Ch. 221..230

Chapter 221

Chapter

221

I had to keep my cool as Tanya walked up to me, getting closer with every step.

"Keira," she said again when she finally stopped in front of me, tears already pooling in her eyes.

I squinted a little but didn't say anything, waiting for her to get to the point. No way I was interrupting her whole emotional meltdown.

"Can you just stay away from Jace?" she finally asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You guys are done. He's with me now, so you need to back off. I don't want you messing with his head." Her voice wobbled as she tried not to cry. Wow, seriously?

I laughed. So, she thought it was my fault Jace came down on her at work?

"So, what? You can't afford the damages and want me to help cover it?" I taunted.

Janya's face went pale. She'd opened up about her money problems before, thinking I was making fun of

her for being broke. But I wasn't laughing at her situation-I was laughing at her nerves.

"I couldn't afford it before, but things are different now, she shot back, clearly not one to back down.

The only

y reason she was acting tough now was because she had Jace's support. She thought she could use that against me, but I wasn't about to roll over.

"Oh, right! Silly me, I almost forgot-you're not just Desmond's widow anymore. Even his family didn't want to acknowledge you," I said with a fake 'aha' moment.

She froze at the mention of Desmond's name, and tears started to spill over. "Keira, you don't have to bring Desmond into this. I'm asking you to stay away from Jace-not just for me, but for your own good too."

I gave her a small, sarcastic smile. "Oh, really? I'd love to hear how staying away from him is supposed to help me."

Tanya wiped at the corners of her eyes. "Jace resents you right now. He thinks you moved on too fast and doubts you ever really loved him, even after ten years.

I raised an eyebrow. "Did Jace actually say that?"

"No," she admitted, pressing her lips together, "he's too proud to say it, but I can tell,"

"Oh, so he's one of those guys who can't handle it when things don't go his way. I don't want him, but he's the one losing sleep over it?" I shot back without holding back. "Keira, how can you talk about him like that?" Tanya bristled, ready to defend him.

"If not like this, then how? Should I pretend he's a saint who suddenly regrets his choices now that he's stuck with you?" My words hit her hard, and she bit down on her lip.

She went quiet.

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"Tanya, don't even try playing mind games with me," I warned. "I'm not falling for it. You don't have to test me-I'm over Jace. You took him off my hands, so you actually did me a favor. I should be thanking you." Her lips trembled, but she couldn't find the words.

I glanced at her slightly swollen belly, deciding to leave it at that, and turned to walk away.

But then she called out, "Since you don't want him anymore, could you at least talk to his parents? Ask them not to blame him."

I didn't even look back. "Why should I speak up for him?"

She stayed silent, and I left the amusement park without another word, heading straight to Luxe Emporium.

As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I spotted a familiar face. He noticed me too and waved like we were best friends. "Keira, what a coincidence!"

"Mr. Shane," I greeted him casually.

Ron walked over. "Had enough of your little vacation, huh? You better be back at work tomorrow, or I might have to find someone else."

"Wow, such a threat," I said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be there." Just then, I noticed Steve heading

toward us.

He spotted me too. "Keira."

I gave him a small wave and turned back to Ron. "Mr. Shane, I'm here with my friend. I'll see you tomorrow."

"A friend? Or a boyfriend? Come on, introduce him!" Ron teased, clearly crossing some lines. We'd only been colleagues for a few days, and he was already acting way too familiar.

I was about to say no, but Steve stepped in smoothly. "Yeah, I'm her boyfriend, so you can stop trying your luck, sir."

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Steve's words totally threw me off-it even kinda shocked me. He always treated me like a little sister, goofing around and stuff, but never crossing the line. Today, though, he pushed it a bit too far.

Ron, just as stunned, turned to me, his gaze a little too Intense.

Ignoring him, Steve stepped right in front of me. "Let's go inside."

I shot Ron a quick glance before following Steve. As we were leaving, I noticed Ron looked like he wanted to say something or maybe even stop me.

"Did you say that just to scare away my admirers?" I asked, piecing it together after a moment.

"Yep. That dude's all over the place-not a good vibe," Steve said, his take on Ron making me crack up.

He glanced at me sideways. "I'm serious. I've got a pretty good radar for this stuff. Stay away from him." "Okay," I said, still smiling.

"No, like, for real. Don't brush it off."

I nodded, more serious this time. "I get it. I wasn't joking. Guys like him aren't my type."

"Oh, really? So, what is your type?" Steve asked, not beating around the bush.

Hayden's face popped into my head. "Someone who's tough on the outside, but warm inside... and, um..."

I pictured Hayden in the kitchen, wearing an apron. "Someone who can cook."

I'd been with Jace for years, and the guy couldn't even make cereal. He was the spoiled rich kid who'd never touched a stove. It was understandable, but still, it showed he didn't really care. If he did, he'd have at least tried for me. "Huh," Steve chuckled. "Your standards are pretty down-to-earth."

I glanced down at the floor, watching our shadows stretch out under the lights. They kinda have to be. Life's all about the little things, right?"

"Yeah, fair enough," he said with a half-smile.

We reached the elevator, and he hit the button. When the doors slid open, we stepped inside. The mirrored walls reflected both our faces, and I caught the way he was looking at me. "So, have you found someone like that?" I hesitated for a second. "Yeah, I think so."

Steve pressed his lips together, like he was holding back. I half-expected him to ask who it was or maybe suggest we meet up sometime, but he just gave me a small, knowing smile and stayed quiet.

I had a feeling he already knew.

"So Steve, did you find out who owns the company I'm working for? What's his last name? His full name? Do you have a picture? I fired off all my questions before we even stepped out of the elevator. Steve, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, raised an eyebrow. "You're really eager to know, huh?"

Chapter

"Yeah, he's kinda mysterious. Makes me curious." I grinned. "You know me, Steve. I hate not knowing things."

"That's not always a great habit," Steve pointed out.

a dark

I shrugged. "I just don't like being left in the

He shook his head. "Have you ever heard the saying. It's a rare gift to know when to play dumb'?"

That was pretty much the core of our differences. Everyone has their own way of looking at things, and I wasn't about to change his mind. So, I steered us back on track. "Anyway, what did you find out?" The elevator chimed softly, signaling we'd arrived.

Steve was about to step out, but I reached out to stop him. He chuckled. "Look at you, all worked up. I'll tell you everything, but let's go inside first. Don't want to keep people waiting."

I raised an eyebrow, instantly on guard. "Who else is here?"

"Someone you probably haven't met yet. I'll introduce you. Could be a good connection for you down the line," he said, patting my head. 'Relax, I'd never do anything to put you in a bad spot." trusted him, so I followed him into a private room.

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As the door swung open, a loud, booming laugh echoed through the room, and I spotted the guy sitting at the head of the table.

Wait a second... he looked familiar.

Steve jumped in with the intros. "This is Cole, my cue sports buddy and good friend,"

I stared at the guy, and it clicked-Cole Drago. Thorsten's son, and now the head honcho of VastReach Group.

I'd looked him up before. Turns out he was into snooker and even won some amateur snooker championship.

Back then, I never would've guessed he and Steve were connected, let alone that they'd be this close. "And this must be your friend?" Cole said with a grin.

His tone was friendly, but something about it sent a chill down my spine. His record might look squeaky clean, but his dad? Not so much. There was no way he would be as perfect as he seemed. Guess it's true what they say-you can't judge a book by its cover.

"Keira, just call him Cole from now on. If you ever need anything or run into trouble, go to him," Steve said, pulling out a chair for me.

Just as he was about to sit down, Cole cut in "Steve, why don't you sit here and let her sit between us? I'd like to get to know her better."

My heart skipped a beat. I'm usually cautious around strangers, especially someone like Cole.

I glanced at Steve, hoping for backup, but he didn't even look up. He just set my place, arranging the

cutlery and plate like it was no big deal. "No need. You can still talk comfortably."

Relief washed over me. Thank God for Steve. He didn't throw me under the bus.

Cole chuckled. "I've never seen you so protective of a girl before."

Steve finished setting the cutlery, making sure everything was perfectly aligned. 'She's like my little sister. How could any other girl compare?" That was a clear warning to Cole-I wasn't someone he could mess with.

Honestly, I was touched.

Steve had made his point, and Cole seemed to get the hint. He laughed softly and looked over at me." You're lucky to have Steve looking out for you." Before I could respond, the two of them dived into a conversation about the recent tournament.

They went on about the match for a while before Cole turned back to me with a polite smile. "We've been hogging the conversation. You're not bored, are you?" He turned to me with a polite smile. "You're not bored, are you?"

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"She's not bored. She knows as much as we do, and her skills are top-notch, even compared to the guys," Steve said, giving me a nod of approval. Cole looked genuinely surprised. "Seriously? In that case, how about we head over to Steve's place after dinner and play a few rounds?"

Steve jumped in right away. "Sounds good. You two can play. Out of five rounds, if she wins even one, it counts as your loss." "Deal!" Cole agreed without a second thought.

They didn't bother asking if I wanted to play, but I didn't object. Going up against Cole could be my chance to get closer to Thorsten. After dinner, I followed them to Steve's place, the pool hall with all the cue games.

Steve stood beside me and said, "Just play like you do when it's us. No pressure."

I nodded and grabbed a cue, walking over to the table. I glanced at Cole. "So, if I win just one game, it counts as my victory, right?" "Absolutely," Cole agreed.

I raised an eyebrow. "And what's the reward if I win?"

Cole laughed and looked over at Steve. "She wants a reward, huh?"

Steve shrugged. "You've got deep pockets. You can handle it."

"Alright," Cole said, still smiling. He turned back to me. "Name your prize. As long as it's something within my power, it's yours."

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I want you to promise me something. Don't worry, it's nothing illegal or shady. Just a favor."

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Cole's eyes narrowed, but he kept that amused smile on his face, like he was considering something.

I didn't really care what he was thinking and went straight for it. "If it's too much hassle, just forget it."

He let out a dry laugh. "Too much trouble? Please. You could ask for anything, and I'd be in." That felt a little over the line.

But before I could say anything, Steve cleared his throat, a not-so-subtle hint.

Cole just grinned, mischief in his eyes. "Alright, alright. Ladies first."

I wasn't in the mood to mess around. If he was gonna let me go first, I'd make it count.

X+I lined up my shot, took it, and cleared the table in one go. Not bad.

Cole didn't seem the least bit upset about losing. He just clapped with a grin. "No surprise, being Steve's friend. You're impressive."

"I'll concede this one, but you gotta give me a shot to show off, right?" He waved over the attendant to reset the balls.

Then it was his turn, He took it in stride, clearing the table even faster than I did. It made sense-he wasn't just bragging about that championship.

I clapped back, not holding anything back. "Okay, you're definitely better."

"According to our deal, you still win. So, tell me, what do you want me to do? Cole squinted at me.

I took a breath. "I want to meet your dad, Thorsten Drago."

His eyes darkened for a split second. I knew he'd wonder why, so I got straight to the point. "I need him to authenticate something."

Cole's tense expression eased up a little. "Oh? Some kind of treasure?"

"No," I said, keeping it vague.

Cole was smart enough not to push for more. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, I can take you to him. But..."

He glanced at Steve, then back at me. "He's not in the best shape right now. Doesn't really do visitors." That was his way of warning me that even if he took me, I might not get to see his dad. I caught on quickly-he was trying to set a trap.

But I wasn't about to fall for it.

So, I put on a disappointed look and said, "In that case forget it."

I wasn't worried about wasting tonight's effort. I knew I'd already piqued his interest. Now, he'd be dying to know what I wanted to show his dad.

Cole's eyes narrowed; he was surprised by my response

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He stared at me for a few seconds, then let out a dry laugh. "You're not as simple as you seem, huh?"

He had caught on to my play of stepping back to gain ground.

But I wasn't going to admit it. "I just don't like putting people in tough spots."

"Well, I do enjoy helping out," he said, agreeing to my request.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief as he signaled to the attendant resetting the balls, then turned back to me. How about we play a few more rounds, but for real this time?" My perfect break shot had definitely sparked his competitive side.

I couldn't shut him down now. In fact, I needed to lean into it.

So, I nodded and played along.

Out of five games, I only won one, letting him savor his victories.

"If you're holding back, that's kind of insulting." he said as we finished up, giving me a knowing look.

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"No, you're just way better than me. You can tell I'm just an amateur," I said, trying to play it humble.

"Even amateurs need good coaches. But your style's different from Steve's. Who taught you?" Cole asked, genuinely curious.

I'd learned by watching Jace. He never actually coached me; I just picked it up from observing him. When I got bored, I started playing by myself. My technique ended up looking like his, and once he noticed I could hold my own, he'd ask me to join him for a game now and then.

"Cole, since when did you start digging for dirt like a tabloid reporter?" a familiar voice cut in.

I didn't bother turning around. I knew that voice way too well.

Jace had just walked in.

This night was about to get a lot more interesting.

He walked up and stood beside me, saying nothing, but making everything obvious to Cole.

"Oh, no wonder her style looked familiar," Cole said, his eyes flicking between Jace and me. "So she's He trailed off, like he was putting the pieces together. Then, like a light bulb went off in his head, he smirked. "Wait, isn't she your 'child bride'?"

I hadn't heard that phrase in ages.

Back when I first moved into the Johnston residence, some nosy classmates found out I was supposed to marry Jace someday and started calling me his child bride. The kid who started that rumor transferred schools not long after, and the nickname faded away.

"If you keep your mouth shut, no one's gonna mistake you for a mute. Didn't you want to play? I'll take you on," Jace said, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it to me. He did it so casually, just like old times.

He moved so quickly I didn't even have a chance to refuse. But I wasn't about to stand around holding his jacket all night like I used to.

I walked over to Steve, draped Jace's jacket on a chair, and motioned for him to step outside so we could

talk.

As soon as we stepped outside, Steve asked, "Why do you want to see Cole's dad? You should steer clear of people like them."

I swallowed hard. "I don't want to, but I have to."

Steve looked like he had more to say, but I cut him off, "You still haven't told me-what did you find out?" His expression darkened, and he finally got to the point. "I looked into it. The owner of OceanixCorp is Ron Shane. As for the supposed 'big boss,' there's no such person. But based on what you told me, I dug deeper.

"Three years ago, when the

company started, a huge sum of money was transferred into Ron's account.

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He said it was from a friend with the last name Hart.

"Whether this Hart guy is the big boss or not, I couldn't confirm.

My mind raced. 'Hart?"

Because of Hayden Hart, I was extra sensitive to that name..

"Keira," Steve called, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You've been acting weird lately. Are you up to something?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not doing anything, just curious about a few things."

Steve could tell I wasn't going to spill more and gave me a faint smile. "If you need anything, you know where to find me. And also..."

He glanced back toward the snooker room. "Cole's a loose cannon, but he knows better than to cross the line when I'm around. If he tries anything, just call me."

"Okay," I nodded. Just then, a loud crash echoed from inside as the balls scattered across the table.

Steve frowned, probably worried about his precious snooker table.

got the message. "Steve, I'll head out now."

"Be careful on your way home. Shoot me a text when you get there," he said.

I nodded, but as I turned to leave, he asked, "Where are you staying now that you've left the Johnston place? If you're renting, don't. I've got plenty of properties. You need a place, just ask. You'll feel safer in one of mine." "I'm good," I said, then headed out.

On the way back, I couldn't get Steve's words out of my head-about that mysterious investor named Hart. As crazy as it sounded, I couldn't shake the feeling that it might be Hayden.

So when I bumped into him in the stairwell of our apartment building, I decided to go for it. "Hey, boss?" I called out, watching his face for any reaction.

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"Huh?" Hayden looked at me, eyebrows scrunched up.

I stepped closer, close enough to catch the clean, soapy scent clinging to him, like he'd just showered.

It smelled really good.

It smelled really good.

It took me back to when my parents were still around, and we used bar soap for everything-washing hands, taking baths. Now it's all about the fancy body wash. You hardly ever smell real bar soap anymore. "Are you hiding something from me?" I asked. He frowned and looked me up and down. "You good? How much did you drink?"

I'd only had one drink-not enough to even get tipsy-but apparently, he noticed.

I laughed and grabbed his shirt collar, giving it a playful tug. "Come on, Hayden Hart, don't play dumb. I mean, are you hiding your real identity? Secretly loaded? Maybe even the real boss behind OceanixCorp?"

His jaw tightened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He stepped back, like he needed some space.

"Oh, you really don't know, or are you just faking it? Messing with me?" I pushed, stepping closer again, not letting him off the hook.

Hayden didn't say anything, just kept his eyes locked on mine, and I stared right back.

We stood like that, caught in some silent standoff under the dim stairwell light.

Images of Yuna's courtyard flashed through my mind, then her illness, and finally, the way Hayden looked the first time we met. I was the one who broke the stare, letting out a dry laugh. "You're too broke to be that guy, anyway."

I let go of his shirt and turned to head back to my room, but he grabbed my arm. "Did you drive home?" I smiled. "Nah, I got a driver."

1 stuck my tongue out at him playfully. "I'm careful, you know. Don't wanna put anyone else in danger." The cold look in his eyes softened a bit. He reached out and patted my head gently. "Good girl."

It felt like he was comforting a little kid. I blinked. "I'm kinda jealous of Yuna."

"Hmm?"

I forced a smile. "She must've been so spoiled by you growing up."

Hayden's gaze deepened, and then he grabbed my wrist and started pulling me toward his room. "I'm making you some honey chamomile tea."

1 wanted to say no, but his hand was so warm, and I just couldn't resist. So I let him lead me inside.

Ugh, I'm such a sucker for this.

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A few minutes later, he handed me a cup of tea, and I noticed it was in a cartoon mug shaped like a cat's head.

It was definitely a girl's cup. But Yuna isn't here...

"Whose cup is this? I don't like using other people's stuff," I said, testing him.

"It's yours. I bought it just for you." His words made my heart skip a beat, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

I took a sip. The tea was sweet.

It felt like being spoiled.

"Don't drink liquor alone anymore. It's not safe," Hayden said.

"I was with Steve. I told you before, with him around, I'm fine," I replied, keeping it real.

His eyes darkened, but he didn't say anything.

I took another sip of tea, then heard him ask, "Do you trust him that much?"

"Yeah. He's always been good to me. He treats me like a little sister." I fiddled with the cup handle, trying to shake off the tension.

Hayden stayed quiet, and I thought back to dinner. "Guess who I ate with tonight?"

"Not just Steve?" His tone was weird, but I didn't think much of it.

"Cole Drago, Thorsten Drago's son," I said casually.

Hayden's face instantly clouded over. "What are you trying to do?"

I pressed my lips together, debating whether to tell him Cole had offered to introduce me to Thorsten. But Hayden's sharp look stopped me. "Keira, I know what you're trying to find out, but stay out of this. I'll take care of it."

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I thought about that contract. "Your dad's death must've been tied to mine. I'm the only one who can get to the bottom of this."

Hayden looked at me. "Did you find something out?"

"What about you?" I asked. "Why are you after Thorsten Drago? Why do you suspect him?"

He stood up and walked to the window, his tall frame radiating this strength, like he could hold up the sky if it came crashing down.

Watching him like that, I set down my cup and followed. "Hayden, I get that you know something too. And I know

you don't want me involved, but this is about my parents. I can't just sit back and do nothing."

I glanced at the moonlight streaming through the window. "I'm not some clueless kid. I can handle myself. And besides, you're here with me, aren't you?"

Hayden turned to look at me, and after a beat, he said, "You're just as stubborn as you were when we were kids."

I laughed and faced him. "So, you've known who I was this whole time? You got close to me just to dig into your dad's death, right?"

He frowned, his eyebrows pulling together. "Is that really what you think?"

"Yeah."

He rolled his eyes, giving me a lopsided grin. "Is my flirting game that bad?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?"

"Ugh, heartless," he muttered, shaking his head as he backed away from the window. "Just finish your tea and go to bed, okay?"

"What about you? What are you gonna do?" I blurted out, my mouth moving faster than my brain.

Hayden didn't even look back as he walked to the bedroom, Just before the door shut, he called over his shoulder, "Read."

I watched the door click shut, then shook my head, grinning as I finished the tea. I glanced at the cartoon mug-it was my favorite-and gave it a quick kiss before heading to my place.

I stretched out on the couch and shot Steve a quick text to let him know I was home safe. Then, I decided to video-call Lena.

I didn't think she'd actually pick up-she usually doesn't-but this time, she did.

"Why didn't you go to work today?" I asked, noticing she was at home.

"Day off!"

I squinted at the screen. "Wait, did you put on makeup? Did you go out? Was it a date?" Something felt off.

She moved the camera away. "Nope, you're imagining things."

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"Oh, come on. Don't hide it. Spill the tea," I pushed. I knew her too well for her to get away with this.

When she finally brought the camera back, she'd already wiped off her lipstick.

"There's nothing to tell," she said, trying to sound casual. "I just met up with him for Yuna."

I was su

surprised. "Wait, you saw him? I thought you weren't meeting until next week."

"He came back early, and our professor set it up," Lena said, trying to sound all casual.

But I wasn't letting this go. "So, how'd it go?"

"What do you mean, how did it go?" she said, dodging.

"Your senior! Is he still single?" I asked.

Lena rolled her eyes. "Seriously? Shouldn't you be more interested in what he said about your future sister-in-law?"

"Of course I care! But I'm more worried about you. I'm not gonna ditch my friends for some guy," I said, giving her a playful wink.

Lena scoffed. "Yeah, sure. You're just being nosy."

"Okay, fine, I am! Now spill!" I was eager to know.

I wanted to know about Yuna's condition, but I was also dying to know if there was any chemistry between Lena and her senior. o you really.

to know?" Lena teased.

"Yes, like, desperately!" I said, putting on my best pleading face.

Lena bit her lip. "Yuna's surgery should be fine. They did a similar one last year, and it went really well."

My heart practically did a cartwheel. "That's awesome!

"So, is he still single?" I asked, not missing a beat.

Just as I finished my question, a friend request notification popped up on my phone. The sender?

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He sent me a friend request, and at this hour?

My gut told me something was up.

Even though Steve swore Cole wouldn't try anything out of line, I still felt like I needed to be cautious.

Accepting a guy's friend request this late at night just felt too casual-and kinda reckless.

I ignored the notification and focused back on Lena. Then I heard her say, "He did that successful surgery with the girl who's a perfect match for him."

I could hear the sadness in her voice, and it made my chest tighten.

Having been through heartbreak myself, I knew how crucial it was to feel like you're on the same level in a relationship.

Lena was crazy talented, but her senior was a big deal on an international scale. There was a gap between them-a huge one. The whole worlds apart thing? Yeah, there was a reason people say that.

I didn't push the topic and switched to something lighter, chatting with Lena for a while longer before we hung up. Afterward, I stared at Cole's friend request, unease twisting in my gut.

I could sense the danger he brought.

But if I wanted to find out the truth about my parents' death, I'd have to take this risk.

Just as I was about to put my phone down, another message popped up. It was from Jace.

[Stay away from Cole Drago!]

Same tone as Hayden's.

I knew he was trying to protect me, but his warnings had lost their impact by now.

I ignored the message, turned off my phone, and crawled into bed.

I had to admit, that one drink I had near the apartment building was way stronger than I thought. Even Hayden's honey chamomile tea couldn't fix it. I was so wiped out, I didn't even bother with a shower before passing out.

The next morning, I woke up early, did some yoga to shake off the grogginess, and made myself a strong cup of coffee. Then, finally, I accepted Cole's friend request.

I figured he'd still be asleep at this hour, so I didn't have to worry about him messaging me right away. When I got to the office, Ron was already there, giving me a weird look. But he didn't say anything.

I'd been out for a few days, so there was a mountain of work waiting for me. I kept my head down and powered through until noon, finally catching up.

I stood up, stretched, and was about to head to the cafeteria when Ron came over and knocked on my door. "Ms. Kay, care to join me for lunch?"

The uneasy look in his eyes made it clear he had something on his mind.

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I gave him a light smile. "Sure, why not?"

In the cafeteria, we both grabbed our standard work meals. Ron glanced at my plate and raised an eyebrow. "Why so little? Are you on a diet or something? You're in great shape already. Don't lose any more weight-you don't look good when you're too skinny." Even though Ron was technically my superior, he always seemed to tread carefully around me, like he was worried about saying the wrong thing. He might come off as intimidating to others, but with me, there was always this undercurrent of caution.

I looked down at my plate and thought about Hayden's cooking. I decided to be straightforward. "I'm not on a diet. I've just gotten kinda picky about food lately.

"Huh?" Ron seemed taken aback, then quickly nodded like something clicked. "Oh, right, right."

He probably assumed that growing up with the Johnston family meant I was used to fancy meals. But what he didn't know was that it wasn't the Johnston family who spoiled me-it was Hayden. Thinking about how Hayden promised to cook something amazing tonight, I actually started getting excited for dinner. The food in front of me suddenly looked even more unappealing.

"How about I take you out for something better?" Ron suggested, way too... enthusiastically.

Thanks, but I'm good," I said quickly, forcing myself to take a bite.

"So, uh, Ms. Kay," he started, clearly hesitant, "was that guy yesterday really your boyfriend?"

Ah, now it made sense why he'd been acting all weird around me today.

Steve's assessment of him echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smirk a little. "What do you think?" "He seemed... alright," Ron said, struggling to find the right words. "But he doesn't really give off that' reliable' vibe, you know?"

I took a sip of my mushroom soup, raising an eyebrow that said, "Keep going."

"A girl like you deserves someone more, uh, manly," he went on.

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Ron's words instantly made me think of Hayden, and what Steve had mentioned yesterday about a friend with the last name 'Hart' who had invested a ton of money in OceanixCorp.

I turned to Ron. "When you say 'manly," what exactly do you mean? Or do you have a friend like that?"

Ron cleared his throat. "It's hard to explain... I mean, someone with a strong presence, stands tall, like..." He trailed off, pointing at the cafeteria's TV screen.

The news was showing a flag-raising ceremony, soldiers standing tall and straight, radiating discipline and strength. It reminded me of Hayden again, and I had a feeling Ron was hinting at something.

The last name Hart?

Manly?

A soldier?

It couldn't be, could it?

I watched Ron's face, but he was focused on the screen, deep in thought. I decided to throw him off a fittle. "Is your friend's name Hayden?"

"Huh?" Ron blinked, looking at me in surprise. "What did you just say?"

I couldn't tell if he actually didn't hear me or if he was just playing dumb.

"You have a friend named Hayden?" I repeated, trying to keep it light.

"Hayden?" Ron echoed, shaking his head a little too quickly. "Uh, no. Who's that?"

He gave me a smile, but there was definitely some unease in his eyes.

I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You know, the 'manly' guy you were talking about."

"Heh," he laughed awkwardly. "Really? You know someone like that? So, what's your deal with this 'manly' friend? Are you two close or something?"

The curiosity was all over his face. "Wow, you're really into this, huh?" I teased. "I'll have to introduce you two sometime."

"Sure, but... would that be cool?" Ron asked, pretending to be all hesitant.

"Why wouldn't it be?" I teased.

He gave me a sheepish grin. "I'm just worried about, you know, misunderstandings. Like how your buddy got all territorial yesterday and pretended to be your boyfriend." "You've got a friend with the last name 'Hart.' What's his first name?" I asked, steering the conversation and totally throwing him off.

"Uh, I mean... yeah, I do have an old buddy..." Ron stammered, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Oh, like 'old' old?" I pressed.

His expression tightened. "Not old-old, but not young, either. He's in his mid-thirties and still single."

Chapter 229

I nodded, playing along. "Think I could meet him sometime?"

"Huh?" Ron's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and mild panic on his face.

I just smiled. "You said he doesn't have a girlfriend, and I don't have a boyfriend..."

Ron's mouth twitched, and he let out a couple of awkward chuckles "Wow, I didn't expect you to be so upfront about it. Setting yourself up like that-impressive. He even gave me a thumbs up.

I grinned. "Good guys are hard

try, right? As they say, you gotta

Come by these days, so when there's a decent one, you've gotta at least fight for your happiness."

Ron had no response to that and just nodded along. "Yeah, yeah. You're really something else."

"So, does that mean you'll help me get in touch with your friend?" I pressed on.

"Uh, sure, sure," Ron agreed, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "But I'll need to check with him first. He's kinda got this girl he's been secretly into, and I think they're finally getting somewhere." "Got it," I said, acting all disappointed.

"Yeah, so... it's probably not gonna happen," Ron added, clearly trying to let me down easy.

But that just made me more curious. "As long as he's not married, I've gotta give it a shot, right? Who knows, maybe when he meets me, he'll realize I'm the one."

Ron was totally speechless.

"Come on, Mr. Shane, do me a favor," I teased with a grin. "They say helping people find love brings good karma or something. I'll be waiting for your update."

Chapter 230

I'd definitely put Ron in a tough spot.

But I was also trying to figure out who the mysterious boss was.

Even though deep down I didn't think it could be Hayden-he always seemed way too broke to be loaded- something about Ron's hints made me wonder if Hayden had more in common with this boss than I thought.

I didn't have much going on that afternoon, so after a meeting, I opened my social media app.

I checked my new friend request from Cole. Our chat was empty except for the notification saying we were now friends-no messages at all.

He'd definitely seen that I accepted, but he hadn't replied.

It was obvious he was ignoring me on purpose, his way of getting back at me for not accepting his request last night..

This guy seriously held grudges. It was clear, even over something so small, that he was the type

revenge.

I guess that's why both Hayden and Jace had warned me to stay away from him.

plot

But it was too late, we'd already crossed paths. Pretending I didn't know him wasn't an option anymore.

Even if Cole was acting all cool and distant now, he had something up his sleeve. I didn't need to do anything-just keep my cool and wait for his next move.

By five, I was on my way back home.

Around this time, most of the neighbors were either out playing with their kids or hanging out, not quite busy with dinner yet.

"Keira, you're back?"

Mrs. Lowrey, my downstairs neighbor, waved at me with a big smile. We'd gotten pretty chummy over time.

"Yeah, Mrs. Lowrey. Not cooking yet?" I asked, making small talk.

It might seem pointless, but these little chats really brought people closer.

"I just got back from grocery shopping," she said, holding up her bags. "Haven't started yet. Sigh, I'm not as lucky as you, with such a wonderful boyfriend who cooks," she added, nodding toward my place upstairs So, Hayden was home already.

I headed upstairs and knocked on Hayden's door. His voice called out from inside, "It's open."

I pushed the door open a bit, and the delicious smell of food hit me, making my stomach growl-it definitely noticed I'd skipped lunch.

The kitchen fan was going. I walked over and leaned against the doorway. "Whatever you're cooking

Chapter 230

smells amazing. Even Mrs. Lowrey downstairs is jealous."

Hayden glanced over his shoulder at me. "Go wash your hands. There's fresh watermelon juice in the fridge."

It was like he had a camera in my brain. He knew me too well.

On

my way home, I'd passed by a watermelon vendor and really wanted some. Now, here he was, telling me he'd already made juice. "Hayden, are you trying to win me over with good looks and good food?" I teased.

He didn't answer. I shrugged, went to wash my hands, and then headed to the kitchen to grab the watermelon juice from the fridge.

The kitchen in this old apartment was tiny. To get to the fridge, I had to squeeze past Hayden, who was busy chopping veggies.

"Can you move a little? I need to grab something," I said, motioning for him to scoot over.

He shifted closer to the stove, and I carefully squeezed by, opening the fridge to grab the juice. Just as I was about to step back, his phone started buzzing in his pocket.

"Can you get that for me?" Hayden asked casually.

I didn't think twice as I reached into his pocket, but the second my fingers brushed against the fabric, Hayden's whole body went rigid.

The warmth of his skin burned through the thin material, and I hesitated, my fingers faltering.

When I tried to pull back, he stiffened even more.

The weird sensation made me clumsy, and using my left hand wasn't helping-it was nowhere near as coordinated as my right. The phone, as if mocking me, stayed stuck in his pocket. The ringtone kept blaring, and with the heat from the stove, I could feel sweat starting to bead on my neck.

00000

'T'll get it," Hayden said, noticing my struggle. He wiped his hands quickly and reached down. But just as he did, I managed to grip the phone, and his hand covered mine.

In the cramped kitchen, our bodies were already practically pressed together. Now, with his hand over mine, the closeness made my whole body flush with heat.