Reborn Heiress: Claiming The Tycoon’s Heart

Jane’s POV

It was bright. Too bright. I winced from the way it went straight into my eyes, turning the other way on the bed.

But it was empty.

He wasn’t in the room.

And even if I knew that, my hands still reached out to the cold sheets. He must have gotten up hours ago. I wished I could say that it was to get started on work, or even to get me breakfast.

But my husband had never done that in two long years. I missed it. I really did.

Turning around again, I sat up slowly, my bare foot hitting the cold tiles. The ceiling-to-floor window overlooking the whole of California brought in the morning sun. It was one of the most spectacular things about living in one of the most coveted parts of the city.

It was one place I enjoyed standing, watching the world go on around me, and grateful for what I had.

But not today.

Because when I moved towards the window in my black lace nightdress, I met my husband sitting by the large pool, a breakfast table between him and a very familiar face. She was laughing, her blonde hair billowing all around her as the wind teased it.

Her perfectly manicured nails reached to flick something off my husband’s shoulders. He didn’t recoil. Instead, he leaned into her, pinching her cheek delicately. She flushed and looked away, like it was a damn game they were playing.

Maybe it was.

Oh God. I couldn’t believe she was here again. I wasn’t even upset. All I felt was exhaustion.

Grabbing the matching robe from the hook, I moved out of the room and down the stairs, belting it around my waist. It was very airy outside, so I wrapped my arms around my frame, covering the remaining distance between the door and the pool.

My husband looked up when I was only a few feet away.

“Jane,” he breathed, like he was surprised to see me. “You are awake.”

“Yeah.” I didn’t want to be the wife who complained about everything, but the woman in front of my husband did nothing to change the moment, even after my appearance. She was still there, a cherry in her mouth, that red lipstick wrapped around it.

“Shawn, can I talk to you inside?”

My husband angled his head. “What is it?”

“Inside, Shawn.”

“Lydia is in my inner circle,” he replied with boredom dripping from his tone. “She has been my secretary for two years now. I’m sure that whatever you want to tell me can be said in front of her.”

I turned to the blonde. “Lydia, can you please give my husband and me a few minutes? I really do not want you listening in on our conversation.”

“I can,” she began in that tiny voice that some men might love. I thought my husband loved it too. “But Mr. Jackson has to give me permission to leave first.”

Her eyes dropped to the ground before she added. “I hope you understand.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” The words slipped out of my lips before I could stop myself.

“Jane!” Shawn muttered sternly, narrowing his eyes. “You don’t have to do this every day. You know that, right?”

I scoffed, shaking my head at the ludicrous situation. “Do what, Shawn?”

“You know what I’m talking about. This! Each time Lydia is around me, you suddenly start nagging and acting like a goddamn vulture.”

“Sh…”

“Look, honey, it is too early in the morning to keep up with this, okay? Lydia and I are trying to talk about an important contract the company needs. We have to be ready for the bid, so if you are only going to nag my ears off, you might as well just leave.”

“I was just…”

“I can leave,” Lydia said suddenly, jumping to her feet. The wind teased her hair in my direction, and I caught the highlights at the roots. But I also caught something else. “I mean, Mr. Jackson and I can always discuss the contract on our way to the office. If this is important to Mrs. Jackson…”

“Sit, Lydia,” my husband instructed. “And don’t move an inch until I ask you to.”

“Wait, is that Kilian Paris?”

Lydia turned to look at me, feigning innocence etched in her eyes. “What?”

“I know that scent,” I continued. “Shawn, that is your perfume. Why does your secretary have the same scent as you?”

“Oh my God! Can you just stop!” He was on his feet now, the glass of juice shattered on the ground, and his hands folded in fists by his side. Instinctively, I took a step back. Shawn had never raised his hand against me, but I didn’t know who he was anymore.

“First, you tell me bullshit about Lydia being too close, and now it is her fucking perfume? Do you know how easy it is to walk into a store and purchase Kilian Paris? I thought you were smarter than that. You always acted smarter than that.”

“Shawn, I didn’t mean…”

“You know what? Just get lost. I don’t want to see you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, moving closer to him. But inside of me, something broke. It hurt, like broken bones being moved. A knot worked its way to my throat, and I pushed it down. I ignored Lydia’s blue eyes, still on me with something that looked too much like amusement.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I breathed, shaking my head. “I was just… I know Lydia is your secretary and that she does amazing work for you, but you’ve got to understand me, baby. I love you.”

“You are not acting like you do right now.”

“So, what can I do to make it better?”

“Just let us be, okay?”

“Okay.”

But in that split second, I made up my mind.

“I won’t be home tonight. I have an appearance to make at the court in Arizona.”

Shawn didn’t look at me. He just nodded and waved his hand dismissively. But if his eyes had met mine in that split second, he would have seen that I was lying.

Arizona was the last place on my mind.