If there was no issue with the park itself, then the problem had to be with Jace.


    Thinking back to the nightmare and why I called, I asked, “Is this about Jace? Did something


    happen to


    him?”


    Wayne didn’t answer right away. There was a pause before he finally spoke. “If you’re worried, ask


    him yourself.”


    ssic Wayne–cutting through the nonsense. Nobody’s really clueless, after all.


    His words left me at a loss.


    you should


    Not wanting to make things awkward, he quickly added, “I just mean that even though you guys


    aren’t together anymore, you’ve been like family for so long.


    I gave a small, humorlessugh. “Yeah, I’m just worried about making Tanya jealous.


    Wayne chuckled too.


    “Rea, let’s grab lunch sometime,” Wayne suggested.


    Since he’d just said we were like family, I didn’t see a reason to say no.


    After hanging up, I let out a sigh of relief. Looked like Jace wasn’t in any trouble after all.


    But it was still weird that I’d had that dream. Was it because of what he’d asked me yesterday–if I’d


    be sad if he died?


    Ten years of history would not just disappear overnight, it was like he was a part of me. But I was


    with Hayden now, and Jace would eventually just be a part of my past.


    I put down my phone and was about to get out of bed when Hayden’s message popped up: [You


    awake?]


    I didn’t answer, and a second message came through: [Breakfast is ready and in the warmer. Make


    sure you eat. Also, you don’t need toe to the office today.]


    What?


    He was new at thepany, but he was acting like he owned the ce!


    Then again, with his $1.5 million sry, it was obvious Ron saw him as a big deal. If Hayden asked


    for me to have the day off, Ron would probably agree without a second thought.


    Still, it felt… off. It made me uneasy. Just because he was my boyfriend didn’t mean he got to


    interfere with my job. But I knew he was just trying to be considerate, so I replied with a simple:


    [Okay.]


    Even though Hayden said not to, after getting ready and eating breakfast, I went to the office


    anyway. My legs felt like I’d run a marathon.


    “Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were off today,” Ron said, holding a cup of coffee as


    we ran into each other.


    “Since when did I say I was taking a day off?” I shot back, leaving him momentarily speechless.


    +25 BONL


    Ron looked stunned for a second, then gave an awkwardugh. “My bad.”


    Such a smooth talker.


    And all of this was just to cover for Hayden. But seriously, they’d just met.


    “Get back to work,” Ron said, trying to make his escape.


    “Mr. Shane,” I called after him. “Did you know Hayden before this?”


    “Before?” Ron blinked. “Does “before today‘ count?”


    I could tell he was dodging. I raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Never mind.”


    I headed to my office, but before I could even sit down, a colleague came up to me. “Ms. Kay,


    you’re here! There’s a client waiting for you in the lounge. He said you arranged the meeting.”


    That was news to me. I frowned. “Are you sure that person is here to see me? How long has he


    been waiting?”


    “Yeah, he asked for you specifically. He’s been here for almost an hour.”


    I was curious and a little annoyed, so I dropped my bag and headed to the lounge.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    When I opened the door and saw who was sitting there, my heart nearly stopped.