"Let''s talk after work, alright?" Tessa offered.


    Then, she resumed her discussion with Jasmine about work. Once she was done


    her.


    At this point, Marissa had been visiting Tessa so often that Everbright Law Group


    might as well be her second home.


    Tessa preferred having tea, so she had tons of high-quality tea leaves avable in


    her office. Thus, she would end up serving Marissa tea whenever she dropped by.


    s, Marissa didn''t care much for tea as she had lived abroad for years. Instead,


    she preferred a good cup of coffee.


    Plus, she was exceedingly particr about it, too.


    She had high requirements from bean selection to the right brewing method for a


    particr bean.


    As a result, she wouldn''t drink just any coffee.


    Two days ago, she even got Tessa a coffee machine. She had also bought the


    beans she favored to keep in Tessa''s office so she could brew a cup of coffee for


    herself whenever she visited.


    Sure enough, Tessa was greeted by a strong aroma of coffee as soon as she


    entered her office.


    Marissa was already skilfully brewing a pot of coffee.


    "Would you like a cup?" Marissa asked Tessa with a grin.


    Tessa shook her head. "I prefer tea."


    Marissa shrugged. "That''s fair." Then, she brought her cup of coffee over to the


    couch and sat down, teasing yfully, "It''s your loss. You''re missing out on a cup


    made by yours truly."


    Tessa walked over to her desk and ced a folder down, drawling, "My, what a


    pity."


    "So, what brings you here today?" Tessa asked as she moved to join Marissa on


    the couch.


    Then, she began to brew herself a cup of tea, boiling the water and rinsing the


    teacup.


    "Can''t I visit you for no reason?" Marissa poked in good fun.


    Just then, she recalled Stephen''s words from earlier. So, she deliberately


    mimicked him and said mischievously, "I came because I wanted to see you."


    Tessa immediately cringed upon hearing those wordsing out of Marissa''s


    mouth. "What''s gotten into you? That was so cheesy. God, I think my skin will


    never recover from the goosebumps."


    "You have Stevie to thank for that." Marissa''s tone turned somewhat envious as


    she continued, "That''s what he said to me earlier."


    Tessa shot Marissa a look of


    amusement. "You''re really


    something, you know that? How


    could you imitate those words when


    they''re from the man you like? Heck,


    he''s referring to someone else, too!"


    Marissa pouted. "You know what they sayugh in the face of misery and all that


    jazz. What else am I supposed to do? Force him to love me by holding him at


    gunpoint?"


    Tessa had nothing to say to that. So, she kept her mouth shut and continued


    brewing her tea.


    Marissa took a sip of her coffee before looking at her and inquiring seriously, "Are


    you two back together?"


    "Yes." Tessa saw no point in hiding her rtionship status.


    "Oh, I knew it I knew you two would


    get back together." Marissa sighed.


    "I''ve returned to the country for


    months, and it''s been hell just trying


    to setup a meeting with him. These


    past few months, I''ve barely spoken


    more than five sentences to him


    outside of work. I''ve always been the


    one chasing after him."


    There was a despondent look in Marissa''s eyes as she continued, "You''re


    different, though. You''re the one with the power in your rtionship with him. He''s


    always the one chasing after you."


    Tessa felt resigned as she interjected, "Alright, that''s enough. Let''s get back to the


    matter at hand. Are you seriously just here for a chat? Do you have nothing else


    to discuss?"


    Marissa dropped the pitiful act and inquired, "Are you free next Saturday?"


    "Next Saturday, you say?" Tessa picked up her phone and checked her schedule.


    "Oh, I am. Why?"


    "It''s my birthday next Saturday. I''m nning a birthday bash on a cruise, and I


    hope you''lle to the party," Marissa said earnestly.


    Tessa thought it over before nodding agreeably. "Sure, I''ll be there."


    Marissa looked at her hesitantly.


    "What''s wrong?" Tessa regarded her curiously.


    Marissa had a conflicted look on her


    face before biting the bullet and


    saying, "We''re friends now, so I''ll be


    frank. I want to invite Stevie. After all,


    a birthday only happens once a year.


    He never bothered attending my


    birthday in the past...


    "So, could you bring him along as your plus one? Just consider it as fulfilling my


    birthday wish."