Chapter 40


    Quintessa flicked her cigarette butt, “Not as much as you.”


    Is that it?”


    Quintessa nodded, “Yeah, energetic.”


    The guy across from her choked a bit on his smoke, drawling, “You scared off tonight.”


    my


    date


    Quintessa snorted, “And you guys sted away any chance of sleep for me tonight.”


    “Since we’re both up, how about youe here continuing what has left?”


    Quintessa took another drag, crushed the cigarette on the balcony rail, and said, “Buddy, I only y for


    keeps. Not into second–hand thrills.”


    With a wave of her hand, she turned to head back to bed. As she slid the patio door shut behind her,


    she heard the neighbor curse, “What the heck!”


    Quintessa’s mood instantly lifted. Someone was frustrated; looked like they were not getting any sleep


    tonight.


    As soon as the first light of dawn peeked through, just after 6 AM, Violet was already at the door.


    Quintessa, with barely two hours of sleep, yawned and shuffled to the door with tousled hair. She


    opened the door, eyes half–closed, leaningzily on the frame, “Violet, why so early?”


    Instead, she heard Violet chatting excitedly with someone else, “Great Snow Jackson, you live here


    too? What a coincidence.”


    Blearily, Quintessa opened her eyes a sliver and spotted a familiar figure the thrill–seeker from the


    balconyst night.


    The guy didn’t even respond to Violet; instead, he asked, looking at Quintessa, “Violet, is she your


    talent?”


    Violet beamed, “Yeah, she’s new, yet to debut. We’d love it if you could look out for her in


    the future.”


    “Sure thing.”


    Quintessa was d in a ck nightgown, not prudish, not overly sexy, but the color set off her fair


    complexion. Leaning there, the epitome of sleepiness, with half–lidded eyes and slightly parted red lips,


    her wild hair made what should’ve been a disheveled look into something irresistibly sensual.


    He suddenly said, “Perfect timing. I’m shooting a music video for my new single and


    17:07


    haven’t found a lead actress. She’s got the right vibe. Think we could get her on board?


    Violet was ecstatic, “Really? To star in Great Snow Jackson’s music video is a dreame true for us.”


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    It was a casualment from Violet, not expecting much, as her n wasn’t to steer Quintessa


    towards a singing career. Even with Great Snow Jackson being a legend in the music industry, she


    didn’t anticipate his actual help.


    She’d never expected such serendipity. It felt like walking on the street, starving, and having a pie fall


    right out of the sky onto her head.


    Quintessa, still half–asleep, heard someone nearby saying, “Snow Jackson.”


    She opened her sleepy eyes to meet his gaze. Even behind sses, Quintessa felt she could see right


    into his eyes. In a silent exchange, they both read the same message- neither was a saint.


    The next second, they shared a knowing smile, silently agreeing to leavest night’s events unspoken.


    Quintessa looked at his outstretched hand and slowly extended hers, “Quintessa Young”


    The man in front of her worerge sunsses and a snapback cap, leaving only a view of a sharp


    jawline and attractive lips. A trendy fellow.


    He seemed to squeeze her hand a bit tighter than necessary, letting go with a deliberate stroke.


    Quintessa thought to herself; damn, this guy was trying to hit on her.