough. Time to let him go. Jason’s cash isn’t endless, you know. Waste it enough times, he’ll get pissed, too. Businessman’s gotta watch ROI.”
Nadia tuned out after that. Her head buzzed like a blown speaker. Kate had to snap her out of it when the call ended.
“I’m exhausted, gonna sleep.” Nadia stumbled back to the guest room, buried her head, and let the tears come.
The next morning, she woke at nine.
She planned to find jason, but her eyes were swollen and she looked embarrassed.
After thinking about it, she called Jason, but the call got hung up instantly.
The first time, she thought maybe it was an accident. The third time, she realized he just wasn’t picking up. Then she had to dial Austin instead.
“Mr. Black’s busy.” Austin’s voice dripped with assistant smugness.
“When will he be free?” Nadia asked.
Austin said, “All day packed.”
“He must have time for lunch, right?” Nadia checked the clock. “I’ll bring him lunch. I just need a few minutes; I have something important to discuss with him.”
Austin hesitated. “If it’s about divorce, lawyers can handle that.”
“It’s not,” said Nadia.
“Steak, roasted pumpkin, corn chowder, and vegetable salad.” Jason’s cold and stern voice echoed over the phone.
He listed a series of dishes without giving Nadia any room for negotiation, then hung up abruptly.
Austin poured coffee, smirking. “Mr. Black, Mrs. Black doesn’t really want a divorce. She made a scene, probably because she 1/3
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Chapter 22
was jealous because of Ms. Pauley.”
“Causing a bit of trouble occasionally is charming, but constantly causing trouble is being disrespectful. Jason snorted coldly, picked up his coffee, and sprayed it out after a small sip. “Pfft… what is this?”
Austin wiped the coffee off the table, explaining, “The freshly ground coffee Mrs. Black homemade is run out, so I bought this from the supermarket. Should I try a different brand?”
Jason furrowed his brows, looking at his coffee cup. “They’re both coffee, but why does the taste differ so much?”
Jason was particular about the quality of the ingredients, so Nadia went to a large supermarket to carefully select and prepare the ingredients.
After returning home, she first marinated the steak and then peeled the corn kernels.
Just as everything was ready and she was about to start cooking, Kate called.
Kate said on the line, “Nadia, it’s an emergency! Please come and save me.”
Kate had always been moderately successful in the entertainment industry. After singing the theme song for Rex’s film, her song became popular, but she herself remained obscure. She often had to rely on commercial performances to make money.
She was performing at a club in Askon today. The actor she was partnering with couldn’t make it due to a family member’s serious illness, so they needed someone to step in urgently.
She thought of Nadia.
When they participated in “The Voice” together, Kate asked Nadia to accompany her. Nadia had never wanted to debut in the first place, and when Kate was eliminated in the top twenty, Nadia also withdrew from the competition.
“I have a good relationship with this talent agency, and I can’t let them down. Please, please!” Kate said anxiously. “You can come directly over; I have costumes here…”
Someone called Kate on the other end of the line, and she hurriedly hung up the phone.
Nadia looked at the half–prepared meal on the stove and thought, ‘Hubert won’t stop Pat’s treatment just yet. I can go to Jason’s tonight. I’ll have more time to talk to him this way!
Having made up her mind, she immediately called Jason, but there was no answer.
She could only send him a message, [Have something simple for lunch. I’ll cook you a big dinner tonight.]
Then she grabbed her car keys and rushed to Askon.
****
In the CEO’s office of Black Group, Ivory didn’t realize Jason had left his personal phone behind until it started ringing. She glanced at the screen and saw it was Nadia calling.
Ivory thought about stepping outside to find Jason, but just as she took a few steps, the call ended. Moments later, a message from Nadia popped up on the screen.
Ivory walked toward the door, confirmed Jason wasn’t around, then hurried back to his desk and picked up the phone.
Since Jason’s personal phone wasn’t password protected, she quickly deleted Nadia’s call log and message before placing it back where she found it.
No sooner had she done that when Jason pushed open the door, his eyes immediately finding hers with a hint of displeasure. He grabbed his phone and slipped it into his pocket. “Where’s the list?”
“There is no list. Abby isn’t the kind to be greedy, Ivory replied respectfully. “Her birthday is coming up in a couple of days. She mentioned how your Dad once built a castle for your Mom.”
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Jason sat down heavily in his chair, his expression darkening. He had promised Abby he would grant her any wish, but this…
Seeing his stern look, Ivory hastily added, “Abby knows her limits. She doesn’t expect to enter the castle, just hopes to set off fireworks outside it, and celebrate her birthday with her fans through a live stream.
“Of course, if you have time, she’d love for you to be there. If not, a phone call would mean a lot too.”
Jason nodded slightly. “Fine.”
“Well, I won’t disturb you then,” Ivory said, having achieved her purpose, and turned to leave.
Jason was a workaholic, lost in his tasks with no concept of time. When he didn’t rest, neither did his team.
After checking there were no urgent messages on his phone, he dove back into his work. Mid–discussion, Jason’s phone rang again.
He silenced the alarm and said gravely, “Let’s go have lunch. We’ll continue this afternoon.”
The relief on everyone’s faces was palpable. ‘Mr. Black is turning human, they whispered among themselves.
On Jason’s way back to the office, someone greeted him, and he nodded in acknowledgment. Such rare responses sent waves of delight through the office, especially among those who admired him.
The morning had been bright and clear, but by lunchtime, dark clouds gathered ominously.
The door to the CEO’s office flew open, a tall figure sweeping in with a gust of cold wind, heading straight for the conference
room.
The secretary’s papers were blown by the sudden wind and scattered on the floor.
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