Chapter 71 - Jealous Without Reason
"I'm sure your best friend is now living happily, Anne. So you don't need to be sad anymore. Believe me, every problem that comes will make her even stronger, and I'm sure God will definitely help her," said Agnes softly, as she patted Anne's back who she was hugging.
"Yes, Agnes, I also believe that she is stronger, but sometimes when I remember that, I still feel moved and carried away. I'm sorry Agnes," said Anne stammered.
"It's okay, Anne. It's natural that you're sad for what happened to your best friend. Women's feelings are sensitive, Anne, so it's natural that you are like this. This is normal and natural, Anne," said Agnes again.
From the dining room, Jack was seen carrying a wine glass and standing in the large glass window staring at Anne without blinking. He was very curious about what Anne was currently talking about with her female friend in the chairs where he had met Anne before. Since the event, Jack had been out of focus. He really wanted to finish everything and come to Anne. However, because he was one of the guests of honor invited by the campus, therefore he tried to remain calm and followed the course of the event to respect the host. He couldn't do whatever he wanted because the name of his company was at stake right now, being in front of many people.
"Excuse me, Mister Muller," Professor Gilbert said quietly, tapping Jack on the shoulder.
"Yes, Professor, can I help you?" Jack asked quickly with a smile.
"Actually, it's not your help, sir, I want to introduce you to other entrepreneurs who are part of this event. And coincidentally, one of the invited businessmen also comes from a very distant country like you. It would be great if you got to know him. I would like to introduce the two of them to you sir," replied Professor Gilbert excitedly.
"It's okay, Professor, please, I'm just happy to know many more people," said Jack quickly.
"Thank you, sir, wait a moment I'll bring them here," said Professor Gilbert with sparkling eyes.
Jack nodded his head slowly in response to Professor Gilbert's words. After getting Jack's approval, Professor Gilbert then went off in another direction to call the businessman he would introduce to Jack as he said before. Shortly thereafter, Professor Gilbert was seen walking together with a husband and wife who were seen smiling broadly at Jack.
Jack's heart was beating very fast when he saw the husband and wife who were walking towards him. Even though he had not met them in person, he was already very familiar with the faces of the couple in front of him right now.
"Anne," Jack said softly without realizing it, when Leonardo Ganke was standing right in front of him.
Jack's eyes stared directly at the woman in front of him. Jack saw Steffi from head to toe without missing an inch. Finally he could see firsthand Anne's best friend who had betrayed her, directly. While looking at Steffi, suddenly a cheerful shadow of Anne appeared instantly in Jack's memory and immediately threw Steffi's face.
"Leonardo Ganke," Leon said loudly, as he stretched his hand towards Jack, with a smile.
"Jackson Patrick Muller," Jack replied firmly, as he grabbed the hand of the man who'd been squandering Anne.
Jack stared intently at Leon's two eyes in front of him, as well as Leon, who also stared back unblinkingly at Jack with a meaningful cynical smile. Professor Gilbert, who was standing beside Steffi, felt something was odd. The cold aura of the two men he had just met was very strong and made him feel it too.
"Madame ..."
"I know, Professor," replied Steffi quickly. She seemed to immediately understand what Professor Gilbert was trying to say.
"Uhm ... I'm Steffani Ganke," said Steffi quietly, as she stretched out her hand towards Jack, as if Steffi was giving Jack a code to let go of her husband's hand.
"Hello Mrs. Ganke, nice to meet a woman like you," Jack replied quickly as he released Leon's grip and grabbed Steffi's hand. Jack tried to temporarily relieve his disgust at Steffi. Having heard about Steffi from Anne made Jack lose respect for the woman who just held his hand.
"Th-then let's eat, we can enjoy the dishes that are served, gentlemen," said Professor Gilbert stammered, trying to break the stiff atmosphere in the area by inviting his guests to eat.
"Alright then, let's eat," Jack replied quietly, as he stretched his hand toward the dining table as if he were giving way to Leon and Steffi to walk first to the dining table.
When he looked at the dining table, Jack's smile came back when he saw Aaron was chatting with several other businessmen. Jack walked towards the place where Aaron passed Leon and Steffi who were walking with Professor Gilbert.
"Aaron," called Jack in a fairly loud voice.
"Jack, you're here?!" Aaron asked in disbelief when he saw Jack on the same campus as her was.
"Of course, now you know that's not why I came to London," Jack replied with a broad smile.
"Hahaha you're really unpredictable, Jack, come on over here, I have to introduce you to some of my other co-workers. Who knows they will become your business partners too, Jack," said Aaron, kindly inviting Jack to meet the other businessmen.
Jack's smile grew at Aaron's words. He tried to hold himself back so as not to get angry with Aaron. Even though he really wanted to hit Aaron because he dared to approach Anne, whom he had been looking for months. When he was about to approach Aaron, Jack was suddenly reminded about Leon and Steffi, two important people who had been present in Anne's life.
"Oh yes, Aaron, I will introduce Mr. and Mrs. Ganke from Germany. They are also guests of honor at this campus event," Jack said quietly as he held Leon's steps to the dining table.
"Mr. Ganke ..."
"Oh yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Connery. This is purely my fault," shrieked Professor Gilbert, interrupting Aaron's words, as he patted his forehead.
Aaron, Jack, Leon and Steffi immediately turned their heads to Professor Gilbert, who suddenly joined in the conversation.
"Mr. Connery, forgive my mistake in not introducing you to Mr. and Mrs. Ganke, Mr. Ganke is one of the businessmen from Germany, who has the best animation company in Berlin. He just arrived in London this morning," said Professor Gilbert, quickly introducing Leon to Aaron.
"And this is Mr. Aaron Sean Connery, Mr. Ganke, he is one of the successful entrepreneurs in London. His property company is growing rapidly and his company is one of the best companies that want to employ our inexperienced student alumni, while other companies are very strict. in selecting employees," added Professor Gilbert quickly introducing Aaron to Leon.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ganke," said Aaron kindly, as he stretched out his hand towards Leon.
"Me to, nice to knowing you Mr. Connery," Leon replied quickly as he accepted Aaron's hand.
"Oh yeah, this is my wife, Steffi," Leon added softly as he let go of Aaron's hand.
"Nice to meet such a beautiful woman, Madam," Aaron said quietly, as he stretched his hand towards Steffi, who had been standing beside Leon without a word.
"I am very fortunate to be able to meet a great entrepreneur like you, sir," replied Steffi kindly, becoming Leon's personal secretary before after Leon's divorce from Anne had made Steffi good at talking and was not nervous about meeting Leon's business partners. And this was what Leon was proud of because his wife was able to bring herself to her business partners.
After that brief introduction, they then began to enjoy the sumptuous food that was served on the table. Jack, who had lost his appetite when he saw Anne, chose to only drink wine. He really couldn't wait to end this unimportant event, there were many things he wanted to talk about with Anne, who was still out there with her other friends. Countless times, Jack had turned to look at the field where Anne was. Even though he was in the room, Jack could still hear Anne's laughter clearly among the laughter of her other friends. It was as if Jack's sense of hearing could only catch Anne's voice which he had been missing.
Seeing Jack just standing by the window staring outward made Aaron curious. He then came to Jack, leaving Daniel who was talking to Professor Gilbert. With a plate containing the best steak made by one of the best chefs in London, Aaron managed to stand next to Jack, who was only holding a glass of wine that had almost gone.
"Aren't you hungry, Mr. Muller?" asked Aaron softly when he was standing beside Jack.
"I'm still full, it feels like the food I ate at the hotel hasn't been fully digested in my stomach," Jack replied with a smile at Aaron.
"So this is what you came to London actually for, Jack. Why didn't you tell me from the start?" Aaron asked again as he ate the steak he had cut earlier.
To be continued