Chapter sixty-three: She Is Special

Chapter sixty-three: She Is Special

Jeffrey Pov


I love her. At first, I didn't want to let myself love her but I did.

I fell hard and fast and now I loved her more than I would ever thought I would. She is my world, my lights, my comfort, my Princess and as the night progressed, I couldn't even question it anymore. She is the one that I wanted, the one that I needed.

I wanted to tell, so badly, but why haven't I already told her that I love her? I told myself that I loved her a few weeks ago but I kept myself from saying it because of the fear of her not saying it back. Or if she did, would she mean it? Or she would just simply say it because I did?

I also didn't want to say anything because she isn't staying in Paris with me after the new year. She will be leaving to continue her education and I would just be alone until we could see each other again.

I wished she would stay, forget her studies and just live here with me for good but her education and her degree is so important, I would never be able to convince her. I couldn't bring myself to tell her how I felt, only to have her turn around and get on that plane, leaving me alone.

If I tell her that I love you, would it make her stay? If she knew how much I loved her would she change her mind?

"Jeffrey?"

I snapped out of my thoughts, looking to my left and seeing Jessica's beautiful eyes looking back at me.

"Huh?"

"There are carolers outside, do you want to listen?" I smiled softly and nodded.

She stood up, holding her hand out for me. I took it in mine and stood up as well, following her as she led me out the door and we stood on the porch to listen to the Christmas carolers standing in beautiful vintage clothes on the sidewalk as they sang.

I shot a glance down at Jessica, she was smiling and subtly swaying along to the hymn, holding onto my arms and standing close to me for warmth. Having her here for Christmas made me want her for every Christmas and every holiday one could possibly celebrate. I wanted her by my side all the time. I opened my mouth to say something but of course.


************

We went to my family's house later in the day to have dinner with them and we were ushered inside immediately by my mother so we wouldn't catch colds.

Throughout dinner, Jessica got along with my entire family and I found myself smiling a lot more than I usually do at family gatherings. My mother even stopped to tell me that I hadn't stopped smiling since we had arrived as I stood up to get another glass of wine.

"You seem to really like this girl a lot, Jeffrey." She said quietly, nudging my arm as he looked over at Jessica who was conversing with Amber and one of my cousins. I nodded and looked over at the most beautiful girl in the room.

"Yes, I really really do."

"You better not let her go, I quite like it a lot. I like her a lot more than Avery." I raised my eyebrows and turned to her.

"Really?" She nodded as if I should already know this.

"Yes, she is much more extroverted it seems. You know how close off Avery was with the family and don't even get me started on that horrible Gladys….."

"Okay, mother. That is enough." I stopped her.

"No need to dwell on my horrible relationships."

"I am just saying, sweetheart." Shd shrugged.

"And is she staying here with you next year?" My shoulders slumped and I softly shook my head.

"No, she…um…she is going back to Katagum after New year."

My own mother seemed taken aback at this statement.

"Well, sweetheart. I think she will find her way back to you no matter what." I pressed my lips together and turned to face her.

"You think so?" She nodded confidently and gently patted my back.

"Don't dwell on it, Jeffrey. I can see it in your eyes and hers that this is something special."

I nodded and smiled, looking back at Jessica who looked like she was the missing puzzle piece to this family.

"She is very special."


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Jessica Pov

The next day after Christmas, I tried to sleep all day but Jeffrey of course only slept until seven o'clock at the latest. I groaned as I felt him leave the bed, I loved the warmth his body had been giving off.

"I can't lay in bed all day, Princess." He chuckled, leaning his hands on the bed as his eyes gazed down at me.

"I have to get up, now it will be cold without you." I whined.

"Well then, get up and come downstairs with me and we will cuddle on the couch." He offered.

We went to the bathroom and brushed our teeth. I poured some water on my face to wake me up a little. As we got downstairs, I thought about giving Janice a call since I hadn't managed to contact her yesterday but then I realized that there is a time difference. I wouldn't be able to call her until this afternoon.

I was sitting on the couch while Jeffrey was making me a coffee. I was scrolling through the news app on my new iphone 13 promax to see what was happening today.

My stomach flipped when I saw my name in a news article and I quickly clicked the link to see what was being said about me.

'Jessica Silver was spotted out on the streets of Marseille a few days ago. She was seen shopping solo at various high-end stores and even grabbing a bite at the Oriental restaurant. She seems to be enjoying the lavish life as fashion designer Jeffrey Craig's rumored girlfriend.'

I set my phone down, not wanting to read more. Is that what the public really thought of me? I wasn't leeching Jeffrey off, if that is what they were getting at. The money I spent shopping was entirely my own minus the Oriental because Jeffrey has already prepaid it.

He walked over to me and set my mug on the coffee table. He sat down and immediately noticed my off facial expressions.

"Hey, are you okay?" I shook my head, showing him the news article. He skimmed it and looked up at me with a cocked head and raised eyebrows.

"Princess, don't take these news sites seriously. They will make a story about anything."

"But that is what they were saying about me." I said quietly.

"They make me sound like a gold digger or something."

"You are not a gold digger, Jessica. You can let these fifty news sites get to you. You know what the truth is and you can tell them the truth if they ask."

I nodded and grabbed my mug, taking a sip from it before he spoke.

"By the way, where did you get that coat?" I turned to him, completely forgetting that I borrowed the coat.

"Oh, um…I just borrowed it from downstairs."

"Downstairs? Jessica, please ask me next time." His eyebrows furrowed.

"Those clothing items are one of a kind. They aren't sold in Craig and Co stores or online. They haven't been seen by the production and marketing teams. They are literally designs that I created and have yet to present them." I looked away from his gaze and shook my head.

"I am so sorry, I had no idea. I just wanted to dress nicely if I was going to show up at fancy places. I didn't want to look underdressed and out of place like I didn't belong there."

"Well, Jessica. It is something like this that makes you look like a gold digger in the news." He spat and I looked up at him with tear brimming eyes and he quickly regretted his words.

"No, Princess. I didn't mean it like that…."

"No, it is fine, I get it." I shook my head and stood up.

"It gives you a bad image, I know." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down onto the couch.

"You don't give me a bad image, the press does. I didn't mean to sound harsh, Princess. But those designs haven't gone through the company yet and they are still technically prototypes. So please ask me before you borrow something okay?" I nodded, looking away from his gaze.

"I am sorry."

"It is okay, Princess." He pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"I am not mad."

His phone rang at that moment and he sighed before picking up and answering it.