25 Rose!

Staring at the empty seats across from him, Brycen gripped the papers in his hand, the final agreement of his and Isabel's divorce.

The past half an hour was like floating through a dream for him, he really couldn't believe that the woman who was so eloquent, confident and brassy, fighting word for word and winning against Dale Winters who was one of the best lawyers in this part of the country was actually the wife ignored for so long.

Since the day he went to see her at the hospital he had gotten the feeling that she had changed from being the woman he knew but the reality had only just set in that she really has changed and she really didn't care that they were separating; she was serious about never wanting to see him again, this wasn't any kind of strategy to get his attention like he had been thinking and realizing that, for some reason, made Brycen feel sick and he couldn't understand why.

On the side, Dale was packing up his briefcase after his first loss in years and also his most gratifying one then he turned to see the lost and pale faced Brycen staring off into space while crumpling the agreement he had just shed blood to close and he couldn't help feeling slightly irked as he reached over to snatch it away then smooth it out.

As he ironed out the crinkles with his hand, he recalled the many brazen words and expressions of the woman that had sat across from him only minutes ago and an unexpected chuckle rose from Dale's throat.

Dale wasn't married, but he did have a lover that he cherished deeply; what he was feeling towards Isabel Rogers was not desire nor infatuation but pure admiration and respect. As a woman with only a high school level education who had worked in the entertainment industry since the age of eighteen and done no further studying, her knowledge on legal procedures could rival his own and her unrelenting attitude and confidence made for mean authoritative package that he was hard pressed to overcome.

Dale was in awe and his appreciation had extended from just the delicate but strong character of 'Lady Clarisse' to Isabel Rogers herself. The woman was an uncrowned queen and honestly, Dale believed she didn't need the crown; some glorified status like 'Lady Boss of Jaeger Corp' would only be a little trinket to dangle off her innate grandeur. He really had to wonder what his friend had been thinking all these years to be dissatisfied with a woman like this that countless men would undoubtedly and quite literally kill for.

Looking at the divorce settlement lying in his case, Dale covered his face with one hand, his shoulders moving up and down in silent laughter. If Brycen had just been satisfied with the first agreement she sent over, which had only asked for full legal custody of the twins, he wouldn't have suffered such a burning defeat.

Like she said, Isabel hadn't taken any properties from Brycen but she had walked away Primary Physical Custody of the twins, allowing Brycen no more than two days of contact with her children per month and ten out of Brycen's thirty percent shares in Jaeger Corp; a full sweep.

With those shares she was now a board member of Jaeger Corporation and even if she quit her job as an actress and model to become a full time mom, she could still afford to live lavishly just from the yearly subsidies the position granted her, even if she didn't show up for any of the meetings.

Shaking his head, Dale snapped his case shut just as his cell phone issued a noise, his lover was asking him out to lunch, there was no way he was going to refuse.

"I have an engagement to attend, you can go back to the company by yourself. I'll handle the necessary legal procedures and by the next few days you'll be a free man."

As Dale walked out of the private room, his head was lowered, busy texting his lover. He knew the little imp liked little tales like these. He was bound by lawyer-client confidentiality, so he couldn't give the little one all the details, but the gist of the story will certain have those jade green eyes sparkling.

Dale chuckled just thinking about it. Sometimes, he thought that he was a terrible lawyer for using his client's cases to amused his lover, but at the end of the day, the only happiness he derived in life was to see the light dancing in those green orbs, so what did he care?

Left alone in the room, Brycen grabbed a handful of the shredded paper that had fallen down and settled in his lap and crushed them, but he still felt numb. Why was he feeling this way, as if he had just lost some invaluably precious thing that he would never, ever be able to regain.

An image of that cold an elegant figure sashaying down the hall then halting to turn and look at him, eyebrows raised devilishly flashed through Brycen's mind and he shook his head to clear it, standing up quickly and knocking over his chair in the process.

No-what the hell was he thinking?

For years he had abhorred that woman and wanted nothing more than to break away from her, so why was he having such thought now? Was he such a petty person that his ego was so significantly bruised by Isabel's spurning that he was being affected psychologically? He didn't think so. He was only momentarily confused by that woman's sudden change. That had to be it.

Gritting his teeth, Brycen fished his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He placed the phone against his ear and the person picked up after two rings.

"Hello?"

Hearing the sweet and soothing voice on the other end, Brycen's tensed and convoluted atmosphere dissipated and a smile like warm jade broke through that cold exterior.

"Are you busy?"

"No. I just finished negotiating a new role for Cassie; I don't have anything else planned for today. Why?"

"You're at the company?"

"Yes."

"Come have lunch with me."

"I've already eaten-"

"I'll have my driver pick you up in ten minutes."

"Boss, is this really appropriate-"

"Rose, I've told you many times to call me by my name."

The other end of the line went silent as though the person was struggling with the request before a quiet timid voice sounded, "Brycen."

The smile on his face became even more profound and Brycen's heart beat quickly in his chest.

"Then, I'll see you in a while."

"Mmm."

Ending the call and slipping the phone back into his pocket, Brycen felt a lot lighter than he had a minute ago. He turned and left the room.

Back at Jaeger Entertainment company building, inside of the Managing Director's office, a young woman sat on the beige leather sofa looking at her cellphone with a highly pensive look while biting nervously on her finger nails.

The woman had midnight black hair that fell down to her waist in curls and big, black diamond like eyes. She was wearing a simple white blouse and a high waist, loose fitting black pants that defined her slender waist.

"Jason, what do I do?"

Lifting her eyes that were now swimming with tears as though she was terrified, the woman looked at the blonde haired man sitting on the other side of the desk that held the name plate 'Jason Moore, Managing Director'.

Jason narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fist tightly. His mind and heart were in turmoil.

Susan had told him before that the Boss had been making advances on her and using his authority to pressure her into a relationship, but he hadn't believed her, after all, he and Brycen knew each other all the way from college, he knew what kind of person Brycen was-- or at least he thought he had known.

Brycen had helped him during his most desperate time, offering him an opportunity when he really had no other way out, he respected this friend of his, so he really didn't want to believe that Brycen would try to steal his girl, but the truth had been laid before him now, he couldn't keep denying it.

Looking at Susan who looked like she would dissolve into panic at any moment, he felt his heart ache and he stood up from his seat to approach her. Sitting by her side, he pulled her into his embrace.

"Rose, listen to me, I love you. I love you very much and I'm sorry, but I can't stand against Brycen, not now. Please, just endure for a while, give me a little time."

Hidden in Jason's embrace, Susan's expression that had just been like a lost lamb's turned into a sneer as she rolled her eyes.

Of course she knew he couldn't stand against Brycen which is exactly why she chose to put on this show in the first place. Once he saw that Brycen was serious about her Jason would have to give up and she could finally be free of this annoying tail. What could he possibly achieve against Brycen?

So what if they had a relationship in high school? That was high school and she had only taken a fancy to him because he was rich back then, but his family suddenly went bankrupt, was she just supposed to sit around and waste her life and good looks away as his loyal girlfriend, muddling away in mediocrity as a humble housewife? She would never accept that. So when he had gone off to college and their communication lapsed for a while, she took the opportunity to finish high school in her second year and snatched a full scholarship to university overseas. She had expected that by the time she came back, he would have already forgotten about her, or even better, maybe she could have found the chance to marry into a rich family while she was abroad, but she had no such luck on either ends.

She didn't know what kind of bad luck she had that her very first day back in Metropolis she had actually ran into and was recognized by this plague. He invited her to have lunch and found out that she hadn't managed to find employment, he offered her a small job as a broker at his company, although she wanted to decline since it would mean entering his territory, she wasn't stupid enough to pass up a free chance to earn some money, she could keep looking for work in the meantime.

However, she hadn't expected that Jaeger Entertainment would have a character like Brycen, the man was exactly her type. She knew that she needed to get him; it was just inconvenient that he had a wife so she would have to get rid of the woman first. The thought of not pursuing Brycen had never crossed Susan's mind; this was the man she wanted, only she could have him.

Jason's impression of her was a pure white lotus and the man still had his uses so she couldn't cut him off just like that, so Susan had designed this plan where she would 'reluctantly' accept Brycen's advances while complaining and venting her full 'unwillingness' to Jason.

She knew that Jason had no power to go against Brycen, so the man would only be able to look on as she 'slowly broke under Brycen's pressure' and accepted him. By then, no one be able to say that it was her fault when Brycen had obviously been the one pursuing her; it would be Jason's fault for not being able to protect and keep his own woman.

Pushing out of Jason's embrace, Susan moved away from him and stood up, her expression full of grievances.

"I understand, you don't have to get yourself involved in this matter, it could endanger your position. It's... it's just lunch."

Susan smiled, but that smile faltered as her lower lip trembled and the tears in her eyes welled up until they looked like they would fall at any second.

"Rose---"

"I'll take my leave."

"Rose!"

Walking quickly as though she couldn't bear to stay a second longer, Susan didn't neglect to slam the door, showing her unwillingness to talk any further.

Out in the hallway, she stooped down, her hands covering her face and breathed for a minute. Once she had collected herself, she raised her head, eyes still puffy and nose cherry red with tear tracks running down her cheeks; she was startled to see some of her coworkers standing there and staring at her, curiosity evident in their eyes.

Like a cat that had its tail stepped on, Susan quickly jumped up and strode away, but a small, satisfied smile was tugging at her mouth corner.

She quickly went to the bathroom to apply makeup, though she didn't hide all evidence of her crying. How could she get Brycen to be concerned about her if she did that?

If the news she got wasn't wrong, then the reason Brycen hadn't come to the company today was because he was finally settling his divorce with his wife. It was sooner than she expected but she wasn't complaining.

Now, if the mood went right today she could afford to 'fall drunk' and rub out a few sparks in the man and if she was lucky she might land in his bed.

Susan felt the thought exhilarating, and as she watched the beautiful but pale and melancholy girl with a baby face in the mirror, she smiled and the girl smiled back. Everything that she wanted in life, everything she deserved, she would surely get it.