When he told Noah that he might be of help correcting the misunderstanding that happened between him and Jess. He saw Noah's eyes lit up with hope. Luke's promise of not taking part in Jess's love life flew out of the window.

He knew Jess was devastated by what she heard at the jewelry store. She kept a strong front of being sassy - making a joke of everything in front of other people, heck, she even got them engagement rings.

A part of it was to spite Noah, but it didn't escape from his eyes the small tremors on her hands while she stood straight, spoke clearly and with a dazzling smile on her face. From the way she carried herself in that jewelry store, no one would know what's inside her heart.

But he is her friend. And he knew that she was hurt and in pain.

And now, the man that caused Jess's pain was hunkered in front of him, forlorn was evident in his face. He was ready to beg for forgiveness, forgetting the fact he holds such an important position in his company.

Right now, Noah was just a man, seeking forgiveness from his girl… and he happened to give him his word that he would help him.

"I'm not sure what kind of help I can give you, but from what I know with Jess, it is best if you would settle everything as soon as possible."

"It is now lunchtime, should I call for her?"

"Oh, no! Don't talk to her when she is hungry. Right now is the worst time to talk to her. She is hungry and hangover...a terrible, terrible time to ask for forgiveness."

"So, when?"

Luke couldn't help but chuckle with the desperation in Noah's voice.

"Later after work. She won't go home early...that's for sure."

"I have another question," he hesitantly said. "Uhm, yesterday, there was a man in Jess's apartment...do you happen to know who he is?"

"Oh, you met, Sebastian!" he clasped his hands in front of his chest. "Tell me what happened."

Noah clicked his tongue. "He is an annoying prick!"

"But he's so hot. You can't deny that." He cleared his throat when Noah gave him an icy look. "I mean, Mr. Tiefenbacher, you had met Sebastian, and you saw that he was such a beautiful man… but yeah, I think, he was a prick too!" He added for the room temperature dropped to negative with the icy stare that Noah gave him.

"Who is he?"

"You should ask Jess, who Sebastian is," he said, grinning. "I will tell Jess that HR called for me because that was the truth. Now, you can call her too, using the HR excuse. Then the rest was up to you."

He stood up from his seat, "Good luck, Mr. Tiefenbacher. I hope that this is the last time that you were to call me because of Jess. She is my friend and my loyalty lies with her."

***

"Hey, Jess!"

Jess smiled brightly when she saw Luke was still in the cafeteria. She quickened her steps, relieved that she won't be eating alone.

"What happened to you?"

Luke asked her even before she could put down her food tray on the table. She carefully put down the tray because she ordered some udon for lunch.

"I had to file."

"Filed? You mean Dr. Sison called you personally to make you her secretary? How about the lab?"

"You have so many questions." she rolled her eyes. "Can you at least let me eat first?"

She was still overwhelmed with what Dr. Sison said to her and she wanted to share it with Luke but she was also thinking about his feelings.

They were both interns but she was given a better opportunity because she would be working directly with the head of their research team.

She will also have more access to other studies that Dr. Sison was working on. And despite what Dr. Sison told her she couldn't help feeling inadequate. She doesn't even know why, knowing at first glance that there was missing information from the research study that she was asked to read, was a good thing.

When she already ate half of her udon, she put down her spoon and drank some water. She put down her hands on her lap and gazed directly at Luke.

"Dr. Sison offered me the position as her assistant...intern assistant?" She cocked her head to the side for she was still confused on how she could be of assistant to the head of their research team.

Luke's jaws dropped when he heard what Jess said. "Little Miss Jessie, why you --- that was awesome! Congratulations!"

"Thank you," she exhaled a relieved sigh. She was worried that Luke would feel bad about her getting a better position than him.

Though she acted like she couldn't be bothered with Alice telling her that she got things because someone gave them to her and therefore she was not deserving, gets her.

She just acted as though she didn't care. But she does! Because Alice was not the first one that thought those things about her. There were instances in the past where she chose not to join something even if she likes them because she was scared that people would tell her that she didn't deserve it.

'You won because of your grandfather.'

'You got it because of your father.'

'You got accepted at ANAT because of Noah.'

She doesn't want people to think those things about her. However, she knew that people would still say something even if she explained herself or proved herself.

It doesn't matter how hard she tried, people would still say something harsh, just because.

That's why she stopped caring.

But now, Noah was involved. She felt bad for Noah to be associated with those kinds of cheap talk just because people, in general, don't like her - even if she doesn't do anything. They just got pissed off with her mere existence. Some say because she has a resting bitch face.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"For what?"

"Because I forgot for a moment that it's you -- I thought you won't be happy for me." she gave him an apologetic smile.

"Silly," he chuckled. "Finish your noodles. It's getting soggy."

He watched Jess eat her noodles in silence while a pang of pain hit his heart. His thought went to Noah, and how he hoped that he truly loves Jess. Because despite all her rough edges, she is just a girl who got hurt and wanted to be loved -- just like everyone else.

He cleared his throat, "By the way, HR called me this morning. Expect them to call you anytime this afternoon," he said, avoiding her gaze.

"I still have so many documents that I have to file." She picked up her bowl and drank all the liquid of her soup.

"Miss Zimmerman."

When she caught a glimpse of Antonio rigidly standing by their table, she choked on her soup. She didn't notice when he showed up.

She put down her bowl and wiped the corner of her mouth, "Yes?"

"Mr. Tiefenbacher requested for your presence in his office."

Luke's mouth parted in shock. It wasn't what he and Noah talked about. He tried to catch Antonio's eyes but his gaze was fixed on Jess, waiting for her answer.

"Requested, right? Does it mean I could decline?"

He cleared his throat and straightened his back. He folded his hands and rested them in his lower abdomen as though he was ready to bow down at Jess. "Yes, you may. However, I - I wish you don't -- I mean, please, hear Mr. Tiefenbacher out."

Jess has no way to decline Noah calling her to his office. They are at work. He is her boss. Though it was questionable since he was using his authority as a boss in an unethical manner.

Nevertheless, it's a direct order from the boss, so she has no way to refuse. She just said those words to annoy Antonio, hence, she was stunned to see him stammer.

"I'm done with my lunch, should we go now?"

A crease formed in between her brows because she can't explain the expression on Antonio's face. She wondered why Antonio looked guilty to her.

"Yes, please." he gave Luke a small bow before he stepped aside to wait for Jess to get out of the table.

She and Antonio walked in silence to the elevator. She cocked her head to the side when he saw that he pressed Basement on the elevator button.

"Noah's office is a bit of a walk from here." He explained as if he could read her thoughts.

She just nodded and just followed him to the basement where a black sedan was waiting for them. Antonio opened the car door for her before he walked around to sit behind the wheel.

When they reached the basement parking of another building, Antonio quickly got out to open the door for her. When they were on the elevator, on the way to Noah's office, she was stunned when he said, "I just want to apologize and let you know that it was my fault."

"W-what?" She was dumbfounded when Antonio bowed in front of her at a ninety-degree angle.