And if Saif dug deeper—if he found the truth behind what she’d done last year—he wouldn’t hesitate.He’d use it.Exploit it.
Ruin her.
She lifted her gaze and found him watching her again.
That same cold satisfaction was there—but so was something else.Curiosity.And that was worse.Because if Saif wascurious, he wouldn’t stop digging.
He never had.
Jemma swallowed hard.
She would not break.Not here.Not now.
“Until tomorrow, then,” she said, lifting her chin, her tone cool and steady.“I’ll be there at eight-thirty.”
“Be there at seven,” he said, folding his arms.“I want to go through the building and warehouse before the others arrive.I’ll need you to explain what’s happening on the ground.”
There was no chance she could get there by seven.None.
“My day starts at eight-thirty,” she replied calmly.“I’ll see you then.”
Then she turned, walked to the door, and didn’t flinch.Not even when her finger trembled as she pressed the elevator button.
He couldn’t see it.
Her body blocked his view.
And she made damn sure she held her head high.
The elevator doors opened.She stepped inside, moved to the far corner, and finally—finally—let out a breath.
Still, she didn’t allow herself to collapse.
Not yet.
Only once the doors slid shut and the elevator began its descent did she allow her shoulders to sag.
And even then, just for a moment.
An hour later, Jemma stepped into the apartment, the door sticking slightly from age and overuse before clicking shut behind her.
The air inside the tiny apartment smelled faintly of pasta and baby powder.Home.
Her shoulders sagged.
From the living room, she heard Jasper’s voice.
“You can do it, Jayla!It’s right there!You got it—come on!”
There was laughter in his voice—real, unguarded laughter.It tugged at something in her chest she hadn’t let herself feel all day.
She bent, dropped her water-logged purse onto the threadbare rug, and hung her keys on the tiny hook by the door.It was bent slightly from years of use.A small, stubborn detail she hadn’t had the time or energy to fix.
Only then did she turn.
Jasper was crouched on the floor beside Jayla, his long limbs awkward and folded as he encouraged the baby to roll over.Jayla grunted with effort, her legs kicking in slow, uneven bursts.And then, with a triumphant squeal, she flipped onto her tummy.
“There it is!”Jasper cheered, grinning so wide it lit up the whole room.“You did it, Jayla!You totally did it!”
