Xo Novel
Chapter 243
Talk about a man with a plan. Mr. Jason was the king of schemes.
Estrella shot Jason a look that could only be described as pitying the hopelessly clueless. Upon noticing her incredulous expression, Jason leaped at the chance to demonstrate his loyalty. “Babe, I swear on everything that’s holy not a word I just said was a lie. If you don’t believe me, have your colleagues at the office run a check. I’m as broke as a church mouse.”
Drew, sensing an opportunity to chime in, quickly assured her, “Ms. Estrella, I personally put together those documents last night, and you have my word on that.”
Before Estrella could utter a response, Drew smoothly pulled the car over into a parking space, saying, “Ms. Estrella, we’re stuck in traffic anyway. How about we grab something to eat? I’m starving too.”
The duo’s tag-team act ultimately led Estrella to relent and step out of the car. Frankly, Estrella couldn’t care less if Jason ate or not, but Drew worked for Jason, and it wasn’t right to drag Drew into their personal affairs. Besides, Drew had been nothing but good to her over the years, so she decided to indulge him this once.
“Four orders of pancakes, two coffees, that’ll be $9.50. You can pay by cash or card.”
As the vendor handed over the pancakes and coffee, Jason turned to Estrella, clearly waiting for her to foot the bill. Estrella crossed her arms and didn’t show any intention of/ opening her wallet.
Meanwhile, Drew was busy devouring the pancakes, not giving a second thought to the matter of payment.
“Honey,” Jason called out to Estrella, signaling for her to pay.
Estrella glanced at Drew, and the moment their eyes met, Drew, who had been obliviously eating, suddenly realized he was expected to pay and took off running without another
word.
As Drew sprinted away, he called back, “Oh, right, Ms. Estrella, I need to take those documents back to the office. I’ll head there now.”
Drew didn’t even wait for Jason’s approval before he disappeared into the distance. Drew knew that if he solved everything, he’d ruin Jason’s chance with Ms. Estrella. He couldn’t mess up Jason’s grand plan to play the pitiful, penniless husband.
Estrella was left speechless by Drew’s hasty retreat. She regretted showing him any pity and letting him get out to buy breakfast.
The vendor, seeing one of the trio dine and dash, became wary and asked, “That’ll be $9.50. Who’s paying?”
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Jason was visibly embarrassed, turning to Estrella to whisper, “I’m honestly broke, not a penny to my name.” He then offered her his phone, “If you don’t believe me, you can check my phone. All my passwords are your birthday”
Estrella rolled her eyes and didn’t bother to take his phone, nor did she seem inclined to pay. Instead, she addressed the vendor, “Do you hire workers here? This gentleman can work off his debt.”
Jason was stunned. To pay off $9.50, she was willing to sell him out?
The vendor scanned Jason up and down, chuckled, and said, “Miss, you’re quite the joker. This man clearly looks too posh for this kind of work.”
Estrella countered, “No worries. Sell a pancake, and let him give a peck on the cheek to a lady. I assure you that your business will be booming.”
Jason’s face was a picture of utter disbelief, and the pancake he was about to eat fell to the ground with a plop. That heartless, wicked woman, she was even more ruthless than
he was.
The vendor burst into laughter at Estrella’s suggestion, but before he could finish his thought, Jason slammed the pancakes and coffee on the counter, snatched Estrella’s purse, took out her wallet and handed the vendor a twenty, “Keep the change.”
After paying, he grabbed the remaining pancakes and coffee, and dragged Estrella back to
the car.
Once they settled back into the Maybach, Jason said with a stern face, “Sell a pancake for a kiss, huh? You okay with that, Estrella?”
“What’s there for me to mind?” Estrella retorted, “Isn’t spreading rumors your favorite hobby? I’m letting you have a field day.”
Jason clenched his teeth in frustration. When had he ever indulged in scandalous affairs Those were all fabrications by others. Except for her, he had never been involved with another woman.
After staring at Estrella for a long moment, Jason declared, “One peck for a pancake, right? Well, we had four orders, so that makes for 4 kisses.”
Before Estrella could react, Jason cupped the back of her head and pulled her close, pressing his lips firmly against hers. Estrella couldn’t push him away due to his assertiveness. So, when Jason finally released her, Estrella smacked him several times in frustration, exclaiming, “Enough, Jason. Don’t push your luck.”
Wincing from the blows to his already sore spots, Jason gasped, “3 more to go.”
Estrella was beyond arguing. She threw her phone at him and took a swig of the coffee.
The traffic ahead began to clear, and Estrella started the car. As they approached the school, the road was free of congestion, and the earlier multiple-car pileup had been
cleared.
Holding the steering wheel, Estrella glanced at Jason and asked, “Can you drive? If you can, I’ll head straight to the office, and you can take the car to the hospital.”
“I can’t drive,” Jason replied flatly.
Jason’s refusal to drive meant Estrella was left with no choice but to take him to the hospital herself. For now, she wouldn’t bicker with Jason. They could discuss the fire incident, but as for remarrying, not a chance.
In no time, the car stopped at the entrance of the hospital. When Estrella turned to look at Jason, he asked, “Why do you stop here?”
“Get out. I need to get back to the office,” she urged.
“You’re already at the hospital. Aren’t you going to stay with me?” Jason replied, not waiting for her to answer, “I reviewed the surveillance footage from last night several times and noticed some discrepancies. I also remembered some details from the incident.”
As a person directly involved, when Jason brought up the matter of the big fire, Estrella couldn’t avoid discussing it. It wasn’t just for the deal with Serene; she also needed to clear her name.
But why, Estrella pondered, did she find his words so hard to trust?
Her skeptical gaze didn’t go unnoticed. Jason, with a wry smile, said, “Look at me, all bandaged up. What could I possibly do to you? Besides, I didn’t do anything the other day, did I?” Sure, there were hugs and kisses, but nothing else happened.
Estrella’s eyes drifted away from Jason, her foot pressing the gas pedal, driving off to the parking lot.
Moments later, they were back in the hospital room. No sooner had Estrella set her bag down than Jason embraced her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and planting a kiss on her cheek. “Haven’t slept a wink these last two nights,” he murmured, “I’m exhausted.”
Estrella’s expression darkened, and she remained silent. As she turned around, giving Jason an icy stare, he paid no attention and bent down, kissing her without a care.