Jealous

"HOW'S your day?" Kanor asked Sean with a smile as he entered the car.

"Good!" his short response to his grandfather.

"Did you meet her?"

Sean nodded and smiled a little as an answer.

"Why do you look sad?" he said when he noticed that he was not in the mood to talk.

"I saw him."

Kanor sighed as he watched the child. He knew who he was referring to.

"Don't worry, Grandpa, he didn't see my face." Sean gave a quick explanation.

"Very good, you know that this is not the right time yet."

"I understand."

Kanor wanted to make the child happy so he decided to take him somewhere first because it was still early. He will only be even sadder when they go home because his mother is not there yet.

After Steven sent his daughter home, he returned to the office because he had a meeting at 4 p.m. at the hotel he owned in laguna. He knew that Nicole had gone there first because he wanted her to be familiar with the management of the hotel they were building in Batangas.

When Nicole arrived at the hotel, she did not enter immediately. She smiled bitterly as she remembered what had happened in the past. It's been six years already since she first stepped into this hotel. Where her life began to break down.

"Good afternoon, Miss Twartz!" a staff greeted Nicole as soon as she entered the hotel.

Ralph quickly approached the newcomer when he saw her. He had seen her on the news with Steven, but he was still surprised when he saw her face in person. He knew she was one of the coming guests at the hotel and she will be participating in the meeting with some board members, including him as the hotel manager.

Nicole smiled at the staff and greeted back. She kept the formality on her face when she saw a man approaching her. She still remembers him even though it has been a long time.

"My name is Ralph Clemente." Ralph introduces himself to the lady.

"Nicole Twartz," Nicole said as she shook hands with the young man. He has not changed, he is still handsome and elegant.

"Nice to meet you! You look like my old friend, and you're both kind."

Nicole quickly avoided looking at the other person. "So, the woman who looks like me is known even in this place." She simply looked around the hotel to avoid Ralph's intense gaze.

Ralph forced a laugh and scratched his neck even though it wasn't itchy. "Well, I hope you don't mind if I compare you to her."

"Not at all, I'm used to it." She smiled a little at the young man.

Ralph walked with the lady and gave her a tour around the hotel before the meeting started. Steven was not there yet after all.

"I'm just curious about that girl who looks like me. I notice that Mr. Scout doesn't want to talk about her in front of me. What's wrong with her and how do you know her?"

Ralph watched her intently. They just walk slowly and her attention doesn't seem to be anywhere around. He honestly didn't know why Steven didn't want to talk about that woman he had met before. All he knew was that she suddenly disappeared and a few months later, he heard she was dead. He wasn't a gossiper or a close friend of that woman, so he didn't pay attention to her whereabouts anymore. But now he has taken an interest in the lady who looks like her.

"As far as I know, she's just a simple girl, but her unique beauty got the attention of the others."

"Like you?" Nicole asked jokingly.

"Well.." Ralph scratched his neck again, "it's normal for someone like me to admire a woman."

Nicole smiled at the young man, he really still hadn’t changed and still likes giving compliments. But she likes his attitude and he was nice to talk to. They were in such a scene when Steven saw them. Just like when they were on the site, he has a very angry expression on his face while looking at her.

"Is everything inside yet?" Steven asked Ralph and didn't bother to greet him.

"Yes, Sir! We're the only ones they are waiting for." Ralph answered politely.

"Let's go!"

Nicole was surprised when Steven suddenly grabbed her by the waist and they had to walk like that. When she turned to look at Ralph, he was looking at Steven's hand resting on the back of her waist. She hemmed to get Steven's attention, but he acted like he heard nothing. She could do nothing but keep walking because he squeezes her waist when she tries to get away from him.

Upon entering, those present immediately stood up and everyone's eyes were focused on Nicole because of her closeness with Steven.

The meeting had just ended and Nicole understood almost nothing because of what Steven was doing. He did not allow her to sit elsewhere, but beside him. And while those present were busy with the discussion, the young man's palm was also busy playing with her hand that's resting on his thigh. No matter how much she tried to pull her hand away, he didn't want to let go and no one noticed because it was under the table.

"What is wrong with you?!" Nicole abruptly withdrew the hand held by the young man when they were the only ones left in the conference room.

Nicole was even more annoyed when Steven just looked at her questioningly and he acted innocent.

"I'm leaving!" she stood up and left the young man. She breathed a sigh of relief because he let her get away from him.

Steven also couldn't understand himself. He just watched Nicole until she went out of the door. He made sure Ralph wouldn't have time to get close to her, thus he let her leave alone.

Nicole did not return to the company because it was getting late. She headed to a friend's restaurant because she was invited yesterday to go back there so they could talk again.

Joseph welcomed Nicole at the entrance of his restaurant when he saw her coming. The pleasure can be seen on his face. "Thank you for accepting my invitation."

"I'm the one who should thank you." Nicole smiled kindly.

Joseph escorted her. But the smile gradually faded from her lips as she recognized the person coming their way.

"I never thought we'd meet here again and oh, you have a date." Rita greeted Nicole with a smile as she analyzed her.

"Nice to meet you again," Nicole said and smiled at the woman as well. She secretly smiled when she noticed how Rita's male companion looks at her.

"Well, you're smart and know how to choose a man." Rita said meaningfully to Nicole. She wanted revenge because she was embarrassed in front of her brother before, but she didn't seem to be affected by her sarcastic remark.

"Thank you for the compliment." Nicole felt Joseph's slight squeeze on her shoulder to let her know he was just there next to her when she needed him.

"You looked familiar." Xander furrowed his brows while looking at the person in front of him.

"She just looks like the woman in your mind." Rita quickly explained to the young man.

Rita was even more annoyed with Nicole, knowing that Xander had still not forgotten the woman she looked like. She and Xander had met again just recently because he was busy with business abroad, but it was ruined thanks to this woman.

"I think you're the tenth to tell me that." A captivating smile flashed on Nicole's lips for Xander. She remembers him and she knows Rita likes him a lot.

Xander chuckled and introduced himself to the woman. Rita's frown was ignored. As Steven’s best friend, he can’t forget that face that looks like the one in front of him.

"Thank you again for choosing my restaurant tonight, Bro." Joseph joined in the conversation of the three.

"Oh, is she the one you told me earlier that you were waiting for to have dinner with?" Xander asked Joseph. They also became quite close and they were joking with each other earlier because until now he is still single. He is older than him, so he wonders why he is still single to this day.

"Yes, this is my friend from Canada, Nicole Twartz." Joseph proudly introduced her to Xander.

Grinning, Xander tapped him on the shoulder. He did not pay attention to the woman's name. He was happy for him because it seemed that his delicate heart had found romance.

"Good luck!" Xander winked at his friend before saying goodbye to them. He has taken Rita away from the woman because it looks like she will cause trouble again.

Xander drove Rita to their house. It was a perfect time that Steven arrived and invited him to have a drink first.

"Have you seen that woman who looks like her?"

Steven frowned as he looked at him. He wasn't drunk yet, so it couldn't be that his mind was flying somewhere else.

"Oh, c'mon, I know you still can't forget the night you had with that woman, that's why you can't bring yourself to have sex with another woman."

It was only then that Steven understood who he was referring to. He keeps nothing secret from him and he is the same with him. He had just arrived in their country, so he certainly didn’t know the news.

"Where did you see her?" he asked nonchalantly.

"So you've seen her." Xander was stating the fact.

Steven poured wine into his glass and did not answer him.

Xander grinned as he carefully read the expression on his best friend's face. And silent means yes.

"Seems like I was late to know about her. Fortunately, I saw her earlier at the restaurant with her date." Xander chuckled and didn't take his eyes off his friend's face.

A strange smile slowly appeared from Xander's lips as the expression on Steven's face changed. He also noticed that his grip on the glass tightened.

"Joseph suits her and it's just amusing because it looks like that guy has already been hit by Cupid's arrow." Xander continued to tell the story.

Steven slammed the glass he was holding on the table because of annoyance. He ignored the sly smile on Xander's lips.

"Shall I stay with you longer?" grinning, Xander asked Steven as he stood up.

Steven turned to his friend before turning his back on him. He didn't want to say much more and Xander got it.