Chapter 42: MAN IN TROUBLE

Jayden's POV

I got to the office earlier than usual.

Earlier than I ever did actually.

The building was still half-asleep when I walked in with the lights dimmed, footsteps echoing, the kind of quiet that usually grounded me.

I took the time to get some work done especially since I couldn't get any yesterday night until it was time for the meeting by eight.

Today, it waited I delayed it.I checked my watch once. Then again. The meeting room door stood open, empty chairs waiting.

“She should have been here already” I thought aloud.

I frowned, just slightly. Selena had just been appointed. New role, new weight. People usually arrived early on days like this, eager, careful, proving a point. I told myself not to read too much into it.

Whatever, I thought, taking my seat. We’ll start.

By the time the meeting began, she still hadn’t arrived. I felt a brief flicker of irritation gone just as fast. There had to be a reason. There was always a reason with her.

And then the door opened.

She walked in quietly, almost apologetically, like she didn’t want to draw attention but attention found her anyway.

It always did.

Every head in the room turned.

She hadn’t done much with herself…no dramatic styling, no effort to impress and somehow that made it worse. Better. Her hair was pulled back simply, her clothes clean and sharp, hugging her figure in a way that felt effortless. But her face… her face was pale. Her lips pressed together, eyes dulled like she was holding herself together by sheer will.

My breath caught.

I forgot what someone was saying mid-sentence.

I watched her slide into her seat, watched the way she exhaled slowly like sitting down itself had cost her something. She placed her hands flat on the table, fingers stiff, then shifted slightly, adjusting her neck.She rubbed her forehead, eyes closing for half a second too long.

Is she okay?

I leaned back in my chair, pretending to listen while my attention stayed locked on her. She wasn’t following the discussion, her gaze drifted, unfocused. She shifted again, jaw tightening, hand pressing briefly against the table like she needed the support.

I stared.

Too long.

Cameron noticed and nudged my leg under the table with his iPad.

I blinked. Cleared my throat.

“Yes—sorry. Continue,” I said, forcing myself back into the meeting.

But it was useless. Every few seconds, my eyes went back to her. The way she clenched her hands. The faint tension in her shoulders. The quiet strength it took for her to stay seated at all.

Something’s wrong.

When the meeting finally ended, I opened my mouth to call her name...

And she was already standing.

She didn’t look at me. Didn’t wait. Just gathered her things and walked out, quick and purposeful, like if she slowed down she might fall apart.

I sat there for a moment after everyone else had left.

I was going to tell her today, I realized.

Not like that. Not here. But today had been the day I’d picked in my head. Now, watching her disappear down the hall, it felt wrong.

Maybe not today, I decided. Not like this.

Later, back in my office, I found myself doing something ridiculous.

I was searching.

Restaurants, quiet places,places that felt… right, romantic soothing for a woman like her. Somewhere soft. Somewhere intentional. Somewhere that didn’t feel like work or pressure or expectations.

Cameron walked in mid-scroll.

“Sir”

“Wait…what do you think about a place like this?” I asked, turning my screen toward him without thinking.

He glanced at it, then at me. Smirked.

“Its a nice place for a proposal but you’ve made zero actionable steps, Mr Ashford”

I scoffed. “I have made steps.”

“You’ve thought about steps,” he corrected.

“Thinking is not action. You don’t just ask someone out cold. You ease in. You show care. Consistency. Attention. I'm telling you that's what the ladies want.”

“All the steps you said to have taken have all been work related or concerning the contract.“

I leaned back, exhaling. He wasn’t wrong.

My thoughts drifted back to her pale face. The way she’d left without a word.

I should check on her.

I picked up my phone, wanting to message her. Opened our message thread. Stared at it.

Selena, are you okay?

You came in late—

I stopped.

In realization that all the very message between us had been formal. Polite. Professional. This would feel like crossing a line.

I dropped the phone.

I’ll go see her instead.

The moment I stepped into her office area, I regretted it.

Everyone was there.

Every single person.

I paused just inside the doorway, suddenly very aware of myself. Why did I come here again? I scanned the room and found her instantly.

She didn’t look up.

Didn’t sense me.

Didn’t react.

That hurt more than it should have.

“Miss Kane,” I said finally, my voice steadier than I felt. “Are you adjusting to the associate head role well?”

She looked up then. Just briefly.

“Yes. Thank you, sir.”

That was it.

Nothing else.

No warmth. No acknowledgment of yesterday.

My chest tightened.

She looked… exhausted. Defeated. Her body sat straight but her eyes were far away, like she was pushing through something invisible.

I hesitated. Then forced myself to act.

“Alright,” I said, louder now. “Let’s proceed. Everyone, back to work.”

Chairs moved. Papers shuffled. The room reset.

I looked around once more. “Daniel. Follow me upstairs, please.”

His head snapped up. Fear flashed across his face before he masked it.

“Yes, sir.”

As we walked out, I reminded myself this wasn’t just an excuse. I did have documents to review. But even then, my thoughts stayed with her.

Upstairs, Daniel stood stiffly across from my desk, sweat beading at his temple.

“Is there a problem, sir?” he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking like there is.”

He swallowed. “No, sir. I just—”

I cut him off, pulling up a file. “Finance discussed the invoice from Redwood Holdings. I want you to oversee it.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly as I continued

“Actually Daniel ou’ve been here a long time, you have expand you know the system. From now on, you’ll be assisting Selena directly.”

His eyes widened. “As… assistant to the head of legal?”

“You could call it that,” I said calmly. “Yes.”

His voice shook. “Thank you, sir.”

“I couldnt have picked any other reliable person. I appreciate your work and I expect good results” I added. “Bring the papers to her for review when you're done and I want them back today.”

“Yes, sir.”

When he left, I leaned back in my chair, a slow smile creeping onto my face despite myself.

Smooth.

She’d have to come see me now.

I was still smiling when Cameron walked in.

“The people from TR Motion are here,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

I straightened. “Let’s go.”

As we walked out,

I caught my reflection in the glass.

I didn’t look like a man in control.

I looked like a man in trouble.

And somehow… I didn’t mind.