Chapter 36: When The Devil Rings Twice.

Chapter 36: When The Devil Rings Twice.
Jade's POV

“Eros… no. No, please....no…”

The words fell out of my mouth before I even knew I was saying them. My legs felt weak as I stumbled down the stairs, gripping the rail like the whole house was tilting sideways.

The living room came into view, still glowing faintly from the decorations he had set up hours ago.

Pink ribbons, soft lights, the cake, the stupid candles...I sank to the floor, right there in the middle of them.

“Oh fuck…” I whispered, rubbing my palms over my face. “Why me?”

My chest tightened as I stared at everything he had done to make tonight special. Eros promised he wouldn’t leave me. Promised he’d stay. Promised… but promises meant nothing when he disappeared without a word.

Where was he now?
Why did he leave?
What did I do wrong?

I sat there for several minutes, stuck between anger and heartbreak, when the distant hum of a car engine cut through my thoughts.

I jolted, ran to the window, gently parted the curtains...
“Oh this is bad.”

A sleek black car rolled into my street. Not Eros’s. Definitely not his. My heart hammered as I spun around and rushed to clear everything...balloons, banners, the cake, everything that screamed happy birthday from a man who isn’t even here.

I moved like a lunatic, dragging things, hiding things, wiping down counters. Sweat clung to my neck.

My doorbell rang.
Once.
Then again.

I inhaled slowly, wiped my face, and opened the door. “Hey…” I said weakly.

Eric stood there.
My director.
My boss.
My problem.

He leaned against the doorframe like he owned the building, wearing a clean black turtleneck tucked into tailored slacks. His coat draped over his shoulders, his hair slicked back in that effortless, arrogant way only men drunk on their own power could pull off.

He smelled like expensive cologne and ego. “Can I come in?” he asked, eyes trailing over me like he was scanning flaws.

I nodded and stepped aside.

He walked in slowly, gaze scanning the space. “Wow. Your place looks… surprisingly good for a poor lady working under me.”

I rolled my eyes internally. “Well,” I said, shutting the door, “we all try.”

He smirked. “Do you?”

We exchanged a look...his sharp, mine defensive.

“So,” he said, sliding his hands into his pockets, “how are you feeling now?”

“Fine,” I replied. “And the interrogation… how did it go?”

“It was cool,” he said casually. “They finally got the suspect.”

I swallowed hard. “Oh.”

He stepped around the living room and clicked his tongue. “Do you have a problem being neat?”

I forced a smile. “My kid sister and mom came over earlier. They left a mess. I, uh… haven’t cleaned yet.”

He laughed in disbelief. “Right. Kid sister and mom.”

It was a lie.
We both knew it.

But he let it slide.“You stay alone?” he asked suddenly, turning to me with those cold, curious eyes.

“Yes.” He stared at me...long enough for the back of my neck to prickle.

It was the same shiver I felt whenever Eros watched me like he could see through my soul.“So,” Eric said, stepping closer, “who’s your man?”

“I don’t have one.”

He arched a brow. “So how do you get screwed and clear bills?”

I blinked. “God forbid a lady wants privacy.”

He chuckled...a rich, arrogant sound. “Touché.”

I leaned against the table. “What did you come for, Sir Eric?”

He lifted a shoulder. “To be sure you were bleeding truly.”

I stiffened. “So you didn’t believe I was on my period?”

He tilted his head toward mine, voice dropping. “Jade… I am more than your director.”

I scoffed. “Since when?”

Eric stepped closer and gently lifted my chin with two fingers. His eyes darkened, studying my face like he was inspecting something he owned.

Now that I was really looking at him...he was undeniably sexy. Jaw sharp enough to slice through pride. Eyes cold and dark. Lips full with a natural smirk. And he carried himself like a man who had women begging for permission to exist around him.

He whispered, “Tell me, young woman… do I irritate you that much? Badly that you refuse good out with me?”

“Uh… I’m confused.”

“We’ve met countless times,” he said.

“Oh. I thought you had no memory of that.”

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me closer.
My breath hitched.

His lips brushed the back of my ear, slow and intentional.“I don’t remember the first meeting,” he murmured. “But the second? I made you scream and cream. I can’t forget that.”

Heat swept over me.
My knees weakened.

I hated how affected I was...how he knew exactly what he was doing.

I stepped back. “I should get you a drink.”

“Good,” he said. “I want La Tache 1990.”

I froze.
Eros’s favorite wine.
The one he drank like water.

The same rare bottle he swore he couldn’t stay without.
Why did Eric like it too?
I didn’t have time to process.

I walked to the kitchen, opened the cabinet...empty.
Damn.
It finished.

I walked back out, ready to tell him...but stopped.

He wasn’t in the middle of the room anymore.
He was turned away.

Facing the stairs.

Speaking softly… to no one.

My blood ran cold.
What was he looking at?
Who was he talking to?
Did he see Eros?

My heart slammed against my ribs. No. No, no, this was bad. So bad.

He turned around.

I froze.“Hey,” he said.

I didn’t answer. My brain spun so fast I could barely see straight. What if he saw him? What if Eros was still upstairs?

“Jade.” He stepped toward me. “Are you okay?”

When his hand touched mine, I jumped like I’d been electrocuted.Then the tightness hit my chest.

My lungs shrank.
My throat locked.
Not now.
Not asthma.
Not again.

I fell to the floor, gasping for air. The world tilted. My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

Eric just stood there.
Watching.
Expression blank.

Like he didn’t know if he should care.I crawled toward him, reaching for his leg...begging for help. He stepped back. Avoided my touch.

His eyes stayed fixed on me, emotionless, calculating.“Stand up,” he said flatly.

I couldn’t. I shook my head as I wheezed, my breathing faster, my chest tighter.

He ran a hand through his hair, muttering, “No, no, no emotions. No emotions...” Then louder: “Where is your inhaler?”I pointed weakly toward the stairs, my hand trembling.

Up there

.Where Eros might still be.
Where Eric might see him.
Where everything could fall apart.

But survival trumped secrets.
Eric turned and rushed up the stairs.

I lay there on the cold floor, shaking, gasping, watching him disappear into the darkness above……and waited for my nemesis.