Chapter 40

-Jianna-

I woke up in a gorgeous room and remembered what happened the night before.

"I love you," Sebastian said.

My eyes widened. "What did you just say?"

"Ummm...I love you?" he stuttered.

"Sebastian...I..." I started. I can't tell him the same. I don't feel the same way. Not yet. I think.

He came closer to me, "I don't expect you to say it back. Let me prove to you how much I love you, and I know one of these days, you're going to say it back to me." He kissed my hand and looked at me. "Just don't leave me." Then, just like that, he left to take care of something for a couple of hours, leaving me to think about what just happened.

I lay in bed looking up at the ceiling. It's painted with murals of cherubs and angels, just like the Sistine Chapel. I got lost in its colors when my phone rang.

I looked at the screen, and it was just a number. I wasn't going to answer, but curiosity got the best of me.

"Hello?" answering the phone with uncertainty.

"Is this Jianna? Jianna Spencer?" it was a woman speaking on the other line.

"Yes, this is Jianna. May I know who's calling?" I replied, trying to place the voice.

I heard her chuckle. "Well, well, well. It's funny what a few keystrokes can find out."

"I'm sorry?" I asked, extremely confused.

"Yes. You will be," she replied.

"Look. Whoever this is, this is not funny." I threatened.

"Oh, it's not meant to be funny, my dear. You see, you've been getting too close to something you shouldn't be getting close to," she said in a cold tone.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my heart racing with fear.

"The man you're with. Sebastian. You need to stay away from him if you know what's good for you." she warned.

"And who the fuck are you to tell me that?" I retorted, my patience wearing thin.

"Let's just say I have connections, and I know things. Dangerous things," she said cryptically.

"What kind of things?" I asked, my heart racing. I don't know why I haven't hung up yet.

"The kind that will ruin your life. The kind that will make you wish you never met Sebastian." She laughed a cold and humorless sound. "But hey, I'm feeling generous today. I'll give you a little hint. Look in the top drawer of the nightstand. You're in the blue room in his "secret house," right?"

That took me aback.

"Judging on your non-verbal response, I'm going to assume that he told you that no one knows that house existed, right?" she chuckled. "Classic Seb. Now go on, little J, open the nightstand. I'll wait."

Seb? She called him Seb? What is going on?

I walked over to one of the nightstands and was about to open it.

"Not that one. The other one." the phone cackled.

"How the fuck can you possibly know which nightstand I'm about to open?" I asked, shocked.

"Because Seb likes sleeping on the left side," she answered in a monotone voice. "Given that he actually slept with you."

I stayed silent.

"Mmhhmmm... So, left side drawer. It'll be in the back of the drawer." she said.

I walked to the other side, still floored that I was still talking to this woman, and opened the drawer. I rummaged around until I found what felt like a folder and pulled it out.

In big, bold, red letters, the folder read,

**PROJECT RED**

"What the fuck is this?" I asked the woman before opening the folder.

"Open it. Don't open it. I really don't give a shit what you do." she said. "What I would suggest you do is ask Sebastian about it. He's already lied his way into your life. What's another lie, right?" she laughed, then hung up the phone.

I tried calling back the number after she hung up, and it just said that the number I had dialed was not in service. What in the actual fuck?

I placed the folder in front of me. My hands trembled as I opened the folder. Inside were photos of me, taken from different angles, at other times, and in different locations.

There were also documents detailing my life - my address, phone number, bank account details - everything was there. But why did Sebastian have all this information? And why was it labeled "Project Red"?

I heard the door open, and Sebastian walked in, holding a bouquet of flowers. He saw the folder on the table and quickly put the flowers down.

"Jianna, it's not what you think. Let me explain," he said, his eyes pleading.

"Explain what, Sebastian?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger and fear. "Explain why you have all this information on me? Explain what 'Project Red' is?"

"Yes. Please, baby. Let me explain." he tried to touch me and backed away.

"Don't fucking touch me. And don't call me baby." I screamed at him. "What the fuck is all this Sebastian? Why did you take me here?"

Sebastian looked at me with a pained expression. "Jianna, I know it looks bad. But please, let me explain everything."

"Fine. Explain." I said, my voice cold and unforgiving.

He took a deep breath and began to speak, his words coming out in a rush. "I work for an organization tasked with protecting the public from dangerous people and illegal organizations." he started. "Project Red is a mission we've been working on for a year. We've been trying to gather information on a group of dangerous people who kidnapped girls and turned them into assassins."

I looked at him like he was insane, but let him finish.

"I wanted to protect you, Jianna. You've got to believe me. I wanted to keep you safe." he tried walking closer. I backed away some more, so he stopped.

"I don't need your protection, Sebastian. I need the truth," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Why didn't you tell me any of this? Why did you lie to me?"

"I know I fucked up. Please. Let's start over. Please. Please. I don't know what I'll do without you." He knelt. "What do you want me to do to make it right? Just tell me."

Seeing an intimidating man like Sebastian Cross on his knees in front of me was a sight I never thought I would see. But I wasn't going to let his display of vulnerability sway me.

"I don't know Sebastian. I just want to go home." I sat down at the side of the bed and placed my face in my hands. I was trying not to cry, but this was overwhelming.

Sebastian tried to come closer, and I let him this time. I just felt so defeated. I didn't know who to trust anymore. I need James.

"You are home, baby. You're home is with me," he whispered while he stroked my hair.

"I don't know if I can trust you after this, Sebastian. I want to go home. Please. Please take me home." I begged.

Sebastian tried to take my hands off my face. "If I take you home, you won't return to me. Please look at me. I'm not letting you go, Jianna."

I remained silent, and I started sobbing.

He took a deep breath and stood up. "Ok. I'll have Asher take you home."

I heard him leave, and when I heard the door close, I took my hands off my face and buried myself in a pillow to muffle my cry.

"James..." I thought. "Where are you?"