Dinner

"If you want my health to improve, then come back and help me with the company. We recently sent a promising proposal to Hui Corps. If you assist your cousin with the upcoming presentation, we could gain the investment easily. Then, I would have less to worry about and focus on my health." His dry cough sounded more severe than the first few coughs. Fortunately, this was an audio call or else Jessica's blackened expression would be shown right away. How could she not understand what her father was hinting?

"Dad, since you chose to hand such an important project to my older cousin, you should let him handle it till the end. Whether it is me who explains the details during the presentation or him, it wouldn't make any difference. As long as one has the capability of persuading their clients, the project and proposal would be considered for acceptance. Plus, he has been working on it since the beginning. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to step my foot into his work and claim any credit. Also, I wouldn't understand as much about the project compared to him either. So, you should let him handle the project while you take a rest." She refused his request with undeniable facts.

"Do you still believe in hard work pays off? Plus, he has been working on it since the beginning. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to step my foot into his work and claim any credit. I wonder how you raised your own company with your hands with that kind of mindset! Your best friend, Selina is married to Jason Hui! The amount he invests in projects is equivalent to dropping a penny into the sewers! If you learned from me, you would've earned more than what you have now!" His dried throat hurt every time he tried speaking loudly.

"Dad, I am happy with where I am right now. If you have time to be this concerned about me, how about focusing more on the project and rehearsing more with cousin's proposal? We are successful in different ways, and you must understand that I have my own principles to follow. I didn't judge you for your methods, so you shouldn't criticize mine either. As for that proposal, I really can't help you pull strings. If this is all that you're calling me for then, I'm hanging up now. Have a good rest and don't stay up too late."

She wanted to end the call, but her father stopped her.

"Wait. Fine. It's fine if you don't come back and help us out with the project. We haven't had a family dinner for a while. Isaac is on a business trip. I called him earlier, and he told me he didn't know when he would be back either. Anyway, dad misses your lively talks, and I want to see whether you've lost any weight after our previous family meal. How about scheduling a family dinner with me and your mother? You just tell me when you are free, and I will reserve the seats at your favorite restaurant."

Over the phone, Jessica couldn't see his clenched fist and sharp squint. He gnashed his teeth as quiet as he could and faked a few coughs to prevent her from rejecting him.

His eyes wandered nervously around the room, landing back on his wife's anxious face. Finally, a smile curved on his lips, and he showed her a thumbs up gesture.

He happily replied, "alright! Then, in two weeks, dad will definitely be better. I will reserve the table with the best view of the city for you! Dad will take medicine and take a good rest. Don't worry about me. These old bones aren't that fragile. Okay, then you continue working. Don't get home too late and sleep early."

After the call ended and the screen returned to his home screen, he nodded. "Everything is going well. We just have to make sure nothing else goes wrong."

Right before the call ended, Jessica caught a glimpse of her father's odd behavior, but quickly brushed it off thinking he was just happy to see her again.

Later that night, Selina gave Jessica a call while Jason was washing dishes in the kitchen. The duration of the call was a little less than half an hour. Once Selina found out about the date, time and location of Jessica's family meeting, her eyes dimmed for a split second. Her worries deepened after hearing Jessica's description of the conversation she had with her father.

As a cautious nosy friend, Selina checked her and Jason's schedule for that specific date. As soon as she hung up the phone, she sent a text message to Alfred. In the following seconds, the message was left on read and a response was delivered to her phone. Smiling in an extremely good mood, she walked upstairs to take a shower.

When she entered the master bedroom, she heard water splashing from the restroom. Since he was using this bathroom, she decided to use the one in the other room. Upon opening one of her drawers, her eyes landed on the package she took from her parent's villa. She took a deep breath, grabbed the package in her hands and rushed to the other room before Jason finished with his shower.

Rolling her hair into a bun, she clipped it on top of her head and slipped out of her clothes. She didn't dare take too long because Jason usually showered quicker than her. She was afraid he might wait too long or become too tired to exercise if she showered too long.

Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the shower and checked her body to make sure it was smooth and properly cleaned up. She swallowed a loud gulp and unfolded the lingerie set in her hands.

Taking the three piece lingerie apart, she touched the delicate material in her hands. A white laced sleeveless crop top with a ribbon string back tightened above her diamond shaped belly button.

With the ends of the ribbon left dangling on her back, she felt it tickle against her sensitive skin. Her cheeks flushed red when she held the crotchless panties in her hands. The design of the extremely thin fabric had the same ribbon concept as the top piece. She carefully tied a ribbon on either side of her body, securing the panties to her body.

Finally, it was time to slip into the mini tulle skirt - a white French solstiss lace with Swarovski crystal lining around the waistline. The crystals scattered randomly on the skirt, looking extremely elegant. She smiled, remembering the special effects of this outfit.

With the effects of dimmed lights or minimal lighting, the shadows from the crystal would form a pair of butterfly wings on the wall. If she moved around in the lingerie set, it'll give the illusion of wings flapping behind her back. As the crystals sparkled under the lighting, it'll give off a mystical feeling.