Tethered To Her

Jade's P.O.V

Despite how far the night had gone from my original plan, things finally seemed to be going smoothly. Myra and I were having our drinks and carrying on a normal conversation.

I asked a few simple, surface-level questions, trying to get a better idea of who she was outside the office.

I now knew that her favorite color was red, she was allergic to fish, and that her favorite season was winter.

I had never really had a favorite season before, but I was seriously beginning to think winter could become mine.

“You still haven't told me how you got my address and phone number,” Myra said in the middle of our conversation as she took another sip of her iced peach tea.

“Your phone number was already on the company's employee list. As for your address, well...” I paused, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You could say I stalked you.”

Her brows furrowed. “You stalked me?”

“Yeah.” I leaned back slightly, watching the subtle way her expression shifted. “After your third day at the office, when you closed up, I followed you back to your place.”

Her eyes widened, a flicker of shock crossing her features. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I was desperate,” I replied honestly, my tone dropping to a serious register. “After Brandon interrupted us, there was so much I still wanted to say to you. So I followed you, hoping we could talk. But then I saw you go upstairs with a guy. I assumed he was probably your ex-husband, so I left.”

She fell silent.

Her silence immediately made me tense up. Was she mad at me? Did she now see me as some sort of creep? My pulse quickened as I waited for her reaction, hating the distance her quietness created.

“The man you saw me with was a family relative,” she finally said, her posture relaxing.

“Oh, I see,” I replied, a wave of relief washing over me.

“What was it you wanted to tell me that day?” she asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity. “I mean, when you followed me to my apartment.”

Before I could answer, my phone started vibrating loudly on the table.

I groaned in frustration and picked it up, fully intending to put it on Do Not Disturb. But the moment I saw the caller ID, that option was immediately out of the question.

“Give me a few minutes. I have to take this,” I told Myra, offering an apologetic glance.

She simply nodded.

I got up and walked toward the bedroom attached to the private lounge before answering the call, wanting absolute privacy.

“Hello?”

“Have you picked another date?” Uncle Meysner's voice came through the moment the call connected, sharp and demanding.

“Another date for what?” I asked, already in a hurry to end the conversation and get back to the lounge.

I heard him sigh heavily on the other end. “You were supposed to meet the potential surrogate mothers, Jade. Have you forgotten you postponed that meeting? You said you would get back to me by Friday morning.”

“Oh, right. Shoot.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a massive headache coming on. I had completely forgotten about that entire arrangement.

“You know what? I'm going to arrange the meeting at your place tomorrow morning. The women will come to your apartment, and you can interview them and decide which one you prefer.”

“Mysner, tomorrow isn't a good day,” I replied, my eyes darting back toward the door. “Can't it wait until...”

“It can't wait, Jade,” Uncle Meysner cut me off before I could finish, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “You decided you were going to do this, so I suggest you stop delaying it and go through with it. The earlier, the better.”

I nodded tightly even though he couldn't see me.

“Fine. Tomorrow by ten.”

“Don't disappoint me again, because I won't reschedule another meeting,” he warned before the line went dead.

So much for my Saturday plans.

I had been planning to ask Myra out for a picnic since tonight had been partially ruined by the interruptions. I wanted to make it up to her with a real, proper date where I could have her undivided attention.

Now that wasn't happening anymore, and the irritation simmered deep under my skin.

And there went my perfect chance to spend more time with the woman I actually wanted to spend my Saturday with.

I returned to the lounge and found Myra standing beside the sofa, her purse already gripped tightly in her hand.

“What is it?” I asked, stepping closer to her.

“It's really late. I need to go home,” she said, her voice soft.

I glanced at the time on my wristwatch.

It was already half past twelve. I hadn't even realized how late it had gotten.

Time really did seem to disappear whenever I was with Myra, swallowed up by a dangerous fascination that I was completely powerless to fight against.

I nodded and led her out of the lounge, keeping a protective hand near the small of her back as we navigated the building.

We left the club together, and I took her back to her apartment building, pulling over smoothly right in front of it. She slowly stepped off the bike and handed me my helmet.

“Thanks for tonight,” she said, her eyes meeting mine.

I took it from her, my fingers brushing against hers. “I should be the one thanking you. Tonight was fun. I hope we can do it again sometime.”

“Sure,” she replied with a small smile, softly biting her lower lip.

My eyes immediately settled on those lips, the same ones I had kissed just hours ago in the lounge. My lips almost itched to taste them again, a sudden, burning hunger flaring up in my chest that made me want to pull her against me and never let her walk into that building.

Before I could think better of it, I leaned in and kissed her.

It was a light, lingering kiss, a deliberate claim before I reluctantly pulled away.

“Rest those pretty eyes of yours for me,” I said softly, my voice slightly thick with restraint.

“Good night, Jade,” she replied before turning and walking toward her apartment building.

I didn't leave the spot until she reached the safety of the entrance. She glanced back at me and waved once before disappearing inside.

When she was no longer within my sight, I looked up at the night sky. A few stars were scattered across the darkness, and for some reason, the sight made me smile.

I guess it was inevitable.

I was falling in love with Myra.

It felt like something that had been meant to happen from the moment we first met, an absolute certainty that was quickly turning into a permanent fixture in my mind.

I didn't want to keep the feeling to myself, and I had no intention of letting her slip through my fingers. Myra had to know how I felt, even though admitting it out loud still sounded absurd and crazy.

I had fallen for her from our very first meeting, and the thought of any other man having her made my blood turn completely cold. She belonged in my world now, and I was going to ensure she stayed there permanently.

Whomever her ex-husband was, he really was a fool to have let her go.

I let out a small sigh, the cool night air clearing my thoughts.

The only thing I wasn't sure about was whether she felt the exact same way.

But the fact that she had let me kiss her, not once but twice, made me believe I had a chance to possess her completely.

Possess was a strong word, but it was what I wanted. I didn't want to control her, or have her in the sense of securing a property, but I wanted her tethered to me.

A smile tugged at my lips as I put on my helmet and started my bike, driving away from her apartment building with her name still echoing in my head.