The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 99: Something’s definitely up

Chapter 99: Something’s definitely up

"I have something for you. Wait."

Jackson raised his brows, watching Fil get up from the floor as they were having dinner in the living room. He watched her hurry into the bedroom, tilting his head as he waited for her to come out. When she did, she was carrying a handful-sized box in her hand.

"This is?" he asked as she slid the box in front of him.

"A gift!" Fil smiled brightly. "I saw it the other day while I was in the field, so I bought it because it reminds me of you."

His right brow arched, taking the small gift in front of him. Jackson stared at the box with genuine wonder in his eyes. When he glanced at her, Fil was cupping her face while smiling excitedly.

"How cute," he mused, putting the box down. He placed a hand on the surface of the coffee table, moving his body over it to kiss her on the cheek.

"You haven’t seen what’s inside already!" she complained with a pout, watching him draw his head back. "You thank me once you see it. Isn’t that the natural course of action?"

"No." He shook his head. "You thank the person before seeing what’s inside. The mere thought of it is enough."

"What if you don’t like it?"

"There’s no reason for me to not like anything you give me."

Fil blinked, observing how he carefully picked up the gift again. He scanned it before meticulously opening it as if he didn’t want to break the packaging.

’It’s just a wrapper,’she thought, almost bored and growing impatient at how slow he was. ’I want to see his reaction.’

Even if she wanted to jump in and tear the wrapper for him, Fil stopped herself. She exercised patience until the box inside came into view. Her brows rose with intrigue as he slowly opened the box.

Jackson stared at the content without any reaction, making her wonder if he liked or disliked it. Although she leaned more on the latter, she still wanted to know. Jackson slowly picked up what was inside. His finger slipped into the metal loop that was attached to the knitted piggy keychain.

"A pig reminds you of me?" he dawdled, staring at the unproportionate piggy before his eyes. "Well, that makes sense. I’m nasty, but my eyes aren’t like this."

"Haha. That’s not it. I noticed the spare key I gave you doesn’t have anything," she pointed out. "You might lose it, so..."

Fil trailed off as his eyes softened and he smiled subtly. "Do you like it?"

"No." He snapped his eyes back to her. "The unproportionate eyes bother me, but I like the thought behind it."

"You can throw it if you don’t like it."

"And risk losing my only key in this place?" He kept the keychain in his grip, shaking his head. "Over my dead body."

Fil chuckled, somehow pleased that he would keep it. The fact that he didn’t like it and said it bothered him didn’t sound so disappointing. Perhaps it was because she had seen that coming. A man like Jackson could buy anything fancy in this world. Hence, a small keychain worth just a few pennies was something he could afford but also something he wouldn’t purchase.

Yet, here he was, hooking his spare key in the keychain carefully.

’A man like him who earns hundreds of millions in a day...’ she thought, staring at him with appreciation. ’Squeezes himself in a few thousand worth rental unit. He never even asked me to move to a much better place or anything of the sort.’

It was something she appreciated and realized from the last time before he flew out of the country. Instead of throwing money at her face, he asked for a space in her place. It might be a small gesture for others, but for her, it was a big thing.

After all, Vincent wouldn’t even stay in this place for no more than an hour. He would just find excuses so they could move to a more comfortable and spacious place. Or rather, a place where all his friends could fit. He liked hanging out with his friends more than spending time with her alone.

"I have the same keychain," she remarked after he finished putting the key in the keychain.

"Like a couple keychains?" he squinted his eyes, smirking triumphantly when she nodded. "Is that why the eyes aren’t proportionate?"

"No. It’s because they only got one stock left and I had to ask if I can have the defective ones." She giggled. "You got the defective one, of course."

"But why?"

"Because you’re already perfect. It won’t be bad if there’s something imperfect you own."

"Huh." Jackson leaned back, his back resting on the couch behind him. "That’s why, huh?"

"You don’t like it?"

"I love it, sweetheart." He smiled appreciatively. "Thank you. Though I wonder... why would you gift me?"

"Because why not?"

"This is alarming," he said, looking at her suspiciously. "You’re being oddly nice to me."

"I’m always nice to you."

"No, you are a meanie. This is not a parting gift, is it?" He questioned, ready to stop whatever argument she would throw at him. "People tend to be extra nice whenever they know they had to break bad news."

Fil chuckled, dropping her hand to the table as she straightened her back. "Fine. You got me."

"So?" Jackson tilted his head a little. "What’s the reason?"

"I don’t want to lose sight of myself," she confessed quietly. "Revenge... is something that I want, but also something that terrifies me. I wanted to hurt those who wronged me, but also, I don’t want to hurt those who mattered."

"Strange as it may, but it keeps me aligned," she added. "As much as I can, I want to control my anger and not be consumed by it. So, no, it’s not a parting gift."

Jackson smiled in pride as he listened to her explanation. "I’m proud of you."

Fil smiled in satisfaction, crawling her way to his side. She perked up a little, fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly. Jackson furrowed his brows at her action.

"You’re cute, I know," he pointed out. "But purposely acting cute in front of me is suspicious. What do you want now?"

"Jack, you’re rich, right?"

"And?" he tilted his head to the side. "You want a cheque?"

"Will you give me if I ask?"

"Test me."

"No." She pouted. "I won’t risk it."

"Not risk of getting disappointed?"

"Not risk of you being my sugar daddy."

Jackson propped his elbow on the table, facing her squarely. "Daddy..." he hummed. "Doesn’t sound bad. Anyway, why are you asking? If you don’t want money, then what is it that you want?"

"I might have a small favor to ask." Fil tapped her index with each other, eyes twinkling adorably.

Seeing that look on her face, Jackson was proud of himself for not pinning her right then and there. At least, he waited until he heard the favor she wanted to ask of him before jumping on her.

*****

While Fil was having the time of her life with Jackson, the people she had touched couldn’t say the same.

[It’s because of you.]

Marianne’s remarks replayed in Marcus’s head over and over. Although he didn’t give Marianne the satisfaction she needed or expected from him, he couldn’t get rid of it.

As Marcus was deep in thought, Michael, on the other hand, chugged a bottle of beer while observing his friends. Not only Marcus, but Anton was also silent and had been acting as if he was on his period. It was as though they came in here just to spread negativity.

"Something’s up," Michael pointed out, trying to get his friend’s attention, but to no avail. He narrowed his eyes, shaking his head, darting his eyes between his friends. Before he could say anything again, the door suddenly flung open.

The moment he saw Vincent walking in with a grim expression, Michael nodded in conviction. "This is interesting."

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