Chapter 8: Did we do it

Jay sat on a plush pink chair in the boutique, watching Honey as she sorted through the dresses hanging on the rack.

“What do you think about this one?” she asked each time she stepped out in a different dress.

Jay would nod, but his attention kept drifting elsewhere.

His eyes followed the curve of her back. The soft sway of her hips as she moved in and out of the changing room.

Honey was different.

Even the way she walked was different from Nichole.

That might be a problem, Jay thought.

Finally, Honey stepped out of the dressing room again. Jay and the sales assistant both looked at her in expectation.

“Which one do you like?” he asked.

Honey pouted. “None of them match my style or personality.”

Jay sighed. “What exactly do you want, Honey? I can have a personal stylist get whatever you need.”

Honey shook her head. “I want to make my dresses myself.”

Jay’s brows shot up. “What? You’re joking, right?”

But the look on Honey’s face told him she meant every word.

Jay paused. “You’re serious?”

“I need fabric. Can you get that for me?” Honey asked instead.

Jay swallowed hard. “We don’t have time for that. We’re supposed to get to the estate today.”

Honey twisted her lips. “Then I guess we’ll get there tomorrow. I can’t go today.”

Jay’s face tightened into a tired frown. “Please, don’t stress me. What is all this?”

Honey sat down and crossed her legs. “Okay, Mr. Almighty Jay, you need to understand something. You can’t push me around whenever you want or however you want.”

“But I paid you,” Jay said flatly.

“And I’m keeping every part of our agreement,” Honey fired back.

She crossed her arms. “Besides, you never said anything about what I should wear or what I shouldn’t wear.”

That got to him.

He went quiet immediately.

She was right. He had never mentioned anything about changing her dressing style.

“Fine,” he said at last, pulling out his phone. “Do what you want. Take my phone and order everything you need.”

A bright smile spread across Honey’s lips. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”

Without wasting time, Honey took the phone and ordered the latest sewing machine, threads, beautiful fabrics, and every other thing she needed. Then she handed the phone back to Jay.

Jay didn’t even bother checking the cart. He simply paid and arranged for immediate delivery.

The two of them walked out of the boutique and got into the car.

“What’s taking them so long?” Honey asked, her voice full of worry, impatience, and excitement.

Jay checked his phone before answering. “They’re on their way. Very close.”

He noticed how excited she was, but he didn’t understand why.

As more time passed, Honey kept rubbing her palms together anxiously. Every now and then, she leaned toward the window to peep outside.

“Can you just stay calm, please?” Jay snapped suddenly.

Honey flinched and turned to him, startled. “Why are you yelling at me?” she shot back.

Jay looked her dead in the eyes. “I’ve been watching you. You’re very impatient, and you don’t know how to control your emotions.”

Honey scoffed. “Are you serious right now?” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I don’t know how to control my emotions?”

Jay smirked faintly. “I guess I’m the first person telling you.”

Honey’s face crumpled into an ugly frown.

No, you’re not the first.

His words struck a nerve instantly.

You don’t know how to control your emotions.

The sentence began to echo in her head again and again.

Those were the same words Jimmy had said to her that day at his wedding.

Tears rose to her eyes.

With trembling fingers, Honey unlocked the car door.

“Wait. Where are you going?” Jay asked, concern creeping into his voice.

But Honey said nothing.

Her body was trembling. Her chest rose and fell too fast. She pushed the door open and climbed out of the car.

The moment her feet touched the ground, the tears spilled over.

All the pain came rushing back at once.

Her legs gave way beneath her, and she slowly slid to the ground, hugging her knees as her back pressed against the side of the car.

Her body shook with sobs.

Jay got out immediately, his eyes wide with surprise as he walked toward her.

He had said those words carelessly. Innocently, even.

He had no idea they would hit her that deeply.

Something twisted inside his chest as he watched Honey cry.

“Honey…” he called softly, stepping closer.

He stretched out his hand to touch her, then stopped halfway, as if suddenly remembering something.

He wanted to hold her.

He wanted to comfort her.

I should apologize, he thought.

But he didn’t know how.

He wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to women breaking down because of something he had said. He had grown up in a strict environment where sorry was not a word used often.

For the first time in a long while, Jay felt stupid.

And helpless.

He just stood there, looking at her, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out.

Finally, Honey lifted her head and sniffed.

Jay reached into the car, took out a pack of wipes, and handed it to her.

Honey collected the wipes without looking at him. She cleaned her tear-streaked face, blew her nose, then climbed back into the car without sparing Jay a glance.

Now she won’t even look at me, Jay thought as he got in beside her.

Just then, the delivery company arrived with the items.

Honey’s face lit up with a grateful smile as the workers loaded everything into the trunk.

As they continued their journey to Springhills, Jay made a decision. Instead of taking Honey straight to his parents’ estate, he would first take her to his private penthouse. He still had a lot to do before taking her to Nichole’s parents.

Honey could feel Jay staring at her for the rest of the drive, but she refused to look at him even once.

It was as though those green eyes that had once caught her attention had suddenly become forbidden.

At last, they arrived at Jay’s penthouse.

The housekeepers came out at once to help unload Honey’s sewing machine and fabrics from the trunk.

Honey stepped out of the car and looked up at the house, marveling at its beauty.

Then something clicked in her memory.

She had been here before.

Suddenly, it all came back to her.

This was the same house Jay had brought her to from the club, and where they had…

She couldn’t finish the thought.

Her cheeks grew hot with embarrassment and turned pink immediately.

Jay noticed the sudden change in her face and frowned slightly.

What is she thinking about? he wondered, staring at her lowered head.

It was only when the housekeepers greeted Honey that she looked up. She gave them a sweet smile and greeted them politely.

The workers looked stunned.

Nichole had never smiled at them.

Not once.

She always wore a cold, serious expression.

“What happened to Miss Nichole?” one of the maids whispered to another as they walked into the living room.

“I don’t know,” the other murmured, puzzled. “She’s acting very different today.”

Jay noticed the staring and gossiping immediately and dismissed them back to their duties.

“Let me show you to your room upstairs,” he said to Honey as they reached the staircase.

Honey simply nodded.

Jay led her into a spotless white bedroom that looked elegant and expensive.

Honey stood still for a moment, taking it all in with wide brown eyes.

It wasn’t the same room she had spent the night in with Jay.

This one was different.

“I’ll have the workers bring your things up,” Jay said before walking away.

True to his word, the housekeepers brought Honey’s sewing machine, fabrics, and other materials to her room. Almost immediately, she got to work.

By the time night fell, she had already sewn a few beautiful pieces.

It wasn’t difficult for her to create the designs. She had chosen them from her sketchbook, and her hands moved with confidence and ease.

At last, Honey stretched her arms above her head and yawned.

She was exhausted from the day’s activities.

She was just about to crawl into bed when a knock sounded on her door.

Who could that be? she wondered.

She pushed herself to her feet and walked to the door.

When she opened it, Jay’s unusually calm face met hers.

They stared at each other for a brief second.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“Yes,” Honey answered, stepping aside.

Jay walked in and handed a file to her.

Honey took it slowly.

“That’s the contract agreement,” Jay said curtly. “It’s confidential. You can’t show it to anyone.”

“Alright,” Honey nodded. “I’ll go through it and get back to you tomorrow.”

Jay gave a short nod and turned toward the door.

“Wait.”

Honey’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

He turned back.

“About the other night…” Honey began nervously, her fingers picking at the hem of her blouse.

Jay’s eyes stayed on her.

Honey swallowed.

“Did we do it?”