After hearing what his mother had said, Desmond was at a loss. Proving her innocence was one thing, but changing public opinion was a different story altogether. It was only possible if Zaria admitted that what she wrote in the articles was a lie.

However, doing that would make F&P Media sink to the bottom of the sea just as it was starting to rise back from its ashes. Zaria had worked so hard to revive it… She had even gone so far as to stalk and seduce him, then sign a ten-year employment contract for the sake of the agency. Wouldn't all her effort go to waste?

Besides, if he made her do such a thing, she would be so sad. He loved her cheerful smile so much that it would kill him if that smile were to fade. If it was possible, he didn't want to ever see the sadness he had seen in her eyes a few days ago.

After thinking for a while, he still didn't know what to do, so he went to look for Samantha as soon as he left the detention center.

The woman was reclining on the leather couch in the living room of their home, doing what she was best at—enjoying the lavish life that she didn't know she would soon lose. When she saw the man who had walked in, she sat up and took off her blue wireless earphones as though they were blocking her vision. "Bro, you finally remembered that I exist."

Desmond frowned ever so slightly, disgusted by the word she had just called him, which was once his favorite word.

He gave the servants who were waiting on Samantha a look, and they knew to leave them alone. When they left, he didn't even bother to take a seat as he dumped his intention without wasting his time. "Change your statement and tell the truth. I'm giving you one last chance to do it willingly."

As if she had heard the funniest joke, she burst into laughter and picked her ear. "If not? What will you do, brother?"

Her tone was deliberately taunting. "Tarnish my reputation? Reveal to the public that I had an abortion? Hand me over to the police?" In her view, this was the only thing that Desmond had against her. It was the only measure he could take if he was very desperate.

Before he could give a response, she maliciously added, "While aborting a three-month-old baby is a crime in Olphire, what if I said that I did it in a country that allows it? If not, I could claim that it was therapeutic and that my life would be in danger if I didn't do it."

Desmond's lips curled into a smirk. This brainless woman. Did she realize who she was dealing with? He had more than a few ways to use that information if he wanted to, but there was no use threatening an idiot.

When she saw that he didn't say a word, she panicked slightly but quickly covered it up. "Don't forget, you helped me hide the truth. You were an accomplice and will go to jail too, for tampering with evidence of crime and whatnot."

The man silently mocked her.

Since they were young, he loved her so much that he had only let her see the doting side of him. She didn't know how heartless he could become once he was triggered. For the sake of their biological bond, he held back his anger and said, "The hearing is in two weeks, Samantha. You better meet the attorney within a week and think about what you will say."

Not wanting to hear any more of the crazy woman's idiotic words, he turned on his heel and left.

"Huh, whatever." She shrugged. If Desmond thought she was some tame and naive woman, he was wrong. She wouldn't have gotten to where she was if she didn't have a brain.

___

Wednesday morning.

"Good morning, sir." Zaria flashed a bright smile as she delivered some documents.

"What's the good news? You look jovial." He looked up as he asked. His gaze fell on her pink lips that were slightly parted, giving him an insanely strong urge to pin her against the wall and kiss her.

"Ximena is coming back today." She responded. "My friend. She's been studying abroad."

When she was done speaking, she noticed his furrowed brows. "You don't look happy."

"Mmh. I'm very sad." His expression changed into an agonized one.

She couldn't control herself from asking, "Anything I can do to help?"

He must have been waiting for the question because he looked like he had seen a ray of hope. "Zaria, could you take back the coffee maker? I promise not to constantly ask for coffee."

"Uh…"

She didn't know how to explain this. In what way was the coffee machine making him uncomfortable? Wasn't it supposed to make work easier for both of them? She was done with this bizarre boss.

"Do you need the day off to go meet your friend?" He asked out of the blue.

Knowing him, she couldn't be easily fooled. "What's the precondition?"

As expected, he glanced at the coffee machine in a way that could make one mistake it for a bomb.

She shook her head. "Thanks, but her flight lands in the evening. I'll still make it on time."

She left, making him wonder if he should make her work overtime today. However, remembering how angry she would get if he deliberately made her miss the opportunity to pick her friend up from the airport, he could only bite his tongue and hold it in.

___

In the evening.

Due to traffic, Zaria was almost late and arrived when Ximena's flight had just landed. She only waited for barely a minute before she saw the tall, beautiful woman looking around.

"Xim, here!" She raised her placard excitedly.

The woman turned around and saw her. Instead of rushing over to hug her, she crossed her arms and looked away.

Zaria laughed at her antics and went over to her instead. "Xim?"

"Hmph. I don't know you. Who are you?" The woman pretended to ignore her.

"Did I make you wait? Don't be mad. I'm sorry, okay?" Zaria said through a laugh, wondering when her friend learned to throw tantrums.

"How could you not tell me when you went through such an ordeal?" The woman finally exploded as she glared at her friend with her gorgeous brown eyes. She was talking about what happened to F&P Media.

"It's settled now." The latter said in a tiny voice. "You already had so much on your plate. How could I bear to tell you about matters that would distress you?"

"I still hate you." Ximena pouted. She was an unruly woman who looked like she could launch a punch at the slightest provocation and was strong enough to scare men away. Her pouty expression was so unlike her that it made Zaria hold her tummy and laugh.

"Hey, let's grab some ice cream." She changed the topic while reaching for her suitcase.

"Nope. I won't go with you even if I was going to grab some."

"Really? Not even vanilla ice cream with chocolate shavings? I know a perfect spot that you will love." She winked.

"I hate you, Zaria!" The latter huffed but followed her towards the car anyway.

"I love you too!" Zaria laughed.

…

Pearl Ice Cream Parlor.

The friends finally had some time to talk when they sat down.

"How is your work?" Ximena asked as she scooped her vanilla ice cream, which was the most delicious she had ever tasted.

"It was hectic at first. I'm all good now." A certain boss had started learning to behave himself, so she was much happier.

"How are your dad and Ryan? Is Nina feeling better?" Ximena rattled off a series of questions.

"Dad's better now. Nina… was alright the last time I saw her."

"That sounds like a long time ago." The other raised her eyebrow.

"It is." It was only a few days ago, but Zaria already missed Nina so much. She just couldn't make her way over to see her when her brother did not want her to.

"You and Ryan stopped talking?" Ximena guessed, and when the other nodded, she found it impossible. "How is that possible?"

"He asked me to leave and not interfere with their lives anymore." Zaria shrugged and explained the entire situation.

"It's merely because I'm working at Preston and Fort Group. He's strange, I swear. Why are you giving me that look?" She asked when she noticed her friend's eyes glued on her.

Ximena pushed her tub of ice cream aside. "Are you an idiot? The man is angry because your boss is Desmond Fort, that devilishly charming man who is said to have the entire female population of Olphire wrapped around his pinky finger."

"That's none of his business. I'm his employee, not his potential mistress." Zaria shrugged. Why the hell would it matter?

Ximena found her slow-witted. "How do you expect a jealous man to comprehend that?"

"Jealous?" She was confused.

"You really are an idiot if you can't tell." the woman pulled her black hair behind her back, rolling her eyes.

"What's there for me to tell?" Zaria mumbled.

"That he likes you!"