51 Chapter 50: The Other Half of His Moon

It was Friday and the last day for all the interns except for Zarah.

She still had to report to the office for two weeks.

Yes. Xavier decided to change her schedule. She only needed to report from three to eight in the evening so she would also have time for her studies at the University.

During lunchtime, Hope and Zarah became pretty emotional. This would be the last lunch that they would be eating together.

"I'm going to miss you, Hope," Zarah said sadly.

She thought that since the internship was over, Hope would go back to Sterlington City to continue her studies there.

"I'll miss you too, sister," Hope said which made Zarah caught in surprise.

"Don't get me wrong. You're like a big sister to me. Trixie and Olivia, too. So I hope you don't mind if I call you sister from now on." Hope tried to explain.

"Of course it's fine," Zarah said even though she was surprised that someone wanted to call her sister.

But then again, she remembered from the last conversation they had that she was looking for a sister. Did she already find her?

Hope smiled like a happy child when she heard Zarah's approval.

"Hope, I hope you don't mind if I ask you this," Zarah asked and Hope nodded without even giving it a second thought.

"Have you already found your sister?"

Zarah hoped that Hope would not be offended by her question. On the contrary, Hope smiled at her.

"I did," Hope answered.

Zarah became happy after finding out that Hope had already found her sister.

"That's great! Does she know that you're her sister? Have you met her already?"

Though she never knew what it felt like to be around a biological relative because she had no one, she was genuinely happy for Hope.

She saw the bond between Olivia and Trixie. Therefore she did not doubt that the bonds between siblings were great.

However, Hope's facial expression changed.

"What's the matter?" Zarah asked about the sudden change.

"I know that she's my sister but she didn't know about it yet," Hope said and Zarah became a little sad for her.

"Why? Is it complicated? You've been religiously looking for her. I bet she would love to have a sister like you."

"It's indeed complicated. I don't think she's open to know about me. Or about our family." Hope expressed with a sigh.

"Why is that?" Zarah became worried seeing her this low-spirited.

"Our family did something unforgivable to her."

Zarah nodded her head in understanding. She didn't want to dig deeper as she knew it was a matter in her family.

It was up to Hope to share it with her or not.

"I hope everything will be alright for you and your sister, Hope," Zarah said to comfort her friend.

"I hope so, too," Hope said while looking at her with her puppy eyes as if she was hinting about something.

"I want her to know that I'm different from our parents. I will never do anything to harm her. She's all that I have now." Hope added which confirmed Zarah's suspicion that her family was complicated.

Who would run away from home if the family is loving and caring in the first place?

"Try to introduce yourself to her and explain your side, Hope. I don't think she would hate you, too."

"Really?" Hope was encouraged by Zarah's words. However, there was still doubt on her face.

"Yeah. Who would refuse an amazing sister like you? Only an idiot would."

"So you think that I am an amazing sister?" Hope chuckled and then smiled.

Zarah heaved a sigh of relief as she was not used to having Hope pouting over a problem.

"You are! Hmmm. I hope once you settled your differences with her, you will introduce her to us."

"Of course! I will!" Hope was sure of that.

They then continued their meal. However, they paused when Hope asked her a hypothetical question.

"Zarah, I hope you don't mind if I ask you something personal."

"Sure, what is it?" Zarah said right away as she was already comfortable with Hope.

"It's about your biological family. It's fine if you don't want to answer me."

She learned from Trixie and Olivia that Zarah was possibly holding a grudge against her biological family.

Zarah looked at Hope for a second but still decided to let her ask the question she wanted to ask.

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Okay. This is just a hypothetical question though."

"Mmm." She hummed in response and hinted at her to continue.

"Don't you want to know who your biological parents are?"

Zarah became silent and ate a couple of spoon full before she decided to answer her question.

"It's fine if you don't want to answer," Hope said and continued eating her food.

Their lunch break was almost over. Therefore, they had to hurry.

Zarah placed her spoon and fork on her plate and looked Hope in the eyes.

"I'm already passed the age that a child needs her parents' support. Someone had stepped in to fill in their spot during the years that I needed them the most. Therefore, I no longer want to know them."

"I understand," Hope said and her face turned sad.

Zarah was not open to the idea of looking for her biological parents. Her late adoptive father knew of that face. However, Isaiah still investigated them behind her back.

It was easy for her to do it, too. All she needed was a sample of her DNA and compared it to the other DNA records on the archive and do a comparison and matching test. The closest would be her parents.

However, her access was only limited to Oakridge City.

Isaiah did confirm to her through his final letter that her parents were not from Oakridge City.

Isaiah pulled some strings and used his connection and the closest he got was that her parents could be in Sterlington City and with the surname Fisher.

That was why she became curious when she learned that Hope was a Fisher but used her mother's surname instead.

Was Hope related to that Fisher?

But still, there was probably many Fisher in Country A and Sterlington City in general.

"Are you sad for me?"

"Yeah."

"Then, don't be. I don't think I'll be who I am today if they did not abandon me."

That was something she was thankful for her parents.

Thanks to their abandonment, she was able to meet beautiful people who helped her overcome the darkest part of her life which was also the greatest reason she hated her parents.

"Let's go. We'll be late."

They both left the cafeteria and reported back to their respective department.

As soon as Zarah entered back to the EA office, she saw a bouquet of daisies on her table and a huge yet cute pink bear stuffed toy sitting on her chair.

"He's back?" She asked Elliott while smelling the flowers and pinching the foot of the stuffed toy.

"Yes. He's in the office and he said that he wanted to see you."

Xavier had to be away for a two-day business trip overseas and he had just come back.

"Okay," Zarah said and headed to Xavier's office.

"You're back. How's the trip?" Zarah asked while scanning the room.

Zarah meant it professionally but he didn't waste time flirting with her.

"It was fine. However, it would be great if you were there with me. It's boring without you there."

"Xavier..."

"I know. I'll wait for the day that you'll finally be mine. Now, I thought that you liked the flowers and the stuffed toy I brought back for you."

He was also looking forward to the day that he could kiss her again. Zarah had been trying to dodge his intimate advances to her after he asked for a kiss last time.

He didn't get his kiss that time.

And from start to finish, Zarah sat between Olivia and Trixie. Even Hope could not help him to get her attention.

He was sure that what Hope told them had affected Zarah in a way.

So he had to come up with a plan to make her miss him.

Cole and Rupert came up with the idea of having an emergency business trip.

However, in reality, Xavier was staying at his penthouse while Julie, Elliott, and Hope were reporting to him secretly if ever Zarah mentioned his name within those days that he was absent.

Well, it seemed to be working as she would call Rupert and inquire about him. She would remind the assistant to make sure that Xavier would get enough rest and sleep. And also to make sure that he was eating properly.

And when she came directly to the office after learning that he had arrived.

"Yes. Thank you. They're lovely." Zarah honestly said. Xavier did not have to bring her any gifts.

"That's good. And oh, be ready at three. We still have a party to attend."

"But I don't have anything to wear yet. I haven't prepared my gift, too." She said and Xavier smiled. He got up and approached her.

"You're my plus one. I have already prepared a dress for you. As for the gift, I got it covered."

"Oh."

Zarah was not worried about attending this party as everyone would be coming.

At least she won't be out of place during the party.

She was sure that once Xavier walked in, everyone would swarm at him.

Xavier had become the hottest pie in the city after he assumed the Chairmanship position of Stevens Group.

A lot of people would want to know the youngest person to ever hold the Chairmanship position.

At three in the afternoon, Hope, Elliott Zarah, and Xavier left the building.

The Wagner representative came to the company to give the official invitation for the birthday celebration.

They returned to the mansion to prepare themselves there.

The twins were already there waiting for them to arrive.

Five minutes after Xavier and the rest arrived, Cole also arrived bringing his suit with him.

"Where's Dylan?" Xavier asked his cousin.

"Grandpa called and Dylan had to go back to Sterlington immediately."

"I see."

Since Dylan could not make it, they didn't have to wait for them.

The make-up artists and their dresses were already waiting in the guest room.

They went to their respective rooms to get ready.

After an hour, the boys were done. They gathered in the living room and waited for the ladies to come down the stairs.

Rupert and Chris also joined them.

After an hour of waiting...Julie came down with a huge smile on her face.

"Gentlemen, please welcome the ladies in their respective gowns."

The first to come out was Olivia.

Olivia opted for a simple off-shoulder, beige cocktail dress. The neckline had flowers attached to them. She looked so good in it as the dress suited her personality well.

Her hair was simply curled to make sure that all the attention would be on her face.

Olivia opted for simple makeup but opted for bold red lipstick. It looked good on her though.

She matched her attire with nude heels which added five more inches to her height.

The next one to come out was Trixie. Just like her sister, she opted for a blue tulle dress with laser-studded glitters shaped like the billion stars in the galaxy.

She paired it with blue five-inch shoes. Her hair was styled into a French braid into a chignon bun.

The next who came out was Hope.

Hope opted for an elegant maroon jumpsuit which surprised the boys. It was an off-shoulder jumpsuit with a sweetheart bodice made from both silk and a little tulle while the rest was polyester.

A train skirt was attached behind it and so it looked like a dress from afar.

Cole, who became his designated partner was shocked to see Hope's breathtaking beauty with her simple makeup and simple updo.

It highlighted her shoulders and sexy neckline.

And finally, Zarah came out wearing a royal blue silk dress that hugged her curves well. It had a long slit on the right side which was secured with magic tape so it won't roll up and reveal her underwear.

It looked simple on the front but the back of the dress had a lot of drama. It was see-through which had an illusion of a backless dress but thousands of silver Swarovski crystals were attacked to form the crescent moon.

The matching jacket was also adorned with a thousand Swarovski crystals to form the stars scattered in the galaxy.

Zarah's makeup was simple yet she looked classy and elegant in it with her red lips and messy updo.

Zarah's outfit matched Xavier's black vest underneath his tuxedo which had golden cross-stitched on the other half of the crescent moon design on it.

The golden thread was visible on the front.

He was trying to tell everyone that this woman had stolen his soul and he was only waiting for her to complete him.

"You look so beautiful tonight, Miss Jansen." He greeted her with his hoarse voice which had a seductive effect on her.

"You don't look bad yourself, Mr. Lockhart." She said while taking a deep breath.

"Okay, Zarah and Xavier. Let's go before we got late to the party."

***