Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Jessica’s POV

56%

256 vouchers

My eyes stayed glued to my thighs, my fingers twisting in my lap as I sat rigid in the rickety chair across from Derek’s desk.

His gaze bored into me like lasers.

“Jessica,” he called, his voice dangerously calm, but I could hear the storm brewing beneath the surface.

“I should have tired you for what happened today. You shouldn’t even be in this diner.”

He paused, and my stomach dropped, imagining the pink slip, the empty pockets, the endless job hunt all over again.

But then he added, “But I’ll let whatever went on back there slide”

My heart rate, which had been hammering against my ribs, instantly slowed.

I snapped my head up to look at him. His face was a furious crimson; I swore I could feel the heat radiating off him from across the desk.

“Sir-”

He cut me off, raising a palm like a stop sign.

“This diner is my business. My customers are my priority. They come here for a relaxing time to unwind, not for some psychotic drama episode involving your family. Do you understand that?”

His words hissed out, laced with barely contained fury.

I nodded solemnly, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yes, sir.”

“I couldn’t care less about your existence, much less whatever issues you have with your sister, cousin, friend… whoever that woman was. If this happens again, I’ll be forced to lay you off without your final salary.”

No. Not my salary. That was my lifeline, the thin thread keeping me from drowning in guilt and shame.

Panic flickered, but I pushed it down.

“Th–thank you for your kindness, sir,” I mumbled, my chest swelling with a dizzying mix of happiness and sheer relief.

It was a complete surprise that I wasn’t fired, but whatever kept him teetering on the edge, I was profoundly grateful for it.

“You can leave.” He grumbled, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

I bolted from the chair, not needing to be told twice, and headed straight for the employee closet at the back. We still had about two hours until closing, I might as well make use of the shift.

Derek probably wouldn’t pay me for the missed time, but hey, a generous tip from some kind soul could turn things around. Miracles happened, right?

This diner wasn’t exactly a hotspot for the elite; it catered to the lower–middle class–hardworking families struggling with their finances.

Derek wasn’t a total monster; he kept the prices fair, the portions hearty. He just harbored a deep, inexplicable dislike for

1. me.

No clue why. Maybe I reminded him of someone he hated, or maybe it was just my luck.

1/4

12:00 Sat, Jan 10 DO

Chapter 23

* 56%

10 vouchere

Though the diner was meant for specific clientele, it didn’t limit the rich from visiting, and every day I came to work, my brain played out hopeful, ridiculous scenes: I’d bump into a weahy old woman, or an old man who had no kids and was willing to adopt me–anything to escape this suffocating poverty

Stepping into the closet, Fallon was slumped on the floor, back against the wall, scrolling through her phone..

Her head jerked up at the sound of the door, and a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips.

Besides Aaron, Fallon was the one person who treated me like a uman–like I wasn’t just some ghost haunting the edges of life.

We didn’t talk beyond work and random, surface–level conversations that ended the moment we left the diner, but she’d had my back in more ways than I could count.

If anyone was a ‘friend‘ in my book, it was her.

“How’d it go with the boss? You getting fired?” she asked, her eyes wide with real concern, not the fake pity I’d seen from others.

I shook my head, mirroring her smile.

“Surprisingly, no.”

Shock rippled through her expression. “Wait, what? Derek isn’t firing you?”

I nodded in confirmation. “I’m just as surprised as you are, Fa.”

“Wow,” she muttered, shaking her head. “You know… considering how much that guy doesn’t like you, he just can’t seem to let you go. That’s…”

“Yeah,” I intercepted, exhaling and running my fingers through my hair. It’s almost as if he’s being controlled by

superpower.

“That’s over now. I need to get to work.” I mumbled beneath my breath.

Before taking off my shirt, I turned to Fallon, curiosity gnawing at me.

a

“How bad was the fight? And can you describe who this person was?” I asked cautiously, already suspecting the identity but needing to confirm whether it was Rose or her mother, Annie.

“She came here demanding to see you. When we told her you weren’t here, she crashed out, yelling, ‘Oh, so now she runs away. She knows how badly I need this money for my birthday celebration!“”

I hissed immediately I heard that line. Rose.

What the fuck is wrong with her? I owed her nothing.

She was back home, living cushy off Dad’s dime, while I scraped by here in Florida. It didn’t make any logical sense that she had taken a full hour’s drive from New Orleans just to harass me here. But then again, nothing with my family ever made

sense.

Those people wouldn’t rest until they were sure I was begging for air.

I sighed, and shook my head to clear the fog.

Fallon was still watching me, curiosity etched in her features.

“Thanks, Fallon. For everything you’ve done for me. I don’t know what I did to deserve your kindness…. I just hope one day I can pay you back.” My voice softened, tears pricking at my eyes unbidden.

2/4

12:00 Sat, Jan 10 D 6.

Chapter 253

第 56%

Eyes vouchers

“Hey,” she pushed herself from the floor and stalked over to me she grabbed my elbow softly and pulled me into a hug.

“You don’t have to repay me, Jess. Kindness is basic human stuff we all deserve it. And something tells me you need more than kindness right now, and I’m willing to be here for you.”

My resolve cracked, and tears poured heavily.

Where do I even begin to thank her? I clutched her shirt and allowed myself to sob, just for a moment.

A soft knock interrupted us. “Hey, Fal? You in there? Your attention’s needed out front.”

It was Matt, our coworker, his voice muffled through the door.

“I’ll be right there,” she called back.

“You better hurry before Big Derek gets a complaint from the customer,” he replied, then we heard his footsteps fade away.

Fallon pulled back, and wiped my tears with her thumbs. Her lips curved into an encouraging smile.

“Smile, Jess. It looks great on you.”

I nodded, managing a watery grin between sniffles.

“I’ll leave you to it. Gotta go before Derek fires me. Unlike you, I might not have some magical power backing me up.” She said it with dramatic flair, and we both burst into laughter.

She backed out of the closet, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

A shuddering sigh escaped my lips as I stripped off my clothes and slipped into my uniform–the faded blue polo and black pants that screamed “minimum wage.”

Time to face the world again.

AL

Those last two hours dragged on like an eternity, each order, wipe–down, and fake smile chipping away at my energy. Just two hours, yet it felt like I had worked an entire day.

I stretched my arms overhead, yawning so wide it was probably unladylike, but who cared? The diner was spotless now, tables gleaming under the fluorescent lights, the last customer long gone.

I checked the clock to see it was 9:00 PM already. Good thing the estate was only ten minutes away from the diner.

I dashed to the closet, changed back into my street clothes, flipped off the lights, and pushed through the glass doors into the cool night air.

I had just taken a step out when a voice right beside me startled me. “Boo!”

“Christ!” I yelped, jumping backward. I looked to find Fallon grinning widely beside me.

“Fallon, you scared the crap out of me,” I mumbled, catching my breath. She giggled.

“That was the point, wasn’t it?”

A small smile curled my lips. “What are you still doing here?”

She licked her lips, shifting her weight.

“Well, I wanted to wait for you. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of you walking alone this late. I doubt you could swing a

3/4

12:00 Sat, Jan 10 DO

Chapter 25

punch at a bad guy?”

She teased, arching a brow playfully.

My heart warmed at her thoughtfulness–another act of kindness I hadn’t earned. I giggled, shaking my head.

“Nope, not even close.”

“Exactly! I figured that out. Now let’s go.”

56%

55 vouchers

She hooked her arm through mine, and we started walking, our steps syncing up like we’d done this a hundred times.

We conversed about everything: TV shows (she loved gritty dramas; I was all about feel–good rom–coms), books (we bonded over fantasy escapes), and music (arguing over pop vs. indie, laughing at our terrible tastes).

In that short ten–minute walk, I realized with a sudden clarity how vital it was to have great company in this brutal world. Someone to share the load, even if just for a casual walk.

We reached the gates of Arcadia Hills Estate, the wrought–iron entrance looming grand under the streetlights.

Fallon froze mid–step, her hazel eyes widening in awe.

“You stay here?” she stammered, glancing from the manicured lawns to me.

I bit my lip, and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

“Before you get any idea–no, I’m not some rich heiress in disguise. I…” I hesitated, wondering if it was too early to spill certain facts about my life.

“I stay with a friend. I couldn’t get a dorm room, and you know how pricey houses are around here. So….”

She nodded in understanding, her grin wide.

“I get it, Jess. I crashed with someone before I could afford my own place. But damn, they weren’t this wealthy.” She whistled low, dramatic as ever, making me smile.

“Okay, I have to go now. See you tomorrow.”

She waved at me and began walking away, but guilt ate at me because she was now walking alone.

“Do you want me to come with you?” I called after her.

She laughed and shook her head. “Jess, I live on the next street, and don’t worry–I can fight.” She smirked, making a fake punch in the air.

She waved again, disappearing around the corner. I watched until she was out of sight, then slipped through the estate gates, heading toward our unit.

The