<b>Chapter </b><b>14 </b>


    “What happened to your neck?” Jessica asked, gently moving fteba’s hair aside to reveal a distinct mark. “Don’t tell me that jerk Jeffrey did this?


    Reba’s hand flew to her neck, surprised that something so brief had left such a visible mark.


    Seeing the answer on her friend’s face, Jessica dropped her voice to a whisper. “It was really him?”


    “Yes,” Reba admitted, her voice barely audible.


    “That bastard,” Jessica seethed, her anger boiling over. “He’s dating Andrea while putting his hands on you? What aplete piece of shit!”


    Reba just nodded in grim agreement.


    Jessica was so furious that she even started imagining all sorts of violent retribution.


    “I need to ask you something,” Reba said after a brief hesitation, deciding to just put it out there.


    Jessica’s tone immediately softened. “Anything, you know that.”


    “Could I crash at your ce for a few days?” Reba asked. Even though they were best friends, she always believed in being polite about these things. “I haven’t found a new apartment yet, and I really can’t go back there.”


    Jeffrey had changed the passcode, so showing up now would be downright pathetic. Besides, she knew perfectly well she needed to stay away from him.


    “Seriously, consider this ce your home. Stay as long as you want,” Jessica said. She knew Reba could be stubborn, so she dropped the usual lecture. “Here, let’s get your fingerprint set up. That way, you cane and go even if I’m not around.”


    Reba actually agreed without argument this time.


    They had just finished setting up the fingerprint when Jessica’s phone rang. It was her father, urgently summoning her to the office. Though she’d been about to help Reba research the diamond collection, she had no choice but to go immediately.


    “Go ahead with your business. I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me,” Reba said, not wanting to get in the way of her friend’s actual responsibilities.


    “Okay, just hang tight here. Text me if anythinges up,” Jessica said, knowing her father only summoned her for big things. “I should be back soon.”


    Reba murmured in agreement and walked her to the door.


    Jessica’s parents had a marriage of convenience. Though they led separate lives after marrying, they both absolutely adored their daughter–Jessica was practically their little princess.


    Less than an hour after she left, Reba’s phone buzzed with an iing message from a stranger. [Hello. Is the ring still avable?]


    Reba replied immediately. [Yes.]


    The person called right away. “I’m very interested in the diamond from that ring you have,” he said directly. “If you’re avable, I’d like to meet in person to discuss it. I’m open to negotiating the price.”


    “May I ask who’s calling?” Reba inquired, neverfortable meeting strangers without proper verification.


    “This is Stanley Garcia, CEO of the Garcia Group, he replied. He then texted her his business card and professional profile for verification.


    Reba quickly verified the details before agreeing. “Where should we meet up?”


    She’d heard about Stanley from the Garcia Group–everyone said he was one of the good guys with a solid reputation. That made her feel better about meeting him.


    20:24 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b>14 Sept


    “Room 2801 at Jsburg Grand Hotel,” stanley said. “I’m already here for a meeting”


    “Sounds good,” Reba said. “Pll head over now.”


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    Even though Stanley had a great reputation, Reba decided to y it safe. She shot Jessica a quick text about where she was going and activated her phone’s emergency SOS feature. From experience, she knew that truly trustworthy people were few and far between.


    Jessica’s phone buzzed with the message immediately.


    As she reached for her phone to check it, her father, Eugene Scott, cleared his throat, saying slowly, “Am I that boring already? We just started talking, and you’re checking your phone.”


    “I was worried Reba might need me,” Jessica exined as she unlocked her phone. “By the way, why did you ask me toe over?”


    Eugene smoothly plucked the phone from her hand.


    “Hey!” Jessica protested. “What was that for?”


    “Pick one,” Eugene said, already scrolling through her messages.


    When he noticed two new messages from her top contact, saved as “My BFF,” he quickly deleted them before she could notice, knowing they were from Reba


    Jessica gave him a confused look.


    Completely oblivious, she asked, “Pick one what?”


    “Me or your phone,” he said with a straight face, giving nothing away.


    “Duh, my phone,” Jessica said, snatching it back. “If I picked you, your little side pieces would probably talk trash about me for weeks.”


    Eugene stayed quiet, not daring to say another word.


    Jessica couldn’t care less about her parents‘ rtionship drama. She just wanted them to stay out of hers. “If there’s nothing important, I’m heading out,” she said.


    “Hold on,” Eugene said, stalling like he’d been told to. “You know about Reba and Jeffrey’s divorce, right?”


    “Yeah<i>, </i>I know,” Jessica said casually. “What’s up?”


    “Just keep your distance from her for a while, and don’t get pulled into any of her problems,” Eugene warned, not wanting her on Jeffrey’s radar. “I know you two are close, but sometimes you’ve gottay low.”


    Jessica just rolled her eyes and called him crazy before walking out.


    After leaving the office, Jessica went to meet with those two private collectors. If things went well, Reba could sell the ring; if not, she’d have to figure something else out.


    Over an hourter, Jessica was done meeting with both buyers, but neither was willing to make the deal.


    She sent Reba a voice note. “So I talked to both guys, but neither will touch your ring. They told me Jeffrey had put the word out that anyone who buys it from you will have to deal with him.”


    After sending that, she added, “Want me to grab you something to eat on my way back? We’ll figure this out.”


    But the messages just hung there, unanswered.


    Reba’s phone showed no new notifications. From the moment she had stepped into the 2801 conference room, she had beenpletely cut off from all signals–someone had activated a jamming device that covered every floor from 25 upward.


    C


    Noticing thepleteck of service, Reba felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach.


    Even with the door standing open, the two hulking bodyguards in ck suits stationed there made her think twice about trying to leave.


    “Is your boss around?” Reba asked the man standing next to her.


    “He’s in a meeting with some VIP in the conference room next door,” the man–Stanley’s secretary–answered casually. “Should be wrapping up any minute now.”


    Reba bit her lip. “Howe there’s no service in here?”


    They re discussing some confidential


    stuff,” the exined calmly.


    “Mr. Garcia had jammers installed to prevents The Sea S


    when they’re done.”


    Reba nodded, but couldn’t shake her unease. With no way to text or call, she wouldn’t be able to reach Jessica if something went wrong.


    After waiting another couple of minutes without any sign of Stanley, Reba began scanning the conference room.


    She rose gracefully. “I should let my friend know I’m runningte–she’s waiting downstairs,” she said, already moving toward the exit.


    As she reached the door, the two bodyguards moved to block her path.


    “What’s the meaning of this?” Reba asked, tightening her grip on her bag as she looked back at the stone–faced secretary.


    “My apologies for keeping you waiting, Ms. Jensen,” Stanley said in a calm, pleasant voice as he entered through the doorway.


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    20725 Sun, 14 Sopt