Chapter Five - Was I Just a Pawn?

Drake pulled Jayden into his arm ignoring the phone but it rang again disrupting the tension.

Jayden groaned softly and reached for it, still half tengled in Drake's arms, the room dim and warm stirring with unfinished desires.

Drake shifted beside him, arm heavy over Jayden’s waist, breath slow.

The caller's ID was unknown.

Jayden answered quietly, frowning. “Hello?”

A man’s voice came through low and controlled. “Are you Jayden Hawley?”

Jayden sat up instantly. “Yes. Who is this?”

“There’s been an incident. Mr. Ronan is injured.” the man said.

He swung his legs off the bed. “Injured? Why are you calling me? He needs a hospital.”

“He is in a hospital,” the man replied smoothly. “But he needs someone to watch over him.”

Drake lifted his head, eyes narrowed. “Who is it?”

Jayden covered the phone. “They say Ronan’s injured.”

Drake scoffed. “At this hour? Tell them you’re busy.”

Jayden hesitated, then spoke into the phone. “I’m not a doctor. Whatever he needs, the medical staff…..”

A familiar voice cut in, calm and amused. “Quitting on your first day.”

Jayden stiffened.

Ronan exhaled softly on the other end. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t answer.”

Drake’s jaw tightened.

Jayden turned away, heart thudding. “What do you want now?”

Ronan chuckled. “I’m injured. What do you think an assistant does?”

Jayden's fingers curled around the phone. “I'm busy, can't come. Find a nurse.”

Ronan chuckled, voice sharp. “Should I? I will be weak all throughout the night, she will have access to my phone.”

Then his voice softened, dangerously. “You wouldn't want certain footage getting into the wrong hands, would you?”

Heat crawled up Jayden's neck. “You backed…..”

“One of my men is already outside your building.” Ronan added lightly. “Don't keep me waiting.”

The line went dead.

Jayden's breath hitched, eyes fixed on the screen.

Drake sat up fully, reaching for Jayden's arm. “Jayden, I….”

Jayden avoided his grip.“I have to go now.”

Drake's jaw clenched. “It's midnight.”

Jayden rose, heading to the wardrobe. “I just got a promotion, can't mess up.”

“From a director to an assistant. Does that seem like a promotion?” Drake growled.

Jayden spun abruptly. “Wasn't that what you always wanted. For me to work in the CEO’s office?”

“What I always wanted?” Drake repeated, voice cold. “Don't get delusional. You chose to transfer offices.”

Jayden's thumped, the softness in Drake's voice and eyes were gone.

Without a word, he grabbed his jacket and left.

Drake punched his fist, eyes red.

—

The car ride was silent.

Streetlights streaked past the windows, blurring like water in Jayden’s eyes.

His thoughts raced, tangling with fear, anger and something darker he refused to name.

The sudden shiftness in Drake's made his chest ache.

The chest slowed driving into a huge black gate.

Jayden frowned. “This isn't….”

The car pulled into a private driveway and his heart dropped.

“Stop the car!” he screamed.

It stopped but the engine didn’t shut off, instead the door opened.

Jayden quickly stepped out, his eyes scanning his environment, ablaze.

“This isn’t a hospital!” he hissed.

The front door suddenly flew ajar.

Jayden turned and at the door stood Ronan, shirtless, hair damp, skin glowing under soft light.

Jayden's eyes narrowed. “You lied.”

Ronan smiled. “I improvised.”

Jayden turned to leave.

But Ronan moved fast, hand closing around Jayden's wrist, pulling him back into solid warmth.

For a second, Jayden's breath knocked out of him as he hit Ronan's chest.

“Let go,” Jayden snapped, forcing his voice steady.

Ronan stepped back, his hands still on Jayden's waist, his gaze met Jayden's blazing eyes, a smile crossing his face.

Slowly, he leaned in, Jayden's breath stuttered, expecting a kiss but instead, Ronan's lips brushed his ear.

“I thought we should celebrate,” he whispered. “Your promotion.”

Jayden shoved at Ronan's chest and stepped back, his eyes burning with shame.

“You're insane.” he spat.

“Let's just have fun,” Ronan murmured. “But if you don't want to, you can leave.”

Jayden's stomach twisted and without a word, he turned, heading for the gate.

Ronan's voice followed, calm as a blade.

“Just remember, the video…..”

Jayden spun, crossing the space in two strides.

Without warning, he slammed Ronan against the wall, fingers tightening around his throat.

“What exactly do you want?” Jayden growled. “Say it.”

Ronan smiled, prying Jayden's hand away, he leaned in, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to his lips.

Jayden shoved him away instantly, breath shaky. “Do you enjoy harassing me?”

Ronan’s thumb brushed Jayden’s jaw. “You started it. When you stole my first kiss.”

Jayden gritted his teeth. “It was a mistake.”

Ronan tilted his head. “A mistake? If I take your first time now. Does it count as a mistake too?”

Jayden crossed his arms. “You kissed me back too. And we had…..”

“Are you trying to justify yourself?” Ronan snapped. “To avoid the consequences?”

Jayden squinted his eyes. “Haven't I already faced it enough? If not, state the consequences and stop playing games with me. I have a boyfriend that I am in love with.”

“And you stole the kiss I was keeping for mine.” Ronan groaned. “So I have to steal what you are keeping for yours too. Your first time.”

Jayden's phone buzzed before he could react, a message from Drake lit the screen. “Which hospital are you in?”

He shut his eyes, heart racing non stop.

Drake’s face rose in his mind, sharp with disappointment and Jayden hated himself for how distant it already felt.

He snapped them open slowly, swallowing nothing.

“If I give you that,” he said, hoarsely, “will everything become our past?”

Ronan's lips twitched. “We'll be even. And maintain distance.”

Jayden stepped forward, lips quivering as he kissed Ronan, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure Ronan could hear it.

Ronan pulled back, searching Jayden's face. “Are you sure? Think carefully, before you regret…..”

“Regret?” Jayden interrupted sharply. “I already have lots of it since we met. So after this, don't appear before me again.”

Ronan pulled Jayden into his arms without a word, closing the door behind them.

—

The sun had just begun rising when Jayden's eyes snapped open.

The voices downstairs, sharp and angry disrupting the silence.

A frown crept onto his face as he grabbed a shirt, walking downstairs.

Downstairs, sunlight spilled across the floor in thin, unforgiving lines, Ronan stood near the window, a vape in-between his lips.

Across him stood Drake, a smile too calm on his face.

“Say that again,” Drake whispered, quietly.

“Do you really want to hear it?” Ronan taunted, smoke escaping his mouth.

Drake looked at Ronan’s hand beside him, a humourless laugh escaping his lips.

“The bet was just a facade right?” he hissed.

Drake smirked. “But you lost.”

Jayden's mind blanked out, his throat scorching.

“A.. bet?” he whispered, voice loud. “Was I just a pawn?”

Silence crashed down as both men turned sharply.