Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Jemma got no response, but she stayed calm and unbothered. Anyway, Jarrod was here, and that was all that mattered.
But Alec, who followed behind, gave Jemma a knowing look and said, “Jemma, I didn’t know you cared so much about your staff. Is Nicole the special one?”
The question was a trap, and Jemma’s face tightened. She replied coolly, “Alec, don’t be ridiculous. I’m just looking out for Mr. Schultz’s family. Socialites can’t risk scandals.”
She added in a low voice, “With all the inspections lately, if it were anyone else, I’d handle it. But Miss Doreen Schultz and Miss Vicki Hampton are Mr. Schultz’s family, so I need his input, right?”
Jemma’s explanation was solid, but Alec wasn’t buying it. He’d been in the business and entertainment world long enough to know better.
These nightclub managers only cared about money. Money could buy anything, and they wouldn’t stick their necks out for a bargirl without a good reason. Moreover, they wouldn’t risk upsetting VIPs over a bargirl.
Alec assumed Jemma and Nicole had something going on. The fact that Nicole had worked here so long without trouble said it all.
After all, this place was a playground for the rich. Nicole hadn’t survived here by luck. Jemma must have carefully picked her clients.
Some bosses came here just to talk business and didn’t mess with the bargirls. But sometimes they’d order a girl to meet a client’s needs.
Alec sneered at Jemma, “Jemma, I don’t care what you’re up to. But watch yourself. If you reach too far, you might get hurt. And then…”
He paused and whispered in her ear, “You might not get back up.”
Jemma was stunned, breaking into a cold sweat. Alec had blood on his hands. She could sense it, even through his suit.
That kind of danger came from deep within, and Alec could go from laughing with you to snapping your neck in a heartbeat. It was really scary.
Jemma smiled playfully and said, “Alec, you always joke around. I’m known for being honest and straightforward. I wouldn’t dare have any sneaky plans. Plus, I’m all alone. Who would I be ambitious for? I don’t need to worry about food or clothes, you know?”
Jemma’s words were well-chosen. Firstly, she was saying she had no one supporting her and wouldn’t scheme much. Secondly, she was saying she was alone and had nothing to lose, so she wasn’t scared of Alec’s threats.
It was up to the listener to take it how they sounded.
Alec smiled and said, “You better mean that. Otherwise. .”
He looked dark and scary, announcing, “I can dig up whatever dirt I could get.”
After saying that, Alec quickly caught up with Jarrod ahead.
Jemma angrily stomped her foot and muttered, “You jerk, threatening to dig up my dirt? You’ll get what’s coming to you!”
At this point, Jarrod had rushed to the chamber, kicked open the door, and saw a complete mess.
However, Vicki and Doreen were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was Lowe in his underwear and a woman crouching on the ground.
Lowe was rubbing his sore butt, groaning in pain. He looked so lewd, as if he was asking the woman for some special services.
When Lowe spotted Jarrod, his eyes brightened, and he started to speak. “Jarrod, you’re here at last. This woman…”
However, before he could finish, Jarrod kicked him once more.
“Ah!” Lowe covered his head in agony, rolling on the ground. “Ouch!”
He felt pain and injustice. He was about to declare that the insane Nicole was off his list of desired partners. Why did he get beaten up again? Today definitely wasn’t his lucky day. He should’ve just stayed home.
Jarrod walked over to Nicole and knelt down. He lifted her chin and examined her closely. Then, he sneered, “Aren’t you competent? You’ve really made a mess of yourself.”
Nicole couldn’t reply. Her mind was fuzzy, and she felt a surge of heat coursing through her body. She was on the verge of overheating.
Jarrod gazed at her briefly before abruptly releasing her and tossing her aside. He stood up and noticed Jemma at the door. Without uttering a word, he readied to depart.
Alec witnessed this and quickly inquired, “Sir, what’s the plan?”
Jarrod’s tone was icy. “That’s not your concern. Neither of them has any connection to me.”
In other words, Jarrod cut off Nicole and Lowe from his circle.
Neither of them had any relationship with him, indicating his stance on the issue. This meant the club could deal with them however they wanted. He wouldn’t intervene.
Jemma furrowed her brow, about to speak when Jarrod interrupted with a question. “Jemma, where are they?” Naturally, he meant Doreen and Vicki.
Jemma had mentioned that Doreen and Vicki were here and drinking heavily on the phone, but now they were nowhere to be seen.
Jemma was taken aback and then replied, “They were here just a moment ago. I’m not sure where they went. They had probably left.”
“You’re not sure?” Jarrod said icily, “If anything happens to them, your club can kiss its existence goodbye.”
Jemma was left speechless and started sweating again. She couldn’t comprehend how things unfolded to this point, and Nicole hadn’t dropped any clues. What was her next move?
“Mr. Schultz, please, relax. I’ll get someone to find them…” Jemma turned to the people behind her, saying, “Go find out where Miss Schultz and Miss Hampton are!”
Jarrod dialed Vicki’s number and rang her up.
After a beep, Vicki answered right away. “Jarrod?”
Jemma felt embarrassed. Vicki sounded sober and clear, not like she had been drinking heavily.
But Jarrod didn’t seem bothered by Jemma’s lie. He simply hummed in response.
Vicki sounded delighted. Jarrod seldom called her, especially late at night.
Jarrod’s tone was cold and indifferent as he asked, “Where are you?”
“I’m…” Vicki hesitated and then said, “I’m at home.”
“You didn’t go out tonight?” Jarrod asked.
“Uh… No… Well, I did go out briefly, but I didn’t feel like it, so I returned.”
“Where did you go tonight?” Jarrod asked in front of everyone.
Vicki paused, uncertainty flickering across her face as Jarrod’s unexpected interest in her activities tonight caught her off guard.
Normally, Jarrod remained indifferent about her comings and goings, his questions never extending beyond casual pleasantries. Yet today was different. A fleeting thought crossed her mind.
“I…” Vicki hesitated and then ventured, “I went to Kingbel Club with Doreen.”
She cut herself off there, her understanding of Jarrod’s temperament guiding her silence. He was a man of few questions, content with honesty over details Consistent with Vicki’s expectations, Jarrod refrained from probing further after her brief disclosure.
Vicki, her curiosity piqued, pressed him gently, “Jarrod, why this sudden interest?”
“It’s nothing,” Jarrod responded, his voice casual as he slid his hand deeper into his pocket, the fabric rustling softly. “Try to get some sleep early tonight.”
Their conversation tapered off there, each unspoken word hanging in the air.
Respecting his wish, Vicki replied, “Alright, rest well yourself too.”
The phone clicked as the call ended. Immediately, Alec turned to Jarrod with urgency in his tone. “Sir, what should we do about Mr. Hampton?”
The dilemma of handling the disheveled Lowe, Jarrod’s future brother -in-law, lying bare and vulnerable on the cold ground, was pressing.
Jarrod eyed the disheveled figure of Lowe on the ground, his voice deep and authoritative as he issued the command, “Put him in the car and take him back to the Hampton family.”
“Understood,” Alec responded, his thoughts in alignment with Jarrod’s directive. Despite their frayed ties, they couldn’t afford to let Vicki be embarrassed or become the subject of gossip.
Alec hoisted Lowe up and began to haul him outside, but Lowe was uncooperative, his body limp and heavy like a sack of flour. The evening’s events had drained Lowe even further.
Upon reaching the door, Alec looked up, intending to call Jemma for assistance, only to see that she had already moved to escort Nicole out.
Jemma was busy attending to Nicole, who seemed to be ignored by everyone else.
As the manager of the bar girls, it was Jemma’s duty to oversee Nicole’s situation without overthinking the implications.
Jemma supported Nicole to the doorway. Nicole’s face was flushed, her appearance tousled yet retaining an inexplicable allure.
As they passed by, Jarrod’s gaze lingered on Nicole, his brows knitting together in a frown, his thoughts unreadable.
Without warning, Nicole reached out, grabbed Jarrod’s collar, and pressed a fervent kiss to his lips. Her kiss was intense, searing with a heat that lingered on his skin.
Jemma, caught in the middle, blanched at the suddenness. She found herself trapped between the icy demeanor of Jarrod behind her and the fiery onslaught of Nicole in front.
Jemma’s mind whirled with confusion. What… What was happening?
Alec halted, staring in disbelief. What on earth was happening?
Having been forced down the doctored drink, Nicole seemed tormented, as if she were on fire. Her mouth was dry, desperately clinging to Jarrod’s lips as if they were a lifeline in the desert.
Nicole kissed Jarrod fiercely, a wild echo of their college days flashing between them.
Nicole’s passion was raw and undeniable, a stark contrast to the often coy or refined demeanor of other women. She was forthright and mesmerizing, like a siren drawing Jarrod in.
Jarrod had always been drawn to this vibrant energy in Nicole.