登入“Ha!” I breathed.
I didn’t have any words in my mouth. I spun.
“If you leave. We won't meet again till tomorrow.”
I turned back. “What? What do you mean?”
He raised his chin, his chest pushed out. My eyes fell to it. His shirt was buttoned at the base only, the last two buttons. Everything else was open. I was granted a wide V view of his firm, sculptured torso.
I swallowed. My eyes drifted back up to his.
He had not moved an inch. The fire in his eye
“Ha!” I breathed.I didn’t have any words in my mouth. I spun.“If you leave. We won't meet again till tomorrow.”I turned back. “What? What do you mean?”He raised his chin, his chest pushed out. My eyes fell to it. His shirt was buttoned at the base only, the last two buttons. Everything else was open. I was granted a wide V view of his firm, sculptured torso.I swallowed. My eyes drifted back up to his.He had not moved an inch. The fire in his eyes had not reduced a single degree.I took a step back, the open door, my lifeline, pressed against my bare back, grounding me.I took deep breaths.“Jayden.”“Adrian.”“You used to be with my brother.”He froze. He hadn’t been moving, but his entire being stilled. Just like Lee’s face had during our lunch.And just like with my brother, I waited.After what seemed like a long time, he exhaled roughly through his nose. His lips pressed tight
It almost felt like once I entered, the houses would spin, and nobody would be able to tell which apartment I was in.Once my delusion ended, I used the key card on the access board and let myself in.I had never been more embarrassed in my life.The curtains were drawn down here, or the blinds were, I wasn’t sure. All I did know was that it was darker inside than it should have been at 5 p.m., so something was blocking the light from outside.Regardless of this, the rose petals on the floor were visible enough.There were no lights. Soft music filled the air, and a peculiar scent made my legs move, calling out to my tired body.I followed the path, my face burning, my hands trembling. There were stairs, but the flowers didn’t lead there.I passed two sitting areas, a place that looked like a piano room, an indoor swimming pool, and went back outside.There were little lights now, battery or solar-powered, shaped like candles.
“Thank you, Sir. It is my pleasure to be of service to you. We should arrive at the airport in thirty minutes.”He raised the divider.I stared at the veritable wall, my hands trembling in my lap as I held the package.The car moved, and I jolted. Beads of sweat had formed on my forehead in just seconds. I swallowed with difficulty.I opened the envelope and turned it upside down. A phone fell out. A note was on it. I shook the envelope. Nothing else followed.I unfolded the note. It was handwritten. Two lines. Three sentences.-- Use this phone. Only this phone.-- Call ME.I tapped the phone. I glanced at the note again and checked the address book. There it was, ‘ME’.I tapped the name, title, or whatever it was, and held the phone shakily against my ear.“Hey, you.”“Ha!” I breathed, slumping against the chair and crossing my legs tightly.A low laugh rolled through the device,
Then I remembered that I was sending something very useful for my watchers. My grip relaxed.“That’s fine. We have other channels.”“Sir. There’s been an incident.”I closed my eyes. “What now?” I growled, my voice low as I turned my back to my brother.“A shipment was intercepted at sea, Sir. A random check. Everything has been confiscated by the authorities.”It took all my self-control not to split the fucking table with a decisive punch. The wood was slim enough.I hunched my shoulders, lowering my head. “When?”“All communications were blocked, Sir. It’s our people at the port who shared the news five minutes ago. The actual incident could have occurred as much as three hours beforehand.”“Ten a.m.”“Yes, Sir.”“Shit,” I breathed. “Anything else?”“No, Sir.”“Vega. Get back here. Let someone else handle Florida.”“Yes, Sir.”I hung up. Inhaled deeply, then turned to my Trojan horse
Lee raised a brow.Heads turned, but I was far from caring. The ember was smoking, and I would be damned if I didn’t get at least a small flame going.I was tired of getting the run around from someone who was supposed to support me. Tired of managing every word of every sentence every time we conversed.Even Jayden’s assistant spoke to him with more ease and freedom than I did with my own blood brother.In a few minutes, I would embark on a journey, on a path where I would break rules I had spent my life bending over backwards and twisting myself into knots, to follow. Everything in Jayden’s eyes yesterday told me as much.I wanted that to be a good thing, not a nightmare.I was tired of my fear, of my doubts. They were strangling me.I was twenty-one. Wealthy and single. I’d been single my entire life. Afraid of what my father wanted. Afraid to disappoint him. To be judged by him. To be reduced to a harsh statement, as my brother wa
“Do you have a time for the airport? I’ve been asked to arrange a car for you.”“That won’t be necessary. I can find my way.”“I’m under instruction, Sir. Please, what time shall I have a car available and from what location?”I stared at him.I saw Jayden’s face in the car from yesterday evening. I heard his words replay.‘Reece is discreet. He knows how to handle my extracurricular activities…’Maybe he has something planned, I considered as I watched the rigid assistant.“Can I let you know later in the day?”He glanced at his watch. I could have sworn he sighed.“It’s 8 o’clock, Sir. How late are you considering –”“I think you’ve been quite presumptuous enough for one day, Mr. Sharden, or would you like me to give a detailed report to your employer about your tone with mine? I have your number. You will be contacted. If that is all, you may leave.”I stood and turned.Reece had
“I may be unavailable by phone or messages of any kind, but I want you to know that everything is fine, and if anyone comes here looking for me, you are to tell them I’m on a business trip.”His lips parted as his face fell.“And whenever you can’t reach me, I want you to put such t
“Leon, tell me seriously, do you think I’m that kid you knew? I mean, take a good look,” I leaned forward, his throat bobbed. My eyes searched his, but I kept my expression neutral.“Do I look like your puppet?” I whispered, as if I was saying something that no other ear should hear, as if
“I’ll take care of –”“Pleeeassee,” he stressed, his face red, his breath coming in short gasps.I sat back, still on him.“What’s wrong?” I tilted my head slightly, my shoulders slouching.“This, Jayden. This
An energy drink, a towel, and a few other items I had treated in advance – lotions, plasters, disinfectant sprays – in case he managed to avoid the water, were also ready; insurance for what had to get done.This wasn’t about pleasure or messing with the kid for fun; I wa







