Jade spent the most of her night thinking of various ways to secure the contract with Acrosoft, but she came up with nothing. It was either her idea was too lame or it was an unprofessional approach. She had decided to be true to herself and not use any unhanded means like asking Amy for help.Jade was sure Amy would be able to pull a few strings for her if she’d asked, but that would only make her like Cale. She wanted to do this on her own capabilities and she was certain she could do it.Reaping benefits where efforts were not adequately sown was not her forte.The alarm clock on the bedside table blared off at 6:00am and Jade stirred out of her bed as soon as the alarm came ringing. Sleep had eluded her for the most part of the night as anxiety engulfed every nerve in her body. She had slowly drifted off almost at the dawn of day.She could do with a little more sleep, but that would be a dangerous thing to do. She had to prep herself since her competition was fierce…but with the exception of Stephanie. Because she had never seen Stephanie as a worthy opponent. It was unfortunate that Stephanie was opportuned to graduate from the university a little earlier than her, so she had a stable job unlike her who was still an intern. But all that was about to change.She looked at the soon to be signed contract on her table one last time. Her lips shaped the name of the anti-hack software which was boldly written on the contract.”ProGuard” Jade continued to look at it for a while as the thought of the innovator sprang up in her mind. She wondered who could be the brain behind such creation.Jade thought whoever that person was, he/she must be a genius. Hatching such an idea and bringing it to fruition was something only an extraordinary mind could do. She felt sincere admiration for whoever that person was.What really awed her was the fact that, ProGuard was not just an anti-hack software, it was also an anti-malware and everything else that could safeguard every device from being hacked, ranging from a phone to a CCTV.She was fully aware of the rate of cybercrime emerging through the world, and a software like ProGuard would be of tremendous help in putting an end to it or slowing it down.Jade walked into the bathroom to get herself ready for her visit to Acrosoft. She looked through her wardrobe to pick out something to wear…something professional, something different from her usual intern outfits.If she really wants to get the contract as well as the new job, she had to look like she deserved it.Jade sighed frustratedly when she couldn’t get something befitting for the occasion. She had almost giving up when her eyes suddenly fell on a peach colored suit which Amy had made her buy sometime ago.She picked it up and held it over her body. It wasn’t an expensive piece but it was exactly what she needed.Fully clothed in her peach colored suit, which she wore over a white camisole, Jade pulled her hair into a neat bun at the back of her head. She wore a pair of black low heels, and applied some slight make up on her face, before leaving her bedroom.Kelvin was stunned upon seeing his sister looking like….a boss lady. He could have sworn that she had suddenly become the boss of a prestigious company overnight.”Wooow” He exclaimed as he circled around her.”Sis you look so beautiful” Kelvin complimented with a proud smile. He was always proud of how his sister’s look, so much that he usually boasted around his friends about how stricken men were with his sister. If Jade only knew this.”Thank you” Jade said with a sweet smile.”Are you going to impress anybody at work? A man perhaps?” Kelvin asked with his arms folded across his chest, while Jade scowled at him. How did their conversation make such a detour?”I was thinking about meeting your teacher to inform him you’ve decided to take the extra classes designated for the semester and also I’d love to talk about increasing your workload in school” Jade said tauntingly.”Mom!!! hurry over, your daughter is bullying me” Kelvin screamed out dramatically earning him Grace’s attention.”What is it?” Grace asked with concern when she hurried out of the kitchen.”Mom look” He said pointing at Jade, “Sister said she would put me up for adoption. Mom I don’t think you brought the right baby home. This isn’t my sister” Kelvin whined, pointing his finger to Jade, who couldn’t believe a word she has just heard.When had she mentioned him being adopted?It was at this point that Grace noticed how beautifully dressed her daughter was.”Jade…you are finally wearing that. You look…beautiful” Grace said sincerely. She remembered vividly how Jade had complained about how Amy made her spend money unnecessarily on that oufit, and she had assured her that a day would come when the outfit would be useful and finally that day had come and it looked perfect on her.Jade’s current look made Grace certain that her daughter was born for greatness. How she wished she could ease her path to success.”Thank you mom” Jade replied with a smile.”Mom did you hear what I just said?” Kelvin asked when he noticed he was being ignored by his mother.”I know I brought the wrong baby home” Grace turned and said to Kelvin. A smug smile appeared on his face but that smile suddenly dissappeared when Grace said, “Because I knew I had a different son at birth” Jade chuckled at her mother’s words. That was savage.Kelvin gazed at his mother and sister incredulously. He couldn’t believe his mother had not taken sides with him.”All of you’re bullies, and I’m not going to school anymore” He said as he stomped his feet angrily.”You make it sound like it’s something new. I think we can use your school fees to rear birds, that would be lucrative right?” Jade said as she turned to her mother to concur. Grace laughed at the siblings exchange before heading back to the kitchen.”Jade Walker, you’re officially disowned by me for life. Go get yourself a new brother” Kelvin declared.”Really? And here I was thinking I should buy my adopted brother a new game set. What a shame” Jade said with a poor countenance.”Really?” Kelvin Jeered as he sauntered to her side.”Yes, but now I have to find a new brother. That means I should save my money right?” She said with a pained look, as she tried hard not to laugh.”No you can’t!” Kelvin exclaimed. “I have decided to remain your brother, after all new brothers are hard to find this days. So you should stick with what you have okay” He said thoughtfully. Jade looked at him with widened eyes. She was surprised by his level of shamelessness.”So when are you buying it?” He asked curiously, making Jade scoff.”In your dreams. I rather not have a brother, than have one like you””That’s your problem. I’ll just hold you to your promise” Jade looked at him incredulously, when did she promise him anything?”I love you sis. Thanks in advance” Kelvin chirped before running to their mother. Jade shook her head and sighed in resignation. Her brother was a hand full.Soon breakfast was served and the family of three had a hearty breakfast. Jade told her mom about the contract without mentioning Cale or his girlfriend. She was sure her mother would pay him a visit if she did, and no one could guarantee what she might do.”I pray you’ll be successful at it” Grace prayed.”Good luck sis. It’s not like you need it anyway, because you’re just smart like that” Kelvin said.”Thank you” Jade said with a small laugh. She hasn’t seen anyone who was more proud of their sister than Kelvin.”All right I’ll be on my way” Jade said as she waved her family.Kelvin noticed the concerned look on their mother’s eyes.”Mom don’t worry sister can do it. I’m sure of it” He assured Grace while she nodded affirmatively.”Mom can I not go to school today?” Kelvin asked desperately, making use of the opportunity.”No!” Grace replied as she picked up his bag and shoved it at him before pushing him out of the house.Jade arrived at Acrosoft about half an hour later. She felt her heart race as she stood in front of the sky tall building. She knew she had been assigned a week to secure the contract, but she wished everything can go a bit quicker.Her nerves ranged when she saw how busy it was at the lobby. She was certain this was a bit unusual, since she had visited Amy on several occasions and it was usually not so busy. That only meant all these people were here for same reason…ProGuard!.Indeed the competition would be fierce just as she had predicted. Jade took deep breaths to calm herself. But suddenly she felt her heart thumping hard when she recalled she had once seen that ‘guy’ here.Jade quickly said a little prayer in her heart not to bump into him again. But the more she prayed, the more her heart raced frantically. She slowly placed her hand on her chest to calm herself, it was then she noticed her sweating palms.”Everything will be fine, you’ve got to calm down Jade” Jade said to herself reassuringly.”He won’t turn up here, at least not today” She added. She had barely finished encouraging herself when she heard an uproar outside the building.Jade raised her gaze to the direction of the commotion. She saw girls shrieking excitedly over God knows what. She had only taken a few steps to see what was going on when a familiar silhouette came in view.’Oh no, not today’ Jade cried in her heart.________Jake was surprised to see his mystery girl standing in front of his company as soon as he stepped out of his car. She looked so elegant. He had thought she looked beautiful before but it seems he was mistaken because now… she looked stunning in that formal piece.He wondered how she keeps looking more beautiful every time he bumped into her.Jade’s heart skipped several beats when her eyes met those familiar hazel eyes. She stepped back subconsciously when Jake took a step towards her. Jade turned around in search of an escape route.Jake’s lips curved into a smile when she acted like she was about to make a run for her life. This girl keeps amusing him in every way.Jade’s head felt blank with every step he took towards her. She wished a miracle could happen and stop him from coming closer. She still hasn’t forgotten how utterly insensitive this man had been to her the last time they had met at the party.”Jake” A coquettish voice called making Jake stop on his track.Jade noticed something caught his attention when he turned around. She decided to use the opportunity to make a run for her life. It didn’t take a second more before she ran into the lobby, with the hope that he wasn’t following.Jake frowned when he saw who had called him. That slender figure looked familiar but he couldn’t remember where he had met her.He returned his gaze back to Jade, his frown deepened when he noticed she was…gone. Jake looked around to find her, but he couldn’t. He sighed out in frustration.”Jake” He heard that voice call him again as she hurried over to him with a smile hung on her face. Jake sighed when he recognized who she was. It was the girl he had met at the club last night.”Good morning” Stephanie greeted a coy smile.”Good morning, Miss…” He paused when he realized he didn’t even remember her name. It wasn’t his fault. He had never cared about knowing the names of the women he slept with, except for one. How he wished he knew her name. He was sure her name would be as beautiful as she was.”Stephanie” Stephanie said with a shy smile as she tucked her almost perfect hair behind her ears.”Sorry I didn’t get to remember your name” Jake apologized with a smile. Honestly, he wasn’t interested in having a conversation with her or any of his conquest.”Why are you here?” Jake asked curiously.”Well I’m here to sign a contract with you” Stephanie said with a coy smile which Jake understood perfectly.”You’re here for ProGuard?” Jake asked rhetorically. So this was the reason she had hooked up with him last night.”Yes” Stephanie nodded.”Sir” Jake’s secretary, Patrick called. Jake turned to him with a questioning look.”Sir it’s time” Patrick informed Jake, who responded with a simple nod. He turned back to Stephanie who was trying to be obvious about her familiarity with him.”I’ll see you inside” Jake informed Stephanie before taking his leave.Stephanie had a smug smile on her face, when she noticed a few envious eyes on her, most especially from the ladies who had been drooling over Jake when he stepped out of his car.”What’s she trying to do? Seduce him?” A Lady snorted as she glared at Stephanie. It was obvious she was trying to flaunt her familiarity with Jake. Stephanie glanced at her with a confident smile before walking into the lobby. She was sure Jake would sign with her especially after the passionate night they had shared together.Stephanie was desperate to secure the contract with Acrosoft, so she had asked her cousin who was familiar with Jake’s friends to hook her up. Since it was common knowledge that Jake was an infamous playboy, she had decided to try her luck. Fortunately, her cousin introduced her to phil who in turn introduced her to Jake.Her heart leaped for joy when Jake didn’t reject her and they had both spent a pleasurable night together. Although she had felt doubtful about Jake giving her the contract when she woke up to an empty bed with a check lying by the bedside table. But now she was sure this contract was hers.”Jade just you wait and see” Stephanie said to herself with a proud smile on her face.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 31
