"...Nubia-senpai wanted you in exchange for the engagement ring."
Rather than being jealous of Nubia or possessive of Jeff, Jess began to panic the moment she comprehended the meaning of Jeff's words.
First of all, if Jeff had accepted the engagement ring that Nubia gave him for her and then gave it to her, it would also mean that Jeff probably agreed to Nubia's condition.
Second, if a girl wanted another girl, then in Jess's knowledge, it only meant one thing—Yuri.
Of course, Jess knew exactly what Yuri meant. After all, her two closest friends, the twins Mina and Mira, were in that kind of relationship. They had even invited Jess many times back in high school—or to be more accurate, they had confessed their desire to make Jess their girlfriend.
But Jess, being helplessly in love and still waiting for Jeff, had refused Mina and Mira's confession.
Still, the thought lingered in her mind—what would it be like to be in that kind of relationship? To have a girlfriend, even though she was a girl herself?
Now, another opportunity for that kind of relationship—a Yuri—had arrived. And most of all, Jeff had apparently approved of it...
Seeing the panic and confusion on Jess's face as she clung to his clothes while staring at him, Jeff couldn't help but burst out laughing, unable to hold back his teasing.
"Pfft—Hahaha..."
"Are you just making fun of me, bastard?!"
"Of course, Jess—ouch!... At least let me explain properly..."
Once again, Jeff began to explain—not only his connection with Nubia but also who she actually was.
A girl beautiful and attractive enough to rival Jess—at least, that's how Jeff had seen Nubia when he was stalking her at the beginning of high school. But it wasn't like Jeff would ever include that detail in his explanation. Otherwise, Jess might just snap his neck.
Aside from that, Nubia didn't just have good looks—her family was rich as well. Her father was the executive VP of the largest fashion company in Central City and one of the two candidates for the next CEO.
And even though Nubia was still in college, she was already working at her father's company...
"Wait... That fashion company here in our hometown? You mean the one where Mom works?" Jess asked, her curiosity and interest outweighing jealousy or possessiveness.
Jeff, meanwhile, was struggling to breathe.
"I won't be able to... answer if... you keep... choking me... Jess..."
After releasing Jeff and making him kneel on the floor while she sat on the bed still glaring at him, the explanation continued.
As Jess suspected, Jeff knew that her mother worked at PoruMerc—the same fashion company Nubia worked at. More accurately, Jess's mother worked under Nubia's father.
That was why Jess's mother knew Nubia.
Jeff also knew that Jess wanted to work at PoruMerc after graduating from college—or more accurately, she had told him this dream while taking care of him before he died in his original timeline.
That was why Jess's panic about Nubia's "condition" was quickly replaced by curiosity and interest when she heard that Nubia was connected to the company she wanted to work for.
Of course, Jess wasn't the type to do anything just to make connections for her dream. She would rather give up that dream and stay with Jeff than be with someone else for the sake of her career.
Still... if Jeff allowed that kind of relationship... and considering that he was also close to Nubia... then perhaps...
"Pfft—Hahaha..."
"—Eh?"
Seeing Jess seriously considering her options, her face flushed red all the way to her ears, Jeff burst out laughing again. This surprised Jess and made her finally realize something.
"You're really just making fun of me, aren't you, bastard?!"
"Hahaha—ouch!"
After delivering a kick square to Jeff's face that caused his nose to bleed—and an embrace meant to restrain Jess's violent outburst as best as he could while they sat on the bed—Jeff finally clarified what Nubia had meant when she said she wanted Jess in exchange for the engagement ring.
"Nubia-senpai wanted you to work for her side as a model, Jess."
Rather than becoming a model, Jess wanted to be a designer. Regardless, receiving a job invitation from the fashion company she had always dreamed about truly excited her.
Still, there were things that bothered her.
"Why me, Jeff?" she asked, suspicious yet still delighted.
"Well... Nubia-senpai saw your picture on my smartphone wallpaper a year ago. Since then, she's been bothering me to introduce you to her."
For obvious reasons, Jess clung to Jeff feeling overjoyed, pressing her back against his chest.
"And what if I say no? Will your 'Nubia-senpai' make us pay for the engagement ring?"
Though Jeff understood the dangerous emphasis Jess placed on Nubia's name, he still gave her an honest answer.
"She's not like that, Jess. Even if you say no, she'd still give us the ring as a gift for both of us."
"Hmph..."
Despite her harsh tone, Jess felt guilty about her earlier jealousy toward Nubia.
"If she really wanted me to work for her, couldn't she have just invited me through Mom?"
Whether Nubia knew that Jess was the daughter of one of her father's employees, Jeff didn't know. Besides, Jess's mother wasn't the type to force her into work—she preferred Jess to enjoy her youth.
Unable to give her a clear answer, Jeff waited as Jess moved on to the last thing bothering her.
"What exactly do you mean by 'work for her side,' Jeff?"
As far as Jeff remembered from his past timeline—before he died and regressed twelve years—PoruMerc was divided into two competing sides: the female merchandise department, which Nubia's father led, and the male merchandise department, which Nubia's ex-boyfriend led.
Currently, the CEO of PoruMerc planned to choose the next CEO based on which department's executive VP achieved the highest sales within the next year.
"It means Nubia-senpai needs our help to crush her rivals and enemies into the dirt, Jess."