I Hate That I Loved You!

35- Coffee and Conversation

The Springrock city, at Rizi's villa:

Rizi handed a cup of coffee to the Jason.

"Calm down J. She is not a kid anymore. She works very hard, and she deserves some fun occasionally. Please do not be too rash on her." She spoke while sitting on the couch next to Jason and blew smoke from her coffee mug.

Rizi overheard Jason and Arlette's conversation.

She knew Jason was very protective of his sister.

She knew Arlette from childhood.

She was not an irresponsible kid. Since young, she was very obedient and studious. She was a topper in her class, and very active in other sports like horse riding and shooting. But sometimes she gets irritated by her monotonous schedule, and she does something out of her comfort zone, which actually gives a panic attack to her family.

Rizi was aware the last time Arlette left home and went for a vacation out of the blue to the Vince city. Thankfully, she left a note otherwise, Jason would have flipped the whole Vince city up and down.

He would have engaged an army of police to search for his sister.

"I know, but it worries me when I am not able to reach out to her. she needs to understand how her actions affect us." Jason took a sip of coffee from his mug.

"She works so hard J. She manages your office alone at The Central Ford City, now that Uncle had retired. At such a young age, she already had lots of feathers in her hat. Let her enjoy her life as well." Rizi tried to console him.

Jason nodded in agreement. Indeed, his sister was a capable and successful businesswoman at a young age. But a big brother in him will always be worried about her.

"What are you planning to do about Susanna and his puppet?" Jason asked in a cold voice.

"Well. Nothing. Looks like she is convinced for now. That man did not follow Abby today. But I have instructed her to not let the guard down. She needs to be safe and alert. I cannot let anything happened to her J." Rizi's eyes clouded with sadness.

She still has guilt in her heart for the girl who lost her life in that accident. Because of her, she got killed as she was dressed as her doppelganger. She did not deserve to die at such a young age.

Jason saw how she was holding herself responsible for that incident.

"It was not your fault Zi! We were not prepared for their attack. Who would have predicted that they will try to kill you as soon as you are out of prison." Jason's anger rose. He clenched his jaw.

That unfateful day! It would have been Rizi if not for her doppelganger. It was selfish of him to think this way, but he was somewhere thankful to God that it was not Rizi in that car. Otherwise, he would have lost both Rizi and Leo. She was eight months pregnant at that time.

"She was a convicted felon Zi. I know I should not say this, but you have helped her family a lot these many years. They are living a comfortable life and her younger brother is studying at a prestigious university. You have done your best for them. So don't hold yourself accountable for everything. You are not an omnipotent god. You cannot control, predict or plan everything" J held her hand and consoled her with a deep serious voice.

A single tear slip down her left eye. "I know, but it is too big of a burden when you feel someone died because of you. First my father then that girl."

"There. There. It was not your fault. Stop blaming yourself. We have a long battle ahead. "Jason patted her head lovingly.

His best friend is a tough cookie from outside, but still a soft-hearted person from inside.

Rizi wiped her tears and nodded at her best friend's pep talk.

Jason always makes her feel good by his encouraging words.

She was indeed very lucky, to have such supportive friends in her life.

She recalled the famous saying she read somewhere online.

"Best friends make good times better, and the hard times faster."

Indeed, she had such friends. The only relationship she had faith now was 'friendship'.

She only trusts those people who stood by her side and supported her.

Romantic kind of love does not exist in her dictionary anymore. That love sucks and makes one miserable and stupid.

"All set for Hackathon?" Jason asked to divert her mind from useless thoughts. He knew how her chain of thought works. She will overthink and god knows what conclusion she will reach at the end. Either she will doubt herself, demean herself, or will hold herself accountable for her all past incidents. He needs to keep her confidence in check.

"yes. We are all set." Rizi replied an instant.

"You need any help?" Jason asked.

"No. Not on this one. I got this covered J. When is Sara coming?"

"She is having a court hearing in a couple of days, so she is a bit busy. But she will be here on the day of Hackathon BugHackX to accompany Leo and me." Jason spoke sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.

Rizi teased. "Yeah. Yeah. More like to accompany YOU."

"Yes. I mean No. The thing is we haven't confronted our feelings yet but it is mutual. I know she likes me too. So, I am planning to confess my feelings the day she will come here."  Jason blushed.

Rizi chuckled on her friend's blushed face. "I am happy for you J. But my poor baby, Leo doesn't even know that his favorite uncle had already stolen his future wife right under his nose."

"Damn it Zi! Don't tell him yet. I am afraid of how he will react. That little devil of yours will kill me with his poisonous words." Jason spoke with a frown.

He was really scared of a little demon.

Rizi laughed at how her best friend was afraid of her little toddler son of 3 and a half years.