Chapter 9

Jordan’s POV

Nate and I were still talking about Brittney when Phoebe walked up to us, arms crossed, a knowing look on her face.

“Mom wants to speak with you,” she said.

I exhaled through my nose. “Tell her we’ll be there in two minutes.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She turned and walked back inside, leaving me with Nate.

Nate smirked at me. “You’re way too tense man.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re still staring.”

“Because I know you,” he said, shaking his head. “And I know when you’re trying to act like something—or someone— doesn’t matter.”

I didn’t take the bait. Instead, I shoved his shoulder lightly. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

We walked inside, heading towards mom’s room. She was waiting on the edge of her bed, reading glasses perched low on her nose as she scanned a thick stack of documents. A faint trace of her signature perfume—jasmine and something sharp underneath— lingered in the air.

She barely glanced up as I entered. “Jordan.”

I sat beside her. “Mom.”

She took her time finishing whatever she was reading before folding the pages and looking at me properly. “You seemed upset earlier.”

I sighed. “It’s nothing I’m over it.”

She studied me for a moment, then nodded as if deciding to let it go. “Good. Then we can move on to more important matters.”

She picked up the file and handed it to me.

I flipped it open, scanning the first few lines. My brow furrowed. “This is a project proposal.”

“A business trip,” She corrected. “A potential partnership that requires your presence out of town.”

I stilled.

“Where?” I asked carefully.

“A resort in Aspen.” She said, watching my reaction closely. “A client is looking to collaborate on an exclusive luxury jewelry collection. It’s a big deal, Jordan. One that could open doors for the company.”

I rubbed my chin, already piecing things together in my head. The proposal was solid-financially, it made sense.

I turned a page and saw something.

My jaw tightened slightly. “You assigned Brittney to go with me?”

“She’s your assistant, isn’t she?”

I looked up at my mother, but she only raised a brow as if daring to refuse me.

I sighed slowly, closing the file.

“When do we leave?”

~~~~~~~~

Brittney’s pov.

I lay sprawled on the couch, one hand lazily tossing popcorn into my mouth while the other mindlessly scrolled through my phone.

It was Saturday, my one day to breathe, and I had every intention of spending it absolutely doing nothing.

Mom had gone out with her friends, and Flora was in her room, probably whispering to her boyfriend on the phone. The apartment was quiet—too quiet.

I sighed, shifting to get more comfortable. Maybe a movie would help. Something they wouldn’t make me think too much.

I grabbed the remote and flipped through channels until I found a classic romance movie. The kind where the heroine gets swept off her feet by a ridiculously handsome man. Who miraculously has no emotional baggage and an unlimited supply of devotion.

I rolled my eyes but left it on.

Just as the lead couple started dancing at a grand gala, their foreheads pressed together, murmuring sweet nothings—I immediately regretted my choice.

Seriously?

Disgust curled in my stomach. I wasn’t that woman anymore. The one who believed in perfect stories, the one who thought forever meant something.

I grabbed the remote and shut the TV off.

My phone vibrated on the table and I reached for it lazily—until i saw the message.

Eva: Hey girl, you good? Just saw Tony at a flower shop with another woman. Someone you know?

I stared at the text, my fingers hovering over the screen. I didn’t know why I felt anything at all. It wasn’t jealousy. It wasn’t pain. It was something worse—a feeling of complete nothingness mixed with the remainder that, in the end, I was the one left behind.

I blinked hard, pushing the thought away.

Shoving my phone aside, I picked up the popcorn again. But suddenly, I wasn’t hungry.

I got up and went to my room, lying flat on my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I suddenly felt useless.

Everyone else was moving forward—-Tony, my coworkers, even Flora and her never-ending love life. And me? I was stuck. A personal assistant, invincible, unimportant. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was rebuilding my life, it still felt like I was just existing.

A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts. “Girl you good?” Flora’s voice was light, a hint of concern in her tone.

She walked in and plopped down at the edge of my bed.

I swallowed, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, just tired.”

Flora raised an eyebrow. “Liar.”

I sighed, closing my eyes. “I don’t know flora I just….feel like everyone’s moving on but me.”

She was silent for a moment before she nudged my gently. “Maybe that’s about to change.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Before she could answer, my phone buzzed again. I picked it up and the contents made me freeze.

Jordan: check your email, I need you to clear your schedule for next week. We’re going to Aspen.

I blinked. Aspen?

A business trip, just me and Jordan.

Flora peeked at my screen and grinned. “Oh. Ohhhhhh.”

I groaned. “Would you stop saying oh like that?”

She smirked. “Im just saying… you don't matter to him huh?”

I didn't answer, I was too busy staring at the message, my heart pounding in my chest.