The plane landed smoothly on the tarmac, but the tension in the cabin was anything but smooth. Jade sat stiffly in her seat, her hands gripping the armrests as the engines powered down. Milan, Enzo, and Thiago hadn’t said much since their declaration in the air, but their mere presence was enough to keep her on edge.
As they disembarked, Jade noticed a sleek black SUV waiting for them. She instinctively moved toward the car set aside for her, but Milan’s sharp voice stopped her.
“Jade,” he said firmly. “You’re riding with us.”
She froze, glancing back at them. “I thought—”
“We’re going straight to the office,” Enzo interrupted, his tone smooth but unyielding. “Get in the car.”
Jade hesitated but ultimately nodded, climbing into the backseat with Thiago beside her while Milan and Enzo sat in the front. The ride was quiet, the air thick with unspoken tension. Jade’s mind raced. What’s going on? Why do they look so serious?
When they arrived at their towering office building, Jade’s stomach churned. They didn’t even glance at the front desk staff as they made their way to a private elevator. Milan swiped his card, and the doors slid open with a soft chime.
“You’re nervous,” Thiago said, glancing at her as the elevator ascended.
“Should I be?” Jade shot back, trying to keep her voice steady.
Thiago didn’t answer, but his smirk faded, and that worried her even more.
In Milan’s expansive office, the tension peaked. Milan stood behind his desk, Enzo leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and Thiago sat in one of the chairs, spinning it idly. Jade stood in the middle of the room, feeling like she was on trial.
Milan placed a thick folder on the desk and gestured for her to come closer. “Jade, this is a contract. You’ll sign it.”
Her brows furrowed. “A contract for what?”
“For your role,” Milan said coolly. “And to ensure there’s no misunderstanding going forward. You’re under our protection now, and this makes it official.”
Enzo smirked. “Think of it as a safety measure. For you—and for us.”
Jade’s heart pounded. “What do you mean, protection? I don’t need protection! And what does this contract even say?”
“It says,” Thiago drawled, “that you’re ours, Jade. No Lucas, no wandering off, no putting yourself in situations we can’t control.”
“This is insane,” Jade said, her voice rising. “I’m not signing this. You can’t just claim me like… like property!”
Milan’s sharp gaze pinned her in place. “You will sign it, Jade. For your own good. And because you trust us to take care of you.”
The room fell silent, their eyes locked. After several long moments, Jade exhaled shakily, grabbing a pen. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, but her hands trembled as she signed her name.
When she was done, Milan picked up the contract, glanced at it, and nodded. “Good.”
“Welcome to the team,” Enzo said with a sly grin.
Jade shot them all a glare before storming out of the office.