Jason's POV
As she walked toward me with that joyful smile, I felt a strange tension in my chest. I returned the smile, but when she leaned in for a kiss, I turned my head just in time to plant a kiss on her cheek instead. I could feel her disappointment, but I couldn't shake off the words that Chase had spoken to me earlier. His voice was still echoing in my head, and I knew if I didn't get it together, she'd see right through me.
Why was I feeling so distracted? These last few days had been nothing like I'd planned. Every time she was around, my focus wavered. It was like I was caught in her world, forgetting everything else.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I had a mission to complete, a game to win, and yet, every time I was with her, it felt like I was throwing everything off track. She was just a pawn, a piece I needed to move around. I couldn't afford to develop feelings for her, no matter how much I wanted to. This wasn't part of the plan.
I took her hand and led her silently through the building, trying to push the disarray in my head out. Chase's words were eating at me, and I had to pull myself togetherâright now. I gave her a pass to the exhibit, and she smiled sweetly before taking it from me. We walked down the dim hallway, and when I stopped to look at a large painting, she spoke.
"For some reason, don't you think this painting suits me?"
I turned my head, glancing back at the bamboo tree depicted in the piece. It was simple, isolated by a stream. I couldn't connect it to her in any way.
"No."
She frowned, but I smirked and walked past her, hearing her mutter something behind my back. At least my honesty seemed to lift her mood a bit.
We spent more time looking at the smaller paintings, and I couldn't help but smile at how focused she was, studying the meanings written beneath each one. She was genuinely interested in it all, and it was kind of cute.
After the exhibit, I took her to "The Box" for some iced tea. We sat and sipped our drinks as I told her about my new job at the company.
"I'm working at the company next week."
She gave me a surprised look. "Oh, you'll probably get busy then."
I nodded, still unsure how I was going to juggle everything.
"Even if my schedule will be tight, I'll do everything I should."
Her tone shifted to casual. "Has Chase started working in the office yet?"
I almost forgot she knew him. They'd been on that blind date together.
"His office is still under renovation, so he'll probably start next month." She rolled her eyes, which made me chuckle.
Then her phone rang. She picked it up, and the moment she saw the screen, her face changed to one of surprise.
"How'd you get my number?" she said, looking at me with a confused expression.
She mouthed to me, It's Chase. My stomach dropped.
"Oh, I'm busy right now...yeah...okay," she said, ending the call. She gave me a weird look.
"He must've known we were hanging out together. That's the first time he's called me."
I leaned forward, my heart racing. "What did he say?"
She shrugged, taking a sip from her iced tea.
"He wanted to tell me something, but when I told him I was with you, he said he'd tell me later. He sounded kind of weird, though."
I leaned back in my chair, my mind spinning. Was Chase planning to go behind my back? Was he going to tell her everything?
No. That couldn't happen.
I forced a smile and nodded. "Are you good to leave?"
She smiled back. "Yeah, I'm good. Shall we go?"
I stood up, taking her hand, but my thoughts were elsewhere. If Chase was planning to ruin everything, I had to deal with it, and fast. I'd worked too hard to get her here, to get close to her, and I couldn't let anything, especially Chase, mess it all up now.
I'd already set my plan in motion, and I wasn't about to let him ruin it.
Not now.