Chapter 3

Jalen’s POV

Can't even lie, I had the best night of my life in so many years, but I woke up because something felt wrong.

For a second, I did not know where I was. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, too clean and way above what I can naturally afford. 

My eyes drifted to the bedside clock, the red numbers burning into me.

8:02 a.m.

“Oh shit,” I said, already pushing myself upright. “Oh shit, no, oh shit, oh shit!”

Kristofer came awake instantly, when he realized why I was in such a panic mode.

“Relax.” Kristofer’s voice came from beside me, steady, unbothered. 

I turned my head just enough to see him still lying there, one arm folded behind his head like mornings owed him nothing.

“I’ll drive you,” he said. “You’re panicking.”

“I’m late,” I replied, grabbing my phone. No missed calls yet, which somehow made it worse. “I can’t be late.”

“Dean fires people for being late one morning?”

“Yes,” I said. “And even if he doesn't, he would remember and that's like a dent to a good record.” 

He sat up slowly, eyes tracking me as I moved around the room collecting my clothes. “I don't believe you can be under the radar with Dean, before he brought you to that event, you're a special one to him, he won't fire you just because you're late one morning, you were outside because of him anyway.”

“You don't know that,” I fired back at him, still rushing to put on my clothes. 

“Oh but I do,” 

He sounded so delusional and annoying to me at that moment. I didn't want to listen to him anymore. 

I tied the laces of my shoe, and stood up to adjust my shirt. 

“So about last night…” I started… 

“Yea, it was just a one-time thing. I heard you last night, and I wouldn't prefer it any other way.” He responded. 

“Great.” I replied. “I need to go.”

He stood then, completely unbothered by his own nakedness, by the space he took up. “Do you need any sort of help?”

“I don’t need help.”

“You look like you do.”

That irritated me more than it should have. “You sound so certain that I need help, the nerve.”

Something unreadable crossed his face.

“Fine,” he said. “But you’re lying to yourself.”

I didn’t respond. I dressed fast, avoiding mirrors, avoiding him. When I reached the door, he spoke again.

“Jalen.” I turned.

“It was nice meeting you, I will see you soon.”

I didn't understand the “I will see you soon” part of the sentence and I didn't have the time to ask questions. 

I left. 

By the time I got home, my body was already running on consequences.

I showered fast, scrubbing the night off like it was dirt instead of memory. 

I changed, grabbed my bag, and rushed out the door without checking my reflection.

At work, everything looked the same, which somehow made it worse.

The spa smelled like citrus. Soft voices. Soft footsteps. A place designed to make people forget their bodies while mine felt painfully present.

I clocked in late.

The receptionist avoided my eyes. That was new. She had always had this huge crush on me, but I never acknowledged it, glad to see she's moving on. 

“Dean wants to see you,” she said quietly.

I nodded and headed for his office, my chest already calculating damage.

“Come in,” Dean said before I knocked.

He looked up from his desk with an expression that tried very hard to be kind.

“You look tired,” he said. “Sit.”

I sat.

“You left the party early last night,” he continued. 

“Without telling me.”

“I had a family emergency.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Everything okay now?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?” he asked. “Because you’re visible, Jalen. Clients notice you. Investors notice you. When you move without informing me, it reflects poorly.”

“I should have told you,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What matters is that it doesn’t happen again. That was just the first many adventures we would be going on together.”

“Yes, sir.”

He stood and walked toward the wall behind his desk, gesturing vaguely. 

“We’ve made some changes recently.” 

I stayed silent.

“Upgrades,” he continued. “Security improvements.”

My hands tightened in my lap.

“More cameras,” he said casually. “Better angles. Full coverage.”

I looked up then. “Cameras?”

“Yes.” He turned back to me. “Transparency is important. Especially in a place like this.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with me.”

He smiled. “Of course you don’t.”

“You’re trustworthy,” he added. “That’s why I’m telling you.”

I nodded, even though something cold had settled in my stomach.

“You can go,” Dean said.

I left his office with my body intact but my sense of safety cracked.

The danger wasn’t what I’d done last night.

It was realizing how much of myself was already being watched.