Jake's POV
I walked into the restro-bar Mercy and Percy dragged me to. I had no idea Percy was in town as well but nevertheless it was fun. It took us time to overcome our awkwardness because of our family situation but it eventually worked out and we were on good terms if not best of friends.
But the two of them abandoned me at the gate, excusing themselves to go to the washroom.Botj of them at the same time. Which was obviously childish and absurd.I didn't pay much notice because this entire trip was based on Mercy's childish whimp. Given that she was my biological younger sister and I was also quite fond of her, I was just playing along in her game of stupidity.
As soon as I entered their reserved section,my brain froze. I was literally blown off. It wasn’t the decor or the luxury that caught my attention. It was her. Lea. My Lea in flesh and blood. Right in front of me. She was in Paris after all.
She looked more radiant than ever, surrounded by those men. Men I didn't know. Men who were all around her. Yet somehow, she appeared isolated, lost in her own world until our eyes met.
"Lea!"
It wasn't a gasp. It was a breath. Like the one you take after you come back on the surface after swimming deep under the ocean.
Her eyes widened, a mix of surprise and something else...something deeper that sent a jolt through me.
The moment our eyes met, everything around us seemed to blur and fade into the background. Time slowed, the clinking of glasses, the low hum of conversations, and even the elegant notes of the piano playing in the corner all became distant echoes.
Lea's gaze locked onto mine, her body froze.A flicker of recognition, of longing, and perhaps a hint of the pain that had been between us flashed before her. I could feel it. I could see it.
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. I could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, mirroring the quickening of my own heartbeat. It felt as if the entire universe had shrunk to just the two of us, standing on opposite sides of an invisible divide, the rest of the world became a mere shadow.
She was stunning, even more so than I remembered. Her presence dominated the room, making the luxurious surroundings seem insignificant. I took a step closer, my gaze never leaving hers, and for a moment, I thought I saw her take an involuntary step toward me too. But just as quickly, the spell was broken.
"Jake!" A voice broke through the haze, and I turned to see a man I vaguely recognized. A friend of the family, perhaps. He stood up, his face splitting into a broad smile. "What a surprise! I didn't know you were in Paris."He moved around the table, enveloping me in a warm, slightly too-long hug, patting my back with a familiarity that was irritating given the moment. "Everyone, this is Jake. His family and mine go way back. He is a Rodger. Let me introduce you properly."
I was reluctantly pulled into the circle, introduced to each man in turn. "Jake, please, join us," Philippe ,the host,said, motioning to an empty chair at the table, directly across from Lea. I had no choice but to sit.Sit fartest away from my universe while others flocked her.
Every laugh she gave to one of their jokes, every smile she directed their way felt was like a knife twisting in my gut. I knew I had no right to feel this way...after all, I had just walked back into her life.A life she had created without me. But I couldn't help it.Julien leaned in close to her again, his voice low and intimate. "Lea, you were telling us about your latest project. I'm dying to hear more."
She glanced at me briefly before turning back to him, her smile polite but strained. "Yes, well, it's still in the early stages, but I'm very excited about it."
"Is that so?" I interrupted, my tone sharper than I intended.I simply couldn't restrain myself. "I'd love to hear about it too." The table fell silent for a moment.Lea hesitated, her eyes flicking between me and Julien. "It's a new initiative aimed at expanding our outreach programs.Its aimed at young adults and teenagers in the silicon valley who might need aid and assistance to survive in the tough competition.Specifically from underprivileged groups.It's an ambitious Protect.I am very much attached to it personally," she said carefully. "But it's still too early to share details."
Julien gave me a pointed look, clearly annoyed by my interruption. "That sounds incredible. You must have an incredible vision to drive such initiatives.I'm sure it will be a great success, Lea," he said, his hand slipping to rest on her shoulder. "You have a way of making things happen." The casual touch sent a surge of possessiveness through me.I gritted through my teeth to prevent myself from ripping his arms off.
"So, Lea," Julien began, his tone smooth and practiced. He was a seasoned flirt. Lea was too naive to understand what that man was up to. "What's your secret to balancing such a demanding career with your personal life?" He uttered while sparing me a smirk.
Lea smiled politely, her gaze flickering toward me for a brief moment. "It's all about prioritizing and having a strong support system. I couldn't do it without my team."
Julien nodded appreciatively, his fingers lightly brushing against her arm. "That's admirable. It must take a lot of strength."
Nicholas was another pest, buzzing around my flower. I so wanted to squash those pests but...I guess I lost my authority...I lost my place. Not wanting to be outdone, that bastard,leaned in closer, his hand resting on the back of Lea's chair. "I couldn't agree more. Your passion and dedication are truly inspiring."
Julien's hand moved to rest on the table, dangerously close to Lea's. "You know, Lea, you should let us take you out one evening. Show you a bit of Parisian hospitality. I'm sure you deserve a break."
Before she could respond, Nicholas chimed in again, his hand subtly grazing her back as he adjusted his position. "Absolutely. We know the best spots in town. You shouldn't miss out while you're here."I clenched my fists under the table, struggling to keep my composure.She was polite, maintaining her composure, but I could see the strain in her eyes."That's very kind of you both," she said, her voice steady. "But my schedule is quite packed. Maybe another time."
Julien leaned in even closer, his breath fell right over her ears. I could literally see her get goosebumps from his warm breath. "We'll hold you to that, Lea. You're too important to us to let you slip away without showing you a good time.Consider it a part of our business relations...building stronger connections." He winked. That m*therf*cker winked at my Lea right in front of me.
I couldn't take it anymore. I leaned forward. "Perhaps we should focus on the business at hand rather than personal invitations."The table fell silent again.
Lea shot me a grateful glance or was I misunderstanding her glance? But Julien was not deterred. He smiled, his eyes still fixed on her. "Of course, Jake. But building relationships is an important part of business too, wouldn't you agree?"
Sensing the rising tension,Lea placed her hand over Julien's.My entire body squirmed even though I saw her gently move his hand away from hers. I couldn't bear to see her touch another man.I simply could not even if it was nothing sexual, purely professional and social. "Thank you, Julien. But..."she said, standing up. "It's been a long day, and I think I need to call it a night. I have another big day tomorrow. À bientôt, gentlemen. I will ask my assistant to personally reach out to each of you and proceed with whatever we discussed. It was a pleasure meeting you all. “