Chapter 15%
It happened by accident. I wasn’t even trying to overhear him.
But that night, as I wandered down the hallway barefoot–quiet, calm, needing air–1 heard Cameron’s voice echo through the corridor, low and clipped, speaking to the guards outside the east wing
“She’s been disappearing too often,” he said. “I just need you to follow her tomorrow. Keep your distance. Don’t let her know, I want to make sure she’s safe.
Safe That was the excuse.
But we both knew it was about control.
Weeks ago, I made it clear–I wanted no shadows. No bodyguards trailing my steps. No eyes on me when I walked through the city. And he promised. He even swore it, hands raised in surrender like he was leaming what it meant to let go
But tonight?
Tonight he was breaking that promise..
He couldn’t help himself. And that was where I had the upper hand again.
So I let him think he had won. Let him believe I didn’t know what he was doing. And by the time morning came, I already had a plan.
“Im going shopping,” I said simply, sliding on my sunglasses as I picked up my purse
Cameron looked up from his tablet in the living room. “Anywhere far?
“Downtown,” I said, casual. “Maybe designer street. Maybe just walk around,”
He reached into his wallet and handed me a black card
“Go crazy,” he said with a soft smile. “Buy whatever you want”
1 returned the smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back later.”
And with that I walked out the door, fully aware of the two men who slipped out after me five minutes later.
They thought they were subtle.
They weren’t. I led them through winding corners, into a boutique, back out through a side alley, weaving through the streets until I reached the hotel I had arranged the night before–under a false name, through someone Roger had sent to help.3
Jackson was already waiting in the lounge, wearing his usual fitted jacket, one leg crossed over the other like he had all the time in the world.
When he saw me, he stood and kissed my cheek, whispering close to my ear “We’re being watched?”
I nodded. “They’re right across the street. Black sedan. Tinted windows.”
A slow smile crept across his face. That’s what I was hoping for
We sat in the lounge first–ordered drinks, laughed louder than necessary, leaned closer than we needed. Every time Jackson reached for my hand, I let him. Every time his fingers brushed the back of my neck, I didn’t flinch
This was supposed to be part of the plan.
Just part of the plan.
But when I looked at him and saw the warmth in his eyes–not hunger, not domination, not possessiveness–just care–my heart softened before I could stop it.
There was no act in the way he looked at me.
And I wasn’t sure anymore if I was pretending either!
Still, I reminded myself of what I came here for.
“Let’s take the elevator” I whispered.
Jackson nodded X
We walked in slowly, his hand on my waist, close enough for anyone watching to wonder what happened next. And when we reached the room, I pulled him into the suite and collapsed onto the couch, letting myself breathe again.
“You good?” he asked
I looked at him, chest rising. “Yeah, Just need a second.“!!
He poured me water and passed it over. Then he sat beside me!
“You don’t have to do tas, you know,” he said gently. “If you’re not ready……
“I am” Linterrupted “I want to do this. I need him to feel it.
Jackson nodded, understanding something without needing it spelled out!!
Still, a long silence fell between us. We stared at the window, the city stretched out below.
And then I said it.
“I feel something
He turned to me. “I know”
I blinked “You do?”
“You don’t hide it well”
11:28 AM Cr..
I smiled, just a little. It’s scary.”
He reached over and took my hand. “Yeah. But it doesn’t have to be.”
We sat there, hand in hand, hearts still recovering from too many wars.! When he leaned in to kiss me, it didn’t feel planned.
It felt right.
SofL
Certain
The kind of kiss that didn’t demand anything, only offered something real!!
And I kissed him back!
Back at the estate, Cameron sat at his desk, staring at his phone.
He hadn’t heard from me in hours.
But he was trying to trust.
Trying to prove he could let go.
Then the message came.
Encrypted
From the guards.
Sit. Photos attached. Miss Alicia has been seen with a man, Hotel address. Kissed him in public.
There were six photos.!
One of me walking into the hotel lobby with Jackson’s hand on my waist. One of us laughing in the cafe. One of our fingers interlaced.
And the last one-
Our kiss.
Cameron’s grip tightened around his phone until his knuckles turned white. He stared at the image, willing it to be false, fake, misinterpreted.
Maybe it’s just a friend.
Maybe it didn’t mean anything X
But deep down_}
He knew.
And in that moment, the man who once broke me into pieces-
Felt the first crack in himself.
