My Mr. Perfect, Imperfect

Chapter 37: Heartbroken

***

Jade went back into the conference room. Miss Barbara was there alongside Mr. Gorge, watching the footage with the security crew.

Taking a glance at it, Jade noticed something unusual. He narrowed his eyes and bent over to the computer operator.

"Wait a second. Go to the previous screen." Jade ordered.

In it, there was a tall man dressed in black. The stranger looked at his sides mysteriously and slowly bent over into the next room, but his face wasn't clear enough.

"What? Where's this?" Jade asked.

"It's near the staff room." The computer operator replied him.

Jade quickly went to check the room. Miss Barbara, Mr. Gorge and two other security guards also followed.

When they got there, there was a big, wrapped box in the form of a gift. Curious, Jade unwrapped it and gently opened the box. In it was another smaller box. It was a bit larger than the size of one's palm but metallic. Immediately, Jade thought it was the bomb so, he tried to open it.

Steadily, carefully.

Opening it, a spooky teddy jumped out of it. Jade threw it away immediately, startled at what it was.

Everyone shook in fear as it gave an evil, malevolent laughter. It has an electrical noise with sounds like its battery was getting low.

"Um, that's a toy sir. " George muttered while Jade held the toy. It was a puppet with a long neck that stood out, but it wasn't funny.

Thinking about all of these made Jade pondered unnecessarily. He went to his office to think for a while to bite his nails on the prank. Yet, he was still unsettled.

"Have you handed the materials to the police?" He asked miss Barbara.

"Yes sir. They said that they'll be analysing it right away." She explained.

"What kind of person would do this? Well, anyway, I think this is the end of all this, sir." She suggested.

"Yes. There aren't any more threats that we're facing, either." Mr. George added.

"Increase the guards we have patrolling the hotel, two folds. And tell the PR team to smooth things over with the press. Also, we'll be reviewing the emergency manual again." He explained.

Just then, Miss Barbara's phone rang. It was a call from Mr. Tim.

She handed it to Jade immediately, while he received the call.

"Yes, my phone died a while ago. Tell me about the situation."

"They said that it was a sudden heart attack but thankfully, he was able to get emergency care. So, he'll be okay." Mr. Tim assured.

"Thank you for your hard work." Jade admitted. "I'll send someone over shortly. Please, monitor Mr. Johnson's health until then."

"Yes sir."

"Alright." Jade cut the call and he handed the phone back to Miss Barbara.

Looking at his wristwatch, it was already 6:30 p.m. Jade clutched his head confusedly as other works came up.

Sapphire slept and woke up, yet, he didn't come. She checked her phone, and it was 9:00 p.m. She gently grabbed her phone and scrolled through. Furthermore, she wanted to call him again but she's dialled his contract over 50 times within the last hours, but he didn't even pick up.

'Perhaps, his phone is switched off, so what's the use?' Sapphire thought as she placed her phone inside her bag and headed home.

She's never felt so sad and disappointed, ever. Sapphire walked to a corner of the street to sit and think.

Looking around, her eyes caught a couple walking hand in hand across the street. They looked so cute and romantic, unlike what her relationship is with Jade. Tears slowly covered her eyes as she felt so heartbroken. She tried hard to hold the tears back but it glowed freely on her face.

It's the first time he didn't return her calls, but she felt so lonely. All Sapphire wanted to do was to cry and cry more.

'It's not as if he's her real boyfriend anyway. All of this was just for the contract, and it won't last forever. It would be over after a couple of months, anyway.' She thought as more tears lingered down her eyes.

Meanwhile, Jade drove to the restaurant where they'd plan to take coffee before going to the Cinema to watch a romance film. In a hurry, he rushed into the restaurant. As his eyes searched the seated guests, he realized that Sapphire wasn't there. Immediately, Jade drove to the side of her house. Getting to her door, he noticed that it was locked so, he waited inside his car. It was packed by the side of the road where he usually drops her off. Waiting for her, thinking about her. It was chilly and cold but he still waited.

Just then, his eyes caught up with Sapphire across the street. She walked home from the restaurant, and she looked so sad and pathetic. The new mascara she'd managed to put washed down her face due to the tears.

Jade rushed to her immediately, but she gave a vacant look at him. Standing, facing each other, it looked like they've missed each other and Jade was regretful for not picking up his calls. He couldn't say anything. He couldn't find words to express himself, yet, he wore an apologetic look.

Sapphire on the other hand wasn't happy either. Her eyes were still teary. She never thought the day would be a bad one.

Walking closer to him, they both gazed into each other's eyes, intensely.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" Her shaky voice broke the silence.

"I'm keeping my promise to you." He explained, earnestly.

"It's past the time we agreed to meet." She scoffed at his words. "Do you know what time it is? It's 10:00 p.m!"

"I. I was stuck at work, I couldn't leave. " Jade tried to explain, but Sapphire cut his words.

"Why? How come?" An eyebrow raised to the question.

"Well, there was a bomb threat--" he stopped in between his words, remembering his policy. He never tell anyone, even his grandfather about stuff related to his hotel.

"Well anyway, an urgent matter came up. We don't have much time. Let's have some tea or something."

"Nobody has time. It's just that people make time for important things." She snarled.

"I told you I was really busy. I tried to come but I couldn't."

"What were you doing with your phone, off?" She queried.

"I didn't turn it off. My battery---" he paused for a moment, reading the expression on Sapphire's face. Tears lingered down her eyes even though she tried not to show any emotion. She'd wasted the last 6 hours all because of him.

"Are you angry with me now?" He asked.

"No." She replied to him, wiping off the tears that were dropping. "I'm not angry with you Jade, but I'm definitely not happy right now. All we have to do is to meet up at the time we'd agreed on in the contract, once a week is enough till the deadline. So, I'm trying my best not to be angry."

She looked at him with more tears in her eyes.

"All we have to do is to meet up at the time we'd agreed on?" Jade repeated her words, unbelievably, as if he was hurt the same way.

"Is there anything wrong about following the rules? This is an arranged relationship anyway, not a real one." She sniffed and looked back at him. "Do you expect me to rush to you with a bright smile and get a cup of coffee as if nothing happened?"

"I told you something urgent came up. I was really, really busy. I couldn't just leave like that. You see, at the hotel--"

A call interrupted his conversation.

Jade checked his phone. It was Mr. Tim calling, but he didn't pick. Jade didn't want anything to divert his attention, now that he's with Sapphire.

"I see, you're really busy." She muttered. "You should go."

About to leave, Jade grabbed her arm in his left hand and answered the call.

"Hello." He started.

"All right, were you able to get in touch with the general manager?" Jade replied.

"Don't worry, I'll be back in 10 minutes." As he cuts the call, Sapphire flinched away, but Jade held her wrist tight again. They shared an eye contact, but Sapphire looked away.

"It's only because this is urgent that's why I came here. You're equally important to me. I'll call you when I get there."

"Why would you need to do that?" Her voice shivered.

"Let's just meet next week, we need to finish up this charade quickly." She told him before walking into her room.

Heartbroken, Sapphire tucked her hair at the back of her ears as she walked to her bedroom without bothering turning on the lights.

She sighed heavily as more tears gathered in her eyes. Placing her bag on the table, Sapphire sat down on the floor to think.

"Well, were just dating. It's not as if I'm going to marry him. " She cried and stared at her phone with 52 missed calls.

"Why is he so damn busy all the time. I can't believe I wasted my weekend like this. I'll have to stay awake all night to make lesson notes but now, I'm so tired." She said to herself.