Chapter 62
Chapter 62:
“I didn’t touch her,” Jocelyn said, looking at Kieran. “Tell him, Kieran p>
Kieran looked at her. He saw her pride. He saw her strength. And he wanted to break it. He wanted her to need him.
He remained silent.
“I want her removed!” Aspen wailed from the floor. “She assaulted me! I’m calling the police p>
The manager turned to Jocelyn. “Ms. Wolfe, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. We cannot have violence in the store p>
“Check the cameras,” Jocelyn said, her hands balling into fists.
“Our system is undergoing maintenance,” the manager said smoothly. “Please leave, or I will call security p>
𝘜р𝗱𝖺𝘁еs 𝘦v𝘦r𝗒 𝗐𝗲е𝘬 o𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗹ոo𝘷е𝗹ѕ.𝘤o𝗆
Jocelyn felt the heat rise in her cheeks. It was the same old story. The rich and the loud won. The truth didn’t matter.
She looked at Kieran. “You’re a coward p>
Kieran looked away.
“I said leave!” the manager snapped, taking a sharp step toward Jocelyn and gesturing forcefully at the door, his voice dripping with condescension.
The bell above the door chimed. It wasn’t a tinkling sound; it was a herald.
“Take your hand off my wife p>
The voice was low, baritone, and seemed to vibrate through the floorboards. No one was touching her yet — the manager’s hand was still inches from her arm. Gaston was being preemptive. Protective.
Gaston Collins stood in the doorway. He filled the frame. He wasn’t wearing a coat, just a dark suit that cost more than the manager’s car. Behind him stood two men carrying briefcases — his legal sharks.
The manager froze. His hand hovered in the air. He recognized the face. Everyone in retail in New York recognized the face of the landlord.
“Mr… Mr. Collins,” the manager stammered, the color draining from his face. He pulled his hand back as if he’d touched a hot stove.
Gaston didn’t look at him. He walked straight to Jocelyn and placed a hand on the small of her back — a possessive, grounding touch.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, ignoring the audience.
“I’m fine,” Jocelyn said, releasing a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “Just… pests p>
Gaston turned his head. His gaze landed on Kieran, then dropped to Aspen, who was scrambling to her feet and dusting off her dress.
“Mr. Douglas,” Gaston said. “I thought I made it clear that you were to stay away from her p>
“It’s a public store,” Kieran said, finding a shred of bravado. “We have a right to shop p>
“Actually,” Gaston said, “you don’t p>
He turned to the manager. “Who owns this building p>
The manager swallowed hard. “Collins Commercial Real Estate, sir p>
“Correct.” Gaston looked back at Kieran. “Which means this is private property, and I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone p>
He snapped his fingers. One of the lawyers stepped forward and handed a document to the manager.
“This is a notice of lease violation, effective immediately, due to failure to maintain a safe environment for ownership,” Gaston said calmly. “Unless p>
The manager was shaking. “Unless p>
“Unless you remove the trespassers. Now p>