Chapter 49
Chapter 49:
“Douglas,” Gaston shouted. “You had two years. You treated her like an employee. I’ve had her for two weeks, and she owns half the city p>
“She loves me!” Kieran yelled, desperate, delusional. “Jocelyn, tell him! Tell him you’re only doing this for the money p>
Jocelyn stepped out from Gaston’s embrace. She looked at Kieran — really looked at him. She saw the madness, the ego, the smallness of him.
“I did it for freedom, Kieran,” she said, her voice calm. “But I’m staying because he treats me like a human being. Something you never did p>
“He’s a fraud!” Kieran spat.
“Touch her again,” Gaston said, stepping forward, his voice dropping to a lethal quiet that cut clean under the roar of the helicopter, “and I won’t just break your wrist. I will short Douglas Tech until you’re trading for pennies on the dollar. Your creditor claims won’t save you when your company is bankrupt. Do not test me p>
𝖩oi𝗇 𝗼u𝗋 𝗰𝗈𝗆𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 on
Gaston guided Jocelyn into the cabin. The door slid shut, sealing out the cold and the screaming ex-boyfriend.
The helicopter lifted off. Jocelyn looked out the window. The bonfire shrank to a tiny orange dot. Kieran became a speck in the darkness below.
She slumped back into the leather seat as the adrenaline crashed. Her hands were trembling.
Gaston removed his headset and looked at her. The fury was gone from his face, replaced by something quieter.
“Are you okay p>
Jocelyn nodded, pulling his jacket tighter around herself. “Thank you. For coming. For the kiss p>
Gaston looked away, adjusting his cuff. “It was necessary. Kieran needed visual confirmation. Ambiguity gives him hope. I had to kill the hope p>
“Right,” Jocelyn said, a small pang of disappointment settling in her chest. “Great acting. You really sold it p>
Gaston’s jaw tightened. “We’re going home p>
“To the city p>
“Yes. That place is toxic p>
Jocelyn looked out at the lights of New York emerging on the horizon. It looked beautiful from up here.
She felt safe. For the first time in what felt like forever, the chaos was outside and she was inside the fortress.
She looked at Gaston’s hand resting on his knee. Slowly, tentatively, she reached out and hooked her pinky finger around his.
Gaston didn’t pull away. He didn’t look at her — but his hand turned over, his large fingers engulfing hers, squeezing gently.
They flew in silence, hand in hand, over the city that bowed at his feet.
The smell of antiseptic and lilies filled the private room at the nursing home.
“You didn’t have to come,” Jocelyn whispered as they walked down the corridor.
“We are a united front,” Gaston said, adjusting his tie. “And I want to meet the woman who raised you p>
They entered the room. Grandma Wolfe was sitting up, looking frail but alert. Her eyes sharpened when she saw them.
“Grandma,” Jocelyn said, kissing her cheek. “This is Gaston p>
Gaston stepped forward. He didn’t offer the curt nod of a rich man performing courtesy. He took the old woman’s hand in both of his and bowed slightly.
“It is an honor, Mrs. Wolfe p>