25 We Are Both Adult

'Here is a man who could overthrow the whole of Asia, dominating the world of business. CEO after CEO of other companies were scared to death to be defied by him, he would smash and walk on them like an ant. Yet, here he was in front of me, asking for forgiveness? Who did I save in my past life to deserve this?' Ann thought to herself and smiled secretly.

Ann contemplated for a while in silence. Finally, she pulled her hands away from Jeff and put them around his face, kissed him lightly, then looked into his eyes that were full of regret and said, "I don't need to forgive you! What you said is true. I am like a knob that turns hot and cold." Ann said while laughing. "Let's forget about it, alright?"

Jeff was relieved from what he heard. Now, he can finally breathe again.

While on his way to Ann's condo, he was hyperventilating and felt like he was dying. The thought of losing her was too much for his heart to handle.

Now, if he could only tell her about the impending marriage that his grandfather arranged for him, everything would be fine. But how was he going to explain it without making her mad again?

"Ann... There's something I must tell you. Please listen carefully to the whole story before you say or do anything, okay?" Jeff said nervously while his palms were sweating.

He hugged Ann to make sure that she was not going to bolt and run. Then, he slowly whispered into her ears, telling her about his hidden fiancée without missing a single detail.

After all was said and done, he paused and waited for Ann's reaction.

A minute passed, *Thump... thump... thump…* Jeff's heartbeat was going haywire. 

His anxiety levels were shooting high up once again, he was hyperventilating once more, "Ann, Ann, say something, please! You're scaring me here." Jeff's face was full of worries.

Ann wiggled out from Jeff's embrace and got up and turned around so Jeff would not see the tears in her eyes that started falling.

"Jeff, don't get me wrong, I understand what you just told me. It's not your fault, and I'm not blaming your grandfather for wanting this, but you need to take care of this matter first. Then, when all is settled, come back, and we will talk about 'us' again." Ann said softly, almost in a whisper. She put air quotes up when she said the word us.

She took a breath then continued, "For now, let's stick to the contract first. We will live apart and go from there." She then started slowly walking toward her bedroom. "If you don't mind, I'm exhausted and need some rest. Just see yourself out, alright?" She walked towards the master bedroom and locked the door without looking back.

Jeff and Lea were dumbfounded, they could not comprehend what had just happened.

Lea watched the whole scene unfold before her eyes and could not say a comforting word to Jeff. Instead, she sat there speechless without moving an inch and held her breath at the same time.

Jeff, on the other hand, understood. He got up and walked out of Ann's condo, speechless.

He would give her time if that was what she needed. He would take care of this mess his grandfather created for him, then come back to take his wife home where she belongs.

He needed to take action now. His steps became faster, and he was practically running. He was on his way to see his good old grandfather to settle this once and for all.

=== 

Jeff went straight to his grandfather's mansion after leaving Ann's place. He was ready to tell his grandfather that he was already married and had no plans to divorce his wife in this lifetime.

He had prepared the whole speech that he was planning to deliver to his grandfather, but he was in for a shock when he arrived at the mansion.

In the living room sat CEO Tan, Claudia, and Mrs. Sophia Tan having the time of their lives while conversing with Jeff's grandfather.

"Hello! Jeff, long time no see!" CEO Tan greeted him.

"Hello! CEO Tan, how are you?" He extended his hand out towards him for a handshake.

"Fine! Just fine. Your grandpa called me from the airport and told me to come here and to bring Claudia and Sophia, so here we are." CEO Tan said as he let go of Jeff's hand.

He then continued, "I'm glad that you are here, too. We were discussing your engagement with Claudia." He said with a big smile showing his teeth.

Jeff would not have it. He was not interested in discussing an engagement. Instead, he was there to announce that he had a hidden wife and to cancel this impending marriage.

"Grandpa, can I talk to you in private, please!" Jeff asked with an unreadable blank looking face. 

"Alright, please excuse us," Grandpa Go said gracefully to their other guests.

Once he and his grandfather were out of earshot he started speaking, "It's about the engagement..." Unfortunately, he did not get to finish what he wanted to say.

Claudia was behind them and cut him off, she smiled sweetly before saying, "Jeff, can we talk first? I have something to discuss with you. It's imperative we speak now, please!"

Jeff didn't have time to deal with Claudia, but this also had something to do with her future, so he agreed. "Alright! We can talk in the garden, follow me!" He said unhappily.

"Everyone, if you'll excuse us lovebirds, we will be right back." Claudia addressed the elders.

"Go ahead. If you young lovers must speak with each other, then go!" Grandpa Go ordered them.

Jeff went ahead of Claudia. As soon as they were outside the garden, Jeff turned around to face her, "Speak! What do you need to talk to me about?"

"Hold your horses, alright? Why are you so ready to bite my head off? What did I do to deserve such treatment?" Claudia asked Jeff with a stern face, as if ready for battle.

Jeff looked at the girl in front of him, thinking. 'What happened to the sweet young girl who had a friendly smile just now?'

Claudia started speaking without batting an eye. "Regarding our impending engagement/wedding that we are supposed to have, I want to make a deal with you. I know you don't like me as much as I don't like you." She said casually.

"However, we are stuck in this together. So, I figured we could work out a deal. What do you think?" Claudia continued, she was slyly smiling. She knew Jeff was desperate and would agree.

"You want to work out a deal? And what deal would that be? Will you please elaborate a little?" Jeff asked, he was now curious about what she had to say.

"Well, I have a crush on one of your talents in Mega Entertainment. His name is Jonathan Lim. He's one of your A-list artists. I know he likes me too, but we cannot be together. That's where you come in handy." Claudia spoke without missing a beat.

"Explain to me how exactly am I a part of this scheme that you're talking about?"

Claudia thought for a minute, "I know you have a hidden girlfriend somewhere. I watch the news, you know? About the girl, coming out of your private elevator in your hotel in America." She taunted. Jeff's face was un-emotional and unreadable.

"Nevertheless, that doesn't matter. You can have your girlfriend, and I can have my boyfriend. But in front of other people, we have to be a couple, so that we can save face for our families. You wouldn't want to bring embarrassment to your family, would you? Did you get that? Is it a deal?" Claudia asked with her hand extended, waiting for Jeff to shake it as a deal.

Jeff stared at the half-wit spoiled rotten girl in front of him for a while before he also extended his hand and said: "Deal!" shaking Claudia's hand as a sign of agreement.

Jeff and Claudia agreed to play as a couple in front of everyone, the problem with that part of the deal was that it included Ann. 

'Did I make the right decision? What if, in turn, Ann decides to file for divorce then? What will I do?' Jeff was worried.

===

Back at the Condominium, Lea was worried sick for her best friend, who had stayed locked up in her room the whole day.

Ann had not eaten anything all day or even taken a sip of water. She wanted to go inside the room and check on her, but Ann had left the door locked, and she didn't have a key.

The only thing she could do was to wait, "If she still does not come out, what do I do then?" Lea mumbled to herself while walking back and forth in front of the master bedroom.

'Should I call big boss Jeff? Nah!... Ann will not like it, and she might kill me in return. I haven't even had a chance to enjoy my luxurious room yet, I wouldn't want to die already. Let's wait and see Lea!' She told herself while walking back towards her room.

Ann woke up a little tired, she went out of the room to look for something to eat. When she couldn't find anything, she called out for Lea, "Hey! I'm starving. Why don't we check out the surroundings and find something to eat while we're at it? What do you think?" She more or less told Lea then went back to her room to change her clothes without waiting for a reply.

Lea quickly got ready, and she was happily humming when they went out of the door. Once they were inside the elevator, Lea decided to initiate some small talk, "Hey! Best friend, are you ready for an adventure now? Huh! Huh!" While nudging Ann with her elbow.

"Sure! I'm as ready as I can be, vacation is over... it's now time to work, work, work." Ann replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Yap! Work...work…work... here we come, people, be wary because a new "Diva" is on her way! hahaha!" Lea's laugh sounded strange as well, even to her ears.

After that, they rode the elevator in silence. Neither of them said a word until they were out in the open.