That night, Jane and Lauren headed home in the back of their chauffeured car.
"Norman thinks you are an efficient, capable person and likes that you're focused," Lauren said, recalling how Norman had observed Jane at the party and found her attentive and reliable.
"Thank you, Lauren. I am honored by the compliments," Jane replied with a warm, grateful smile, her eyes meeting Lauren's.
"It's fine. I really enjoyed the party," Lauren said, reaching into her bag to grab her phone.
"I did enjoy the party too, it was quite interesting, Jane said and thought to herself.
Lauren smiled and didn't respond immediately. She was pleased that her business partnership with Norman was going well, and she quickly turned her attention to replying to a text from her husband, who was checking up on her.
Later that night, after eating some fresh fruit and freshening up, Jane headed straight to bed.
The next morning, Jane sat at the dining table having breakfast with Lauren, enjoying a spread of fried eggs, bacon, chips, and meat. As she checked her phone, she saw messages from both her mother and her friend Mariana checking in on her. Jane replied to Mariana, explaining that she had traveled out of town for a meeting with Lauren and wasn't yet sure when she would return. Both her mother and Mariana were satisfied with the update, asking how things were going, and Jane assured them everything was fine and good.
Seeing Jane on her phone, Lauren spoke up. "We'll be leaving in a week. Please go get yourself something nice while we're here." She placed a credit card on the table for Jane to use—a gesture of appreciation prompted by how favorably Norman viewed Jane.
"Thank you very much, Lauren," Jane said, accepting the card. I'll definitely buy myself a nice new dress, she thought happily.
"You're welcome," Lauren said with a smile. Jane put her phone away, and the two continued enjoying their meal.
Meanwhile, over at the Wayne estate, Silas was relaxing happily in front of the television. He wasn't quite ready to go back to his own home yet; he enjoyed staying with his family and hated being by himself. Aaron, along with his wife and children, had spent weeks at the house before finally leaving for home a few days prior, alongside Nicholas and his family. Silas was glad to be spending time with his parents, hoping to chase away his loneliness. He was also holding onto a lingering desire to reconnect with Catelyn, hoping they might eventually find their way back to each other as a couple—though for now, he forced himself to take his mind off her and the distance between them.
Far away in a spacious, grand, and beautifully lit mansion, a man stood before a sleek, tinted glass window that seemed unbreakable. This was Lucas. In his hand, he held a printed dossier detailing Jane's background, compiled by his assistant after his curiosity had been piqued.
Personal Data Dossier:
Name: Jane Jude
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Nationality: United States of America
Marital Status: Single
Residential Address: Gillows House No. 48 / Bill Apartment No. 12
Parents: Mr. Jude Edric and Mrs. Jude Agatha
Occupation: Works at Crescent Company as a personal assistant to the owner
Hobbies: Playing video games, singing, going on nature walks
Favorite Color: Purple (and every color)
Education: Star High School and Star High College
Interesting... she works for the owner of Crescent Company, so she must be smart and reliable, Lucas thought that didn't matter to him if she was smart or worked for the owner of Cresent company. Seated comfortably on his couch, he read through every detail of her life—from her status as an only child to her love for video games and nature walks. He liked everything he learned about her.
Slowly, he murmured her name like a secret. "Jane... I can't wait to meet you." A subtle, approving smile touched his lips.
Elsewhere, Lucy was walking back from the supermarket, her arms full of grocery bags for both herself and Elsa. She was grateful to have access to a car, especially since Elsa—who couldn't drive yet—was kind enough to let her use it freely. Elsa was scheduled to start driving lessons in a month, but in the meantime, she generously allowed Lucy to drive wherever she pleased, and her work it was close by so, Lucy's job was conveniently close by that she didnt drive the car to her work.
They had already shared a few delightful little road trips downtown together, and Lucy felt genuinely happy. Things were finally looking up for her, and for Elsa as well, as they both worked hard toward a bright life.