After tidying up, Samantha saw Jack lounging on the couch watching TV and immediately rolled her eyes at him.
Her mother, Ms. Morgan, urged them to go out and enjoy some time together, practically shooing them out the door.
"Where do you want to go?" Jack asked, still a bit flustered. He had been hoping to spend a lazy afternoon getting cozy with Samantha at home, but now that plan had gone out the window.
"I haven't watched a movie in forever. Let's go catch one," Samantha suggested after thinking for a moment.
Jack nodded and drove her to Pinehill Plaza, a large entertainment complex in Riverton City that offered shopping, dining, and fun all under one roof.
The first four floors were filled with clothing stores, accessories, and specialty shops. The fifth floor featured local delicacies and street food from across the country. The sixth floor housed the most luxurious movie theater in the city.
Hand in hand, Jack and Samantha took the elevator straight to the top.
For some reason—maybe there was a special promotion—there was quite a crowd in line for tickets. Jack had Samantha sit on a nearby sofa while he stood in line.
No sooner had Samantha sat down than a man took the seat across from her.
It was Luke Anderson.
Luke had just finished a movie with his girlfriend, Sarah Benson. As they came out, he spotted Jack and Samantha. The moment he laid eyes on Samantha, he couldn't look away. Dressed in a flowing white dress with long, jet-black hair, she looked pure and radiant.
He cursed inwardly. That loser Jack—how the hell did he land such a gorgeous woman? Jealousy burned in his chest.
With Sarah temporarily in the restroom, Luke saw an opening and seized the chance to stir up trouble. He just had to try and steal Jack's girl.
"Hi there, miss. I'm Luke Anderson," he said, putting on a gentlemanly facade as he approached Samantha.
"Sorry, I don't know you," she replied without even sparing him a glance, eyes still focused on Jack. Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. Another annoying fly.
Luke noticed her staring at Jack and decided to act fast.
"You probably don't really know the guy you're with," he said with a smile, hoping to bait her.
The moment he mentioned Jack, Samantha turned to look at him, curious to hear what he had to say. She did want to understand Jack better, after all.
Seeing her intrigued, Luke grew more confident.
He cleared his throat and continued, "The guy you're dating—his name's Jack. He's a total rich brat and a notorious womanizer."
Hearing Jack's name made Samantha believe him a little. But the mention of Jack being a womanizer made her blush slightly. She thought back to how handsy he had been at her house earlier—it wasn't exactly false.
As for being a rich brat? She knew that better than anyone. He wasn't just throwing money around—he was burning it. Who else would buy a hospital just to punish a director? Who buys buildings by the block, not the unit?
Luke noticed her blushing and was instantly captivated. I have to have this woman, he thought, clenching his fists with determination.
"Just a few days ago," Luke went on, "I saw him taking another stunning woman to a fancy restaurant—Spring Blossom."
Now he was deliberately adding fuel to the fire, hoping Samantha would turn on Jack.
Samantha's curiosity was piqued. Like many women, she couldn't resist a juicy bit of gossip.
Encouraged by her reaction, Luke pressed on, "Not only that, but he even took her car shopping."
The more he spoke, the more resentful he became, especially remembering how Jack had embarrassed him at the dealership. His jaw clenched at the memory.
"And then?" Samantha asked, like she was listening to a story unfold.
"That damn brat even used a female sales rep as a plant. He pretended to be buying a million-dollar car, and fooled everyone."
Samantha smirked. Fooled everyone? Including you? she thought.
Just because you can't do it, you assume he can't either? She had seen Jack casually purchase entire buildings like he was grocery shopping. A car? Please.
Feeling playful, she decided to twist the knife.
"Oh… so you were one of the people he fooled too?"
Luke's expression froze. That stung. He forced a laugh.
"Well, what can I say? That bastard's a master manipulator," he muttered, seething.
"But hey," he continued, trying to save face, "I just didn't want you to get hurt. I came over to warn you."
"Thanks for the heads-up," Samantha said with a half-smile, barely holding back a laugh.
But Luke wasn't giving up.
"Seriously, leave that rich brat now, or you'll end up in his bed before you know it," he said anxiously, hoping to scare her off Jack.
Samantha shook her head, her expression now filled with scorn. What a joke, she thought. You just want me to fall into your arms, don't you?
Who the hell gets tricked into bed and walks away with a hundred million?
Just then, Jack returned with the movie tickets. Seeing Luke sitting opposite Samantha, he frowned slightly.
"Babe, got the tickets," Jack said.
Samantha stood up immediately, walked over, and slipped her arm naturally through his. "Awesome. What movie did you pick?" she asked with a sweet smile.
Luke was dumbfounded.
What the hell's going on? he thought. Did I enter some alternate universe where women prefer spoiled rich brats who flex 24/7?
Jack gave Luke a quick glance, then wrapped his arm around Samantha's waist and led her toward the theater.
Luke sat frozen, completely thrown off.
Jack leaned close to Samantha's ear and whispered, "What did that idiot say to you?"
"He told me a joke… the funniest one I've heard all day," Samantha said, then burst into laughter.
Jack raised a brow in confusion, but before he could ask, Samantha leaned in and whispered everything Luke had just told her.
Jack couldn't help but laugh too.