24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 28: Don't Fight the Feeling, Invite the Feeling

Hoping that she’ll meet Ves in Tokyo, Hestia spent her three days and nights roaming around the city but she failed.

Ves is good at hide and seek thus Hestia didn’t even catch his shadow or just a glimpse of the man she’s seeking for.

They haven’t talk about the kiss yet that happened a few months ago in the airport before Ves bode farewell to her with a promise that he’ll be home for Christmas.

They only just catch up with each other within the few hours that Ves showed up at Hestia’s residence.

Those sweet words that Ves left to Hestia, they just made her confused even more of what she would think about their relationship, if Ves was confessing his love for her or those words were just assurance that he’ll be back for her and he’s not abandoning her.

On the other hand, Hearthof had a blast with their trip that he already has a plan of coming back in spring.

Few days later, after New Year’s celebration, it’s the first Monday of year 1982, and everyone’s going to work as usual.

For Hestia, January is the month of making interesting and nerve wracking new psychological tests that will be distributed to schools, universities, business offices, government agencies and anywhere in the country where people’s admission to the respective establishments need to take a psychological test to measure their intelligence and determine whether they fit in or not for the said school, office, or whatever it may be.

Yes, those tests that students and job hunters take are modified annually as most of the people tend to memorize what they’ve seen for years repeatedly which jeopardized the sole purpose of the intelligence test.

“A person who has a sharp memory is different from someone who has a smart brain.” Hestia explained to Hearthof when the latter went to her office to check on her.

It’s been weeks since Hestia buried herself at work and sleep all throughout the day on weekends.

“Take for example my brothers. Toto has a sharp memory that he can memorized everything what’s written in the book once he read it but he doesn’t understand its meaning. So, I’m not actually convinced that he’s a smart person because he’s only good at memorization but not evaluation and application. And to tell you the truth your IQ is even higher than him though he’s higher than mine but only a little bit like one or two points.” Hestia continued.

“Wait. As far as I remember we’re both in the same range when it comes to IQ level, right?” Hearthof remembered the IQ test last year that Hestia gave to him. “We’re both in the gifted category, right? My IQ score was 129 and you’ve got 124.”

“Yeah, and Toto got 126.” Hestia replied. “Going back to the topic, although Zeus can be considered as a genius because of his IQ of 157 and his inventions since he was a kid, also no doubt having a smart brain because of his consistent result however you modified his questionnaires. I still prefer Don’s exemplary results although his IQ is 12 points lower than Zeus his EQ is just the same as his IQ. Unlike Zeus whose EQ is just on average. Well, I just added the EQ part but you got my point here, right?” she questioned.

“Of course.” Hearthof nodded. “Anyway, how long will you be working? Should I order for dinner instead?”

“I’m really sorry, I can’t accompany you right now.” Hestia said apologetically.

“I understand. I know how important your job is for you and my job here is to remind you not to skip a meal.” Hearthof sighed as he stood up from the couch. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.” Hestia replied as she gets back to work.

Hearthof took the telephone and the directory to dial the number of the restaurant he had in mind. “Hello, this is Hearthof Goddesseth, I want to cancel my reservation and order for a delivery instead, would that be possible?”

Hestia raised her head and looked at Hearthof, she didn’t know that Hearthof made a reservation for dinner tonight. “I’m sorry.”

Hearthof shook his head in response and smiled at Hestia as he continued the conversation on the phone. “That’s good to know then. Please deliver it at …” he gave the research institute’s address “… and the receiver’s name is Hestia Nevaeh of the Psychometrics Department … right … thank you Mr. Prince. I’ll be waiting for the delivery then on your estimated time of arrival.”

Hearthof hung up the phone and looked at Hestia’s direction, he wants her attention to him but he knows it better that she’s more dedicated to work than the people around her.

Although a bit disappointed, Hearthof felt prouder that the woman he likes is capable and not like the women who tried to get in to his pants that only relies to their beauty and body.

Hestia is a hard worker who dedicate herself to her job, she’s passionate to her work, contrary to what everyone believed that she’s only goofing around because she doesn’t need a job to earn money or make a name to herself because of her family background, that she doesn’t need to prove anything to the society because everything is already provided to her.

‘Man, they’re all wrong about her.’ Hearthof thought as he keeps on watching Hestia work.

The young lady of one of the richest family in the world is working hard like everyone else but only few people knows about it as most of them only see the lavish lifestyle she has and thinks that she doesn’t even lift a finger to make something done.

When the delivery came in, Hearthof told Hestia’s attendants to have dinner too as he takes care of their mistress.

Hearthof prepared the table and told Hestia to take a break first, although she’s eating, her eyes were still on the papers thus he had no choice but to feed her and make sure she’ll finish her meal.

The two didn’t know that their simple gesture will end up in the newspaper the next day.

“What the hell!” Hestia exclaimed as soon as she spotted the picture of her and Hearthof on the cover of the newspaper that Cronus is reading. “How did we end up …”

“Well, good morning to you too princess.” Cronus put the newspaper down as he looked at the exasperated Hestia. “That’s also what your mother and I want to know, how did you two end-up on the cover of the newspaper while having an intimate moment in your office? Mind to tell us, what happened here?”

Hestia took the newspaper and read the article, “How am I supposed to know? And what’s written here are absurd! What expecting a merge with two powerful families??!”

“Tia, be honest with us. What’s your relationship with Hearthof?” Rhea asked while observing Hestia’s expression.

“We’re friends. Both of you also know it too, he’s the first and only friend I made when we migrated here. Even until now, no matter how many years passed by, it’s just pure friendship between us.” Hestia explained with a frown as the article got on her nerves first thing in the morning.

“It may be pure friendship to you but not for him.” Cronus said. “Sharon told me that Hearthof told them off and this thing happened. You think it’s just a coincidence?”

“Pa, I know Hearthof, he’s not that scheming as what you’re trying to imply.” Hestia defended.

“We all know who Sunggyu Kim was but we don’t know Hearthof Goddesseth now.” Rhea stated as a matter-of-fact. “Tia, I only have an average intelligence like most of the people in the world and you’re smarter than me so even it sounds ironic from me I must tell you to use your brain to think.”

“Fine, to prove you two wrong, I’ll give you the evidence that you need.” Hestia proclaimed with determination.

She was supposed to stay at home and rest but she had to drive to Goddesseth Hotel and talk with the other party involved.

At the penthouse on the top of the Goddesseth Hotel …

Hearthof gave the password to Hestia so the latter entered the penthouse with ease.

“I know you’ll be here. Let’s go.” Hearthof took his car key and strode towards the door.

“Go where?” Hestia looked at Hearthof confusedly.

“Confront the mastermind behind our scandal.” Hearthof opened the door wide and waited for Hestia to stepped out first.

Hestia didn’t say a word and just followed Hearthof all the way to the familiar place that she least expected.

Ves older brother, Elvis opened the door for them and said, “Go easy on your sister, I already reprimanded her for what she did.”

Hestia confirmed her hypothesis when she heard what Elvis told Hearthof, she never thought even once that the older sister she knows will set her up.

Elvis took the children out of the house along with the babysitter; thus, the whole villa is empty for the three to have a private and serious conversation.

“Wolfganger Goddesseth, will you tell us what on earth were you thinking when you ordered a paparazzi to take a photo of your own brother and Hestia on the newspaper?” Hearthof asked coldly.

“You used to call me Ganger but you addressed me in my full name now, I guess you’re really mad at me baby brother.” Wolfganger lowered her head as she rubs her nape. “Are you also mad at me Hestia?” she stole a glance at Hestia before she propped herself on the couch and sighed defeatedly.

“Why did you do it, Ganger?” Hestia asked calmly.

“For him.” Wolfganger pointed at Hearthof. “I did it for you, alright, so don’t be mad at me.” she pouted like a child who has been wronged.

“I never asked you to do anything stupid for me.” Hearthof retorted. “Look what you’ve done. The public misunderstood the relationship between me and Hestia.”

“I’m sorry, alright!” Wolfganger stood up, pacing back and forth in front of the two. “I only did it because you two makes me frustrated. Why can’t you just be together already?!”

“What??!” Hearthof and Hestia looked at each other before they turned their gaze back to Wolfganger.

“Ganger, I think you overthink the relationship between me and Hearthof too much. We’re just friends, best friends at most.” Hestia stated clearly with a faint smile.

“I don’t believe a pure friendship between a man and a woman.” Wolfganger disagreed firmly with Hestia’s statement. “What’s wrong with my brother? He’s a hotel owner now and he established a name in the industry that even you in the upper circle recognize.”

“It’s not about that.” Hestia shook her head. “Believe it or not, if I’m ready to fall in love I consider falling for him.” she glanced at Hearthof and met his gaze but she averted her attention right away back to Wolfganger. “But the thing is, I’m not into romantic relationship, not yet until I achieve something from my career.”

“I don’t see any problem with that. You can both have a man and your career at the same time.” Wolfganger sat down on the couch again while leaning forward to emphasis her point.

“I’m not that capable to have both. I can only have one at a time and currently I want all my focus on my career.” Hestia replied.

“But …” Wolfganger was about to persuade Hestia more but Hearthof cut him off.

“That’s enough Ganger. You already caused trouble for us and even if we cleared the rumors you spread it’s not easy to change people’s opinion of us and it’ll goes on and on when we release a statement so a press conference isn’t the best option here.” Hearthof said solemnly. “The only way to solve the issue is to cover with other news.”

“I agree, the public will lose interest on it anyway if we don’t give a comment and they’ll forget about it eventually.” Hestia nodded.

That’s the truth about entertainment news, the public will be interested about it for a while since its gossip that everyone talks about but sooner or later, they’ll forget about it because it doesn’t affect their lives after all.

After the conversation, Hestia left first and went home straight since they already had a solution to handle the matter on hand.

Hearthof stayed in the villa with his sister and engaged in another discussion that Hestia need not to know for now.

“I know I made a stupid move to help you be with her but I know you well, Thof, you like her and she’s not just a friend to you.”

“You heard her, what she prioritizes now is her career. She also said that she’ll consider me when the time comes, so I only need to wait on the side until she’s ready.” Hearthof said.

“Don’t fight the feeling, invite the feeling!” Wolfganger provoked.