Chapter 119
Chapter 119:
High in Collins Tower, Gaston looked at his phone.
No uncles allowed.
He sighed and tossed the phone onto his desk.
Vance looked up from his laptop. “She blocked you p>
“She’s gatekeeping my nephew,” Gaston grumbled.
“Maybe she needs space,” Vance said, not looking up. “You did almost ravish her p>
“I’ll give her space,” Gaston said. “For now p>
He reached for the internal line. “Send a security detail to shadow Jocelyn and Aaden on Saturday. Plain clothes. Discreetly p>
He set the receiver down and leaned back in his chair.
C𝘩𝗶𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 n𝘰𝘃𝗲l𝗌 𝘁𝗋aոѕla𝘵𝘦d 𝗼ո
“I don’t trust the world with my two favorite people,” he added quietly.
Saturday morning at Hudson Yards Mall was a sensory overload. Jocelyn held Aaden’s hand tightly as they navigated the crowds. Aaden clutched a large yellow LEGO bag to his chest, beaming.
“Can we get pretzels?” he asked, looking up at her with enormous eyes.
“Sugar and carbs? Your dad will kill me,” Jocelyn laughed. “Let’s do it p>
They headed toward the elevator to reach the food court level. The doors opened onto an empty car. They stepped in.
Just as the doors were sliding shut, a hand thrust into the gap. The safety sensors triggered and the doors bounced back open.
Kieran Douglas stepped inside.
He was wearing a suit, looking entirely out of place in a mall on a Saturday morning. His eyes found Jocelyn immediately and lit up — then darkened as they dropped to Aaden. It was not a coincidence. He had been having her tailed since the school incident, waiting for exactly this kind of opportunity — a moment without Gaston.
Jocelyn stiffened and drew Aaden behind her legs.
“Kieran. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Running an errand for the office,” he said easily. “But I’d rather buy you lunch.” He reached past her and pressed the button for the food court.
The elevator began to move. It felt like a cage.
“I’m busy,” Jocelyn said, fixing her gaze on the changing floor numbers.
Kieran stepped closer, crowding into her personal space. “You look tired. Is the marriage wearing you out? Is the acting getting hard? A man like him — it must be lonely p>
“I’m great. Back off,” she warned.
He reached for her arm. “Joss, stop pretending. I know you’re not happy p>
Before he could finish, Aaden stepped out from behind Jocelyn. He lifted his foot and brought it down hard on Kieran’s expensive Italian loafer.
Kieran yelped. “You little brat p>
“Don’t touch my aunt!” Aaden shouted, his voice ringing off the metal walls of the small car.
The elevator chimed. The doors slid open.
A man in a nondescript gray hoodie and jeans stood directly outside, glancing at his phone. He looked up as the doors parted, and his eyes swept the interior in a single, unhurried, professional pass. He looked like any other weekend shopper. His posture said otherwise — coiled, present, ready.
He took in the scene: Kieran clutching his foot, Jocelyn standing fierce and still, Aaden looking thoroughly unrepentant.