Chapter 269

If the park itself wasn't the issue, the problem must have been Jace. Recalling the nightmare and the reason for my call, I asked, "Is this about Jace? Did something happen to him?"

Wayne didn't respond immediately. A pause preceded his eventual reply, "If you're worried, ask him yourself."

Classic Wayne—cutting through the fluff. No one's truly clueless, after all. His words left me speechless. He quickly added, "I just mean that even though you're not together anymore, you've been like family for so long."

I offered a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, I'm just worried about making Tanya jealous."

Wayne chuckled. "Rea, let's grab lunch sometime," he suggested.

Since he'd just called us family, I didn't see any reason to refuse.

After hanging up, I sighed with relief. It seemed Jace wasn't in trouble. But the dream remained unsettling. Was it because of his question yesterday—if I'd be sad if he died? Ten years of history wouldn't vanish overnight; he felt like a part of me. But I was with Hayden now, and Jace would eventually become a part of my past.

I set down my phone and was about to get out of bed when Hayden's message appeared: [You awake?]

I didn't reply, and a second message arrived: [Breakfast is ready and in the warmer. Make sure you eat. Also, you don’t need to come to the office today.]

What? He was new at the company, but he acted like he owned the place! Then again, with his $1.5 million salary, Ron clearly saw him as a significant asset. If Hayden requested I have the day off, Ron would likely agree without hesitation. Still, it felt…wrong. Uneasy. Just because he was my boyfriend didn't mean he could interfere with my job. But I knew he was simply being considerate, so I replied: [Okay.]

Despite Hayden's request, after getting ready and eating breakfast, I went to the office anyway. My legs felt as though I'd run a marathon.

"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were off today," Ron said, coffee in hand, as we bumped into each other.

"Since when did I say I was taking a day off?" I retorted, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Ron looked stunned, then offered an awkward laugh. "My bad." Such a smooth talker. And all this to cover for Hayden. But seriously, they'd just met.

"Get back to work," Ron said, attempting a hasty retreat.

"Mr. Shane," I called after him, "Did you know Hayden before this?"

"Before?" Ron blinked. "Does 'before today' count?"

I knew he was evasive. I raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Never mind."

I headed to my office, but before I could sit down, a colleague approached. "Ms. Kay, you're here! There's a client waiting for you in the lounge. He said you arranged the meeting."

That was news to me. I frowned. "Are you sure that person is here to see me? How long has he been waiting?"

"Yes, he specifically asked for you. He's been here for almost an hour."

Curiosity and a touch of annoyance prompted me to grab my bag and head to the lounge. When I opened the door and saw who was sitting there, my heart nearly stopped.