Chapter 3 Similarities

Early the following day, Jemma received a notification informing her that the newly inaugurated president would be visiting the Department of Energy, where she was employed. Determined to talk to him, she arrived at work ahead of schedule.

Inside the office, Aidan Francis, the head of the department, clapped his hands briskly to grab everyone's attention. "Everyone, line up in the hallway to welcome the President."

As Jemma moved toward the hallway, Kaelyn suddenly caught her arm.

Startled, Jemma quickly pulled away, retreating a step and eyeing her with suspicion.

Kaelyn's expression fell. "Jemma, what's that supposed to mean?"

Jemma met her gaze briefly but stayed silent.

Although she didn't yet understand Kaelyn's motive for drugging her, she couldn't trust her like before.

When Jemma's silence continued, Kaelyn's shoulders sagged, and she said softly, "I'm sorry, Jemma. Did I upset you? Please, let me fix this."

She hurriedly grabbed a coffee cup from the nearby table and offered it to Jemma. The liquid spilled as she handed it over. Jemma had a bad feeling and stepped back instinctively, but the damage was done-coffee splattered across her crisp white blouse.

Fumbling for tissues, Jemma tried to clean the stain, but it only got worse.

Her eyes turned icy as she glared at Kaelyn. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? You're trying to stop me from meeting the President and clearing my father's name."

Kaelyn looked stunned. "How could you accuse me of that, Jemma? It was just an accident! Let me help you."

She reached out with a tissue towards Jemma's neck.

Suddenly, Jemma felt a sharp sting on her ear. Alarmed, she pushed Kaelyn away forcefully, realization dawning-Kaelyn had indeed spilled coffee on her deliberately. After all, there wasn't any coffee on her neck.

At that moment, Aidan returned. "What are you two doing? Hurry and get to the hallway! Jemma, what happened to your blouse? Fix it quickly. If you embarrass us in front of the President, there'll be consequences."

Gritting her teeth, Jemma rushed to the restroom.

As she stepped inside, she heard the door lock behind her with a decisive click.

Panic surged as she tried to open it, but the door wouldn't budge.

Reaching for her phone, she discovered her pocket was empty.

Kaelyn must have taken advantage of the earlier chaos to swipe her phone and trap her in the restroom.

Jemma banged on the door. "Is anyone there? Help me!"

Silence. Realizing no one was coming, she noticed a small window. With no other option, she climbed through.

Thankfully, it wasn't a high floor, and she landed safely outside. Wasting no time, she sprinted toward the hallway outside the office.

By the time she reached the hallway, the sound of applause filled the air-the President had arrived.

Rounding the corner, Jemma saw him flanked by staff. The newly appointed national leader exuded a commanding presence.

He stood tall and commanding, radiating grace and sophistication. His words held charm, while his mesmerizing amber gaze drew everyone in. With a perfectly sculpted nose, defined lips that hinted at allure, a sleek jawline, and even the subtle movement of his Adam's apple, he was undeniably magnetic.

From afar, Jemma noticed the scene exuded warmth. The President wore a slight smile, his demeanor suggesting he was in high spirits.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Jemma clenched her fists and stepped forward with determination. "Mr. President, may I have a moment? I'm Kevin Martin's daughter. My father has been wrongfully accused and used as a scapegoat. Just last night, someone attempted to assassinate him at the police station. I'm working to collect new evidence, but I implore you-please issue an order to postpone his trial." She spoke with respect and urgency.

Caiden's smile faded, replaced by a furrowed brow. "Kevin Martin? He's your father?"

Jemma met his gaze, nodding firmly. "Yes, he is."

For a moment, Caiden's eyes lingered on hers, their brightness and emotional intensity catching him off guard. Something about them felt familiar-eerily so. His thoughts wandered to the mysterious woman from the previous night. Her eyes had held the same haunting clarity.

But there was a glaring discrepancy: the single pearl earring he had found at the stairwell was identical to the one Kaelyn wore. And this young woman before him wasn't wearing it.

What on earth was going on?