"Excuse me, everyone!" Kim's voice sliced through the rising commotion among the board members. And immediately, the atmosphere stilled.
"Whatever reason Miss Yen had is none of our business. What we need are her potentials and capabilities. Besides, it's already five years ago."
I didn't expect Kim would defend me before those intimidating figures of Kim Yuan Microelectronics, Asian. But he should
"But Mr. Mori, people…" the man who dared to voice out his question insisted. Perhaps, he was about to say that my past issues would affect the company's reputation. And people would pester them about it. However, I had no idea what kind of past they were talking about.
"Please. Let's move on to another topic. Miss Yen is not ready to talk about it. You may bring out your issues to me later."
Kim swept them a chilling gaze, and everyone fell silent after that. I could still see that some of them were about to open their mouths to speak but shut them in the end. It looked like speaking their minds out wasn't an option at that moment.
I could still feel the fine tremors in my lips when Kim turned and looked at me. His aura immediately changed, and his eyes were filled with worries. He glanced at my clenched hands at my sides. I couldn't explain why but I thought I saw glints of longing in his eyes to reach out for my hands and hold them.
I took slow deep breaths to calm myself down. However, the fact that there were not just one but many of them who thought I was Jakara alarmed me already. There must be something I needed to know.
The meeting went on as planned. I was even surprised that I still managed to listen to every detail they presented despite my mental turmoil. Though the attendees' gaze seemed strange, they remained respectful and polite until the session got adjourned.
"Miss Yen Ramos!" a male's voice speaking above my head had me turning my body to the source of the voice.
"Hello!" I smiled when I realized it was Cris, Trish's fiance.
"Happy to meet you!" he said, extending a hand to shake with me.
I took his hand in mine and replied, "A pleasure to meet you, too!"
"Miss Yen, Cris wants to invite us out to a party tonight. He is introducing me to another of his circle of friends."
I scanned my eyes inside the room to look for Kim. I couldn't decide on that since he was the boss. Even if I had plans to stay for the night, I would also leave early in the morning. I didn't come here for leisure but for work.
"I knew it," Cris chuckled. "Kim has no problems with it."
Kim was with a group of business partners not far from us when Cris mentioned his name. The function room wasn't too huge for Kim not to overhear our conversation. He glanced in our direction then walked towards us.
"What is it?" he said, looking at me tenderly. I didn't know why, but I noticed that he always looked at me differently. If I didn't know about his love for Jakarta, I would have misinterpreted it.
"Kim, I want to invite the ladies to my party tonight. It's my way of introducing Trish to my circle of friends from my other company."
Kim held my gaze for a moment, then said, "No way. Yen is pregnant, and she needs rest."
"Come on, Kim. It's still early. Yen can have a rest first before coming to Palace Hotel Tokyo. It will just be a pool party. Don't worry. All the expenses, including your plane tickets, are on me."
Kim glanced at me, asking for my thoughts silently. I also looked at Trish, wishing to tell her I couldn't, but the excitement in her eyes made me think otherwise.
"If our boss consents to it, then it's fine with me."
Kim frowned and stared at me, gauging if I were indeed sincere. "Are you sure?"
Before I could answer, Cris spoke again. "I'll book a room for you so that you can go up anytime you like."
*Fine, then."
I called Zed and told him of our plans for the night. My ever-understanding husband didn't object to it, so I was all set to join the fun.
Once we went back to the Royal Park Hotel, Trish joined us in the car. Perhaps, Cris had other things to do for the preparation for the party. The moment the driver pulled in front of the entrance, Trish immediately dragged me towards a cafe.
"I can't wait to get away from our bosses because there's something I can't wait to buy," Trish giggled, hooking an arm around me.
I glanced at Kim over my shoulders, and he also looked back at me and gestured with a thumbs up.
"I'll keep in touch," I hollered, and he nodded.
We went straight into a cafe, finding a table in a corner. Once we took our seats, Trish reached out for the menu book and got lost in her thoughts.
Being new to this area, I also scanned my eyes in all the corners of the room. Then, something caught my attention from the farthest table. It was a familiar built of a woman. She was talking to a gorgeous-looking man across from her. And from how I saw it through their actions, they weren't simple acquaintances of business partners.
I squinted to get a clearer view of her, but I knew I was right. It was Maezy.
"Yen?" Trish was about to ask, but she immediately stopped when she followed my eyes.
"She's with him, again! " Trish exclaimed, and her eyes darted with anger.
"Who is he?" I asked, now feeling uneasy for Kim. I wondered if he knew that his wife was here.
"That man is Mr. Kim's cousin. His name is James."
Of course, I remembered that he was the man she's hooked with when Mr. Yuki was sick. But I couldn't believe she still met him secretly. What for? She already had Mr. Yuki. And she's now married to Kim.
"Yen, can you help me do something for Mr. Kim? He doesn't deserve all these." Trish's voice cut into my thoughts, and my eyes were already throwing fire and brimstone.
"But how?"
I couldn't believe Kim was powerless in all these. But I believed he had reasons why he seemed indifferent.
"Let's investigate about Miss Jakara," she said, holding my gaze.
"Who really is she in Kim's life?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat. Flashes of my dreams with Kim started to play at the back of my mind.
"Mr. Kim's wife."
I gazed into Trish's eyes for a long while. Unable to hold my curiosity any longer, I asked,
"Trish, why do Kim's business partners think I am Jakara? Where is she? What happened to her?"