"Stu, I'm in front of the bar now. You've told the cashier I'm coming, right?" Jake said over the phone. "Alright, I'm going in now," he added before ending the call.
"What a hassle. Why do I still have to pretend to scare people like this?" Jake muttered as he stepped into the 24-hour bar.
He was there because Stu had asked him to collect payment for a processed chicken order that had gone unpaid for a week. The cashier hadn't yet settled the bill with the fried chicken shop where Jake used to work. Jake was often the one sent to collect payments, thanks to his bodybuilder-like build and intimidating face that made stubborn customers pay up quickly.
Jake walked in, heading straight to the bartender's counter—the only spot where he saw a staff member. "Hey!" he greeted.
Right in front of him sat a sexy woman with long hair covering her face. She looked extremely drunk, her head resting on the counter.
'It's still daytime, but there's already a desperate woman drunk like this. What a pity,' Jake thought.
"I'm looking for the cashier. I'm Jake, from CK Shop, here to collect the payment for the chicken order," he explained.
"Oh right. One moment," the bartender replied while searching under the counter. He then handed Jake a light brown envelope. "The cashier left this with me before her shift ended. She just went home."
In truth, the cashier had left early because she was scared after hearing that Jake would be coming to collect.
Jake took the envelope. "Thank you," he said and slipped the envelope into his coat pocket. Just as he was about to leave, the drunken woman next to him moved, startling him.
As the woman shifted, her face became fully visible to Jake. "Mrs. Mary?" he called out, quickly catching her before she could collapse to the floor.
"Ma'am, wake up! What happened to you?" he called again, lightly patting her cheeks. He gave her a gentle shake until she finally reacted.
Mary stirred, furrowing her brow before slowly opening her tear-swollen eyes. "Kody? Is that you?" she asked, her mind still clouded by alcohol, unable to realize it wasn't her husband holding her.
She burst into tears and hugged Jake tightly. "Why do you always scold me? Why did you betray me? You're my husband—we love each other! Where is the Kody I used to know? Tell me!" she cried, hitting Jake's broad chest repeatedly.
Jake stood there silently, letting her vent. He had just told himself not to get involved in other people's marital issues, yet here was this woman—so kind to him before—falling apart in front of his eyes.
After a while, once her sobs had quieted, Jake said, "Come on, ma'am. Let me take you home. It's not safe for you to be here like this." He then lifted her in a bride-style carry and left the bar.
He gently placed Mary in the car, making sure not to wake her, then drove away.
Unbeknownst to Jake, a pair of eyes had witnessed the whole scene of him carrying Mary. The man behind the glasses stared in disbelief, mouth slightly agape.
'Hey, Victor. Can you hear me?' a voice from his earpods snapped him out of it.
"Yes, boss. I hear you. I'm just keeping an eye on the street ahead," Victor replied to the caller—none other than Kody.
'Good. I'll repeat it then. Reschedule all my appointments for the week. I have a meeting in Japan. You'll need to handle everything while I'm away. I'll tell Mary to coordinate with you.'
"Understood, boss. I'll head back to the office and take care of everything," he replied again. "But where are you now? Still with Miss Milan?" he asked with a sly smirk.
'Yes. I'm not going back to the office. I'll head home once I'm done here with Milan. I'll call you later.'
Kody ended the call, and Victor's smirk only widened.
"Yeah, I'm getting used to your new habits, boss. Ever since that accident, things between you and Mrs. Mary have changed. You've gone crazy over Milan. But who would've thought... Mrs. Mary's doing the same thing," Victor muttered mockingly.
"Too bad her taste is so poor. Why would she go for a thug-looking driver like him? Why not cheat with someone better like..." he trailed off.
Opening his phone's gallery, he smiled as he browsed secret photos he'd taken of Mary on various occasions. "Like me, someone who truly loves you, Mary. If your husband can cheat, why don't you have some fun—with me? Not with someone else," he added with a pleased grin.
Seeing Mary with Jake, assuming they were having an affair, brought Victor a twisted sense of joy. He thought it was a sign Mary's heart was wavering. As Kody's secretary since he became CEO of Gold Fashion, Victor knew how strong and enviable Kody and Mary's relationship had been.
But after their accident, he noticed deep cracks in that once-perfect bond. Their marriage used to make everyone jealous—including Victor.
He had long been drawn to Mary's wealth, beauty, intelligence, and success. He envied Kody, who rose in status by marrying a perfect woman like her. Victor, with his lower social standing, had no chance of winning Mary's heart over Kody.
So he kept his feelings buried, his desire for Mary hidden in fantasies and dreams. But today—after what he saw—his dark thoughts about having her grew stronger.
"Just wait, Mary. I'll make you fall to your knees before me," he muttered, starting his car again to head back to the office.
***
"Finally made it," Jake wiped the sweat from his forehead after laying Mary on her bed. She was sleeping so deeply, it was like she'd passed out.
"I have to go, ma'am. I need to deliver my friend's money and then pick up Mr. Kody," he said to himself, as if Mary could hear him.
He stood up and turned around to leave, but just as he stepped forward, he felt a tug on his hand. He turned and saw Jane staring at him, her eyes wet with tears. "Don't leave me. I love you..."
Jake was shocked. For a split second, he thought Jane was talking to him. But then he sighed heavily, realizing that couldn't be true. Jane was drunk—of course, she was thinking of Kody, her beloved husband.
"Please go back to sleep and rest, ma'am," Jake said gently, moving closer to release her grip. But before he could free himself completely, Jane's other hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him down—until he was on top of her.
Jake froze. Their position was ambiguous and dangerous. His mind started to blur as Jane's soft curves pressed against his chest.
"I love you. Don't ruin our marriage. I'll accept all your flaws. I won't bring up the topic of children again. I'll be fine without a child between us—but please, don't cheat on me..." Jane cried, cupping Jake's face in her hands.
'Is the pain really this deep, that you had to numb it with alcohol, ma'am?' Jake didn't answer aloud. He could feel her sorrow.
He had seen Mrs. Betty, Jane's mother-in-law, hurl cruel insults at her and bring up the issue of children right before they left. He had also just seen Kody with Milan—flirting shamelessly.
"Stay strong, Mrs. Jane. You'll get through this..." Jake whispered, gently wiping the tears on her cheek.
But then her expression changed, her eyes darkened—and in the next moment, Jane pulled him into a deep, hungry kiss.