The Heiress's Comeback

Chapter 158: [Volume 1] - 158- Too close

Jay’s face flushed red as he gently pushed Esme away from him, trying to compose himself. Esme, feeling the tension release, stood and ruffled her hair, taking a deep breath before her expression turned unreadable. She glanced at the door, her calm demeanor returning as she called out, "Come in."

With composed grace, Esme stood and brushed off her clothes as if nothing had transpired. Jay, with his back turned to the door, adjusted his tie with trembling hands, trying to regain his composure. Esme, meanwhile, sat on the stool with an expression of boredom, looking utterly unaffected by what had just happened. Her face was so neutral that it could almost convince anyone that the intimate moments before had been a figment of imagination.

Kai entered with an annoyed expression, his irritation already apparent. "What are you guys doing? I’ve been knocking for ages!" he complained, opening the door with a heavy sigh. But as he stepped inside, his annoyance shifted to confusion. Ray was sprawled on the bed, fast asleep, Jay was fumbling with his tie, and Esme, sitting quietly, appeared as if she had been waiting for something—anything—more interesting than his presence.

Kai paused, taking in the scene with narrowed eyes. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but nothing seemed out of place. Esme, noticing his scrutiny, looked him up and down, her expression flat. She raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Why are you dressed like a tree today?"

The comment was delivered with such deadpan disinterest that it took Kai a moment to process it. He blinked, glancing down at his outfit—a green shirt with a hint of white and brown pants. He was dumbfounded. "Tree? What the hell do you mean by that?" His tone was defensive, clearly thrown off by her casual insult. "Do you even know how much these clothes cost?"

Esme’s attention had already wandered. She stood up and made her way to the window, pulling the curtain aside as sunlight flooded the room. She didn’t bother looking at Kai when she responded, her voice dripping with nonchalance. "Sure, but even if dirt is expensive, it’s still dirt."

Kai was left standing there, speechless. He opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words, unsure whether to feel insulted or impressed by Esme’s complete lack of concern. Jay, still fixing his tie, hid a small smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips, thankful for the distraction that had broken the tension in the room.

Ray stirred on the bed. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the window. "What’s going on?" Ray mumbled groggily, sitting up and running a hand through his tousled hair.

Esme turned her head slightly, glancing at Ray but saying nothing. She leaned against the window, letting the breeze ruffle her hair. Her expression remained distant, as if her mind was miles away, untouched by the tension in the room. Jay, having finally adjusted his tie to his liking, let out a sigh and moved to the corner, picking up his jacket from the back of a chair.

Kai, still processing everything, snapped out of his stupor and raised the basket in his hand. "I brought food. Thought you guys might be hungry, but..." He trailed off, eyeing the strange dynamics in the room. "Am I interrupting something?"

Jay, now fully composed, chuckled lightly and shook his head. "Nothing at all. Just the usual," he said, his voice smooth and casual, but the way his eyes flicked toward Esme gave away more than his words.

Ray stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and gave Kai a lazy grin. "If you’ve got food, you’re definitely not interrupting. I’m starving." He swung his legs off the bed and stood, walking over to grab the basket from Kai’s hands.

Esme stayed silent, her eyes now locked on the window as if she found more interest in the world outside than in the conversation inside. Jay watched her for a moment before clearing his throat. "Esme, you should eat something too." His voice was softer now, almost careful, but Esme didn’t immediately respond. She kept staring outside, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Kai, still feeling the sting from her earlier insult, decided to ignore the tension and plopped down onto a nearby chair, helping himself to the food. "So, what’s the plan for today? Are we just going to sit around and insult my fashion choices, or is there something important going on?"

Esme finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "We need to figure out the next move. I’m tired of waiting." She turned from the window and glanced at the three men, her gaze sharp. "We can’t keep sitting idle. Things are moving, whether we like it or not."

The seriousness in her tone silenced the light atmosphere immediately. Ray, mid-bite, paused, his face turning more thoughtful, while Jay looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Even Kai, though still sulking, seemed to perk up at the shift in conversation.

Esme crossed her arms, her eyes darkening with determination. "There’s no more room for hesitation." She looked directly at Jay, then at the others. "We’re moving forward, and we’re doing it now."

Jay nodded solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Yes, the poison found in your body is too dangerous. If not for your beast power, you might have already been turned into a full idiot."

Esme’s lazy gaze shifted toward him, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "What do you mean by a ’full idiot’?" she asked, her tone teasing but with an edge of curiosity.

Jay shrugged, nonchalant. "Well, you’re already half an idiot," he said, half expecting her to throw something back at him.

Instead of anger, Esme burst into laughter, the sound unexpected and light in the otherwise heavy room.

"Well, you’re right," she admitted easily, surprising him.

Jay, who had prepared himself for a sharp retort or a sarcastic remark, stood there, startled by how casually she brushed it off.