Sky Chandler, a powerful CEO, first captured Jules Parker's heart in high school with kindness and charisma. Jules idolizes Sky, but when their paths cross again years later in the unforgiving corporate world, the hero of Jules' past becomes a guard...
The morning dawns gray and somber as Jules sits quietly on a park bench, her shoulders trembling with silent sobs. Dianne, by her side, wraps an arm around her friend's shoulders, her voice soft and comforting.
"Come on, Mon, don't cry," Dianne soothes. "Maybe Sir Sky was just in a bad mood. If you talk to him again, he might change his mind."
Jules offers a weak, pained smile, her gaze cast downward. "No, Di, he's always serious about work. If he says he wants to fire me... it means he really does." Her voice cracks with despair.
Dianne squeezes Jules's hand gently. "What will you do if he really goes through with it?" she asks, her tone laced with concern.
Jules takes a shaky breath, fresh tears streaming down her face. "I don't know, Di. My mind's blank—I must be so terrible at my job." She buries her face in her hands, overwhelmed.
"Are you crazy?" Dianne replies, trying to lift Jules's spirits. "If you're bad at work, then what does that make me? Don't forget—I graduated because of you."
Jules lets out a hollow chuckle. "Then it must be personal. Maybe he just doesn't want to see my face anymore."
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Just then, Jim and Tee appear, spotting Jules from across the park. They greet Dianne and Jules warmly, and Jim rushes over to embrace Jules, offering his support. Tee quickly pulls out his phone and dials Kade, who arrives moments later in a flurry, dressed in her traditional costume.
"Oh, Mon, don't cry!" Kade exclaims, enfolding Jules in a hug. She tilts Jules's chin up, assessing her tear-streaked face. "Look at you—you're a mess!"
"Hey, you're not much better yourself," Jim jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
Kade huffs. "Well, I was in the middle of a shoot! Anyway, what's the big deal with a thousand likes falling short? This is just wrong," she declares, expressing her frustration with Sky.
"Agreed," Jim nods. "Is he on another one of his emotional roller coasters?"
"Could be," Tee chimes in. Jules, through her tears, tries to explain.
"After Jim's wedding, he's been...different. I've texted him, called him—I even visited him at home. He just told me to go away. Now he says he wants me out of the company," she whispers, barely able to contain her pain.
Dianne furrows her brow thoughtfully. "Wait, did Sir Sky change after Jim's wedding? Maybe he's planning to marry Mia!"
The others hush her quickly. "Don't listen to her," Kade says to Jules, "and don't overthink it, okay? There's no way he'd get all lovey-dovey with Mia. They're just friends," Tee adds confidently.
Kade nods firmly. "Exactly. There has to be more to this. Sky adores Mon."
They decide to whisk Jules off to a nearby restaurant, hoping a warm meal will take her mind off things. As they settle down, Kade leans in, speaking in a low tone to the others.
"When Sky's with Mon, his eyes light up. I've never seen him act this way around anyone before," she says, almost enviously.
Jim chuckles. "I know, right? But it's not exactly the time to envy her."
"Maybe he's actually planning something to benefit Jules," Tee suggests, an idea forming in his mind. The others nod in agreement, rallying around him.
"I think I have a plan," Tee says cautiously, glancing at Kade and Jim. Later that evening, they invite Sky to dinner, hoping to draw him out.
As they wait, Jim asks nervously, "Do you think he'll come?"
"Oh, he'll come," Tee replies confidently. Right on cue, Sky arrives, his expression unreadable. He greets them with a nod before his gaze settles on Jim.
"Jim, be serious for a moment. Think about your kid before you act impulsively," Sky scolds, turning to the group. Jim raises his hands, attempting to deflect the tension.
Kade quickly shifts the conversation. "So, Sky, what's going on with you and Mon? Why the sudden tension?"
Sky's face hardens. "Is that why you invited me here? To ask about Mon?"
The others exchange glances, and Tee takes a deep breath. "Actually, yes. Mon applied to my company—why does she need to be at yours?" Sky's expression grows stormy. "My company. I can fire anyone I want," he retorts.
Undeterred, Tee presses on. "Listen, if it's that serious, I'll just hire her myself. She's hardworking, and honestly, she's my type," he says provocatively, watching as Sky's fists clench.
Sky finally snaps. "You still want her that much?" His tone is laced with jealousy.
"Whoa, take it easy. I'm just joking," Tee says, laughing it off. "I just think she's a good fit for my team."
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"No. Absolutely not." Sky's voice is firm as he stands up abruptly, throwing a final, warning glance at Tee before storming out. As soon as he's gone, the group erupts into laughter.
"Now, we wait and see what happens next," Tee grins, confident that the spark they've ignited in Sky will work to Jules's advantage.
