As Claire disappeared down the hall to her office, I made my way toward mine, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the sound of my heels clicking against the polished floors. I hoped I’d see Jake so I didn’t have to confront Kester about him.
The moment I pushed open the door, a crushing wave of relief nearly stole my breath.
“Jake! By the gods!”
I hurried toward him, barely noticing where I tossed my purse as I reached his desk. My fingers trembled, but I forced myself to steady them, desperate to get this over with before Kester arrived, “What happened? I was worried sick,” I blurted, my words rushing out before I could catch my breath.
I was so consumed by my own relief that I didn’t even register the storm cloud hanging over him-the rigid line of his shoulders and his hands clenched into fists.
“Jake?” I frowned, reaching for him. “Talk to me. I tried-
“I also tried, Kasmine!”
The manner in which he cut me off abruptly was new… Too new that it was confusing
“Do you have any idea how worried I was?” His voice trembled with frustration, his eyes burning into mine. “I didn’t know if you got home safely after you outrightly refused to let me take you home. I didn’t know if your brother-“he spat the word like it was poison, “-had killed you for leaving the house. I was just there, worrying like a goddamn fool while you were perfectly fine all along
For the first time ever, Jake raised his voice at me.
His anger was justified. Every word cut deep because he wasn’t wrong. And I felt sorry about that.
“I… I am sorry, Jake. A lot happened and -“What was I going to say? That I and my brother fucked all night while I spent the rest of the next day hurting over the things I had said to him that I didn’t even have the strength to call Jake after I tried the first few times that morning and once more at night?
I swallowed the truth like bile, letting it fester in the pit of my stomach.
“It’s okay, Kasmine. Maybe I am just not as important as I thought I was,” He said, and his words broke me.
“No.” I crouched beside him, grasping his arm. “Don’t say that, Jake. Please.”
“This will soon pass. Just… just until I turn twenty-one. I promise.”
I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or myself.
I knew I was making a promise that was already seeming like an impossibility, but I had to make him feel better. “What does it matter?” He spat out a bitter scoff, “By the time you turn twenty-one, you’d return to the pack house while I’d remain here… Stuck with your brother for another three months.”
I swear I was confused. “What are you talking about? Who says you must stay here?” I searched his eyes, and for the first time since I walked in, he looked right into my eyes.
And gods, the hurt in his eyes-raw, unfiltered, gut-wrenching-made my heart squeeze so tightly it ached. Wordlessly, he reached into his bag and pulled out an envelope, holding it out to me with a stiff hand.
“I got a report from school this morning,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “My performance here at Zamford Technologies has been deemed ‘below standard.”
What. The. Hell?
I took the envelope, my fingers unsteady as I pulled out the better. The words blurred for a moment as my heart pounded against my ribs.
I have to repeat my internship here for another three months.” He added.
My blood ran cold immediately as I recognized the hands ofthe puppeteer here, the one pulling the strings.
Jake let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hale “I worked my ass off, Kasmine. I gave everything, Late nights, extra hours, every goddamn thing they asked for. And yet…” He breathe out a sad laugh before he shook his head, forcing himself to keep it together. “Just when I thought I’d get the best review from Zamford, which would have boosted my grades-this happens.”
His eyes were moist, but he didn’t let the tears fall. I could see the way he struggled to keep himself together. Jake was one of the best students in our class, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me about the damage this would do to his grades.
“L” My throat was dry, my heart hammering as I reached up, cupping his check with my palm. My thumb brushed over his skin, “I’m sorry, Jake. But…” I took a steadying breath. “I swear, I’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise.”
He let out a small, humorless laugh and pulled away, shrugging like it didn’t matter. But I knew it did.
It mattered more than he’d ever admit.
KASMINE
I was waiting impatiently all morning to confront Kester about what I’d just heard, but he was nowhere to be found. I called, but his lines were unreachable.
He didn’t even step foot into his office after I left him outside when we arrived.
By the time it hit 1 pm, my frustration had hit its peak.
Jake wasn’t speaking to me
Not a single word.
He barely stayed in the office with me, slipping in and out like he couldn’t even stand being in the same space.
And for the first time since stepping into this building, I felt something close to panic.
Now, the frustration was warping into something worse.
Then, as if the universe had been waiting for my patience to snap, the office doors swung open.
I looked up instantly.
Kester walked in.
My body moved before I could think. I shoved my chair back, the legs screeching against the floor as I stood, my heart slamming against my ribs.
My heels made it harder to walk as quickly as I wanted, but didn’t stop. Not for a second.
I stormed toward his office, my vision tunneling, my anger burning hotter as I approached.
I didn’t bother knocking.
Pushing the heavy door open with a force that rattled the glass panel beside it, I barged in.
Kester barely spared me a glance as he shrugged off his suit jacket, moving with the kind of slow, unbothered ease that only infuriated me further.
His dark eyes briefly flickered to me the way one might glance at a nuisance. A single, slow drag of his gaze.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t even raise a brow.
That arrogant bastard.
“What the hell did you do?” I demanded.
He took his time, adjusting his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves as if this conversation was already beneath him Like my anger wasn’t obvious to him.
“You’re going to have to be more specific, little sister,” he inurmured, his tone as casual as if we were discussing the goddamn weather.
That only fueled the fire burning in my chest.
“Jake’s internship review.” My nails dug into my palms, my whole body shaking from the restraint it took not to throw something at him. “He got a report this morning saying his performance was unsatisfactory. He has to repeat his internship here for another three months. And I know that’s your doing.”
Kester finally looked at me, his eyes holding the same detached amusement that always made my stomach twist. Then, he smirked.
“So? Be grateful that’s all I did to him.”
A slow, sickening dread curled in my gut.
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