Chapter 98
Chapter 98:
Two hours later, after a long shower and with the help of a concerning amount of concealer and caffeine, Jocelyn was sliding into a leather booth at a trendy brunch spot in SoHo. The restaurant was loud — a cacophony of clinking silverware and the high-pitched chatter of the city’s elite. It smelled of roasted coffee beans and expensive perfume.
Bella Douglas waved from the corner.
Jocelyn took a breath and walked over. Her legs felt heavy, and a dull ache pulsed behind her eyes, a remnant of the fever. Her armor was in place: oversized sunglasses to hide the dark circles, a camel trench coat, and the Patek Philippe gleaming at her wrist.
“You look… expensive,” Bella said as Jocelyn sat down. She tilted her head, scanning Jocelyn’s face with the critical eye of a woman who knew all the tricks. “And tired. Like, haven’t-slept-in-a-week tired p>
“Flu,” Jocelyn said, taking off her sunglasses. The light in the restaurant was unforgiving. “I was down for the count yesterday p>
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“I know. I called your old number twice, but it went straight to voicemail,” Bella said, a hint of worry in her voice. “I’m glad you called me back. I was getting ready to storm Collins Tower.” She paused. “He got you a new phone p>
“He got me a new phone,” Jocelyn admitted quietly. “Sorry. It’s been… a lot. You were the only one who tried to call. The only Douglas, anyway p>
“He’s my cousin, Joss, not my keeper,” Bella said with a grimace. “I told you I’d always have your back, even from behind enemy lines. Which brings me to my next point.” She leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Is it about the pregnancy rumor? Kieran is losing his mind, Joss. He’s spiraling p>
Jocelyn choked on her water. She slammed the glass down, water sloshing onto the table. “What? No! I had the flu! A viral infection! Who said I was pregnant p>
“Kieran saw you,” Bella said, her eyes wide. “On the side of the highway. He said you were throwing up and Gaston was holding you like you were made of glass. He put two and two together and got ‘heir to the Collins empire p>
Jocelyn rubbed her temples. The headache was coming back with a vengeance. “How could he even see that? It was dusk, and I was behind the guardrail. He’s not just delusional — he’s a stalker with a telescope p>
“Never say never,” Bella teased, taking a sip of her drink. “Not with a husband who looks like that p>
Jocelyn looked at her.
Bella was a Douglas, but she was the only one in that toxic family who had a soul. Still, Jocelyn couldn’t risk the truth getting out — or rather, she couldn’t risk her heart getting involved. She needed to define this marriage. She needed to say it out loud so she would believe it.
“Listen to me, Bell,” Jocelyn said, her voice low and serious. “Gaston isn’t… we aren’t real p>
Bella froze, her cup halfway to her mouth. “What do you mean p>
“It’s a contract,” Jocelyn whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “He’s gay. Or at least, not into women. He needed a beard. I needed protection from my mother and Kieran. It’s transactional p>