Chapter 4: When did you turn into a wild cat?

“Oh my God!!!”

Jade’s scream practically shook the walls. She bounced on the bed, eyes wide, hands flying everywhere like she might explode from the excitement.

“Out of every hot, ridiculously rich guy walking this earth, you just had to spend the night with Jayson Kingsley? The governor’s son? Are you serious right now?”

Honey’s face tightened into a deep, irritated frown. She looked like she’d just bitten into something sour.

“Why are you acting like I hit the damn jackpot?” she snapped, her voice low but sharp.

“Because you did,” Jade shot back, grinning like she already saw wedding bells.

Honey let out a dry laugh, shaking her head.

“You don’t even know what you’re talking about. I don’t want anything to do with people like that. People from that kind of world.”

Jade tilted her head, folding her arms slowly, her smirk turning knowing.

“And why is that, exactly?”

Honey threw her hands up in frustration, pacing now.

“Look at me. Then look at him. We’re not even in the same universe, Jade. I’m barely getting by. I don’t get to dream about guys from powerful families. That’s not my life.”

She paused, exhaling hard.

“And besides… it was just a drunken mistake. A fling. That’s all.”

Jade slid off the bed, humming under her breath.

“Hmm… if you say so. But if it were me? I’d be praying he—”

“Snap out of it, Jade,” Honey cut in, laughing despite herself. “You’re about to start building castles in the air.”

That shut Jade up.

For once, she didn’t argue. Because deep down, she knew Honey wasn’t wrong. The gap between their worlds wasn’t small. It was a damn canyon.

Jade grabbed her handbag, slipping it over her shoulder, then strapped on her watch like she had somewhere important to be.

“Where are you headed?” Honey asked, raising a brow.

“I’ve got a date,” Jade replied casually, dabbing powder across her face while using a handheld mirror.

Honey smirked.

“Let me guess. Date number four today?”

Jade popped a piece of gum into her mouth.

“Six out of seven.”

Honey burst out laughing.

“Damn. You seriously need a break.”

Jade didn’t respond.

She had gone completely still.

Like she’d just seen something that didn’t belong in this world.

“I need to go pick up Finn from Madeline’s,” Honey said, sliding off the bed. She didn’t notice Jade’s frozen expression as she walked toward the door and reached for the knob.

“Wait!”

Jade’s voice came out strained.

Honey paused, turning halfway, already smirking.

“What now?”

Jade swallowed.

“He’s here.”

Honey frowned. “Who?”

Jade looked like she might faint.

“Jayson Kingsley.”

Silence.

“You’re joking, right?” Honey squinted.

“I swear on everything I care about,” Jade said flatly. “You are in deep shit, Honey.”

That did it.

Honey rushed to the window.

And froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Downstairs, a line of sleek, expensive cars stretched along the street. Black suits. Security everywhere. Men standing like statues.

And right in the center of it all…

Jayson Kingsley.

Looking straight up.

At her window.

Honey jerked back like she’d been burned, pressing her hand against her chest.

Her heart was racing so hard it hurt.

“W… what the hell is he doing here?” she stammered.

Jade turned slowly.

“You have his phone. Of course he’s here.”

Honey slapped her forehead.

“Oh shit. Can’t he just… buy another one?!”

Jade shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t know.”

Now Honey was sweating.

Pacing.

Panicking.

“What do I do? What the hell do I do?” She pressed her back against the wall like she might sink into it.

“I… I guess you go down there. Give him his phone. Talk to him,” Jade said, though she didn’t sound convinced.

“Oh God…” Honey dragged her fingers through her messy black hair. “How am I supposed to face him?”

Jade stepped forward and grabbed her arm.

“I’ll come with you. I’ve got you, okay? I won’t let anything happen.”

Honey nodded, forcing a small, shaky smile.

That was Jade. Always showing up when it mattered.

Together, they stepped out of the room, walked down the stairs, each step heavier than the last.

The moment they stepped outside…

“Oh, there you are.”

Jayson’s voice cut through the air.

He walked toward her with that same effortless confidence, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Before Honey could react, he grabbed her hands.

“Nichole,” he said, his tone almost relieved. “Why did you run off like that?”

Honey blinked.

“What?”

“I’m not Nichole!” she snapped, pulling her hands back. But then it clicked. He’d called her that last night too.

Jayson frowned, looking her up and down like she was something confusing.

“What are you doing in a place like this?” His nose wrinkled. “You left your father’s mansion to live in this dump? Seriously?”

“I… I…” Honey’s voice faltered. Nothing made sense.

Her hands tightened around the phone she was still holding.

It rang.

Jayson’s phone.

“Give me that,” he said, reaching out.

She handed it over without thinking.

He glanced at the screen.

“Shit. It’s my dad.”

He answered quickly.

“Jayson,” a furious voice barked through the speaker. “Where is Nichole? You said you found her. Why isn’t she back at the senatorial villa? Her father is breathing down my neck! Do you want me to lose this election?”

Jayson rubbed his forehead, jaw tightening.

“She’s here with me, Dad.”

“Good. Bring her immediately.”

The line went dead.

Jayson turned back to Honey, his expression now set.

“You’re coming with me.”

“No,” Honey said instantly, stepping back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

She glanced at Jade.

But Jade had already taken several steps back, eyes wide, clearly shaken by the armed guards.

Great.

“You don’t have a choice, Nichole,” Jayson said coldly.

Before she could react, he bent, lifted her clean off the ground, and threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

“Put me down!” Honey screamed, kicking, hitting his back.

He didn’t even flinch.

The car door opened.

He dropped her into the passenger seat, pinned her briefly, then slid in beside her.

“Drive.”

The convoy moved instantly.

“Let me go!” Honey yelled, twisting, trying to bite his arm.

Jayson smirked, watching her like she amused him.

“When did you turn into a wild cat?”

“This is kidnapping!” she shouted. “This is illegal! You think you can just get away with this because you’re Jayson Kingsley?”

“I’m trying to prevent a bigger mess,” he replied calmly. “You need to go home.”

“You just dragged me out of my home!”

“That is not your home, Nichole,” he snapped. “Stop being ridiculous.”

“I don’t even know what’s going on!” Honey groaned, hitting the back of the seat. “You keep calling me Nichole. How many times do I have to say this? I am not Nichole!”

She leaned forward, voice rising.

“My name is Honey. Honey!”

Jayson let out a quiet laugh.

“Sure. Tell that to a five-year-old.”

Honey dropped back into her seat, covering her face.

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

Her stomach growled loudly.

She froze.

Then groaned.

“Great.”

Jayson noticed.

“What?”

“I’m hungry,” she muttered weakly. “Can we stop? Please? I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

He laughed.

“Nice try. Planning to run again?”

Honey bit her lip, frustrated.

“I’m not running. I’m starving.”

He studied her for a moment.

Then sighed.

“Fine. Stop at the nearest five-star restaurant,” he told the driver.

“No,” Honey cut in immediately.

Jayson blinked.

“What?”

“That’s too expensive. Just stop at the next place up ahead. That’s where I eat.”

He stared at her like she’d grown a second head.

“Since when do you worry about prices?”

“Just… take me where I said.”

A beat.

“Stop here,” she said when they reached a small roadside bistro.

Jayson looked out the window, disbelief written all over his face.

“Here? You eat in places like this now?”

Honey didn’t even wait for him to finish.

She opened the door and stepped out.

“Hey, wait—” He followed her in, irritation clear in every step.

She sat down. He sat across from her, jaw tight.

A waitress approached their table. Honey smiled, already feeling better.

If I’m going through all this madness, I’m at least eating good.

“Seafood, please,” she said. “Everything you’ve got. Shrimp, crab, oysters… all of it.”

She tapped her fingers on the table excitedly.

Jayson blinked.

“You’re going to eat all that?”

“Yes,” Honey said, leaning back. “Any problem? Or are you suddenly worried about money? She waved her hand dismissively. “You shouldn't be… you can afford it. You are Jayson Kingsley after all.”

He shut his mouth.

Minutes later, the food arrived.

Honey rubbed her hands together, almost giddy, then dug in.

Fork full of shrimp. Straight into her mouth.

Another.

And another.

She was enjoying it. Fully.

Messy. Happy. Unbothered.

Jayson stared.

His expression slowly shifting from irritation… to confusion… to shock.

“What?” she asked between bites. “Want some? It’s amazing.”

She swayed slightly, clearly enjoying herself.

Jayson didn’t respond.

His mind was elsewhere.

Nichole doesn’t eat seafood.

She’s allergic.

The realization hit him hard.

He leaned back slowly, eyes locked on Honey like she was something he needed to figure out.

“You’re… not Nichole?”

Honey rolled her eyes, licking sauce from her fingers. “I’ve been saying that.”

Jayson leaned back further, running a hand through his hair.

This woman had the same face as Nichole.

Same voice.

Same height.

Just… different hair colour.

Completely different personality.

His thoughts raced.

If this woman sitting right in front of him isn't Nichole…, then who is she?”

An unknown twin?

No.

That’s insane.

He exhaled sharply.

“No fucking way.”