After Leila left, Saskia dialed Jonathan's number. She inquired about his well-being with a hint of a choke in her voice. "Jonathan, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault you're going through this."
Jonathan was dead on his feet, but hearing Saskia's voice seemed to instantly recharge him. "Saskia, I'm not tired. You take care of yourself, just hang in there a little longer."
He was determined to make it big and then come back to sweep Saskia off her feet in style.
Jonathan wanted to keep talking, but Saskia was pulled away.
"Jonathan, sorry, I've got plans tonight, gotta go."
The call ended, and Jonathan was left deep in thought. But before he could ponder for long, the next wave of customers arrived, and he had to dive back into the fray.
Leila had been parading Saskia around at several high-profile events, effectively marketing her.
Saskia was a knockout, and even though she wasn't Leila's biological daughter, there were plenty of suitors lining up.
Leila had a keen eye and had picked out a few eligible bachelors for Saskia to meet.
Saskia played it cool, giving a polite distance to their advances. After a bit of back and forth, she found herself developing a bit of a soft spot for a rich guy, who was more subtle than Jonathan.
Saskia wasn't ready to give up on either side, occasionally throwing Jonathan a bone to keep him hooked.
Brittany was in the dark about all this until she caught sight of Saskia cozying up with a young man at a social event.
Ysabel, of course, was already in the loop. "Ms. Saskia Lynette's playing a tricky game, stringing Jonathan along while dating other wealthy guys."
Brittany frowned. "Dating?"
"Do you not know?" Ysabel's face was a picture of glee. "I thought you were clued in, considering you're kind of family, in a way."
Brittany wasn't close to Saskia, who, despite her efforts to appear friendly, never really won Brittany over.
Ysabel sensed the chilly vibe. "Be careful, Saskia's a tough cookie."
Saskia also spotted Brittany, and instinctively felt uneasy.
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