Chapter 70 Under The Lines
Vincent sat inside his car with the engine running low, fingers drumming absently against the steering wheel as the city lights reflected faintly across the windshield.
It was Valentine, so the night carried a celebratory air outside- couples, laughter, flashes of red and gold, and inside the vehicle, he was anticipating the sight of her.
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror once, then back to the entrance.
Just then, the passenger door opened.
Joye slipped into the seat and shut it.
He exhaled slowly the moment she settled in, a tension he hadn’t realised he was holding loosening from his chest. He let his eyes took her in first, then without wasting another second, he reached to the backseat and brought forward a purple bouquet- carefully arranged, and decorated with folded dollar notes tucked subtly between the flowers.
He extended it toward her.
“Happy Val.”
Joye hesitated before accepting it, her fingers gentle against the bouquet as if unsure whether she was allowed to hold something that felt so intentional.
“This is thoughtful. Thank you, Vincs.” Her voice sounded like her thoughts were distracting her, and Vincent didn’t miss it.
He leaned slightly closer and placed a lingering peck on her cheek. She inhaled sharply, remembering that she used pills early that morning due to her and Vincent’s careless sexual activities that had been occurring often of recent.
“Why didn’t you want to go out with me?” he asked quietly. “I’m aware Julian and Seraphina are out tonight. We can sneak around freely.”
Joye’s lips trembled and she started sobbing.
Tears rolled down her cheeks in sudden, unrestrained streams, catching Vincent completely off guard.
His expression darkened instantly.
“Who hurt you?” he asked, voice dropping with restrained fury. “Tell me, and I’ll break the person’s hand. That’s a promise.”
Joye let out a broken chuckle in the middle of her sobbing, shaking her head slightly.
“Even if it’s your boss who is also your best friend… would you still break his hand?” she asked softly.
Vincent’s lips curved faintly, though his eyes still remained attentive to her.
“Julian doesn’t hurt women.” he replied evenly. “Atleast, not unnecessarily, unless they are real threats.”
Joye’s body tensed at that statement, almost imperceptibly.
Vincent noticed.
“What’s wrong again?” he pressed, softer now.
She swallowed, clutching the bouquet tighter.
“His wife…Sera… she caught us,” she admitted. “In my bed. While we were still asleep.”
Vincent froze for half a second before muttering under his breath.
“Shit.”
Joye wiped her tears quickly, though more followed.
“She promised not to tell him,” she continued, voice shaking, “but it’s still risky. I was meaning to tell you… we need to slow down. Maybe pause this relationship.”
He stared ahead.
“If everything gets out, I’ll be the one at the losing end. You’ll be safe. I’m just a staff. And we’ve only been sneaking around. I’m the one…falling fast. I’m not even sure you take me seriously.”
She inhaled shakily and added, “So we can separate soon before it turns into trouble for me.”
Vincent stared at her for a long moment, remembering the first time he got attracted to her. Julian had asked that he drives her to the market that day. He didn’t know how it happen, but Joye engaged him throughout the short journey. He started seeing her more than a maid after realizing how intelligent and warm she was.
He couldn’t unfeel the experience, so he proposed that they headed out again. Joye had obliged out of respect, but afterwards, it all blurred. Things got intense and he never seemed to be able to take his hands off her.
He reached out and took her hand firmly. “Look at me,”
Joye lifted her gaze slowly.
With his thumb, he wiped the tear lingering under her eye, the gesture uncharacteristically gentle.
“I’m going to tell Julian about our relationship,” he said calmly. “And you’ll stop working here henceforth.”
Joye blinked in shock. She clearly wasn’t expecting that.
“What?”
“I’m ready to take you in.”
Her lips parted slightly.
“Are you serious?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned in and kissed her lips.
Joye’s eyes fluttered closed as she kissed him back, her fingers tightening slightly around the bouquet as she melted into the moment.
Vincent pulled back after a few seconds, his gaze fixed on her face.
“I really want to have you in my world,” he said quietly.
Joye blinked again, searching his expression.
“Does that mean…” she whispered, “you feel for me now?”
A small smile tugged at his lips as he reached up to gently massage her hair.
“I’ve always felt something for you, Joye,” he admitted. “But the nature of my work requires me to live discreetly. For now.”
She nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
“You have nothing to fear,” he added.
Joye inhaled and shook her head lightly.
“About taking me away from here… you don’t have to,” she said softly. “I think… I feel fulfilled working for Julian and Seraphina.”
Vincent snorted faintly.
“I don’t understand,” he replied. “I’m offering you a better way out. Julian might not be comfortable knowing I’m having a relationship with someone under his nose. So when I tell him, I’ll have to take you out of here.”
Joye’s grip on the bouquet tightened.
“Then… don’t bother telling Julian,” she said quietly.
Vincent frowned immediately, suspicion flickering across his face.
“Is there more to this?”
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed sharply against the console.
The screen lit up.
Julian.
“Speaking of the devil.” He grinned then picked up instantly.
“What are you doing right now?” Julian’s voice came through without preambles.
Vincent glanced briefly at Joye before responding, tone steady.
“I have plans for the night. Do you need me to do something?”
“Yes.”
Vincent’s brows furrowed.
He could hear it then — the heavy breathing on the other end of the line. Julian was worked up over something? Strange. His posture straightened.
“Is all okay?” Vincent asked, voice turning serious.
There was a brief pause across the line.
Then Julian spoke.
“Not at all.”
A beat.
“Seraphina has been kidnapped,” Julian finally declared. “And I need a hand.”
Vincent’s eyes narrowed instantly, every trace of softness vanishing from his face.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“I’m heading to my bastard of a twin.”