Chapter 3 Let's not meet again

The sun was setting as Alejandro approached his front door, casting long shadows across the cobblestone path. He could hear laughter from inside and was surprised to find that Jessica had already moved in.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with a neutral look on his face.

Jessica smiled and walked towards him seductively, "Oh, I thought since Marie left, you might be lonely and we can't have that, now can we?" she began to touch his chest, carefully rubbing him through his clothes.

He simply stood, his shoulders tense as he loosened his tie. He felt Jessica's fingers trace delicate patterns on his back, her breath warm and inviting against his neck.

"Long day at the office?" she murmured, pressing herself against him, her silk robe barely concealing her intentions.

"Exhausting," Alejandro sighed, rubbing his temples. "I need some sleep."

"Let me help you relax first," she purred, nipping at his earlobe. Her hands moved to unbutton his shirt, but Alejandro gently pushed her away.

"Jessica, not tonight. I'm really not in the mood."

Her eyes flashed with anger. "You're never in the mood anymore! You come home late every night and barely even look at me. What am I, invisible?"

"Jess, please," Alejandro pleaded, feeling the weight of her frustration press down on him. "She doesn't understand how much pressure I'm under at work," he whispered bitterly.

"Is it another woman? Is that why you don't want me anymore?" She shouted, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Jessica, calm down," he said, attempting to dispel her mounting paranoia. "There's no one else, and have you forgotten you got me from someone else too?" he thought for a moment, then said, "Actually that sounded a lot better in my head."

Ignoring his comment about stealing and being stolen, "Then why won't you touch me?" Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks as she feigned vulnerability, knowing full well how he responded to her tears.

"Enough!" Alejandro snapped, unwilling to play into her manipulation. He stormed out of the room, leaving Jessica glaring on the bed.

Jessica tried everything in her capacity over the next few days to seduce Alejandro – a barely-there negligee, suggestive texts, coy glances over dinner. But each attempt only served to drive him further away, his patience wearing thin.

"I can't take this anymore," Alejandro thought, barely able to stand the sight of her. He needed space – and time to clear his head.

So when night fell, he decided to sleep in the office instead, hoping the distance would soothe the tension in him.

As Alejandro settled into his makeshift bed at the office, a mixture of relief and guilt washed over him. The room was quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the distant clicking of keyboards from a few late-night workers. He knew that avoiding Jessica wasn't a long-term solution, but he needed this time to think.

Back at his home, Jessica paced the bedroom floor, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe that Alejandro had chosen work over her – their once fiery passion was now reduced to ash. Her mind raced with questions and insecurities, each one gnawing away at her resolve. "After everything I did to get him? Are we falling apart? Could Marie be behind it?"

Without thinking any second further, she picked up her phone and called the regular contact in it, "do you still do that hacking stuff?" she asked in a coolly tone.

"Yes, why?" the raspy voice replied

She grinned, "Great, I need you to look into someone for me." She gave the information and hung up. "Let's see how you defy me now after I post all the dirty things about you."

Jessica didn't bother to look for a job since she found a sugar daddy that spent on her, little did she know her sugar daddy was on the verge of breakdown, not that it concerned her. But, at that moment, she was immune to having a job, so she stayed at home all day, making it easy for Alejandro to bump into her when he came for a change of clothes.

"Hey there, Alejandro," Jessica said, a smirk on her lips as she leaned against the kitchen counter. "Guess what? I did some digging on our dear friend Marie."

Alejandro's initial reaction was shock, but quickly turned to surprise as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Turns out she's from a wealthy family. Old money, too. I bet she'd be able to help you with your business venture if you played your cards right." She winked at him, proud of her discovery.

He couldn't hide his surprise, someone like Jessica had access to such information. "Really? Thanks for the information, Jessica. That might come in handy." Despite his gratitude, something felt off about it all, like a nagging itch he couldn't quite reach.

"So, can we talk now?" she asked with a pretend soft smile.

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Alejandro replied, looking at the unkempt place. It was never like that when Marie was around, no matter how busy the woman was, she always found time to tidy up. That is another thing he missed about her.

"So, I know I was not reasonable when you said you were tired, I should have cared for you like a wife should." Before she could proceed, he cut her off.

He held his hands out, "Let me stop you right there, wife?" he queried with a dark chuckle, "You are not my wife."

Jessica chuckled nervously, "Of course not, what I meant to say is someone that lives in this house and is female."

"Okay, go on."

"I should have been more considerate of your feelings, so for that, I apologize."

Alejandro sighed, "Of course Jess, it is okay." He then continued towards the room, before getting called back her his house unwanted guest.

"Um, remember that money you promised for the Louis bag? I kinda need it tomorrow, okay?"

Alejandro simply chuckled without giving a definite answer.

The hot water cascaded over Alejandro's shoulders as he leaned his forehead against the cool tile, allowing the steam to envelop him. The roar of the shower drowned out the discordance of thoughts racing through his mind; all except one. His business was on the brink of collapse and every ally had abandoned him. The pressure was suffocating, especially with no one to turn to.

"Marie," he whispered into the humid air, remembering how his ex-wife had recently come into an unexpected fortune. Their relationship had been tumultuous at best, but she was his last chance at saving everything he'd worked so hard for.

The water droplets clung to his skin as he hastily dried off, the urgency of the situation pushing him forward. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, noticing the lines that had deepened around his eyes, weariness etched into his features. He couldn't afford to lose everything now. Marie had to help him.

"Come on, Marie. Pick up," Alejandro muttered under his breath, tapping his foot impatiently as the phone rang persistently in his hand. Each ring felt like an eternity, tightening the knot in his stomach, his heart beat so loudly against his ribcage.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded distant, guarded, but it was her – finally.

"Marie, it's me, Alejandro. I need to talk to you. It's urgent." He tried to keep his tone steady, masking the desperation clawing at his insides.

"Look, Alejandro, I'm really not in the mood to talk to you right now." She hesitated, the hostility in her tone unmistakable.

"Please, just hear me out," he begged, fighting to maintain his composure. "Can we meet? Just for a few minutes, that's all I'm asking for."

Marie sighed heavily, weighing her options before reluctantly agreeing. "Fine, but make it quick."

"Thank you," he breathed, feeling the weight on his shoulders ease ever so slightly. The fate of his business now rested in the hands of the one person he never thought he'd turn to for help.

As Alejandro hung up the call, to his relief, she agreed. As they sat down, he tried to explain his recent struggles and how much her friendship meant to him.

"Marie, I didn't know about your family's wealth before, but now that I do, I thought maybe you could talk to your parents about investing in my business idea. You're the only person I trust to help me make this dream a reality."

"Firstly, you are bold enough to think of me and to think I would want to help you." She scoffed, crossing her hand against her chest.

"I know I hurt you, but you don't have to be a terrible person like me." He argued in hope that him accepting the fact of his human nature would dissuade the hostility Marie was feeling at the moment.

"Good to know you have realized the kind of person you are." She replied

"Of course."

Marie hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright, Alejandro. I'll see what I can do."

Just as they shook hands, a shrill voice cut through the air. "You two make me sick!" Jessica stormed into the café, her face contorted with fury. "Using your rich little friend here to get what you want? Pathetic!"

"Jessica, Stop that! Outside now!" Alejandro shouted, anger blazing in his eyes, but Jessica was already causing a scene, drawing the attention of everyone in the café.

He felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment and anger, but above all else, he felt regret for the path he had chosen.

Marie scoffed and shook her head, "you know what? Let's not meet again." Rolling her eyes, she stormed out, hoping he would stay gone from her life forever.

From a far distance, a strange pair of eyes was watching every one of Alejandro's movements and reported back to its master,

"Yes sir, they met."