All Chapters of The Betrayed Heiress: Chasing Her Back: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

I woke up slowly and my first thought was that I was surprisingly cozy for someone who fell asleep on an office couch. My second thought was that the pillow beneath my cheek was rising and falling in a steady rhythm.My eyes snapped open to see that I was curled against Jason’s side, my head resting on his chest, and his arm wrapped around my waist.His other hand was loosely holding one of mine, and our fingers were intertwined. I realized that at some point during the night, he must have joined me on the couch.Shit. I gasped and tried to wriggle out of his hold but then I looked at his face.He was still asleep, his features relaxed in a way I’d never seen when he was awake. There was no tension in his jaw or any worried crease between his brows. His hair was mussed, falling across his forehead in soft waves, and without thinking, I reached up and gently brushed it back.“Thank you,” I whispered, so quietly I could barely hear myself. “For everything.”He had stayed and worked

I walked down the hallway toward Julien’s office with the bound document clutched against my chest.Patricia looked up from her computer as I approached and her usual smug expression slid onto her face.“Ms. James,” she said with false sweetness. “Do you have an appointment?”“No, but I need to see him. It’s about the report he requested.”She made a theatrical show of picking up her phone, pressing the intercom button with one perfectly manicured nail. “Mr. James? Your sister is here about the financial report.” She paused. “Yes, sir. Of course.” She hung up and gestured toward his door with a tight smile. “You can go in.”I didn’t thank her, I just pushed open the heavy door and stepped into Julien’s office. He was sitting in his leather chair, facing the window, and he spun around slowly when I entered.“Well, well,” he said, that infuriating smirk already on his lips. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, dear sister?”I didn’t waste time with pleasantries. I slammed the

I was still staring at Jaime’s message, my thumb hovering over the screen, when Lisa’s voice snapped me back to reality.“So where should we book? That new Italian place downtown? Or maybe that rooftop bar you used to visit?”I quickly locked my phone and shoved it into my pocket, forcing a laugh. “Either works! You know I’m not picky.”Lisa’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing! Nothing’s wrong. I’m just excited to celebrate.” I was talking too fast, my words tumbling over each other.“Is it Jason?” Her expression shifted from suspicious to curious, a knowing smile playing at her lips. “Did he text you? Oh my God, did he ask you out properly?”I laughed again. “What? No, it’s not Jason.”“It’s totally Jason.” Lisa’s grin widened. “You know what? I’ll give you two some privacy. I’ll handle all the arrangements, and you can focus on whatever delicious drama is unfolding in your love life.” She winked. “You’re welcome.”“Lisa, wait-”But she was already halfway out the

I screeched to a halt in front of The Velvet Room, the valet already moving toward my car before I even put it in park. I could see Lisa pacing outside the entrance, her phone pressed to her ear, and the moment she spotted me, her expression shifted from worried to exasperated."You're late!" she hissed the second I walked out from the car, not even giving me time to hand my keys to the valet. "Fatima has been asking where you are every five minutes, and I've run out of creative excuses!""I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I tried to smooth down my still damp hair while speed-walking toward the entrance. "I fell asleep and then everything was chaos-""You look fine," Lisa interrupted, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the door. "Your hair is a little wild but it works. Very 'effortlessly chic.' Now come on before Fatima decides to leave out of spite."The interior of The Velvet Room is exactly as advertised, decorated with dark wood accents, dim lighting from Edison bulbs, and a mix of high

Jaime's POVI stared at her, and the emotions that rushed through me were so overwhelming I nearly staggered from the force of them. She looked more beautiful than I remembered, which shouldn't have been possible since I'd thought about her every single day since she walked out of my life. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, her makeup minimal, her dress elegant but understated. She looked like herself again, not the wounded version I'd seen in court.I wanted to reach out and touch her face, trace the curve of her cheek with my thumb like I used to do when we were happy. But I forced myself to hold back, my hands clenching into fists at my sides."Alessandra," I said, my voice coming out stiffer than I intended.Her eyes narrowed immediately, and she glanced around the hallway, then grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the women's restroom with surprising force.I watched with growing amusement as she started pacing, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor.