Chapter 9
Chapter 9
MASON’S POV
I stiffened. Jade hadn’t even been back in public for a week, and she was being targeted already? Why?
I decided to shift the topic. “Was anything taken?”
“Yes.
“What?”
She swallowed, looking genuinely shaken. “A design draft for the dress I was supposed to wear to the upcoming fashion show next month. You know… for Urbanite’s big event.”
For a moment, I exhaled. It was just a draft, not even a finished piece. “Jade, that’s not exactly
“But someone came in here looking for it!” she interrupted, her voice urgent. “It means someone wanted to sabotage the show.”
“That doesn’t make sense. If this was about you, they would’ve taken something way more valuable jewelry, personal belongings, money. But they didn’t. Which means..”
This isn’t about me,” she finished.
I nodded. “This was meant to send me a message.”
Jade bit her lip, hesitating “Mason… there’s something else.”
I raised a brow.
“A few days ago, I got a call from Lockwood International. They asked me to reconsider my collaboration with Eternity and with you.” She glanced around, lowering her voice. “When I refused, they… implied that working with you might not be good for my career.”
I frowned. Lockwood. My family’s direct competitor.
“You t
“You think they’re behind this?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But it’s a hell of a coincidence.”
I clenched my jaw. Daniel Lockwood was known for cutthroat tactics, but breaking into someone’s home? That was a new low. Even for him.
“I’ll look into it,” I promised. “For now… we need to get this place cleaned up and tighten up your security,”
Jade exhaled, her shoulders sagging in relief. “Yeah… I can get someone to do that tomorrow. But for tonight… everything is a mess. I don’t feel safe here. Can I stay at your place?”
I blinked, caught off guard.
“Just for tonight,” she rushed to clarify. “Florence wouldn’t mind, right? After all, you said we’re old friends!”
I wasn’t sure what Florence would think. Things were already so on edge between us… I didn’t want her to come home from the hospital and see Jade sitting in our living room.
“I’ll have my secretary book you a suite at The Carlton,” I said instead.
I watched Jade’s face fall at that. She was so used to getting her way with me. In moments like these, I
remembered all the times I bent to her will just to show her my love. Especially this one time…
425 BONUS
Chapter 9
It was junior year, and Jade had convinced me to skip practice.
“Come on, Mason,” she had whispered, tugging at my wrist with that famillar, mischievous glint in her eyes. It’s just one afternoon. You won’t even miss it.”
I sighed, glancing at my watch. Coach would kill me. But Jade–Jade never needed to ask twice.
We ended up on the rooftop of her father’s country club, og stolen champagne bottle between us, legs dangling over the edge. The city stretched out before us, glittering in the afternoon sum.
“See?” she smirked, leaning back on her elbows. “Isn’t this better than rimning drills?”
I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “You always get your way.”
She winked. “Only with you, Mase.”
That was Jade. She had this way of pulling me into her world, making me believe that nothing else mattered but her. And I always let her.
Even now, standing in her wrecked apartment, watching the slight pout at the corners of her lips, I knew she waiting for me to give in.
But this time, I wouldn’t.
Maybe she saw that, too. “Of course. That’s very considerate of you.”
I nodded, signaling my driver to make arrangements.
As we waited, Jade poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to me before sitting down beside me.
Do you remember?” she said, twirling the amber liquid. “How we u parties?
I frowned. “How do you remember that?”
was
to sneak drinks like this in highschool
Jade’s smile faded for a split second before she got it back and laughed. “Oh… one of our old friends told me. I must’ve heard it somewhere.”
Something felt off.
“I heard a lot of things,” she continued, setting her drink down on her lap. “Like how everyone thought we were going to end up together.”
I tensed.
“Why’d we drift apart, Mason? Because of Florence?”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “No. It wasn’t Flo. You just… died, remember? You disappeared and it changed everything. She was the only real friend I had left.
She tilted her head, as if trying to read me. “Is that so? No other reason?”
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring. The one Florence had found. The one that had nearly shattered my marriage. I was going to throw that ring into the river after the charity gala that night. So many plans …all of them ruined now.
I watched Jade gaze at the silver ring in my hand, her eyes widening.
2/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter 9
“I think this should go back to its owner,” I said, holding it out to her.
She hesitated. “Mason, I…”
“And… thanks for the birthday cake and the card you made for my 18th,” I added, almost as an afterthought. “It actually helped me decide to start my own business.”
She looked confused.
“What… card?” she asked.
“The one you gave me on my birthday,” I clarified. “With the cake you made. You wrote about how much you believed in me… how I should start my own business instead of following my family.”
Jade’s perfect facade cracked slightly. She looked down at her lap and laughed nervously, then fiddled with her glass. “I mean… I don’t remember much from before the accident, so you’ll have to understand if I have no idea what you’re talking about! But I’m glad I inspired you to start Eternity!”
No… this wasn’t a memory lapse. It didn’t sound like she just forgot.
What was she hiding?
I held out the ring again, testing her. “You should keep this”
“I don’t need it anymore.”
“It belongs to you, whether you need it or not.”
“Well, I must have given it to you for a reason. Even if we can’t be friends like we used to, at least a piece of me can exist with you at all times.”
I frowned. The last thing I needed was a piece of her with me. Florence wouldn’t be open to making work if I was holding on to Jade’s knick–knacks like a lovesick high school boy.
“Jade-
“Florence is so lucky,” she murmured. “I envy her.”
our marriage
Her words caught me off guard. This was dangerous territory, and I could feel a certain kind of electricity in the air.
“I’m going to leave… Candace, my secretary, will text you the hotel details.”
“Oh Mason, don’t be so serious! Just stay until she gets here. Until I know I’m safe and not alone.”
I glanced around the wreckage of her apartment. As uncomfortable as I was, it wouldn’t be right to leave my friend here. What if the robbers came back? What if they hurt her this time? I would never be able to forgive myself.
I sighed. “Yeah. I’ll stay.”
Jade smiled softly, sipping her whiskey. “Just like old times,” she said with an undertone of amusement.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
