Chapter 28
Jace sat at his desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard but unable to focus. The words on his screen blurred into meaningless lines as his mind replayed the previous night over and over. Elias. The kiss. His confession. I love you too.
How could he have said those words? Did he really mean them? Or was it just part of the plan, something he told Elias to keep the façade alive? Jace closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to convince himself that the feelings stirring inside him weren’t real.
It had to be an act. A calculated move. He was falling into Elias’s trap, the same trap he had set. But this time, the lines between strategy and genuine emotion were dangerously blurred. The warmth of Elias’s touch haunted his skin, the intensity of their kiss echoed in his chest, and a fragile part of him wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was falling for the son of the man who had destroyed his family.
The thought made him want to laugh bitterly. How ridiculous. Jace had sworn to himself that Elias was just a pawn, a weapon to dismantle the Crane empire from within. He couldn’t let himself get distracted by... love. That would be weakness.
Yet every time he pushed the feeling away, it crept back in stronger. The way Elias looked at him with something softer behind the usual hardness. The way his voice had trembled when he admitted his own feelings. It was confusing. Dangerous. Uncharted territory.
Jace shook his head, forcing himself back to the present. This is part of the plan. If he could make Elias fall for him, he could control the game. Use Elias’s feelings against Victor. That was the goal. Nothing more.
\---
His thoughts shattered when a delivery man appeared at his desk, holding a massive bouquet of flowers. The bouquet was enormous, bright, exotic blooms that spilled out like a vibrant cascade of color. Crimson roses, white lilies, purple orchids, and delicate baby’s breath intertwined in a breathtaking arrangement that seemed almost too luxurious for Jace’s modest workspace.
Colleagues glanced over, whispers rippling like a current through the office. Heads turned, eyes curious, some smirking as they nudged one another. Jace felt heat creep up his neck, he wasn’t used to this kind of attention.
The delivery man smiled politely and asked, “Are you Jace Rivera?”
Jace nodded, still eyeing the flowers.
“This is for you, sir. Please sign here.” The man handed over a clipboard with a pen.
Jace took the pen and scribbled his signature, feeling the weight of the bouquet in his hands as the delivery man nodded and left.
Alone, Jace turned the flowers slightly, admiring the craftsmanship, the way the petals seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights.
Then, tucked among the stems, was a small envelope. He pulled it free, curiosity prickling at the edges of his thoughts.
The note inside was written in neat, flowing script:
"Just a little way of showing you how sorry I am. Hope you forgive me? And if you have, then meet me tonight at The Sapphire Lounge. I’ll be waiting.”
Jace’s heart skipped. The Sapphire Lounge was an upscale venue, known for its sleek ambiance and romantic allure, far removed from Jace’s usual world.
He sat back, reading and rereading the words, weighing the offer in his mind. Forgiveness. A chance to prove something. The glittering promise of a night out.
After a moment, Jace folded the note and nodded to himself. He would go.
\---
The evening air was crisp as Jace approached the address, the city’s lights twinkling around him like stars come to earth. His palms were sweaty, fingers tightening on the strap of his bag. Doubt gnawed at him.He hadn’t expected the place to be so lavish.
He adjusted his jacket, feeling suddenly exposed in his worn shoes and simple shirt. This wasn’t his world. Not really.
Taking a steadying breath, he stepped through the doors. The interior took his breath away, polished marble floors gleamed under soft chandeliers, and rich velvet drapes framed the large windows. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and expensive perfume.
Jace’s footsteps echoed on the gleaming tiles as he made his way deeper inside. The lounge was almost empty, save for a few discreet patrons tucked into shadowed booths. A waiter approached him with a practiced smile.
“You must be Jace. Master Elias has been expecting you. Right this way.”
Jace nodded, following silently. Every step made his insecurities rise,he was an imposter here. A stranger in a world of power and privilege.
The waiter stopped at the entrance to the private room and gave Jace a polite nod. “You can head inside now” then he turned around and headed back to the entrance where he met jace or probably went to attend to another client.
Jace found himself alone now, standing before the heavy curtains that shielded the room from the rest of the lounge. The deep burgundy fabric looked almost velvety under the soft glow of the ambient light.
Jace hesitated, fingers lightly brushing the curtain as if afraid to disturb whatever lay beyond. Taking a breath to steady his nerves, he pulled the fabric just enough to peek inside without fully revealing himself.
What he saw made his heart nearly stop.
A figure sat confidently at the head of a long, polished mahogany table.
It was Victor Crane.