Shay's POV
The sunlight filtering through the light satin curtains was what woke me up. I smiled while sitting up, then slowly dragged myself out of bed to start my usual morning routine. But this time, I was at Sylvia's place.
I had slept over the night before, eagerly sharing all the highlights of my day with Jason. I couldn't stop talking about him, nor could I stop thinking about him every few minutes. I kept reminding myself that I was getting a little carried away with my emotionsâbut can you blame me?
My whole life had been strictly monitored by my parents. Ever since I hit puberty, I wasn't even allowed to talk to a guy unless they approved of it, let alone have a boyfriend. I even tried the whole low-key relationship thing once, and I almost got kicked out of the house at sixteen.
This thing with Jasonâthis relationshipâit was both new and exciting for me. I liked the feeling of being around him. He made me feel at ease. He made me feel safe.
And that's why I was trying to wrap my head around the idea that maybe... this is what it feels like to be in love.
Humming softly to myself, I made my way to the kitchen. Sylvia had the day off today, and I was glad to have another day to hang out with her. Being with her, being in her home, was like being in my comfort zone. She was the only one I could run to whenever I needed to escape from my stressful life.
She was making breakfast when I entered. I greeted her with a quick "Good morning" as she poured me a cup of coffee.
"I seriously did not get a good night's sleep last night," she groaned. "My head feels like it's going to explode soon."
I frowned, concerned. The dark circles under her eyes were proof of just how exhausted she was. I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup and took a sip.
"Oh no, what happened?"
Sylvia let out an exasperated sigh and turned back to the stove, flipping an omelet over and over again.
"That stupid, ignorant jerk had me running errands for him all week! I've been busting my ass trying to find him a suitable assistant while also doing my own job, and yet he treats me like I'm his errand girl! His servant! I haven't even met the guy yet, but from the way he talks to me over the phone, his attitude says everything!"
I chuckled, already knowing exactly who she was talking about.
"Why don't you just say something to Jason? He's your bossâmaybe he could talk to him."
She turned around, glaring.
"What difference would that make? He's still Jason's best friend. I can't just complain about him to Jason." She huffed. Then, gesturing to the omelet, she asked, "Do you want some?"
Before I could answer, my phone started ringing from the living room, where I had left it to charge last night. I got up and walked over, a small spark of hope lighting up inside me as I thought it might be Jason.
But when I picked up my phone and saw the caller ID, my heart sank.
It was my mom.
I sighed and stepped onto the balcony before answering.
"Hey, Mom."
The moment she heard my voice, she screamed, "You littleâ! Where the hell are you right now?! Have you been in San Francisco this whole time?!"
Crap. Guess she found out.
"Yeah, um..."
Her next scream made me pull the phone away from my ear before I went deaf.
But as she kept yelling, something in her tone shifted. It wasn't just frustration or angerâit was something else. Something that made my stomach twist into knots.
Then, I realized.
She was crying.
I was used to my mom's yelling, but this? This was different.
"I am going to kill you! Get home right this instant, Iâ"
"Mom! Would you please calm down and tell me what's wrong?"
She ignored me, her voice rising in distress, but before I could get another word in, the balcony door swung open.
Sylvia rushed out, looking panicked.
"Shay! You have to see this."
A weird feeling settled in my gut.
Still holding the phone to my ear, I let Sylvia drag me inside. She grabbed the remote, turned up the volume on the TV, and pointed at the screen.
Confused and anxious, I barely registered my mother's voice still shouting in my ear.
Then, I saw it.
The news headline flashing across the screen. The words of the female reporter echoing in my head.
Shock and panic slammed into me like a freight train.
My hands started shaking so badly that my phone slipped from my grasp. My legs gave out beneath me, and Sylvia dropped beside me, her voice urgent and worried. But I couldn't hear her.
I could only see the image on the screenâthe wrecked yacht.
And the words beneath it:
"The body of 28-year-old millionaire Shawn Falcon has still not been found."
My ears rang. The words repeated over and over, looping in my head.
My heart clenched so tightly it hurt to breathe. Tears welled in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks as a million questions ran through my mind.
With Sylvia's help, I forced myself to stand. My limbs felt weak, my entire body trembling as I bent down to pick up my phone.
"I have to... go home," I choked out.
"No, Shay, you can't go home like this. Not in this state."
I brushed off her hand and stumbled toward the bedroom. Grabbing my bag, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and walked out of the room.
"Shay!"
"I have to go. IâI need to find out what happened."
"Shay, waitâ"
"Shawn... he... he..."
I couldn't even finish my sentence. My entire body was shaking with fear. My mind was screaming at me to go home and find out the truth.
Sylvia suddenly stepped in front of me and pulled me into a tight hug. I broke down, sobbing into her shoulder.
After a moment, I pulled away. I turned to leave, but before I walked out the door, I looked back at her one last time.
"Just go," she whispered. "Call me when you find out what happened."
I gave her a single nod and left.
Grabbing the first cab I could find, I sat in the backseat, staring blankly out the window as we drove.
An unsettling feeling settled deep in my heart.
I had to find out what happened to Shawn.