Chương 13: Jace: What About Lena?

I stared at the screen of my phone, watching the text I had sent. I noted the minute she read it and it showed that it was delivered. I felt a dull beating in my chest as I waited for her response, but nothing came. She was leaving my message on read.

With a sigh, I tossed the phone on the bed as I got to my feet. I couldn't help but wonder if she was going to come after all. After everything that had happened at the dinner, I could understand if she chose not to come, but then, none of it was my fault.

I wasn't lying when I told her that the kiss was unplanned. Kira and I had agreed to work together to thwart whatever her uncle was planning, but at the moment, I could see she was winging it. Doing whatever came to mind, regardless of the effect it would have on us and on the company. However, I had to admit, the kiss had not been a bad move.

On the ride from the dinner, I browsed the internet and the kiss was the trending hashtag all over the world. So many people had a lot of things to say about it and now there were doubts being cast as to if the marriage was really for contract or more for love. Even better, when I checked out our shares, the prices had gone up by just above 2% which was a remarkable feat. The wedding was already paying off.

I made my way to the mirror, I had on a simple polo. It was loose and free on my form, unlike the tight suit I was forced to wear all day. Either way, I'm glad to be out of that dress. As I studied my reflection in the mirror, I remembered the trip I had made with Lena. It had been one of the weirdest trips ever, and I just didn't know why.

For the first time since I knew her, Lena had seemed down. She had refused to speak to me and had only been busy on her phone all through the trip. When I tried to talk to her about the success of the dinner, she responded only half-heartedly. I could tell that something was off about her, and when I tried to talk to her about it, she shut me down.

"No," she said flatly. "You've done enough for tonight, don't you think?"

Now, when I thought about it, I could see that I had hurt her in some way. I just didn't know what I did. However, the more I thought about it, the more frustrating it seemed. What the hell was wrong with all the women in my life? With Casey not speaking to me, Kira out on a rampage and now Lena acting up, was something in the air that was affecting only women?

I let out a sigh as I returned to the bed. I was bored. Getting this room had not been easy; it had taken a lot of secrecy because I didn't want either Lena nor Ethan to find out. They both believed I was at the Royale Hotel. However, after dropping me off in my room, I snuck back out. I knew those security guards like I knew myself. I could run circles around them without them having even the faintest clue.

So, with a disguise, I was able to take a cab and came down to this hotel, over an hour's drive from the Royale. Now, I couldn't help but wonder if it was all for nothing. I really wanted to see Casey. If not for anything else, at least to talk. I didn't like the way we left things off back at the hall, and I wanted to fix that. I just couldn't accept having her being mad at me. It felt cruel and unfair, because she was yet to listen to my side of the story.

Just then, I heard a soft knock on the door. My heart froze in my chest as I sat up straight. I forced myself to settle down. It could have been a mistake after all. The knock came again. I sucked in a deep breath and pushed myself to my feet. I made my way to the door and peered through the peephole. I could see Casey through the lens, she had a facecap on and her face was covered in a mask, but I recognized her at once.

Feeling a lift in my spirits, I immediately unlocked the door and pulled it open. At once, she pushed her way in, walking past me as she refused to look at me. I locked the door behind her and turned to face her. Like me, she was dressed in simple clothes. She had on yoga pants and a hoodie, they lined up against her body, showing off her contours with enticing clarity.

She was breath-taking.

I so much wanted to hug her but I could tell at once that it wasn't a good idea. She had gone to the farthest corner of the room and her arms were folded across her chest as she frowned at me.

"Baby," I muttered as I covered the distance between us. "What is going on?"

"Stay back," she snapped, holding her hand out to me. "Don't come any closer. I'm only here to talk."

I shifted on the balls of my feet, "fine, let's talk. Can we at least do that in a less tense atmosphere?"

"What do you mean? I'm not tense."

"Come on, is this about the kiss?" I queried. "I already told you that I had nothing to do with that. Kira acted off on her own. How many times do I have to say that before you can believe me?"

"It's not just the kiss, Jace! There are just so many things about you that I don't know! Are you playing me? Are you just doing all this only to sleep with me? All your confessions of love and care, everything you said about the marriage being contractual. Are you doing all this because you know how I feel about you?"

"Uhm… I don't understand what's going on at all, babe. I really do love you, and it's not just because I want to sleep with you. You have no idea how much I wished that was you with me at the dinner today, but it wasn't. This is our reality, and we have to live it the best way that we can. But you cannot be questioning my feelings for you."

"Then don't give me reasons to question them." I told him bluntly.

"Reasons?" I walked over to her and took her hands, they were still cold from her being outside. I gently massaged them, "I would never hurt you, or knowingly do anything that will put you in a position where you'll get hurt. Your feelings for me is not one-sided. I have them for you as well."

"You do? Good. Now, tell me about Lena. What's going on with you two?"

I stopped at that, staring at Casey as if she had grown two horns, "you mean besides her being my employer?"

"Don't play with me, Jace!" She shoved at my chest and walked to stand at another corner of the room. "Tell me, you're having an affair with Lena, right? That's why you bought her clothes and that fancy jewelry she wore on her neck tonight. You're her fancy, Mr. Someone Special."

I simply stared at Casey. I was at a loss for words.