Perfect Match: Irresistible Desire For You
Chapter 71

“Why are you here looking for him so early in the morning?” Patricia said, her tone clearly displeased. She glanced sideways at the clock on the wall and saw it was only seven o’clock in the morning. If it had been someone else other than Yasmin, she would have been furious.

Yesterday, Patricia had been utterly exhausted both mentally and physically. She wasn’t planning to go out today and had decided instead to sleep in all morning. Not that that was going to happen now. Seeing Yasmin wide awake and primly dressed in front of her, she felt a pang of resentment.

As Patricia frowned at her from her doorstep, Yasmin decided not to beat about the bush. She rudely barged right in past Patricia.

Yasmin looked around the apartment. She made a point to ignore Patricia, who was standing in stunned silence at her rudeness.

Yasmin meant business, and immediately searched the living room before surveying the bedroom in turn. She was relieved to see that there were only men’s dirty clothes in the bathroom and that Zachary was nowhere to be seen.

Yasmin looked back at Patricia, who had been following her like a hawk. Apart from the wrinkles on her pajamas, there was no sign of their relationship. She saw that Patricia was puzzled, which confirmed to her that Zachary didn’t stay there at night. This cheered Yasmin up considerably.

“This is really a lovely apartment!” Yasmin said as she wandered round.

Zachary’s apartment was decorated with brand-new furniture. The floor was clear and everything was tidy and clean, unlike in her own apartment. Her praise was sincere, and not just an attempt to justify her intrusion.

Hearing this, the corners of Patricia’s mouth twitched. ‘Is Yasmin here this early merely to see the apartment? So, why did she say she wanted to see Zachary? It’s pretty obvious she’s lying.’

Patricia was not easily fooled. She looked over at Yasmin, who was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, and repeated the question firmly, “Tell me why you want to see Zachary?”

“Since he’s not here, there’s no point going into details. Little girl, why don’t you come and sit down with me? We’re neighbors now. I’m here to thank you for last night.” As Yasmin spoke, she gestured at Patricia to come sit down by her. After a pause, she continued to say kindly, “How about I treat you to breakfast?”

As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Faced with her rival in love, Yasmin decided the best thing to do was to act friendly. ‘If I’m going to win Zachary from her, I need to understand how her mind works first,’ she thought.

Yasmin had called Patricia a “little girl” because she gave off a certain innocence, and wore no heels or make-up. Her short, messy hair and big doe eyes made her look like a young girl. At the same time, Yasmin was trying to convey her superior maturity. There was a saying that a mature and sensible woman is a more attractive woman.

“Don’t patronize me, please. I’m 23 and have been an adult for some time.” Patricia did not appreciate being looked down on like this, and wanted to make sure Yasmin knew it.

She hated that people looked at her and saw a child. ‘Why is that?’ she thought. ‘Is it because of my child-like face or maybe because I’m short?’ Yesterday, in preparation to play the role of Zachary’s girlfriend, she had specially put on make-up, high heels and a long, wavy wig. She certainly thought she’d looked the part, but now, fresh out of bed with no accessories, she felt the insecurity return.

After listening to Patricia, Yasmin looked at her up and down and saw that she had a point. Indeed, even if Patricia wore the pajamas of a mature woman, it couldn’t conceal her pretty, youthful face. With her short black hair and height, as well as the pout she currently wore, she certainly looked more than one year younger than Yasmin.

Yasmin was abruptly aware that her rival in love was weak competition. ‘Was Zachary only with her because he liked his girls young and pretty?’

Patricia, in her opinion, was not up to the job of being Zachary’s girlfriend. Most people might be put out by women showing up early in search of their boyfriend. Patricia, however, who Yasmin had just met last night, seemed surprisingly calm and collected. Her confusion at Yasmin’s appearance was genuine, and she did not seem on the defensive.

“Well, forget it.” Yasmin said to Patricia, “Let’s keep chatting. How about I treat you to breakfast?”

The conniving smirk on Yasmin’s face confused Patricia. ‘What is going on? Where was this sudden enthusiasm coming from?’

“Okay! It’s settled then.” Patricia was still disheveled from jumping out of bed, and Yasmin gently directed her to the bathroom. “You should probably wash first. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Just 10 minutes later, Yasmin and Patricia went downstairs to have breakfast together.

Yasmin took this opportunity to politely ask about how Patricia first met Zachary and she was rewarded with a touching love story. They had met at a dinner quite some time ago, and she had been immediately taken with his looks and confidence. She had decided then and there that they would be together, and had pursued him until she got her wish.

Patricia was tense as she finished recounting this perfect, but totally invented, love story.

She began to have her suspicions that Yasmin was pumping her for information, although she couldn’t discern her motive. So as not to waste her previous efforts, she responded to every question, but invented a false answer each time.

She had finally fully woken up, and was able to navigate the conversation skillfully. She enumerated all of Zachary’s best qualities, which came across as boasting on her own behalf. Then she gave Yasmin more details to make the love story she was spinning seem even more credible. She wanted Yasmin to be jealous of her.

Patricia ended with a final question, in hushed tones that Yasmin leaned in to hear. “When you really like someone, you need to be brave enough to pursue them, right?”

Patricia had a secret motive in asking Yasmin this. She hoped Yasmin would be brave enough to pursue Zachary if she had true feelings for him. Then, Patricia’s work would be done.

“I think you’re probably right.” As Patricia’s love story came to a close, Yasmin lowered her head deep in thought. ‘I think I might just take your advice, and be brave enough to pursue him myself,’ Yasmin repeated in her heart of hearts.