Ch. 691..700

Chapter 691

 

I didn't answer him directly. Instead, I asked, "Jace, how did you know I almost got hit by a car?"

Hearing I wasn't hurt, he let go of my arm and leaned against the doorframe. "Of course I know," he said, letting out a bitter laugh, "because I had someone secretly protecting you."

Protecting me?

Translation: he'd been having me followed.

The realization lit a fire in me. My chest tightened with anger, and a cold laugh slipped out before I could stop it. Wow. Your people are top-tier, huh? I almost got hit by a car, and nobody swooped in to save the day." "You're right," Jace admitted. "I've already fired him." His eyes flicked back to mine. "I've also got someone looking into who hit you."

At least that saved me the trouble. "Let me know when you find out," I said bluntly.

He didn't answer, just leaned there, looking drained.

He might've been fine loitering, but I wasn't. Especially since Xander was still inside my apartment.

"Jáce, it's late. You should go home," I said, making it clear I wanted him to leave.

"I don't want to go back," he muttered, shaking his head. "Rea, ever since we broke up, I haven't been able to go home. I don't even want to."

He gave me a sad smile. "When I go back, you're not there. My parents barely talk anymore. The whole house feels dead-like all the warmth and noise disappeared the second you left." And whose fault is that?

"I never realized how good it was... a family laughing together," he continued, shaking his head. "But now, it's gone. Forever."

People always say you don't know what you've got until it's gone, but only the ones who've been through it really get how much it stings.

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"Why did it have to turn out like this? I don't want this," Jace said, his voice raw and desperate. "Rea, I wish I could turn back time. Or be reborn, even, if it meant fixing things."

I almost laughed. His words sounded straight out of some cheesy TV drama. Sure, time travel and second chances are cute in fiction, but in real life? Not a thing.

"Jace, life doesn't work like that," I said evenly. "Time doesn't rewind, and you don't get a do-over. You have to focus on living in the present."

"The present?" His gaze locked onto mine. "Without you in it, it feels like every day drags on forever."

Once, I'd convinced myself Jace never really loved me. But now? I realized maybe he had he just didn't know how to show it. And that failure? It was tearing him apart. Karma, I guess.

But even if he'd finally figured out how he felt, it didn't matter. I didn't love him anymore.

"Then endure it," I said simply. "Once you push through the pain, it won't hurt as much."

I saw it-the flash of anger in his eyes.

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Chapter 691

 

It wasn't rage directed at me. It was the kind of anger that comes from being helpless, from wanting something that's out of reach. From realizing the door you want to walk through has already closed. I knew him too well to let it escalate. Before he could spiral I said, "Go home, Jace. I'm going to bed."

I reached for the door, ready to shut it, but his hand shot out, stopping me.

"How can you be so cold? Why are you still punishing me, even when I'm like this?"

"Jace, you're overthinking it. I'm not punishing you. I just don't love you anymore. No matter what you do, that won't change."

He shook his head, his grip tightening on my arm. "Rea, no-it's not like that. You love me, you-"

Just then, a deep male voice called from my bedroom, "Honey, where did you put my underwear?"

Jace froze, his eyes wide with shock. "Rea, who-"

I didn't bother explaining. This might actually make things easier.

"Jace," I said firmly, cutting him off, "whoever's in my bedroom now, it'll never be you again." I yanked my arm free from his grip.

For a second, he just stood there, swaying. I stepped back instinctively, and then-

He coughed, hard. A second later, a bright red streak of blood spilled from his mouth.

Chapter 692

I was startled. "Jace, you..."

 

But before I could finish, he swiped the blood away with the back of his hand, turned, and walked off. My legs twitched, like they wanted to follow him, but nope, I stayed put. Maybe it was better this way. If he kept pushing himself like that, maybe he'd finally leave me alone.

Xander came, his eyes zeroing in on the bloodstain. "Who are you mad at me? I didn't mean anything-I just thought he was annoying you, so I stepped in."

I ignored him and shoved the clothes I was holding into his hands. "Just go, Xander."

He hesitated but eventually headed to change. When he came back, hits bag of dirty clothes was in one hand, and in the other? A wet wipe.

To my surprise, he crouched down by the door, wiping up the blood Jace left behind.

The second the door clicked shut behind Xander, I collapsed onto the couch.

I sat there for what felt like hours, my brain stuck in a loop of Jace coughing up blood on repeat. When I couldn't sit anymore, I flopped onto the couch and stayed there.

All night, it was the same dream-Jace, coughing, blood spilling like some kind of grim GIF that wouldn't stop. It felt like that blood didn't just hit the floor; it splattered straight onto my heart.

When I finally woke up, sunlight was slicing through the windows. I just stared out the window for a while before dragging myself to the bathroom.

That's when I saw it. Dried blood-on my face, my clothes. His blood.

I grabbed a wet wipe and started cleaning it off, slow and careful, like scrubbing him out of my life for good.

Not long after I got to the office, my phone buzzed. It was Cole.

"I heard you got hit by a car in my territory?" His tone was as blunt as ever.

Before I could track him down, Cole beat me to it. Saved me the hassle, so I didn't bother sugarcoating anything. What's the deal? You gonna explain, or what?"

"Obviously," he said, all cool and matter-of-fact. "Anyone messing with you on my turf is messing with me." He had a point. Even jerks know better than to disrespect the territory's boss. Someone coming after me here? Total power move. "Yeah, someone tried to kill me," I said bluntly. "You'd better figure out who."

Jace claimed he was investigating, but honestly, after last night, I wasn't holding my breath. Cole, though? His turf, his rules-this was in his wheelhouse.

"Give me the rundown," Cole said.

"Check the security footage," I snapped. I wasn't about to rehash the details for him.

"Got it. I'll handle the guy you took down, too," he added, like it was just another chore.

Of course, he knew. Cole always knew.

That guy was one of Wayne's men. If Cole went after him, it'd stir up drama. Not my problem, though. "Thanks

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FIS FONIUS

Chapter 692

for stepping in."

"I've said it before-trouble on my turf is trouble with me, he said, volce sharp with authority. But he didn't hang up right away, which meant he was gearing up for something else.

Sure enough: "You spent the night with Xander?"

Xander's face flashed in my head, then Jace's, pale and coughing up blood. "Yeah."

"Heh... heh..." Cole's laugh was a weird mix of amused and nocking. "Wow. Respect."

I wasn't sure what to make of that, so I just deadpanned, "What? Stuff like that is mutual consent, right?" "True. Xander's lucky to have you," Cole said, his voice dripping with amusement before he hung up.

I set my phone down, let out a dry laugh, and tried to shake off the mess of emotions swirling around me. With a deep breath, I cracked open my laptop and got to work.

Even though my body felt like trash and my mood wasn't winning any awards, focusing on work was easy enough. What did throw me off, though, was Ron's absence. He always made it a point to show up in my office, usually with some excuse to hover. But today? Crickets.

Chapter 693

On my way to the breakroom, I casually asked a few coworkers, "Mr. Shane didn't come in today?"

They exchanged looks, barely holding back laughter. It only made me more curious. "What's the deal? Something happen to him?"

"He got scratched up!" one finally blurted.

"His girlfriend probably did it," someone else chimed in.

"Who knew she had claws like that?"

"Yeah, well, he was at a nightclub. Honestly, if I were her, I'd scratch him up too."

The chatter snowballed from there, painting a pretty clear picture: Ron wasn't in because he had a visible scratch on his face and was too embarrassed to show up.

When I got back to my desk, I couldn't resist giving him a call. Not to poke fun-just, you know, check in. After all, he'd always been nice to me.

The moment he picked up, Ron didn't even give me a chance to say hi. "Don't listen to the nonsense those gossiping hens at the office are saying. None of it's true."

His denial was chef's kiss classic-the guilty dog barks first. I played dumb. "Huh? What are you even talking about? Who said anything?'

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There was a pause. "Wait, didn't you go to the office today? You didn't hear?"

I played it cool. "Been slammed with work. Haven't had time for small talk. Why? Something happen?" "Ugh, don't even get me started..." And just like that, he launched into a dramatic retelling of the exact story the office had already spilled. By the end, he dropped the ultimate punchline: "You know what I regret most? Falling for women in the first place."

That line instantly cleared the storm cloud hanging over my mood. I couldn't resist poking him. "Oh? Thinking about switching teams?"

"Maybe," Ron shot back, laughing. "But only for someone like Hayden."

The mention of Hayden hit like a small jolt, but Ron didn't mean anything by it-it was just the guy's charm setting unreal standards.

I stayed quiet, and it must've clicked for him what he'd just said. "Oh, shoot. Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Which club did you go to?" I cut him.

"DracoLux!" he said without hesitation. Then he stopped, like he'd said too much.

I guessed he'd realized something.

I smirked. "DracoLux? That's basically a networking spot for rich people. Isn't it where the Seavora crowd goes to close deals over champagne?"

"Exactly!" Ron huffed. "But nope, she still flipped out. Maybe because I came home late? I don't know. You women -always overthinking. Something totally innocent gets turned into a full-blown scandal."

Oof. He really just offended every woman on the planet with that one.

"Has she calmed down after... you know, scratching you?" I asked, trying to keep the laugh out of my voice.

"wall"frequttered, costing tomentt. "is sold on erin bad mad?ch, do gon's Laughing at me now, fon?"

That was it Doet it, laughing so hund my sides whed from round Wap it up, and I'm dorking half your berus the mouth"

Considering he'd been carrying the wildoad all month, I sn't planning to argue even if he didn't give me a

bonus.

As I laughed uncontrollably, a soft knock on my office doof cut through my giggles. Twisting in my chair, I turned toward the sound to find Wayne standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.

Ron, completely oblivious to the situation on my end, kept talking. "Stop laughing. Seriously, let's switch topics, think I saw someone you know at the club last night. Not totally sure, but they looked familiar. I'm positive I've seen them before." "Was it a man?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral while sneaking a glance at Wayne, who was still waiting patiently by the door.

"No, a woman. She kind of had this cheerful vibe. I think she used to work at your company," Ron said.

Demi. His description screamed Demi. But that didn't add up-she was supposed to be in Lindale, lying low. She wouldn't dare come back to Seavora, let alone show up at DracoLux.

I wanted to ask if he was sure, but with Wayne standing there, I swallowed the question.

Chapter 694

"Do you remember who it was?" Ron pressed again.

"I think you need to focus on healing and getting back to work," I said lightly, dodging. "Your daily check-ins are the highlight of my day." Then I hung up with a laugh.

Wayne stepped inside as I set my phone down, placing the bouquet on my desk. He studied me for a moment. "It's been a long time since I've seen you smile like that."

"It was our boss," I said, using Ron as my cover story. "He got scratched up by his girlfriend and was complaining to me about it."

"Let me guess-he went to a club," Wayne said, casually. saw him there."

My pulse stuttered. He saw Ron? And Ron mentioned seeing someone who looked like Derni. If Ron wasn't mistaken, then... did Wayne see Demi too?

And if she really was in Seavora, what about the person she was so terrified of?

I'd always had my suspicions. That person might just be Wayne.

"Is that so? Seems like all you men have a thing for places like that," I teased, watching for a reaction.

Wayne's expression stayed calm, almost amused. "I was there for business."

"Sure. Mr. Shane said the same thing, but his girlfriend wasn't buying it. Made a whole scene," I said, lifting the bouquet he'd brought and taking a sniff. The sweetness was cloying, almost too much. Wayne's tone shifted. "I heard you had some trouble at DracoLux. Why didn't you call me?"

A chill crept up my spine.

The nerve of him-to sit here acting worried when I knew he was the one pulling the strings. If Xander hadn't shared that recording, I might've fallen for it. Wayne's earnest expression was unsettlingly convincing.

But fine. Two could play at this. It wasn't the right moment to call him out, so I decided to keep up the charade." It's fine. I handled it myself, so I didn't want to bother you.

I gave him a faint smile. "Smashed the guy's head. Blood everywhere."

Wayne's brows furrowed. "Next time, call me. Don't take risks like that. People like that are dangerous. What if you'd gotten hurt?"

"If I had gotten hurt, you'd make him pay with half his life, wouldn't you?" I asked, my smile sharp.

"By then, even his life wouldn't be enough," Wayne said, his voice softening as his gaze rested on me. "Rea, nothing is more important than your safety."

The fake concern in his words, the way he could feign such depth after orchestrating the whole thing-it made my stomach churn.

The nausea hit so fast I barely had time to think. I clamped a hand over my mouth and bolted for the restroom.

Behind me, I heard the scrape of Wayne's chair as he got up, but then he stopped.

In the restroom, I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror as I tried to steady my breathing. For the

first time, it hit me-truly hating someone could actually make you sick.

But if I wanted to uncover Wayne's ties to the Drago family's dirty dealings, I had to suck it up. No matter how sick Chapter 494

 

It made me feel, I couldn't let it show.

Ron's words replayed in my head-he'd said he saw someone who looked like Demi at DracoLux. Was he wrong? Or had Demi really come back?

I pulled out my phone, thinking about calling her, but Wayne's voice outside the restroom stopped me cold. "Rea, are you okay?"

Of course, he'd followed me. With a sigh, I tucked my phone away, turned on the faucet, and let the water run for a moment before stepping out.

Wayne's eyes immediately searched mine as he reached out a hand to steady me. "If you're feeling unwell, you should see a doctor.'

I shook my head. "It's nothing. Probably just a chill from crashing on the couch last night."

"Even so, don't brush it off," he pressed. "You should still get checked out.".

I looked up at him and smirked. "What, are you thinking I'm pregna

Hayden had once freaked out over the same thing.

Men. Always jumping to conclusions.

Wayne's expression faltered, but he recovered quickly. "Rea, I'm just worried about you."

Chapter 695

"I'm fine, just a random wave of nausea," I muttered, watching Wayne carefully.

He looked genuinely concerned, but even that annoyed me. Funny how not loving someone can make their kindness feel like a trap-or worse, a crime.

"Good. Go drink some water," he said, still sounding too caring for my liking.

I headed back to my office, but before I got there, someone stepped out of the elevator-a familiar figure.

""Mr. Hart!"

""You're back?"

"Everyone missed you!"

The staff lit up like Christmas lights, but, of course, they were mistaking Xander for Hayden. Typical. Xander didn't correct them, just smiled politely and walked straight toward me. Wayne's mood? Instantly icy.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Xander, keeping it curt

He wasn't Hayden, and letting people think he was would only stir up drama I didn't have the energy to handle.

He held up a food container. "Brought you lunch."

My stomach growled, like perfect timing, dude. I hadn't eaten since last night, and my body wasn't about to let me pretend otherwise.

"Wow, thoughtful of you," I said, taking the container. Then I glanced at Wayne, throwing in a little shade for good measure. "Wayne, you haven't tried his cooking yet, right? It's pretty good. Almost as good as Hayden's. Almost." Yeah, I said it on purpose.

Part of it was to protect Xander. After last night, I was sure Wayne had sent someone after him-a test, for both of us. Wayne wasn't exactly known for letting things go.

"Is that so?" Wayne's tone was calm, though his gaze was distant. "So now cooking is the way to win someone over?"

Classic Wayne-drenched in that smug, alpha energy. I was willing to bet he'd never even boiled water. Not back at the Johnston house, and definitely not now.

Some things don't change. Wayne might act easygoing, but deep down, he was all control..

"This isn't about 'winning someone over. Haven't you heard? If a guy's really into you, he'll roll up his sleeves and make you food," I said, lifting the container closer for a sniff. "Smells legit."

Xander didn't miss a beat. "You didn't eat much last night, so I made saucy braised meatballs with a cucumber salad. Try it, let me know what you think."

Wayne's expression darkened like a thundercloud.

"Meatballs?" I echoed, glancing at Xander.

He gave a small nod. "Not your thing?"

Chapter 695

 

They were, actually. As a kid, I was obsessed with saucy braised meatballs-especially the way my dad made them. But since my parents died, I'd avoided them. They never tasted the same without him.

"She doesn't eat braised meatballs," Wayne cut in, his tone flat.

That was just like him-assuming my years of avoidance meant dislike.

Xander didn't flinch. Cool as ever, he met my gaze. "Not eating something for a while doesn't mean you won't now. You should at least try it."

The air between them was thick. Wayne's temper was a loaded gun, and I could feel him bristling at Xander-not just for the subtle jabs, but for the fact that he looked like Hayden. That alone was enough to provoke Wayne into something dangerous. "Fine. I'll try it later," I said, keeping my voice breezy as I dismissed Xander with a wave. "You can go now."

Xander didn't even seem awkward about it. He just nodded, then threw in, "Cool. Let me know if you're home for dinner-I'll start cooking early."

Chapter

696

Xander got some serious guts. He knew Wayne had been after me, yet he still stepped up like it was nothing. Bold move, honestly-I didn't see that coming from him.

But with Demi possibly hanging around DracoLux, I had to prioritize that. "Sorry, I've

told him.

Sot other plans tonight," I

Xander? Totally unbothered. "Alright. If you need anything just let me know." Then he left without a fuss.

At the elevator, someone called him "Mr. Hart" again. He just nodded, cool as ever

gave me a polite nod and

not correcting them.

Wayne, who'd been quietly observing, chimed in. "He really does look like Hayden. So, what do you think? Could it be him?"

I couldn't shut it down too fast, or Wayne would get suspicious. So, I kept it casual with a small smile. "No idea. That's why I'm testing him."

I gave the food container in my hand a little shake. "Hayden used to get all fancy with his meals, so I figured I'd see if Xander can keep up in the kitchen.".

That was mostly for Wayne's benefit. If he thought Xander was stepping into Hayden's shoes, he might snap, and I couldn't have that-yet. At the same time, I needed Wayne to think he still had a shot. A little stringing along never hurt anyone. "Find anything out?" Wayne followed me into my office.

"I had him make two dishes yesterday," I said, popping open the container. "They didn't taste like Hayden's."

Inside, besides what Xander mentioned, were slider buns and a cup of pumpkin spice milk.

And okay, credit where it's due-his cooking was top-notch. Just looking at it was enough to make my stomach growl.

"For a male model at DracoLux, this feels like a serious side hustle," Wayne remarked, sounding oddly impressed. "With cooking like this, he could run his own private dining service."

"Looks aren't everything. You've gotta taste it, too," I said, leaning into the double meaning as I handed him a set of utensils. "Here, try it."

Wayne didn't budge. "It's meant for you."

"There's no way I'm finishing all this solo." I smiled and held the utensils out again.

He finally took them, though he didn't actually eat. Whatever. I grabbed my own utensils and speared a meatball.

"I thought you didn't eat meatballs," Wayne said.

I ignored him, focusing on the first bite. As the flavor hit, I froze. The rich, saucy meatball tasted exactly like my dad's.

A lump formed in my throat, my hands trembling slightly. How could Xander possibly nail this? Unless... he was Hayden.

Hayden had grown up knowing everything about my family. His dad worked for us, which meant he would've learned all our little traditions-including my dad's secret meatball recipe.

I flashed back to when I was a kid. Dad had gone on a business trip, and Mom tried to make his meatballs for me.

 

Chapter 696

She got close, but it wasn't the same. When Dad came back, I pouted, and he told me, smug as ever, that his recipe had a secret ingredient.

Now, somehow, Xander-someone who should've had zero connection to my family-had recreated that exact flavor. There was only one explanation: Xander wasn't Xander. He was Hayden. "Rea." Wayne's voice cut through the haze.

I swallowed hard, setting my utensils down gently. "Wayne, do you know why I don't eat meatballs?"

"You don't like them?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

I shook my head softly. "I do. I loved them-when my dad made them. After he passed... I just stopped eating them.

Chapter 697 Chapter 697 Chall

The second I brought up my dad, Wayne clammed up. Guess it's hard to chat when your dad's the reason mine's

gone.

"There will never be meatballs I like in this world again," I said, staring down at the meatballs Xander had made. I tried to sound casual, like I didn't care, but my brain was screaming, 'Don't blow this! Don't let Wayne catch on about Xander. Because now? I knew. Xander was Hayden. The disguise, the secrecy-it wasn't random. He had a reason. Whatever it was, I just had to roll with it for now.

"Rea, I'm really sorry about your parents." His voice dripped guilt, but his face? Ugh, it was all fake pity, like he thought that'd fix anything.

It didn't. If anything, it made my stomach twist, but I just smiled tight and said, "It's not your fault."

He gave a bitter smile. "You're... so kind, Rea."

Yeah, kind enough to almost forgive his family once. Key word: almost. I'd learned better. No way I'd let that slide

-not now, not ever.

I needed to end this convo before I snapped, so I grabbed my drink-pumpkin spice milk. One sip, and it was this perfect blend of sweet and warm, like a hug in a mug.

Honestly? Xander's cooking was unreal. Better than Hayden's ever was. And when he finally stops pretending he's not Hayden, I'm totally gonna ask if he spent his fake-dead months learning how to cook like a pro.

"This is so good," I said, not holding back, even with Wayne's eyes practically glued to me.

"So, do you have plans tonight?" he asked, like he'd been hanging on to my every casual word.

"No, I was just talking," I said, licking a little pumpkin spice milk off the corner of my lip.

Apparently, that tiny move was way more seductive than I realized because Wayne's eyes darkened. He swallowed -twice before saying, "Then... how about dinner with me tonight?"

The invite wasn't shocking; he'd been pretty obvious about his interest. My gut reaction was to turn him down, but after a second, I reconsidered. I'd been stringing him along lately, and tossing him a little hope now and then didn't hurt my plans. "Sure," I said.

Wayne's smile stretched wide. "What do you feel like eating?"

"Whatever. You pick," I replied.

Right as I said that, someone stepped into the office but backed out fast when they saw I wasn't alone.

Wayne caught on. "I'll get going, then. See you tonight."

The second he left, I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and focused back on the meal Xander had brought.

It was a lot, but I didn't even pause I cleared the whole container. And honestly, I was sure I wouldn't be hungry again until tomorrow morning.

Afterward, I grabbed my phone and noticed a message from Ron: [Didn't seem like a good time to talk because someone's with you, right?]

Classic Ron-blunt but perceptive. I didn't bother answering. Instead, I tried calling Demi. No dice; her phone was

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off.

I shot her a quick text, but she ghosted me there, too.

So, Demi was really back. Weird, since she'd sworn she wouldn't come back, saying she was too scared. What changed?

And more importantly, why had she gone to DracoLux? She knew exactly what that place was a total danger zone she'd avoided like the plague before.

Something had to have happened. The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I got. After a few seconds of overthinking, I grabbed my phone and called Xander. Sure, he was still pretending, but I knew he was Hayden. And when it came to getting to the bottom of things, he was the only one I trusted.

"Ms. Kay..."

I rolled my eyes. Really? He was sticking to this undercover act? Fine. Two could play that game. I let my voice go all soft and sugary. "Mr. Zane, could you do me a tiny little favor?" Chapter 698

Chapter 698 Chapter 698

 

Xander let out a couple of startled coughs on the other end, clearly caught off guard by my overly sweet tone." What kind of favor?" he asked, trying to sound composed.

"DracoLux doesn't just have male models; they must have female ones too, right? Are you close to any of them?" I asked bluntly. Now that I was sure he was Hayden, I didn't see the point in holding back.

Honestly, it was almost laughable. After all my sneaky efforts to figure out if he was Hayden, a simple plate of meatballs had been the thing to out him.

"What are you planning to do?" he asked, still keeping up his act.

I couldn't tell if the meatballs were his way of dropping a hint, but since he was so committed to the undercover bit, I decided to roll with it. "Oh, nothing big. I just want to try something new-see what it's like to be a female model there." "What?" His voice cracked, loaded with disbelief.

"I want to be a female model in DracoLux," I repeated, biting back a laugh. "I figured you could help me get in."

"That's not happening," he said immediately.

Feigning innocence, I asked, "Why not? What, am I not pretty enough? Is my figure not good enough?"

"It's neither of those," he said, his tone suddenly serious-so Hayden. "It's just not a place for you."

"Why not? You're working there, aren't you?" I shot back on purpose.

The line went quiet for a few seconds before he finally said, "I won't let you go there. And I won't refer you."

Now that's the Hayden I know.

But since he still wasn't admitting it outright, I decided to keep up the act. As far as I was concerned, he was Xander-the perfect target for a little teasing.

"Fine, then. I'll figure it out myself," I said, acting like I was about to hang up. Before I could, though, he cut in.

"What do you want to do? Just say it, and I'll help you," he said, clearly catching on to my intentions.

I tapped my nails on the desk, keeping my voice playful. "I really do just want to experience the life of a 'female model' in a nightclub."

He didn't answer right away, so I threw in a dramatic sigh. "Why is it that men can 'experience' whatever they want, but we women can't?"

His tone dropped, serious and angry. "Do you even know what the female models at DracoLux actually do? Do you understand how hard it is to get out once you're in?"

His words hit like a bucket of ice water. My chest tightened as his anger sank in. Demi hadn't been lying-Cole had. DracoLux wasn't some harmless "entertainment only" spot like he'd tried to sell me.

I thought about Hayden-no, Xander-spending months at that place. Before I could stop myself, I blurted, "And you? How many women have you... slept with?"

The silence that followed was suffocating. My thoughts started spiraling. "Why aren't you answering? Is it because there were none? Or because you've lost count?"

"None," he said.

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I let out a small sigh of relief, but it didn't last long. A place like DracoLux wasn't somewhere you could just refuse clients without consequences. If Hayden had managed to stay clean, I couldn't even imagine the price he'd paid to do it. Still, knowing Hayden the way I did, I couldn't imagine him touching another woman so casually. If he had, how could he face me now?

Loyalty-especially when it came to the body-wasn't something anyone could just brush off, no matter who they

were.

But this wasn't the time to press him on it, so I let it slide and threw his words back at him instead. "If you can stay clean in a place like that, then so can I."

He exhaled heavily on the other end. "You're really set on this?"

"Of course," I said, leaning into my stubborn tone. "I want to see what DracoLux is really like-with you."

"You won't get in," Xander replied, his voice dropping. "Not while Cole and Wayne are keeping you under their protection. You're their golden girl."

The bitterness in his tone didn't go unnoticed. I laughed lightly. "Exactly. Which means even if I do get in, no one would dare book me, right?" "And do you really think they'd even let you in?"

He was right, of course. I wasn't actually planning to go. Like he'd said, once you were in, it wasn't easy to leave. I wasn't about to gamble with my safety. But teasing him? Oh, I could do that all day.

 

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"Out with it. What do you really want?" Xander finally asked, cutting through the back-and-forth.

Now that I was certain who he really was, there was no point in holding back. "I have a friend who might be at DracoLux. I need to know how she's doing-and make sure someone's protecting her." I hesitated before adding, "Her name is Demi Young."

Silence.

I couldn't tell if he was shocked or if he'd already known.

Considering he had his reasons for infiltrating DracoLux under a fake identity, it wouldn't surprise me if Demi was already on his radar. After all, he'd been there for months. He must've uncovered something. "Fine. I'll help you," he said at last, his tone firm. "But you're not putting yourself in danger."

That protective edge might have comforted someone else, but for me, it only made my chest tighten. He said DracoLux was dangerous-but Demi was already inside.

Had something already happened to her? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. "Did you hear me?" Xander pressed when I didn't respond.

I swallowed hard. "Xander, why are you helping me like this?"

What I really wanted was for him to admit it-for him to say he was Hayden and that he was doing this because he loved me.

But instead, silence.

I let out a bitter laugh. "I'm having dinner with Wayne tonight. I might need you to come pick me up."

It wasn't just an update-it was a warning. Wayne had been toeing the lin 'tely, and if he tried something tonight, I wanted backup. Last time, I'd faked being drunk to keep things under control, but if he pushed harder this time? I wasn't so sure I could stop him. Xander caught on immediately. "Then why are you going at all?"

13

Chapter 699

*25 BONUS

I scoffed faintly. "What do you think?"

By the time work ended, I still hadn't heard anything from Demi-no texts, no calls. The silence was eating at me, and I almost gave in to the urge to check her place. But if she was at DracoLux, she probably hadn't been home at all.

Just as I was about to leave, Wayne sent over the dinner details. Coincidentally, the restaurant was near the bar I'd recently taken over.

Instead of heading home first, I drove straight there.

The bar wasn't busy yet, but the staff on the evening shift were already in place, prepping for the night ahead.

"Welcome!" The staff member at the entrance greeted me with a bright smile, motioning me inside like I was just another customer.

As I stepped in, I took a quick look around. The place had definitely changed-sleek, modern, with a touch of edge. Tanya had clearly been killing it as manager. "Please, have a seat!" A server approached me politely.

"Where's your manager?" I asked, skipping over the offer to sit.

The server hesitated for a second, then tilted his head. "Are you here to apply for a job? If so, interviews are that way."

Apply?

I blinked, thrown for a second. The bar was hiring?

Tanya hadn't mentioned anything about this. Then again, I had told her she didn't about every little thing. Clearly, she'd taken that to heart. need to check in with m "What kind of beauties are you recruiting? Just women?"

The server gave me a once-over. "If you've got questions, you'll want to ask over there."

Following their gaze, I spotted two men and a woman walking out of a side room, chatting quietly. No doubt they'd just finished an interview.

I found a seat nearby and watched as more people shuffled in and out of that same room. In just half an hour, at least ten people had gone through.

Tanya was clearly hiring big. For a bar this size, though? It seemed like overkill. Then

 

Chapter 699

it hit me-she'd already started setting up our plan, casting the net for the "fish" we needed to catch.

I grabbed my phone and snapped a quick picture of the interview area, firing it off in

a message.

Before I could even pocket my phone, Tanya's voice came from behind me. "You're here? Why didn't you tell me?" Chapter 700

Chapter 700

My hand froze for a second, a shiver sliding down my spine.

Was Tanya some kind of ghost?

How had she snuck up so silently that I hadn't even noticed her?

I didn't know how long she'd been standing there or if she'd caught the message I was about to send. But honestly? Even if she had, it didn't matter. I was the boss, and taking a photo of my own bar was perfectly within my rights.

Twisting my phone casually in my hand, I gave her a professional smile. "Do undercover bosses usually roll in with a marching band?"

Tanya slid into the seat across from me and gestured toward the revamped bar. "I made some changes to the decor. Thought it might freshen things up customers."

I nodded, taking it all in. "Not bad. It's definitely got a new vibe."

for the

"As long as you're happy with it," she replied, signaling a server to bring drinks over.

• "You're someone I handpicked for this job. How could I not be?" I said, glancing around the room. "Just proves I've got a good eye. You've got real talent."

I shifted my attention back to her, taking note of her outfit. While the rest of the staff stuck to crisp uniforms, Tanya was decked out in a glittering sequined mermaid gown with bold cutouts that left little to the imagination.

Her outfit fit the bar's bold, edgy vibe perfectly, radiating a kind of wild, no-holds-barred confidence.

It was a far cry from the first time I met her. Back then, she'd seemed soft and delicate, almost demure. Who would've guessed she had this daring side lurking underneath?

My gaze slid over her, the barely-there dress highlighting the soft curves of her chest. I smirked. "When I say you've got talent, I'm not just talking abo those.

too." You've got the brains to back it up

11

I genuinely meant it as a compliment, but Tanya's expression tightened for a second. Clearly, she thought I was mocking her because she fired back quickly, Anyone in this position would do the same. If you were running things yourself, you wouldn't handle it any differently."

1/3

Chapter 700

 

The message was clear: her choices were just part of the job.

If it had been me, though, I would've done things differently. Not that it mattered- I'd set this whole situation up to trap her. The deeper she leaned into her role, the more leverage it gave me.

But if she thought she could overshadow me as her boss? Yeah, no. That wasn't happening.

"You're definitely leading by example and setting the tone," I said with a pointed smile. "There's a bonus in it for you."

The mention of a bonus wasn't random-it was a reminder of who signed the checks. Sure enough, her confident facade cracked.

I leaned back, enjoying her reaction. "Anything you need my help with? I might not micromanage, but I wouldn't ignore a real issue."

The subtext? No matter how much freedom she had, I was still the one in charge. Her success was tied directly to me.

"No, nothing," she said, pulling herself together quickly. "I've been busy hiring new staff. Some of the current team are outdated and too rigid-the customers complain about them constantly."

I smirked at that. "Funny. One of your servers mistook me for a job applicant earlier." "You're so beautiful-it's no surprise they'd think that," Tanya retorted. Clearly, it was payback for my earlier remarks.

Leaning forward, I grinned. "So, you're finally admitting I'm beautiful?"

Her expression flickered with annoyance before she masked it again.

"Well, I'm heading out. Keep up the good work, and who knows? There might be a nice bonus for you at the end of the year," I said, tossing her a figurative carrot before making my way to the door.

Once outside, I pulled out my phone to check my messages. The photo I'd sent earlier had been replied to with a simple OK.

Satisfied, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed to the restaurant where Wayne had made the dinner reservation.

When I got there, he was already waiting. Of course, he'd probably shown up early- meanwhile, I'd intentionally stalled. My back-and-forth with Tanya earlier had

Chaptér 701

Wayne's patience had been tested plenty over the past decade, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy messing with him now and then.

"Sorry, Wayne. Got held up with something," I said, plastering on a half-apologetic smile as I sat down.

"No worries. As long as you're here, I don't mind waiting."

His overly sweet tone was borderline cringe-worthy. I ducked my head, pretending to rearrange the utensils so I wouldn't have to meet his gaze.

Wayne waved a waiter over, motioning for me to order first. But honestly, I was still stuffed from the saucy braised meatballs I'd devoured earlier. Not wanting to seem rude, though, I picked a couple of random dishes off the menu. When the food arrived, it wasn't just what I'd ordered. Wayne had taken it upon himself to add a bunch of extra dishes to the table.

"We're just here for a simple meal, to eat and be full. Ordering this much is a bit much," I said, gesturing at the spread. "We're probably wasting food."

"I only ordered what I know you like," he replied, his tone easy. "Just try a little of everything. Whatever's left, we'll pack up to take home."

Well, since he'd already gone overboard, arguing was pointless. I decided to let it slide.

"Want some red wine?" Wayne asked.

His offer immediately reminded me of the last time I'd faked being drunk. I'd gone all in with the act, even claiming total memory loss afterward. Facing Wayne's expectant gaze-his eyes sharp with curiosity-I forced a cheerful tone. Sure. But if I drink too much, you'll have to take me home."

"Of course," he replied smoothly, signaling the waiter to pour us both a glass of red wine.

We didn't have much to talk about, but Wayne came prepared. He steered the conversation toward childhood memories, even bringing up how Jace and I used to ignore him back then.

The mention of Jace brought back the image of him coughing up blood. I couldn't help but wonder-was it just anger that caused it, or was there something seriously wrong with him?

"Have you seen Jace lately?" I asked.

"No. We're enemies now. If he saw me, he'd probably go out of his way to avoid me," Wayne said, his tone calm.