Tomas.
I left Jennifer to go with Cercus, and I knew that I was being stubborn. However, my ego was a formidable barrier, preventing me from going after her. This decision didn’t mean that I didn’t love her; on the contrary, my heart ached at the thought of losing her. The mere idea of her being with someone else twisted my insides. But my convoluted mind convinced me that I needed to maintain some semblance of dignity. If she wanted to be with Cercus, then I had to step back and let her go her own way, no matter how much it hurt.
Yet, I never imagined that she would call me, screaming for help like that! The panic in her voice sent chills down my spine, jolting me into a state of alarm. At that moment, I was standing next to Jack, who was trying to understand why I hadn’t stopped her from leaving with that man. His eyes were filled with concern and frustration, and I knew I had to act quickly.
“What were you thinking, Tomas? Why didn’t you stop her?” Jack demanded, his voice sharp and full of urgency. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, pressing for answers.
Before I could answer him, my phone rang. It was Jennifer, and her terrified screams echoed in my ear, each one a dagger of fear. I kept asking her what was going on, but then, abruptly, her phone went dead, leaving me in a void of anxiety.
“What’s happening with Jennifer, Tomas?!” Jack pressed, pushing my shoulders in frustration. The urgency in his voice only amplified my own rising panic.
I stared at him, feeling my own confusion deepen. “What’s your relationship with Jennifer?” I shot back, trying to divert his attention, but my deflection felt weak even to me.
“Is this really the right time to ask me that, Tomas?!” Jack snapped, his breath quickening in frustration as he struggled to keep his composure.
I smirked bitterly, grappling with my emotions. “Yes, Jack, it’s the perfect time because you seem more worried about her than I am! This isn’t just friendship; it feels so strange, and I can’t shake the feeling,” I replied, my voice tinged with bitterness.
Jack cleared his throat, clearly agitated. I could hear his heart pounding in the tense silence. He looked deeply into my eyes, searching for clarity. “Listen, Tomas. I’ll tell you everything, but not now. We need to focus on Jennifer first. She’s in danger.”
“Then when, Jack?” I demanded, impatience creeping into my voice. The ticking clock felt louder with every passing second.
“After we save Jennifer. For now, you have to tell me what’s going on. Who is this man? Be honest with me; this is not a game,” Jack insisted, his tone serious and commanding.
I walked a few steps away from him, exhaling a long breath as I tried to gather my thoughts. “Well, Jack, it’s not good. I really don’t know what’s going on, but the one thing I do know is that Cercus is my enemy. He could hurt her to get back at me. He has a vendetta, and I don’t know how far he’ll go,” I said, feeling the dread settle in my stomach.
“What?!” Jack exclaimed, stepping closer and turning my body to face him, his intensity palpable. “What the hell are you talking about, Tomas?! If you know something this important, why didn’t you stop Jennifer from going with him?!”
“Listen, Jack, I know I was wrong, but it’s not just my fault. Jennifer didn’t trust me or listen to me. She insisted on being with him. What was I supposed to do? I’m a man who has his dignity!” I responded, my frustration boiling over.
Jack rolled his eyes in disbelief. “Dignity?! Hell with your dignity!” he exclaimed, his voice rising. “How can you love her and still talk about dignity?! There’s no dignity among lovers! If I had stopped her, she wouldn’t have been with you from the start. This is my fault, and I regret it.”
“What are you saying, Jack?! I thought you hadn’t seen her for years!” I countered, bewildered by his sudden admission.
“Yes, that’s true. But I was following her, asking about her, keeping my distance without her noticing. I care about her,” Jack confessed, a hint of sadness in his tone that I hadn’t expected.
“Why? Tell me the truth, Jack!” I yelled, my curiosity piqued despite the chaos around us.
“It’s not the right time for that. Right now, we need to do something. Please, if you love her, Tomas, we have to act!” Jack urged, his eyes pleading.
“Okay, Jack, let me make some calls, and I’ll tell you what we’ll do next,” I replied, trying to regain some control over the situation that felt increasingly unstable.
“Fine, Tomas. I’ll leave you alone for ten minutes, then I’ll come back to see what our next step is,” Jack said before walking into the chateau, leaving me in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
I nodded, then started to dial Carl’s number. “Carl? Get to me with all our guys and men. There’s no time to waste. Take the next flight. We’re going to war. Call our men in the other countries too. I want all of them here, and don’t be late!”
“Yes, Mr. Tomas,” Carl replied before I hung up, feeling a surge of determination.
—
Jack POV.
I left Tomas for a few minutes, needing to gather my thoughts. I walked to my room to change my clothes and clear my mind about how to help Jennifer. My heart raced as I contemplated the gravity of the situation. But as I walked down the stairs, I heard Maya shout my name.
“Jack?” she called, her voice cutting through my thoughts.
I spun around to face her. “What do you want now? Are you happy?” I yelled back, frustration boiling over. I was in no mood for her games.
“Please, Jack, I’m not involved in this! Don’t judge me! I want to help. Come with me to my office; let’s talk in private,” Maya insisted, her tone earnest but laced with urgency.
“You want to help?!” I scoffed, incredulous. “How, Maya? You want Jennifer to break up with Tomas! You hate her! How can I believe anything you say?!”
“Please, you won’t lose anything if you give me just a few minutes of your time. Just hear me out; maybe what I say can help Jennifer,” Maya said in a serious tone, her eyes pleading for my attention.
I hesitated, but I needed any help I could get to save Jennifer. So, against my better judgment, I followed Maya to her office. She locked the door behind us, creating a bubble of privacy that felt charged with tension.
“Please, have a seat, Jack,” she said, gesturing toward a chair. I sat down, still wary of her intentions.
“Jack, I’ll get straight to the point so as not to waste your time. I know you’re worried about her,” Maya said, looking me in the eye with a seriousness that made my heart race.
“Yes, please continue, Maya,” I replied, my mood darkening as I focused on finding a solution.
“Jack, I know you’re not just friends with Jennifer; you love her. Please don’t interrupt or ask how I know this. It’s not the time for that. I can help you save her, and I can help you make her come back to you, leaving Tomas for good. But I can’t do it alone. I need your help!” Maya said earnestly, her eyes gleaming with ambition.
I stood up, shocked. “What are you talking about? Jennifer is like my sister!” I shouted, feeling the weight of her proposal.
Maya laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. “Oh great, I know that’s not true, but fine. Call it a brother-sister relationship if you want. Just answer me, okay?”
“What do you want to ask?” I replied, still on edge, my instincts flaring.
“Do you want to save her or not?” Maya asked, her gaze unwavering and serious.
“Yes, of course,” I answered, raising my eyebrows in seriousness, the urgency of our mission overshadowing my doubts.
“Do you want Jennifer to marry Tomas?” Maya pressed, her tone sharp and probing.
I rolled my eyes, incredulous. “What do you mean? She can’t! He’s not a good man! He’s dangerous!”
“I’ll take that as a no. You don’t want Jennifer to marry Tomas. So we have a common goal here: to end their relationship and make Jennifer yours while I take Tomas for myself,” Maya explained, her voice low and conspiratorial, my heart racing at the implications of her words.
“What do you mean, Maya?!” I asked, my heart racing as I tried to process her proposition.
“I mean we make this a business deal. I’ll pay you ten million dollars to convince Tomas that you and Jennifer were once a couple, living together, and that she’s not a virgin anymore. Meanwhile, I’ll keep Tomas occupied. Before you decide, I’ll help Tomas save her first. You don’t have to say anything to him for now,” Maya claimed, her eyes gleaming with ambition and an unsettling confidence.
I smirked, incredulous at her audacity. “You want me to lie about Jennifer and ruin her reputation for ten million dollars?! I’ve stayed away from her all this time to protect her! I won’t betray her like that!”
“Who said it would ruin her reputation? You’ll only tell Tomas, not anyone else!” Maya retorted, her frustration surfacing.
“Okay, I’ll think about it, but for now, help Tomas save Jennifer,” I said, still weighing my options, feeling the gravity of the situation press down on me.
“Okay, Mr. Jack. I know you’ll choose my deal,” Maya replied with a smile that felt more like a smirk. Together, we headed to the garden to find Tomas and figure out our next move to help Jennifer, the stakes higher than ever.