Chapter 39. Monica Is Drunk

Monica still clearly recalls the events from back then and started to speak. Perhaps influenced by alcohol, she revealed what weighed on her heart. "How could I... when he likes someone in my class?" she said sadly.

She vividly remembers that day's events. She witnessed him tell the girl he liked her—not in a loud public display with flowers and the like, but privately in an empty classroom.

Her gaze drifted as tears welled in her eyes. "What's so special about her? She's not even attractive. He was just sitting there quietly, engrossed in his book, when she walked in and with just one glance..." She inhaled deeply, trying to hold back her tears. "He instantly said he likes her? What's so great about her? She's nothing but a money-hungry b*tch who takes advantage of anyone she can! I swear, he's a fantastic guy, but he needs to work on his taste in women," she said through clenched teeth.

Her last comment made everyone laugh. Monica looked up at them, confused. "What's funny?" she asked, but they all just shook their heads.

Selestine, expected to sympathize with Monica, instead found herself laughing at her remark. "Jared doesn't have good taste in women? How do you figure?" she chuckled.

Monica nodded repeatedly, her eyes narrowing as the memory came back to her. "That's exactly what I thought. Would anyone with any sense fall for someone right after meeting them? Ugh! That's Jared for you. I don't know what he was thinking at that moment. How could he say he liked her? Although I appreciate that he isn't one of those who confesses with flowers and grand gestures in public. It's just—haa! I don't want to relive it. It's infuriating to think about; it makes me want to rip that b*tch's hair out!" she exclaimed, finishing her drink in one go.

If it weren't for the fact that her father had arranged her to marry someone she despised, Monica would have confessed to Jared long ago. Her father is merciless, and she fears what he might do to Jared. Given Jared's background, she dared not reveal her feelings.

Speaking of backgrounds, Monica frowned as she observed the group at her table. The club wasn't an easy place for someone like Jared to enter, and their attire and behavior suggested they came from wealthy families—though she had no idea which ones. The mere fact they were friends with Jared left her feeling conflicted.

'Is he wealthy?'

But that thought quickly faded as she looked around.

'Maybe he's working here,' she mused, offering herself an encouraging smile. 'Hardworking Jared. I truly admire him; he is so dedicated.'

As the clock struck nine p.m., Jared had finished his business. He sat on a sofa by the pool, exhaling smoke rings. His phone rang, displaying Matthew's name.

He tapped to answer. "Yes?" He heard the noise in the background and assumed they were at their usual spot.

Matthew, on the other end of the call, felt helpless as he watched the drunken people at their table. Selestine and Monica were tipsy and giggling while looking at Monica's phone.

"Jared, can you come here? Your friend Monica is quite intoxicated," he mentioned, shaking his head. Jared's brow furrowed when he recognized the sounds and voices belonging to Monica. It was unmistakably her laughter on the other end.

After verifying it was indeed her, he made his way to Neon Club and hurried inside, only to find Monica and Selestine sharing a laugh. The others nearby observed them in amusement, shaking their heads.

He approached them and, frowning, directed his attention to Monica. "What happened?" he inquired, and Matthew gestured towards Monica. "It's just a coincidence that she knows you too, so I invited her... well... she ended up getting drunk," he explained, leaving out the details they overheard in secrecy.

Jared rubbed his forehead and walked over to Monica. He snapped his fingers to catch her attention, and she looked up at him with a frown. "Who are you?" she queried. Being drunk, she couldn't recognize Jared. Her eyelids were heavy, making it hard for her to see clearly. Selestine was already passed out, slumped against Gandrick.

Jared sighed at the sight of Monica frowning, unable to recognize him. "It's me, Jared."

Monica's eyes brightened as she rose to clutch his arm. "Jared. Do you want some reading glasses?" she asked, smiling at him. The scent of alcohol lingered in her breath, and her face was flushed. Confused, Jared asked her why, but Monica just kept smiling and said, "I think you need them since your eyesight is poor," prompting laughter from the others. Jared looked at them in bewilderment, questioning their amusement. They understood her meaning but chose to remain silent.

Jared shook his head and picked her up, as she was too inebriated to walk properly, then said goodbye to the group. He placed her in the car and secured her seatbelt before driving away.

But the question was... where should he take her?

He had no idea where she lived, and it would be inappropriate to bring her to his place. He didn't want to create any misunderstandings. Afraid of any misconceptions, he opted not to drive aimlessly and instead stopped at a hotel. He entered, carrying Monica, who was unconscious from drinking. The receptionist greeted him warmly. "I'd like the Presidential suite, if it's available. Just for one night."

The receptionist responded with a smile, "Certainly, sir. That will be 50,000, which includes personal service."

"Sure. Can I pay later? I need someone to take us there; I have to get her down," he replied.

The receptionist smiled and pointed at a man nearby, who Jared hadn't noticed arrive, but he didn't mind. "He will assist you; here's the card. Enjoy your stay."

The man took the card while Jared carried Monica. He laid her down and tucked her under the covers, giving the attendant a tip before heading out. Jared handed over the card for payment. "Ensure she receives breakfast and a hangover remedy. If she asks anything, tell her it's from Jared," he instructed, taking the card back as he departed.

When morning arrived, Monica woke up feeling disoriented. She rushed to the bathroom and vomited everything she had consumed. After rinsing her mouth with water, she scanned her surroundings, frowning.

"Where am I?"

She emerged from the bathroom, her head throbbing. The pristine white bed and the fragrant, luxurious bedroom welcomed her. The expansive glass windows that reached from floor to ceiling offered an awe-inspiring view. Situated on the top floor, the Presidential suite boasted breathtaking sights through its wide bedroom windows. She struggled to recall how she ended up there, apart from the realization that she'd been drinking heavily. Upon stepping out, she noticed a maid setting the table with food. The maid looked up at Monica and greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, ma'am. Your breakfast is ready. We've prepared hangover soup as requested. Please enjoy," she said before exiting the room.

Gazing at the extravagant breakfast and the view before her, it was clear she was in the hotel. But who had brought her there? She had no idea.

Choosing not to dwell on the mystery, she sat down to savor her meal while enjoying the fresh morning scenery, her worries and hunger both fading away quickly.

Jared was out for a jog near his house. He wasn't in the mood to venture out today and preferred to stay home, as he had a gym available there as well. The watch he had ordered was scheduled to arrive today, along with the staff who would be starting work for him.

After completing his jog outside, he stopped by the side pool to remove his shirt, leaving his sweatpants on while he began doing pushups when the doorbell rang. He maintained his position and called out, "Luna, please open the door."

The door swung open, and Cassidy appeared, accompanied by several people. Cassidy entered and guided everyone towards Jared. As she approached him, she brought the group with her. Standing behind Jared with her hands clasped in front of her, she presented herself professionally. "Mr. Hale, the staff you require are here."

Jared rose to his feet and turned to face them, assessing each person in the group. There were ten individuals present, all wearing serious expressions. Ten candidates had been selected from a pool of hundreds that Cassidy had filtered through. Eager yet apprehensive about the opportunity to work at the renowned mansion with its mysterious owner, they felt a mix of hope and anxiety. They were unaware of the owner's character, but job security for their families outweighed their concerns. Who cared if the owner was good or bad, as long as the pay was sufficient? With hundreds of candidates reviewed, only ten had made the cut, and upon discovering their salary, they were astonished. They had many questions swirling in their minds but didn't dare to voice them, even though some thoughts were troubling.

As they entered, their hearts raced with anticipation, silently wishing for a kind employer. They had imagined the owner to be an elderly or middle-aged man, but as they approached, they were surprised to find him young and handsome.

"This will be your butler, Hans. Two gardeners, Loni and Bobby; two cooks, Ameera and Elmina; and five maids, Lani, Mica, Doris, Andre, and Seri. I specifically filtered them out for you," Cassidy introduced.

"Hello, sir," they greeted in unison.

Jared gestured for them to feel at ease. "Please take good care of me and my home," he said with a smile.

"Rest assured, sir. We will perform our duties diligently and professionally," replied Hans.

Jared nodded in agreement. He felt confident about Cassidy's choices, noting that they appeared neat and professional. He didn't require background info on each of them; as long as they could keep his home tidy and execute their tasks well, he was satisfied.

He rubbed his forehead and frowned. "I completely overlooked the driver and assistant," he remarked, glancing at Cassidy.

"I'll select the driver for you...and as for the assistant? There's someone I know who excels in that area," she said with a smile that felt a bit unsettling.

Jared shook his head and intertwined his fingers. "In any case, Cassidy will help you get acquainted with your tasks and show you around the house. You don't need to be wary of me; I don't harm or strike anyone. I'll prepare the schedule and give it to Hans. You'll begin tomorrow."

The doorbell rang once more. "Luna, please open the door," he instructed, as a man and woman entered, both wearing white gloves and carrying two black attaché cases, one large and one small. "Good morning, Mr. Hale," the man greeted. Noticing their attire and the emblem on their chests, he recognized it as the watch he had been anticipating.

He signaled to Cassidy, guiding everyone to become acquainted with their surroundings. Jared escorted the two individuals into the living room. As soon as they took their seats, the woman opened the two cases. "As per your request..." the man announced, producing an elegant box from the small case. "The Blue Dial," he said, lifting the lid to reveal the item he had seen in the store's brochure.

He admired it for a brief moment before shifting his attention to the two boxes in the other case. Furrowing his brow, he inquired about their contents, having ordered only the watch. The man smiled and positioned the case in front of him. "As a token of appreciation for your significant purchase, the store has decided to offer you an item of your choosing," he explained, unveiling two additional watches styled for both men and women. It wouldn't hurt to take a women's watch, but whom could he give it to?

He sighed and reached for the men's watch, but upon seeing Cassidy, he reconsidered and waved her over. Cassidy frowned but quickly approached. Jared pulled out the watch and offered it to Cassidy. "I haven't provided you with enough commission so far. Consider this a belated commission. I'll leave the choice of the two staff members to you."

Cassidy hesitated briefly, but ultimately accepted the box. The woman sitting on the sofa wore an expression of envy. He had casually given away something worth millions, and while she felt envious, she kept it to herself, maintaining a professional demeanor.

Once everything was settled, Jared found himself alone, and throughout the remainder of the day, he received no prompts from the System.