Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman novel Chapter 114

"I asked you to get Selena's autograph for me. How can you forget?" Maranda simpered. Annoyed that Jean was more concerned about her phone, Maranda pursed her lips and turned her head away to avoid facing Jean.

Jean was about to make an apology. But as it was Jade who was calling, she swiped to answer the call.

Jean motioned Maranda to keep quiet by placing her index finger over her lips. Then she quickly said, "Hey, Mom."

"Jean, I have some important to tell you, " Jade said.

"Go ahead, " Jean said with a frown. Jade usually never called her at work. So what could have prompted her to call today?

"Sean and I are leaving for Shanghai. The flight will take off soon. We will be in Shanghai for a couple of days."

"Shanghai?" Jean paused and asked, "What for?"

"I have an emergency to deal with, so we are in a hurry. Oh, by the way, I have something else to tell you. Last night, I attended a party and met a friend who is the manager of a fashion show. He invited you and Zed to participate in his couples show."

'Couples show?'

Jean was shocked by what Jade had said. Jean occasionally watched TV and had a fair idea of the kind of programs that were aired.

Jean shook her head vigorously and said, "Did you accept the invitation, Jade? Zed and I are not a good fit for such kind of shows. And besides, Zed......"

"Yes, I have already accepted." Jade snapped before Jean could say more. Then Jade continued, "The manager is one of my oldest friends, a pretty good one too. I had no alternative but to accept." Jade expressed her dilemma.

"You had no alternative?" Jean was petrified and didn't know how to refuse Jade. The only thing she could do was repeat Jade's words in disbelief.

"Jean, I have left the invitation and the name card with Zelda. Remember to collect them. By the way, I really expect to see you and Zed on TV. Well, that's it, the passengers are boarding so we have to go as well. Bye." A beep sounded as the call disconnected.

Jean sat on a bench with a startled expression. She lowered her eyes to the ground as she tried to figure out what she could do.

'As known by all, the Qi Group is a leading enterprise in the business world. It enjoys a high reputation in the city. If Zed and I attend the show, there will be no doubt that the fashion show's ratings would skyrocket. The show will definitely attract a lot of media attention.

When the show airs, almost all media houses will place us on the front page. Besides, Zed is charming and rich, so who knows what will happen after.

And our marriage is just a business agreement. The only thing connecting us is the marriage certificate. We are not a true couple. If the conditions of our marriage are discovered one day, where will the Qi Group and I end up?' Jean thought.

Jean was desperate to find a way out of this predicament. But no matter how she examined the situation, she could see no way to decline Jade without offending her mother-in-law.

Now, her only choice was to tell Zed and let him figure it out.

Maranda waved her hand in front of Jean's face when she realized that her friend seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Jean also looked very anxious. But Jean didn't notice Maranda which worsened the concern Maranda was feeling. And so, she took Jean's hand in hers, and said, "What happened?"

Jean realized that Maranda was talking to her. Then Jean took a deep breath before shaking her head and saying, "Nothing. Let's get back to the office."

Maranda looked at Jean's gloomy expression and wondered what had caused it. 'Jean didn't get me Selena's autograph and I just pretended to be angry at her. Did Jean take me seriously?' With no other explanation for Jean's sudden mood change, Maranda asked cautiously, "Jean, are you upset because of me? I…"

"No, family affairs, " Jean answered curtly before Maranda finished.

"Okay. That's a relief, " Maranda said as she felt relieved that she hadn't done anything to upset her friend. Maranda still wondered what family affair had worried Jean this much. But she didn't want to pry. And so the trip back to the company was a quiet one.

Jean called Zed immediately after work, but he didn't answer. Jean couldn't wait any longer, so she took a cab to the Qi Group.

As Jean arrived at the Qi Group, she spotted Zed and his secretaries and some other men walking out of the gate.

Then two cars came to an abrupt stop at the entrance.

A second later, Zed and his companions got into the cars.

Jean stood where she was and thought, 'If Zed is still working, I shouldn't disturb him.' Even though she wanted to discuss the couple's show issue with him immediately, Jean knew that she had to wait until later.

With nothing else to do, Jean decided to go home.

Once Jean reached the villa, she found that Zelda was cleaning.

"Good evening, madam, " Zelda greeted.

"Good evening, " Jean replied. Then, Jean tossed her bag onto the sofa and plopped down right next to it. The sofa was so soft that she felt as though she were sinking. There were no other people in the villa except Zelda. Jean felt really relaxed as she didn't need to pretend now that Zed's family was not here.

"Where is Luke?" Jean asked.

"Luke is running some errands for Mr. Sean and will be back later."

"Got it."

Zelda remembered the invitation just as she had started mopping the floor. So she straightened herself and said, "Madam, Mrs. Jade left an invitation card for you." Then she brought the invitation card and handed it to Jean.

Jean had thought she could have some peaceful moments before Zed came home, but Zelda's words reminded her of what had been troubling her.

"Thank you, " Jean said. Jean graciously took the invitation before she opened it.

Inside the envelope there was an invitation and a name card. Jean studied the card carefully. This was most likely Jade's friend, the manager she had spoken about.

Jean closed the envelope and tossed it on the side. She was extremely worried. All of a sudden, a nagging feeling forced Jean to grab the envelope and open it. Jean's eyes grew as wide as saucers when she studied the invitation.

'She and Zed have to go the day after tomorrow? The show is being filmed the day after tomorrow? What the hell! And I was informed today, ' Jean's stomach turned at the thought.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Zelda noticed Jean's expression and asked.

Jean shook her head, and said, "Nothing." There was no point discussing this with Zelda. What Jean needed, was for Zed to come home quickly so they could sort this out.

Since Jean was hesitant to share, Zelda changed the subject by asking, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Whatever you'd like to make. Remember, I'm not a picky eater." Jean answered with a tiny smile.

"Okay." Zelda said with a quick nod.

Zelda headed for the kitchen after she had finished cleaning the house. This whole while, Jean sat clutching the invitation. She just couldn't figure this out. Something didn't feel right.

'Was everything a lie? The party, the meeting with an old friend? Did Jade set all this up? A show usually needs to be prepared several months beforehand. And that would include extensive research on possible guests and their backgrounds.

But we were informed only two days before the show. That is just not normal.

It's obvious that the whole thing has been arranged. Goodness me! Jade must have set all this up! Jade must have accepted the invitation much earlier than yesterday, but she concealed the fact all this while.' After careful reasoning, all things came together in Jean's mind.

A part of Jean still refused to believe her conclusion. After all, ever since their introduction, Jade had been nothing but kind and loving toward Jean. 'If she really did plan all this, then she must have a very good reason, Jean concluded.

But Jean really didn't want to attend that show. Therefore, she hoped Zed would find a way to wiggle out of this without offending Jade or ruining Jade's relationship with her old friend. Jean thought, 'Zed is always cold and stern. He is also quiet and secretive about his life. He will be more unhappy about this than I am.'

Thinking that Zed would support her decision not to go, Jean felt relieved.

To pass the time, Jean had a bath and then she watched TV. When she started yawning, Jean glanced at the watch on her wrist. Her eyes widened when she saw the time. It was almost 10:00 PM. Where was Zed?

Jean was so tempted to call him, but she knew that he would be furious if she interrupted his work. After struggling with herself, Jean decided it was best if she went to sleep. That way she wouldn't be glaring at the ticking minute hand, and she wouldn't be tempted into calling Zed and earning his wrath.

Jean didn't know how long she had slept for. She was woken by the persistent ringing of her phone.

Jean picked up the phone and looked at the screen. Zed's number flashed on the screen. Relieved, she swiped to answer the call.

"Hello."

"Hello, is this Mrs. Qi speaking?" Jean was dazed when she heard a woman. She had been expecting Zed's gruffly voice. Then she realized the voice belonged to Zed's secretary.

"Yes? Where is Zed?"

"Boss has drunk too much. We're at a nightclub. He doesn't want to leave but he keeps murmuring your name. Mrs. Qi, could you please come and take him home?" The secretary asked.

'A nightclub? Zed actually went to a nightclub? A place that is full of all kinds of women?

Wait, wait. Did the secretary say that Zed had been murmuring my name? Could it be?' Jean finally realized something.