Stuck in you

Rachel was already near the balcony when she hesitated. She was about to excuse herself and ask for help, but she heard a man talking in clipped sentences. His faint voice was carried across the foyer by the night wind.

He struck her as familiar. Her head tipped to the side, trying to put a face to the voice.

As luck would have it, the corridor was overlaid with plush carpet cushioning her steps.

The people did not notice her. Confusion turned into delight when she realized to whom the masculine voice belonged to. It was from Jack! She was elated and took a step forward.

"How come you suddenly fell in love with her?"

Rachel froze. She recognized that the second voice belonged to Brad. From her location, it was impossible not to listen. "I think she is the right one," Jack said after a few seconds.

"The right one? You mean as a wife?"

She eavesdropped like a thief, despite the instincts that warned her against spying. Rachel stood still and barely breathed. She was looking forward to his response.

'Jack thinks I am a suitable wife? Does he have a crush on me?' Everything around her moved in slow motion, as though the passing of time was suspended.

'Just like I have a crush on him?'

All she could hear was her heart pounding.

Her palms were already sweating when Jack finally spoke. "Let's go back. She's taking too long, I will see what she's up to."

In a daze, Rachel turned swiftly and scurried for the hallway.

But she didn't go too far. She retreated to a corner and then walked out as if she just arrived.

"There you are! I thought you were lost." Jack moved closer to her, relief evident on his face.

As expected, she bumped into them. "I almost got lost. This place is like a maze."

He reached over and took her hand, but Rachel's head was elsewhere. She didn't pull away and let him hold her close.

"It's okay since you are unfamiliar with this place. I almost got lost myself the first time."

"She's here. Let's go back." Brad turned and headed for their room.

A small smile curved Rachel's lips; they talked as if they came out to find her. She pretended not to know and let Jack guide her back.

The others were still at the table when they returned. Eric was now seated between Michael and Marcus, talking excitedly.

Jack and Brad quickly caught up with the discussion. Once in a while, Jack would still affectionately place food on Rachel's bowl.

Rachel furtively watched the man beside her. She raised her chopsticks and looked at her bowl, but did not eat. Somehow, the meal in front of her was no longer appealing.

When she realized how foolish she was, she lost her appetite.

they were getting along quite well. She assumed he wanted them to start over because he fell in

them to start over, but not because

he loved was Celine. But suddenly, he changed his

because he finds me as

only pretended to eat. She was mostly toying with

fall in love. At this point,

vanity left and thought Jack was smitten with her. To her defense, she was initially vigilant with his sudden change of

a splash of cold

rather hypocritical, but she had also considered having a relationship with Lucas

were just the same, Jack also had

the triviality of love and decides to turn

Is that it?'

happened? You look unhappy." The baritone of his voice reverberated

lightly moved her lips

you like

"It's great."

but found it improper to ask given the occasion. He

moment, Brad discussed the

project was on-going. If everything went well, the resort would be completed during the second half of

dinner ended at nine o’clock. Since Jack did not drink,

The doorman

a short time, he had exchanged phone numbers with Michael and

Eric was not as efficient

so she could formally

of telling his friends that he and

It was always easy and casual to leave

hand, was wondering if Jack introduced Celine

she heard, his words kept echoing

more she thought of about it, the

to tell her that he fell in love

rain against the windows. He turned to glance at the woman sitting beside him just as the dimmed lights of the city

Are you uncomfortable?" he asked

her head, not uttering a word. She leaned against the seat and closed her

light jumped to green, and he continued

had turned sour after she left for the washroom. 'Did something

felt Rachel was still behaving differently. He got out of the car and trailed after her.

and said, "Eric is using your room

She did not want him to stay. He would not mind if it was

you angry?" he asked

I

wrong. He rubbed his hand across his forehead and said helplessly, "I'll go back first and come back

now. There is no need to come