CHAPTER FIVE

Chloe POV 

I woke up with the urge to pee in the middle of the night, I looked up at the ticking clock. One. am, wow, just great. Not much like I was sleeping before that.

I pushed the sheets off and sat up, the cool air brushing against my skin. The room felt more quiet and heavier than before.

I slid off the bed and walked to the door, reaching for the handle. It didn’t move. I frowned, twisting it again.

Nothing.

I pulled harder this time. Still stuck.

“Seriously?” I whispered, more annoyed than surprised. I tried again, slower this time, like that would change anything.

It didn’t.

Somehow I'd managed to lock myself out of my own bathroom?

I let out a quiet breath, resting my forehead briefly against the door before stepping back.

Fine.

There had to be another bathroom. I opened the door on my second try, this one leading out—and stepped into the hallway.

It was quieter, of course it was. I mean it's fucking one. Am in the morning and not everyone locks themselves out of their own bathroom. I grunted.

I'd learned from my few hours in this house that my room was on the third floor of the story building, along with the boys office. Every one of them, an office. I muttered under my own breath.

“Pampered kids.” I walked down to the second floor, still silent so my movements tried to match the silence. 

The lights were dim, casting long shadows across the floor and walls. The air was cooler, carrying a faint draft that slipped through the corridor. 

Somewhere in the distance, something creaked—soft, slow, like the house was settling.

I wrapped my arms loosely around myself as I walked, my steps quieter than usual.

The floor felt too loud. Every small sound echoed more than it should have.

I tried a door– locked. Then another, still locked. I continued trying every door I saw, until one creaked open. It was even closed, it was left slightly opened.

Jace's room. How do I know? 

Because I saw him and another person, a girl, pressed against a neatly arranged desk just like everything else in the room.

She was butt naked and so was he. It didn't take minutes before I registered what was going on. I bent behind a shoe closet.

His hands wrapped tightly around her ponytail, making her head tilt up.

The room was filled with her moans and his grunts. I stepped back into the shadows, this was supposed to be my cue to leave where my brain registers this as ‘privacy invasion’ but part of me still stayed watching.

He was a walking work of art, not like I didn't notice it earlier but seeing him like this was… different. The way his muscles tightened, sweat slided down from his head, each back and forth movement made me gasp and wince. 

The fact that I'd never experienced this in my life, and I don't want to. That's not what I came to do, I'm a student who's just looking for a restroom.

Her hands pressed against the walls, my fingers tightened watching her. Not like I liked him, no, definitely not. But I wanted to feel what she felt and I hated myself for it.

I shook my head, and finally had the decency to do what I should have done the moment I stepped in– to leave. I began to back out carefully.

But then he made a low, unguarded sound and my name fell out like a match.

“Chloe.” 

The way he said it made my heart pause, and my steps too.

“What did you just call me?” The girl snapped back.

He stepped back and sat on the bed, pinching the bridge of his nose like pain and annoyance just stepped in.

“It's not.” He exhaled “There's this new tenant, human, my step sister and she's been a distraction, not like that. Goodness, never like that… I'm just thinking of the fastest way to get rid of her.”

The words cut deep, I was an administrative error with a pulse. Nothing more.

She adjusted her hair with practiced grace.

“I heard about that arrangement, I didn't know it would be your stepsister though… if she gives you troubles I can handle her.” The girl added.

“You will not touch her.” He growled.

She turned to wear back her clothes. Jace stretched his hands to the head of the bed to pull his trousers back with grace, almost like anything he does.

She fastened a button.

“Same time tomorrow?” 

“No.” He grunted.

“That's what you always say Jace but you end up calling back, it's been three weeks and you still called didn't you?.” He brushed back his hair.

“It was a lapse in judgement. A distraction from the distraction.” 

She was evidently hurt but still smirked.

“Your sister has really gotten under your skin huh.” 

He glanced at her.

“Stepsister.” Like adding that made him feel better.

I didn't mean to make a sound but it escaped me anyway, a low and shocked breath. I didn't think they'd hear.

Two heads snapped in my direction, Jace's eyes spotted mine through the hole in the closet.

“Chloe!” He called my name, in a different tone than before.