Chapter 5

Lisa’s POV

The silence of the night pressed in around me, it was heavy and suffocating.

My room was dark but the city lights bled into my room through the curtains and then traced faint silver lines across the wooden floor.

The clock on the nightstand blinked back at me, it read 2:13 a.m.

I had been lying here for hours, sheets tangled around my legs, eyes wide open, and mind spinning like a wheel on fire.

Sleep was impossible.

How could I close my eyes after what had happened?

The images replayed over and over again in my head. The flash of cameras, the shock on Dominic’s face and the electric warmth of Jace’s lips against mine.

The kiss had been a weapon, nothing more but yet it lingered, ghosting across my mouth every time I exhaled.

Frustrated, I sat up abruptly. I was trying to get some sleep but the thought of his lips against mine was messing with my thoughts.

Propping myself up, my hair tumbled forward.

The next time I raised my head, I was staring back at my own reflection in the mirror opposite the bed.

I didn’t recognize the woman staring back.

She wasn’t the same Lisa who had once believed that love meant sacrifice. That woman had died in a BMW crash weeks ago.

The new me was something else entirely.

Smirking, I tiled my head to the side.

As if on a cue, the door creaked open softly and a shadow stepped into the room. I didn't need to ask who it was because it was only me and Jace that were in my penthouse.

We had come together from the engagement party last night.

“Still awake?” Jace’s voice was low and careful. He made it seem like he was stepping into enemy territory.

Pulling the blanket close, I said, “I couldn’t sleep.”

“You should rest,” he said gently. “Tomorrow will be… loud.”

“Since when has it ever been quiet?” I let out a humorless laugh. Jace was right.

I haven't checked my phone yet or even watched the news but I was certain that different media stations were broadcasting the scene from the evening.

Most times, I say the media were scavengers.

The moment a news worthy scene drops, they made sure they zapped everything until nothing was left.

Nodding, he mouthed, “Good night, see you in the morning.”

“Good night,” I murmured back watching as he closed the door gently behind him.

Letting out a low sigh, I fell back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling as my thoughts clawed at me, refusing to let me rest.

In a bid to get some sleep even if it was just for a half an hour, I rolled from one end of my bed to the other.

Unable to hold in anymore, I sucked my teeth, pulling myself up again.

“Damn it,” I muttered, shoving the blanket aside.

Throwing my legs off my bed, I made my way out of my room. The house was dead silent save for the soft pad of my feet against the wooden floor.

I was unsure of where I was going but at the back of my head, I wanted to talk to Jace.

He must have retired to bed now. — My thoughts screamed but I didn't accept that. I continued to pull my feet down the hallway.

I didn’t even know which room he had chosen for the night.

The house was too large, every hallway branching into another. One after the other, I kept checking the rooms until I got to one that was at the far end of the hallway.

Pushing the door in slowly, I poked my head inside but instead of seeing him sprawled on the bed, I was greeted with neatly folded towels and the faint scent of cedar.

I was going to walk into his room but my instincts pulled me back.

What am I doing?

Turning around slowly, I decided to return to my room but mid journey, a sound floated up from downstairs.

It was an angry and sharp voice which was dripping with frustration.

It was Jace.

Curious to find out what was going on, I tilted my head.

“I don’t care how you do it,” he snapped. “Just fix it. If this isn’t resolved by morning, the entire company will be in a goddamn mess. Do you understand me?”

Walking on my tip toes, I made my way towards the railings so I could have a full view of him.

He was below, pacing around in circles with his phone pressed against his ear and his free hand stuck in his hair.

What the hell was going on? — I couldn't help but ponder.

He was sounding like someone in charge of a company and not some mere worker.

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I took another step forward only to hit a flower vase. It wobbled for a while but before I could catch it, it fell on the floor, breaking the quiet of the night.

“I will call you in the morning," Jace said and then the familiar bleep sound rang in the air.

Frozen in place, I didn't move but I could feel his gaze on me.

“You still can't sleep?" He asked from below.

Chuckling awkwardly, I rose, placing the vase in its position.

“What about you? It's almost three am and you are still awake… talking to someone on the phone.”

Apart from the fact that he was Dominic’s stepbrother, I had no idea who he really was.

“What was that about?" I asked, nodding at the phone that was now hanging loosely in his hand. “You sounded like the apocalypse was going to happen if things didn't go your way." I mouthed, crossing my hands on my chest.

“Who are you? MD, CEO or director?" I ratted out.

He was going to answer when I snapped my finger, “I couldn't sleep so I got rewarded with a plan." I smacked my lips, smiling sheepishly.

“Tell me about it."