The Society's Heiress

The next days passed like usual. J went to her afternoon duty while Jacob was out of town to visit the other hospitals under the CLP Group of Hospitals.

One of those days Diana called J and invited her to have dinner at the cafeteria of the hospital since they only have to sneak out from duty.

That same day Lily also called her to invite her for dinner but since J is in an afternoon shift, she won't be able to leave the hospital until eleven at night so she regrettably rejected the invitation but later on said that she might be able to join her for breakfast or lunch. Lily who is usually busy during the day made a promise that she will find a way to make their girl bonding possible in the upcoming days.

Although they have only met for one day, J is exceptionally fond of Lily and felt that they will make a good friend if given a chance. It is rare for J to have someone of the same interest as her.

Throughout her life J only had two friends. One is Lance and the other one is Diana. Lance whom she grew up with doesn't have the same interest as her, but he is the only person who understands her and the only person who can tolerate her temper and attitude.

While Diana, on the other hand, became her friend since her grandfather got sick. She and Diana shared the same interest when it comes to nursing and cooking. Although Diana is lively and bubbly which is the complete opposite of J, they have come to get along well and she was also able to tolerate or more like ignore J's temper.

That night J went home expecting Jacob to be at home already. These past few days that Jacob was visiting the other hospitals he has been coming home directly from travel and not stopping by in the hospital. She also noticed that every time Jacob will come home, he is exceptionally tired and already asleep by the time she comes home.

Entering her bedroom J saw Jacob asleep in the bed so she silently moved around before getting to take a warm shower before going to sleep.

While in the bathroom J's phone is in the bedside table ring. Jacob who has been pretending to be asleep all this time opened his eyes and glanced at J's phone who is continuously ringing on the bedside table.

Out of curiosity Jacob got up from the bed and looked at the screen of J's phone wondering who could be calling her wife at the hour of the day.

His eyes narrowed when he saw whose name flashed in J's phone. Lance.

In his annoyance, he grabs J's phone and answers the call.

Lance, who always takes precautions when calling J, waits for J to speak up before he hears the voice of a man on the other line. It is definitely not J. Who could it be? And where is J?

"Who's this?" Jacob said in a cold tone.

When he didn't receive an answer, the dark clouds started to build upon his face.

"Lance, right? I wonder why you have to call my wife at this hour? Is there something important that you wanted to tell her?" Jacob said in a curious tone.

Lance struggled to think of a reason to tell Jacob until an idea came up in his brilliant mind.

Before Jacob could speak another word the person on the other line speaks up that made him grimace.

"Oh... oh... hi there J's hubby. Can I speak to your wifey J please? You know it's been a long time since she visited my salon and I was wondering when she was going to stop by. You know, she might need a new hairstyle or a change of hair color. Or maybe a pedicure or manicure? Hmmm?" it was an animated gay voice that Jacob heard.

And at that moment, he became speechless. Awe transformed his face as he thought. Is this Lance gay?

When the door of the bedroom opened and J walked in while drying up her hair with a towel in her hand. Her brows drew together when she saw Jacob holding her phone over his ears.

She walked over to Jacob without a word gesturing to him to hand over her phone. Jacob gave back J's phone to her with a complex emotion on his face.

When J received the phone, she looked at the screen to see who's on it. She lifted an eyebrow when she saw that it is Lance before bringing the phone over to her ears and said, "What's up?" apathetically.

When Lance heard J on the other line, he let out a miserable sigh and said, "Oh God! Where have you been? Why is your husband answering your phone? Did you know that I have to pretend that I am gay to avoid suspicions from him? My God! You are making me act impromptu! Wait, is he still there? He didn't hear me, right? Could you please walk away from him just for this moment? Could you?"

Her expression dulled before he walked out of the bedroom towards the balcony. When she was sure that the sliding glass door of the balcony was closed, she leaned her back in the railing of the balcony while facing the glass door where she could see the living room. She is being cautious that Jacob might follow her and eavesdrop on their conversation.

She can't help being skeptical over Jacob since he already answered her phone without her permission.

"I am now on the balcony. Did you find anything?" since Lance can't wait for tomorrow and made the call at this hour it could probably be about Dominic Sloane.

Without wasting any time Lance started his narration, "Hmm... Dominic Sloane came from a family of a politician. They have a clean record, one of the most trusted personalities in the government. And you are right about one thing.... he knew you. Not in a negative way but in a complicated way." Lance paused before he continued.

"I found out that Dominic Sloane is a member of The Robin Hood Society. In fact, he is a member of the council. He is one of the eyes and ears of society inside the government."

J's expression hardened. Only the members of The Robin Hood Society know the name of the heiress but no one has ever seen her, except for Leo, Diana, Lance, Dr. Gonzales, and President Martin and Madam Victoria. The Society has a strict rule when it comes to confidentiality if one leaks out a piece of information about the society including the identity of the Boss' and the heiress they will lead a miserable life that they would wish to just vanish.

Since she was introduced to Dominic Sloane as Jenny Do, he probably recognized her as the heiress of the Society. But there is more to that, she was introduced as the wife of Jacob Parker. Definitely, his loyalty is in his Boss' so there is a chance that he would tell them about their acquaintance and her marriage.

And before it happens, she wanted to have a word with him first.

"He is a council member, how come you didn't know about him?" J asked skeptically.

She heard Lance sighed. "You know that the identity of the members of the Society has always been confidential. Even if I am a member of the Society, there are only a few members whom I know. I might have been dealing with a member that I do not know of. Even they do not know that I am also a member of the Society. Moreso, the members of the council."

Lance was right. Even though his parents were members of the council which was the only council member he knows, his parents will not divulge any information to him.

And although Lance just recently became a member of the Society's council because he is not only J's right-hand man but her personal lawyer, he has never made an appearance at the headquarters so Lance doesn't know Dominic Sloane at all.

J nodded her head though Lance could not see her. She looks back inside the house making sure that Jacob is not eavesdropping before she speaks again.

"Lance, see if Dominic Sloane had told Mom and Dad about my marriage. And I want an appointment with Dominic Sloane, ASAP."

"Got it!" Then both of them immediately hung up the phone.

J returned to her bedroom to find Jacob sitting at the accent chair in the corner of the room with a screwed-up face.

"So, have you scheduled your appointment with Lance?" Jacob asked her skeptically.

J was puzzled at first but immediately realized that Lance probably made an excuse to Jacob then shortly answered, "Yes."

As J was about to lie on the bed, she remembered something then turned to Jacob and said, "I believe that answering your wife's phone is not written in the doctrine of being a husband. So, I hope that this is the first and last. I prefer that my privacy would not be violated by this marriage."

Jacob's face twitched. Although J was right, he violated her privacy when he answered her phone, he still can't avoid getting suspicious about this Lance. Is he really gay? Why would he call her in the middle of the night just to offer her a manicure or pedicure? And does J really have to go to the balcony to talk about that with Lance?

The last time she had the middle of the night call she didn't bother to go out of the bedroom before answering the call and talking to the person on the other line. That's when he heard that she mentioned the name, Timothy. Was it just because he is asleep at that time?

Still, that call from Lance is suspicious. That Lance is suspicious. He hasn't met him or heard J talked about him yet.

The next morning, while having breakfast Jacob cannot resist the urge to ask J about Lance. It has been bugging him the whole night and he might not be able to concentrate the whole day if he didn't find out anything about Lance and his relationship with J. So, Jacob asked J.

"That Lance... what is his relation to you?" he asked directly.

J was surprised at Jacob's sudden question but then answered him directly, "He's my friend."

"Hmm... how long?"

"Since childhood," she replied while gazing at him. Jacob returned her gaze and then asked again. "He's gay?" J didn't look away as she said, "Yes."

"I want to meet him," Jacob said in a cold tone then lowered his eyes and continued eating.

J narrowed her eyes while looking at Jacob. She sensed that he didn't believe Lance's disguise and alibi last night so she knew she had to find another alibi.

She doesn't know what alibi had Lance told him last night so she has to be careful with her words. But then, later on, decided not to answer him. It is better than committing mistakes. Still, the bottom line is she cannot let him meet Lance. Not now. Not yet.