Chapter 351: Waiting

Jessica lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a moment before placing it on the coffee table. She felt an intense urge to leave immediately and rush to Zachary’s presidential suite. Still, Riley’s instruction echoed in her mind.

“You can go to his room in about one hour…”

She released a heavy sigh and glanced at the watch on her wrist. One hour still felt unbearably long. She had already waited all afternoon, and now every passing minute seemed to move slower than the last.

“Ugh, one hour is too long,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “What am I supposed to do until then?”

She began pacing around the hotel room, her thoughts moving in several directions at once. She checked the time again, even though only a few minutes had passed.

Then she walked toward the window and looked out at the city lights below. The busy streets and glowing buildings offered little distraction from the thoughts filling her mind.

She wanted everything to go according to plan. She wanted Zachary to look at her again the way he once had, even if she knew that the circumstances surrounding their reunion would not be what she had imagined in the past.

More than anything, she wanted Sienna out of his life. She had spent too long believing that Sienna had taken the place that belonged to her, and she refused to accept that Zachary’s marriage could be the end of her own hopes.

After pacing for a while longer, Jessica suddenly stopped. Her eyes brightened as an idea came to her, and the tension in her shoulders eased.

“Ah, I need to prepare myself,” she said, her voice softening with shy excitement.

She turned toward the bathroom and hurried inside, leaving the keycard on the coffee table. As the bathroom door closed behind her, a pleased smile remained on her face.

…

Jessica waited almost one hour to get to Zachary’s presidential room. As her patience slowly faded, she finally decided to go to his hotel room.

She can’t wait any longer!

Still, before leaving her room, she stood in front of the mirror and took a moment to look at herself.

A pleased smile spread across her face as she stared at her reflection. Her hair was styled in a simple bun that left her neck exposed, and the low-cut red dress she had chosen hugged her curves beautifully. It was an elegant yet alluring look, the kind of outfit Zachary had always loved when they were still dating.

She gently adjusted the fabric around her waist, then tilted her head and smiled at herself.

“Zach, after tonight, I believe you’ll fall for me again.” She giggled at her own words before shaking her head. “Alright, alright. Let’s go upstairs, Jess!”

After slipping into her black high heels, Jessica picked up her clutch bag and left the hotel room. She tried to appear calm as she walked toward the elevator, but her heart was already beating faster than usual. She took out her phone and opened Zachary’s picture, staring at his handsome face as she walked.

Seeing him still made her feel a familiar warmth, and she couldn’t stop imagining how the night might unfold.

So distracted by her phone, she failed to notice a woman walk in front of her. A moment later, they collided.

Jessica stopped abruptly, and her phone slipped from her hand. Her clutch bag fell to the floor as well, spilling its contents across the hallway. Her lipstick rolled beneath a nearby table, while her perfume, key card, phone, and several other small items scattered in different directions.

“Oh no…” Jessica murmured, staring at the mess. She quickly looked up at the woman in front of her and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry. I was too focused on my phone and didn’t see you coming out.”

“Oh, my God!”

The woman’s surprised voice made Jessica blink. Instead of showing any irritation, the woman immediately crouched down to collect the scattered belongings.

“You…Are you Jessica Simmons? I’m your biggest fan!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with utter excitement as she gathered the items. “I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you here! Oh, my God! Meeting you in person, and alone, too!”

Jessica’s expression softened, and she felt a genuine rush of happiness. Meeting fans always made her feel adored and appreciated, especially when they spoke about her with such sincere excitement. She bent down to help, but the woman had already gathered everything. She was carefully placing the items back inside the clutch bag.

“Here you go,” the woman said, handing it to her with both hands. “I’m so sorry for accidentally hitting you. I should have watched where I was going, too.”

“Please don’t apologize again. It was an accident, and I was the one staring at my phone.” Jessica accepted the bag and smiled warmly. “Are you alright? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

The woman quickly shook her head. “I’m perfectly fine! Honestly, I think I’m the luckiest person in this hotel right now. I’ve followed you for years, and I never thought I’d run into you like this.”

Jessica laughed softly. “That’s very sweet of you. Thank you for supporting me for so long. It really means a lot.”

The woman placed a hand over her chest, looking even more delighted. “You don’t have to thank me. A few of your movies helped me through a really difficult time. Whenever I feel down, I’d rewatch your movie, and it made me feel like I could move forward again…”

Jessica’s smile became more sincere. She reached out and gently touched the woman’s arm. “I’m really glad to hear that.”

The woman smiled gratefully. “You’re even kinder than I imagined. Can we take a picture together? I want to show my friend that I met you in person. She’s going to be so jealous!”

“Of course, dear.” Jessica laughed and stepped closer. “Let’s take a few pictures so you can choose your favorite one.”