CHAPTER 50: THE WAR IS ON

Again? He hissed in defeat.

Seems like accepting the woman's proposal put him at disadvantage. Now he is being forced to go out with the woman at the grocery store that Sunday morning. But he knew that it won't just be the grocery store but they will definitely stroll around the mall----again.

FLASHBACK:

The woman proposed to treat each other as friends instead of strangers.

"I know that you loved Rachelle and I can't change that fact since you've been together for years. But since we're married for a certain period of time, is it possible to…." She shyly paused for a second.

"Don't stop in the middle of your statement. Just spew it all at once."

"Can we treat each other as friends?" She continued. Marcus furrowed his brow. Friends? What is she saying now?

"Can we stop treating each other as strangers now? You know… I was just thinking that becoming friends while waiting for six months is better than you ignoring me for who knows why." She pouted when he remembered how the man ignored her presence at home even in the office.

Did I ignore you for nothing? Marcus gritted his teeth but he can't bring himself to speak up his mind.

"Wouldn't it be more comfortable for both of us?" She stared at his eyes hoping that her sincerity will reach him.

He was thinking too. The woman was about to say more when Marcus butted in.

"That seems reasonable. I like it, friends with benefits?" He smirked meaningfully.

Jade sneered in annoyance. "That's given because we're married!" She yelped.

"Okay. Good." He chuckled before going to his bed. "By the way, just to let you know, it's my first time to have a woman friend so basically I don't have any idea on how to treat you."

Unknown to him, Jade leered maliciously. 'Then I shall teach you how.'

***End of Flashback***

"I learned my lesson the first time I went with you so I am going to wear my usual attire." He twitched his lip in annoyance while holding his dark blue tailored suit in pairs.

"No. you're not wearing that." She rummaged the man's closet and chose a more casual outfit.

"I can't remember giving you the right to look into my closet." He raised his brow but Jade only rolled her eyes.

"Hi, friend?" She grinned playfully.

"Fudge! I never thought this friendship sucks!"

"Sorry, you agreed to it. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to terminate our friendship contract."

"Damn it!"

He wanted to reprimand the woman but why can't he do it now? Something has tremendously change since last night but he can't point it out.

"Since you don't have any idea how a woman friend acts, I'll teach you. You might even thank me in the future, honey." The woman in front of him was acting a little bolder than before. "But I must say you're lucky to have a two in one person with you."

"You mean?"

"You're lucky to have a good friend and a good wife. Oh, wait. It should be three in one. You got a secretary too. Can you believe how lucky you are to have me? Hmmm?"

She was clearly teasing him.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes and placed his suit back. The woman wasn't even flustered to see him naked. "Are you really going to watch me naked?"

She grinned maliciously. "What's there to be ashamed of? I've seen everything anyway." She teasingly planted a kiss on his chest before leaving the room. "I'll be waiting downstairs, honey."

Wait. That phrase sound familiar. Is this her way of revenge? He sneered. Well, he won't mind since he liked it.

This kind of change in their relationship somehow brought a new atmosphere not just towards their relationship but it also brightened the house.

Hearing her crisp laugh early in the morning was refreshing in the ears.

Jade waited for Marcus while he parked the car at the basement. She was standing at the mall entrance when someone suddenly bump into her.

"S-sorry…" Jade kowtowed apologetically but the lady suddenly started screaming at her.

"Sorry? Can you see what you did to my dress?" The milk tea she was holding spilled on her own dress. Although Jade knew it wasn't entirely her fault, she still apologized to avoid getting into an unreasonable fight with this obvious lady scammer.

"Miss, I have a date today but you ruined it by spilling my drink into my dress! Do you know how costly this dress was? Aishhhh! I can't even use it now because it was stained! You better pay me or buy me a new dress!" The young lady was already making a scene.

There you go! Such a high school trick won't work on her though. She chuckled mockingly.

"How is it my fault?" She replied with sarcasm. "Weren't you the one who spilled your drink?"

"Well, if you are not blocking the way then I should have not bump into you! Moron!"

Now Jade can feel some eyes looking at them.

"I don't think so, missy. I believe you did it on purpose." Jade whispered in her ear. "Scam." She added.

"You! How dare you call me that!" She was about to hit the woman but someone grabbed her hand from behind. She squinted behind her and found a handsome guy wearing a luxurious shade.

"Miss, I don't know what exactly happened here but let me call the security personnel to check the cctv recordings. We will definitely compensate you if she's at fault." He uttered with authority and motioned the guards who just arrived at the area.

CCTV? The young lady widened her eyes. She didn't consider the hidden cameras in the area therefore she got all queasy.

"Never mind! I don't want to waste my time dealing with you!" Then she went away in a rush.

"There's no CCTV in this area." Jade muttered.

"I know. I just want to scare the lady away. It's clearly her fault. I think she's trying to trick you into giving her money."

"I know that. I even blew her cover that's why she wanted to hit me."

"And you didn't even try to stop her?"

"I saw you were coming." She chuckled as they entered the mall.

"Whoa. What a faith. I'm touched."

"You should." Then they both chuckled as they entered the supermarket.

************************

"All done." The old man extended his hand to congratulate the middle-aged man who treated him for lunch.

"Thank you." He smiled as he received the man's hand.

"Well, since your back with your old business, what's your first plan?" The old man asked.

He reclined his back on the soft chair. "Well, I think I will pay my old friends a visit. They have to know that I'm back."

"Are you going to reestablish the organization?"

"Maybe, but not now. I am working on something so I need to stay low from the old fox's radar for the time being."

"Now I'm curious. What are you working on these past few days?"

"Nothing big." He smirked. "But this is the fastest way to get through my son without being noticed." He chuckled evilly. "Well, that old sly fox might have known it but the war is on."