Page 34 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
Exactly how Jace is trying to control Sienna's.
Jace couldn't stop his parents from destroying each other. So, he'd instead turned to controlling his own life and the people in it. He'd succeeded so far.
Until Sienna came along and challenged all his notions. He thought he could use her need for money to his advantage. Been confident she'd do exactly what he wanted.
But she'd shocked him out of his complicity.
She'd jumped in that pool, almost naked. Then walked away with Asher.
The same Asher he'd turned down in the past. He can't get his head around that.
And then Jace realizes then why he's so angry. It's not at Darren, or even at Asher for what he'd done.
It's because Sienna makes him feel emotions he's long buried inside. Jace has spent years living fast and loose, shallow. Trying to control the people around him. He's spent his life trying to prove that like Darren, he too can be a self-made man. All of this to win Darren's approval.
Now, on the verge of his own ventures failing, he's back at Darren's doorstep, back for the same millions he's spent his life running from. For that's the only thing that can save him from bankruptcy. From losing face in front of the world.
Yeah, he's his father's son all right. He'll do anything to maintain the veneer of success to the external world. Even manipulate the only person who's held up a mirror to him, shown him who he has become.
Jace's anger fades away, replaced with jealousy. Sheer, gut-wrenching jealousy. He's going to find her and get her away from Asher.
As he turns to leave, Darren's voice stops him.
"You have one more chance to bring your...girlfriend to heel. To show you are serious about settling down." Darren says. "That there is something more than merely lust between the two of you. I want you to have what I never found."
"Have what? True love?" Jace asks, his voice sharp with disbelief.
"Peace," his father replies. "I want you to find yourself, Jacob."
Jace's head snaps up at that. No one called him by his given name. Except his father.
Darren had done so only when he was furious with his son, or when...he was overcome by emotion. The last time was at his mother's funeral. When his father had hugged him.
Now Jace is grown. And yet inside, a part of him is still that confused boy. Perhaps that part will always be a boy thirsting for his mother's love, his father's approval. Yet, for the first time, Jace looks past his father's faults. To the iron will inside. His father cares for him in his own way, wants him to become his own man.
Unorthodox as his methods may be.
Jace tilts his head, nods.
Then without another word, he turns, and stalks toward the exit.
Now, though, he must find Sienna. Get her away from Asher.
As Jace heads for the door, Eric walks up to him to lay a hand on his sleeve. Jace shakes him off.
To his surprise, Eric grabs his hand and turns him around, letting go almost immediately when Jace trains his eyes on him.
Eric holds his ground. "Go easy on her."
"You keep your hands off her." Jace snarls back before he can stop himself.
Holding up both his hands to show he means no harm, Eric says, "Don't see a ring on her finger that indicates she is yours. Besides, after what she did today, every man in the room wants her, will probably pay to have her for his mistress."
He’s right.
No fucking way is that going to happen. Sienna belongs to him and he is going to make sure everyone here gets that message loud and clear.
Jace doesn't stop to wonder when the business arrangement between him and Sienna turned so personal
