Chapter 135
Diana's POV
The work continued. Jack's presence was... unexpected. Not intrusive, not performative. Just steady. Every time I verified a transaction, he was already pulling up the next document. When I needed a file from across the room, he was halfway there before I could stand.
This feeling—having someone share the weight—I'd almost forgotten what it felt like.
Thirty minutes later, we had verified seventeen transactions, identified three new shell companies, and filled in crucial gaps in the timeline. I sat back, genuinely surprised. "This would've taken me at least two more hours alone."
"Teamwork," Jack said simply. He stretched, rolling his shoulders. "You ready to call it a night?"
I saved my work and began shutting down my computer. The exhaustion I'd been suppressing rushed back all at once. "Thank you. Really. I—" I struggled for words that didn't sound inadequate. "Let me buy you dinner sometime. After all this is over."
Jack smiled—a real smile, not the polite version he'd worn during our earlier professional interactions. "I'll hold you to that."
"I mean it." I met his eyes. "I know I don't have the right to ask for your help after what I put you through, but—"
"You apologized," Jack interrupted gently. "You made it right. And now we're working the same case." He stood, collecting the files into neat stacks. "Helping you helps Lena. It's not charity."
But it felt like more than professional courtesy. It felt like forgiveness, or at least the beginning of it.
Jack grabbed his jacket from where it had fallen on my chair. "Come on. I'll drive you home."
I opened my mouth to protest, then thought better of it. I was exhausted, it was nearly one in the morning, and ride-shares at this hour in this neighborhood were unpredictable at best.
"Okay," I said quietly.
As I locked my office door, I glanced back at my desk one more time. Katya's photo was barely visible in the dim light filtering from the hallway.
Soon, I promised silently. We're so close now.
Jack was waiting by the elevator, holding the door. I walked toward him, feeling something unfamiliar settle in my chest—not quite trust, not yet, but maybe its distant cousin.
For the first time in two years, I hadn't worked alone tonight.
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The streets were nearly empty as we walked to the parking garage. Our footsteps echoed in the concrete space, and I was acutely aware of the silence between us. Not uncomfortable, exactly, but weighted with something I couldn't name.
Jack's car was sleek and understated—exactly what I would've expected. He opened the passenger door for me, a gesture so automatic I almost didn't notice it.
I rattled off my address as he started the engine, then leaned my head against the cool window. The exhaustion was catching up fast now that I'd stopped moving. My eyelids grew heavy as streetlights blurred past.
Just rest your eyes for a second, I thought.
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"Diana. We're here."
I jerked awake, disoriented. It took a moment to place myself—Jack's car, my apartment building visible through the windshield, the dashboard clock reading 1:23 AM.
"Oh God." I pressed my palms to my face. "I fell asleep. I'm so sorry—"
"Don't be. You needed it." Jack's voice was warm with amusement. "Go get some real sleep. In a bed, not on a keyboard."
I laughed—a surprised, slightly breathless sound—and reached for the door handle. "Thank you again. For everything tonight."
"Anytime."
I pushed the door open and stepped out onto the curb. My legs immediately protested the movement, stiff from sitting too long and heavy with exhaustion. As I straightened, the world tilted slightly—just fatigue and the disorientation of being woken mid-sleep—but my knees wobbled.
My ankle turned.
Strong hands caught my upper arms, steadying me before I could fully stumble. I looked up, startled, and found myself much closer to Jack than I'd been seconds ago. Close enough to see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, close enough to catch the faint scent of his cologne—something cedar and clean.
"Careful," Jack said quietly.
We stood frozen for two, maybe three seconds. My heart was beating too fast—from the near-fall, obviously. That was all.
I pulled back, and his hands immediately released me. "Sorry. I'm—my legs are half asleep."
"It's fine." Jack stepped back to give me space, but he didn't return to the car. "You good?"
"Yeah. Yes. I'm fine." I could feel heat creeping up my neck. Pull yourself together. "Thank you. Again. For the third or fourth time tonight."
Jack's mouth curved into a small smile. "I'm keeping count. You definitely owe me that dinner."
"I meant it," I said seriously. "Once this case is done. Assuming you want to share a table with the woman who tried to sue you."
"Past tense," Jack pointed out. "You tried. Then you stopped. Big difference."
I managed a weak smile and turned toward my building. After two steps, I glanced back. Jack was still standing by his car, hands in his pockets, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"Thank you, Jack," I said again, meaning it for all of it—the help, the ride, the steadying hand, the way he hadn't made me feel small for needing any of it. "Not just for tonight. For… understanding."
Something shifted in his expression, softening. "Anytime, Diana."
I walked to my building's entrance, fished out my keys with fingers that trembled slightly—exhaustion, just exhaustion—and pushed through the door. In the lobby, I glanced back through the glass.
Jack was still there, leaning against his car now, waiting until I was safely inside.
I raised one hand in a small wave. He returned it, then finally slid back into the driver's seat.
I watched his taillights disappear down the street before heading to the elevator, my mind replaying the moment his hands had caught my arms, the way he'd looked at me like—
Stop. I jabbed the elevator button harder than necessary. You don't have time for this. Focus on the case. Focus on Katya.
But as the elevator carried me upward, I couldn't quite shake the warmth that had nothing to do with his borrowed jacket and everything to do with the way he'd stayed until I was safe inside.
The way he'd said "anytime" like he meant it.
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