[This chapter is dedicated to krys_2285. Thank you for supporting our story. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to point out some mistakes I made in some chapters. Jess sends her love! :* ]

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They all pile up in the car, Markus moved to become the designated driver once again, while Aadir moved to the passenger for Jess and Noah took the backseat of the Land Rover. Noah doesn't want to let go of Jess's hand, hence, Markus just volunteered to drive but not without calling Noah names. He lowered his voice and called and said, "wimp". He muttered them under his breath but Jess and Noah could hear him clearly.

Noah kicked the back of the driver's seat, but Markus just laughed out loud. He had already started the car and was about to pull away from the curb where he parked when Ellise suddenly appeared next to the driver's side window and knocked, pointing to the backseat.

Markus was surprised because he didn't see where Ellise came from but before he could react, Jess opened the car door and Ellise got in without a word.

"Where have you been?"

Ellise just glanced at Jess, then next to Markus who was watching her from the rearview mirror. "Drive," she said, cocking her head to the side.

Markus curled his lips in disdain but drove away anyway. This girl has a way of making him follow her without question. Every now and then, he would glance up at the rearview mirror, looking at Jess and Noah who were glued to each other, while the snotty Ellise was leaning against the window, cupping her chin, and staring outside the car. She has a perpetual expression of boredom on her pretty face.

Markus grinned to himself. He wondered if Little Miss Ellise is still single.

The drive back to the villa took longer because it was already late and traffic built up when they were in the city center. Markus was able to drive faster only when they were out of the city center.

When they arrived at the villa, Aadir hastily jumped out of the passenger seat to have things ready.

"Ellise, would you like to take a rest first or would you like to discuss things first?"

"I don't have things to discuss with you Tiefenbacher," she said in a neutral tone. "Jess?" Ellise turned to Jess who was hugging Noah's waist as if he would disappear from her sight.

"I think, with the matter that we are going to discuss. I would like Noah to be there," she kept her face neutral because she knew Ellise was ready to be bitchy if someone would give her a reason. Well, she was already acting up like one, but Jess was hoping to keep everyone in a friendlier atmosphere.

Ellise didn't respond and Jess took her silence as a yes. She nudged Noah to lead the way.

Noah, who was trying not to lose his patience over Ellise's attitude, led the two girls into the library of the villa.

Jess's jaw dropped when they entered the room. It was such a huge library with an impressive collection of books. She was already impressed with the study that Dr. Sison was using, but this library was on another level. It makes her want to have this kind of library at her apartment but then, if she wanted this kind of library, she needed a bigger apartment or rather a house.

She scanned the room with amazement in her eyes. She walked further into the room where there was a round table in the middle of the room, bathed with the lights from outside the window.

She could imagine the twelve-seater round table during the day. How cozy it would be with the afternoon lights, flooding in from the huge curved windows.

"Do you like this room?" Noah asked over her shoulder. When Jess nodded, he added, "You can use this room whenever you like."

"I'm using the study of Dr. Sison," she said, glancing over her shoulder to look at Noah who was walking behind her as she checked the massive library.

"I'll let them open this room for you anytime you want," he insisted.

"Noah, I don't want you doing things that would put me in a situation where the other members of the team would think…"

"Jess, you have no idea what are the things I want to do for you," he sighed. Yet, he let go of the topic of giving Jess special treatment. He understood clearly where her reluctance was coming from. And her worries were valid. It's just that he couldn't help wanting to do things for her that would make things easier for her.

And maybe, his guilt from what happened to her was also eating him up. He gritted his teeth with the thought that someone tried to hurt Jess.

Although he was annoyed with Ellise's behavior, he let it go because he understood her rage. He felt the same way, if not worse. He just doesn't want Jess to worry, knowing that she is still recovering from what she suffered. So, he was trying to keep everything relax even when in reality he wanted to murder someone. He wanted the person who threatened Jess to pay.

Meanwhile, while Noah and Jess kept on walking around the rows of bookshelves, Ellise and Markus were sitting across from each other at the round table.

"I'm Markus by the way. We haven't been formally introduced since Jess and Noah were living in their rainbow bubbles," he said, offering his hand to Ellise.

However, Ellise just stared at him with an unreadable expression on her face. Hands tightly clasped, hands resting on the table in front of her, back straight rigidly, shoulder square, and chin held high in the air.

She looked like someone you won't dare try to mess with.

"What are you two doing?"

Jess' question snapped Markus and Ellise from their staring contest. Markus chuckled, pulling his hand down. It was clear that Ellise had no intention to shake his hand.