Uncle Meysner

Myra's P.O.V

I returned to the living room after finally calming my shattered nerves. Gathering my things quickly, I zipped up my laptop bag, finally ready to leave.

Jade watched me the entire time, the half-eaten apple still resting in his hand as he leaned his hip against the edge of the couch.

I cleared my throat, trying to dispel the awkward weight in the air.

"Thank you for dinner. I'll be taking my leave now," I said, adjusting the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

"Okay." He rose from his spot, tossing the apple core into the nearby trap can. "Would you like me to give you a ride home?" he asked, his grey eyes searching mine.

"No, I'll be fine. A cab is easier."

He walked with me toward the front door, his long, unhurried strides matching my pace.

"Myra," he suddenly called out, his voice dropping into a smooth register.

I stopped right at the threshold and looked back over my shoulder.

"Yes?"

"You never came by the club to pick up your car the other day," he noted, tilting his head slightly.

Right.

The memory hit me all at once. Between the divorce papers and the sudden re-emergence of my brother, my mind had completely blocked it out. I hadn't driven home with my car that night.

"It is still in the parking lot," I muttered, a wave of irritation bubbling up in my chest at my own carelessness.

"I'm not sure," Jade replied, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "If it was still sitting in the club's private parking lot, my security team would've flagged it for me."

"You own the club?" I asked, momentarily surprised.

"Yeah" Jade simply shrugged. "Hold on."

Leaving me standing by the entrance, he turned on his heel and headed straight upstairs.

I waited quietly in the spacious foyer, wondering what he suddenly forgot.

Just then, the doorbell chimed.

My attention shifted instantly to the sleek wall-mounted security panel beside the door. The built-in camera displayed a crystal-clear live feed of the visitor standing outside on the landing.

A middle-aged man stood at the entrance, looking visibly impatient.

"Jade," he called out loudly, his voice muffled by the thick wood as he pressed the glowing bell again. "Jade, open up."

I glanced back toward the empty staircase. Jade still hadn't returned from the upper floor.

After waiting another awkward moment, I reached out and pressed the intercom button to address the stranger.

"Who is it?" I asked, keeping my tone professional.

"I'm Jade's uncle," the man replied bluntly through the speaker. "Is he inside?"

"He'll be down in a minute. Please hold on."

A few seconds later, the crisp sound of footsteps signaled Jade’s return as he came back downstairs.

"Who's at the door?" he asked, noticing me hovering near the intercom.

"He said he's your uncle," I replied, stepping back to give him space.

"Oh."

He didn't look entirely surprised. He walked over to me first and handed me a thick, matte-black business card.

"Call this number," he instructed, his fingers brushing against mine as I took it. "The owner of the nearest impound lot owes me a substantial favor. He'll help you retrieve your car back without much trouble or any unnecessary paperwork."

I looked down at the elegant card before slipping it safely into my handbag.

"Thank you, Jade."

"Sure. Anytime."

He unlocked the door, pulling the it inward, and I stepped outside into the cool hallway air.

The man waiting by the entrance glanced at me immediately, his eyes scanning me from head to toe before he turned his full attention back to Jade.

He had thick black hair streaked with sharp strands of silver, deep-set lines around his eyes, and a strong, distinguished face that still carried a rugged sort of handsomeness.

Looking at him closely up front, I could easily see the striking family resemblance between him and his nephew.

"Good evening," I greeted politely, offering a small nod.

"Evening," he replied with a brief, measured nod.

The curious look he gave me lingered for a moment longer, his brow twitching slightly before he finally looked past me toward Jade.

I gave Jade one last brief wave before walking toward the elevator down the corridor.

I could still feel the older man's calculating gaze drilling into my back as I walked away. He was undoubtedly racking his brain trying to figure out what a woman like me was doing leaving his nephew's apartment at this hour, but whatever wild conclusion he jumped to was none of my business.

******

Jade's P.O.V

I couldn't help but notice how closely Uncle Meysner watched Myra's retreating figure until the elevator doors slid shut around her.

I cleared my throat, drawing his attention back to the present.

He glanced in my direction, his lips twisting into a smirk.

"You're staring at her a little too hard, Uncle Meysner," I remarked dryly as I stepped aside, giving him ample room to come into the foyer.

He shrugged his shoulders, completely unbothered by the call-out.

"What can I say? She's a remarkably beautiful young woman. Who is she, Jade? One of your new flames?" he asked, his voice laced with an annoying teasing quality.

"No," I replied flatly, closing the door behind him. "She's my secretary. We were working late on the upcoming quarterly acquisition."

"But it certainly didn't look like corporate shorthand from where I was standing," he said with a knowing, infuriating smile as he stepped inside.

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Uncle Meysner." I closed the door. "Why are you here anyway? It's entirely unlike you to come over for an unannounced visit this late in the evening."

"What are you talking about, my favorite nephew?" he scoffed, waving a hand dismissively in the air. "Am I no longer allowed to simply come over and hang out with my brother's son? Or has family affection suddenly become a federal crime under your roof?"

I let out a small, tired sigh.

"No. It's just... odd. We haven't really spent any quality time together in months, Uncle. And I heard you ghosted the last two board meetings."

A heavy, sudden silence settled between us as he walked farther into the living room, his eyes scanning the minimalist decor. I followed a few quiet steps behind him until he stopped right near the mahogany bar structure.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly, his tone shifting as he stared at the shelves of liquor. "You're right about that."

His playful expression gradually bled away, replaced by a cold, serious demeanor that made my guard immediately go up.

Without another word, he reached across the marble counter for his favorite bottle of aged scotch.

He uncorked it with a sharp twist, the rich, smoky aroma immediately filling the space between us, and poured the amber liquor into two crystal tumblers before dropping in a few heavy ice cubes.

"It sounds like whatever you came to tell me deserves a drink first," I noted, watching the amber liquid swirl against the glass.

He gave a faint, tight nod and handed one of the tumblers directly to me.

He lifted his own glass up to his nose, inhaling the deep, rich aroma of the peat, before taking a slow sip.

I only took a small sip from mine, the alcohol burning a familiar path down my throat, before setting the crystal glass back down on the dark wood of the table.

I folded my arms, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Uncle Meysner set his glass down with a heavy thud, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a cold prickle of alarm down my spine.

"You need to produce an heir, Jade," he said, his voice dropping into a serious whisper. "And you need to do it fast."