Jazzy and I are quite literallyworldsapart. We always have been. Neither of us knew it at the time, but now I do, and it’s my job to ensure she stays as far away from me as possible.
“You’re friends with Miss Bianchi again?” Simon asks with a raised brow.
“Business associates. Not friends. What do you need?” I’m getting impatient.
“There’s a meeting tonight. Eight sharp. Don’t be late,” he says before walking away.
“Who called the meeting?” I ask his retreating back.
“Dan,” he says.
Fucking Dan Van Baron, a seventy-year-old fart who refuses to give up the reins to his family’s empire. Unlike my father, who couldn’t hand it off to me soon enough. I can see why though. This role, being at the top, being a part of The Court, it takes its toll. How my father managed to stay sane and maintain a normal home life, I have no fucking idea.
Chapter Seven
You know how they say be careful what you wish for? I wanted to be alone. I wanted the quiet. But now, standing in the penthouse with a fresh cup of coffee, I’m completely alone and this place istooquiet.
That is until I hear someone shuffling their feet along my marble floors. Peering around the corner, I spot CJ and groan. This is not the kind of noise I want to wake up to. I don’t really know what it is I am looking for in life, but waking up to my half-naked brother sauntering into my kitchen isn’t it.
“Why are you here?” I grumble. “What if I was naked or something?”
“Gross, Jazzy. It’s too early for disturbing shit like that. You knew I was staying here. I told you yesterday morning when we dropped all your shit off,” he says, rubbing a hand over his face.
“I was hoping you forgot.” I also didn’t hear him come in. “Why didn’t I hear you come in?” I ask aloud.
“I’m good at getting into places unnoticed.” My brother shrugs.
“How was the party last night?” I sit down at the counter. “And I want pancakes.” I nod towards the stove.
“It was insane, and I’m not your chef,” CJ grunts, as he digs through the cabinets and pulls out a frying pan.
I smile into my cup. I’m getting those pancakes and we both know it. Am I a little spoiled by the men in my family? Yes. But it’s their fault. They choose to give me everything I want.
“Insane how? What happened? Oh god, there aren’t naked women in my guestroom right now, are there?”
“Fuck no. I wouldn’t bring anyone here, Jaz,” CJ says. “Aiden got wasted. I threw him in a suite and waited for him to pass out before I came up here.Alone.”
“Aiden is eighteen. Why was he even at a party with you?” I don’t mention that CJ isn’t exactly legal enough to drink yet either. He’s a lot closer to that age than Aiden, though.
“I can count,” CJ mutters. “You want blueberries or chocolate chips?” He opens the fridge and starts pulling out ingredients.
“Blueberries, thanks.”
“I don’t know how you manage to stay so thin when you eat this shit every day.”
“Good genes.” I smile.
“What’d you get up to yesterday?”
“I had lunch with Brad, then went to the cemetery to visit my mom.” I leave out the part of my day where I busted into Jake’s office with a gun. I also leave out that kiss.
What the hell was that?I spent all night tossing and turning, recalling that moment in the elevator and how much my body loved it while my mind hated it.
And then there was that awkward encounter with Simon Carnegie. I have no idea why Jake told him we were working on a project together. It was instinct to just go along with it. We used to be so in tune that we could finish each other’s sentences. Now, I don’t even know him.
Yes, you do,a little annoying voice in my head says.
CJ and I talk throughout breakfast. He leaves the stack of dishes in my sink and goes to shower. As I’m cleaning up the mess, a thought comes to mind.Jake’s watching me. Where is he watching me from?