Page 49 of Captured By Fate

“Shut up.” I cut her off. I won't be swayed by her crocodile tears. She's not going anywhere now.

Spinning away, I resist making eye contact with her. I can't let myself be swayed by the feelings she evokes. The walls around my heart have to stay fortified, no matter what she makes me feel. I won't be betrayed again.

Kelley scrambles to sit up, desperate explanations tumbling from her lips. She pleads for me to understand - no information was sent. She stole my phone but couldn't bring herself to betray me. Because she's in love with me.

My rage boils over at her words and I cut her off, my voice a low growl. "Love? You think this is about love?"

I reject her declarations of devotion, laughing harshly. It's a cold, empty sound, void of any warmth we shared before.

"I don't do love, sweetheart. This was just a distraction, a way to pass the time."

Even as the cruel words leave my mouth, part of me recoils. But I shove that weak voice down deep. I cannot afford vulnerability.

Kelley's face crumples in anguish and I steel myself against the ache in my chest. I tell her to shove her so-called love away, that it means nothing to me. That she is nothing.

"You're just my captive, a plaything. Don't delude yourself into thinking this was more."

Each lie feels like a knife twisting in my gut. But the walls around my heart have to stay fortified. I turn away, unable to bear the devastation in her eyes any longer.

"Jackson, please," Kelley chokes out, her voice thick with tears. "I know you feel something too. This is real, I know it!"

Her words land like blows and I clench my fists against the turmoil within me. "Enough!" I bellow. "I won't hear any more of this bullshit."

I storm towards the door, desperate to escape. Pausing in the doorway, I deliver one final warning without meeting her eyes.

"You're not going anywhere. Get used to your cage, little bird."

Then I'm gone, each footstep cracking my veneer of indifference.

Work is just one fire after another.

“How did this information get out?” Vince demands, pointing the finger at me. Secretaries scatter with mountains of paperwork, all hands on deck as we search for the source of the leak.

In the hours that pass, the anger in me builds. I know just who to ask. I can hardly suffer another minute at the office until I get my answers.

Darkness falls, and with it comes my silhouette in her doorway once again, an accusing finger pointing straight at Kelley.

"Our client’s secret got out. And everyone's pointing fingers at you." My accusation fills the room like the roar of thunder.

One of our prominent socialite clients was caught kissing a racer, and now her indiscretion is public knowledge. I knew Kelley couldn't be trusted. She must have sent the info from my phone.

My glare bores into her as I await her pathetic excuses. But the walls around my heart won't come down, no matter how she pleads. I refuse to be made a fool of again.

Kelley's defense is swift, her frustration rising to meet my accusations head-on. "Do you think I control people's actions? That I orchestrated this somehow?"

She stands firm, fists clenched at her sides.

"I didn't take or send anything from your phone. But go ahead, blame me if it makes you feel better." Her eyes flash with anger and disappointment as she holds my gaze unflinchingly.

My fist hits the wall near her head, my face taut with fury as I spit out "Secrecy! Loyalty! Reputation! Those are the values of our club. And you've trampled them all!"

I lean in close, eyes blazing with unchecked rage. "I don't care what lies you spew, I know you leaked that photo. You've made a mockery of everything we stand for."

I search her face for any hint of remorse, for a crack in her defiant facade. But she stares back resolutely, her breath steady even as my own comes in heaves.

The argument spirals, Kelley's retorts crashing against my steadfast blame, a tempest contained within four walls. Her insistence on innocence beats against my fury like waves upon a rock, neither one giving ground.

"I didn't take anything from your phone, I swear!" she cries, voice strained.

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