Jade stood in the kitchen, her arms crossed tightly, staring at Milan. His question still hung in the air, and it gnawed at her. Out of the ordinary? What was that supposed to mean?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jade said, her tone laced with frustration. “She didn’t say anything ‘out of the ordinary,’ unless you count showing up uninvited and threatening me.”
Milan sighed deeply, rubbing a hand across his face as though the weight of the situation pressed heavily on him. Enzo and Thiago stood behind him, their faces grim but silent.
“That’s not what I meant,” Milan said, his voice softer now. “I was asking if she mentioned… specific things. Something cryptic, maybe a name, a place.”
Jade frowned, her confusion growing. “No. She didn’t. Why would she?”
Milan exchanged a look with Enzo, then Thiago, before turning back to her. “Because Vivienne isn’t just my ex. She’s…” He paused, searching for the right words. “She’s manipulative. She’s dangerous. And she’s made it her mission to make my life a living hell for years.”
Jade’s eyes widened, her heart sinking. “What do you mean? Why would she do that?”
Milan hesitated, his icy-blue gaze locking onto hers. “It’s complicated. She doesn’t take rejection well. When things ended between us, she couldn’t let it go. She’s tried everything—sabotage, lies, threats. And now…”
He trailed off, leaving Jade to fill in the blanks.
“And now she’s targeting me,” Jade finished, her voice shaking slightly.
Milan’s expression hardened. “I don’t think she’s targeting you directly, but she knows how important you are to us. She’ll use that to get to me.”
Jade’s frustration boiled over. “Then why didn’t you warn me about her sooner? Why let me walk into this blind?”
Milan’s jaw tightened, and he glanced away. “Because I didn’t think she’d escalate like this. But clearly, I was wrong.”
Enzo stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “We’re not going to let her get to you, Jade. Whatever she’s planning, we’ll handle it.”
Jade looked between them, her chest tightening. “I just want to know what I’m dealing with. You can’t keep me in the dark about this.”
Thiago, leaning casually against the counter, spoke up, his tone surprisingly serious. “Jade, Vivienne thrives on chaos. The less you know, the less she can use against you.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Jade snapped, her frustration clear.
“It’s not about feeling better,” Milan said, his tone final. “It’s about keeping you safe.”
Jade opened her mouth to argue, but the stern look on Milan’s face made her stop. She exhaled sharply, crossing her arms again. “Fine. But if she comes near me again, I expect answers.”
Milan nodded, though he didn’t look pleased. “Fair enough.”
There was a tense pause before Milan shifted gears. “Now, you need to be ready for tomorrow. We have a flight to Bali.”
Jade blinked, her confusion returning. “Bali? You’re just dropping that on me now?”
“It was planned weeks ago,” Enzo said with a shrug. “Business doesn’t stop, even when personal drama happens.”
Thiago smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “And trust me, you’ll want the distraction. Bali’s beautiful.”
Jade wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or overwhelmed. “So, what exactly am I supposed to do there?”
Milan’s expression softened slightly. “Your usual role. You’ll be handling the travel logistics and ensuring everything runs smoothly. It’s nothing you haven’t done before.”
Jade shook her head, still trying to process everything. “Fine. But don’t think this conversation is over.”
Milan’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. “I wouldn’t expect it to be.”