He knows. He brought me here to kill me.
“Where are we?” I ask, my voice shaky.
Jacob smiles that rare, boyish smile that still has the power to melt me. “It’s for you. If you want it.”
“For me?” My brows knit together. Then it hits me. “No. You didn’t.”
“I did.” His voice is full of warmth. “You hate your job and you’ve been dreaming about starting your own business for years. Even if it doesn’t always show, I see you, Jenna.”
My heart skips a beat. The words start sinking in as I think about all the possibilities.
“I see that you’re not happy. I see how you light up when you talk about all your ideas. And how frustrated you get when Shantel ignores them at work. Maybe this place will help.”
A mix of emotions rushes through me. It’s so thoughtful. But I’m afraid of failing. Of disappointing him. If I do this, it has to be on my terms, not with his money. And not when I don’t deserve anything from him anymore.
“I can’t,” I say as I shake my head. “I’m not ready. I still have so much to learn. And I’m not taking your money for something I might fail at.”
His brow furrows. “What are you scared of?”
“I’m not. Just being realistic.” I sigh. “Do you know how many businesses like this tank after the first year?”
“Fine, I get it,” he says, but his eyes show disappointment. “If you change your mind, my uncle said he’ll hold off on putting it back on the market for thirty days. The deposit’s fully refundable.”
His grand gestures give me emotional whiplash. One minute, he’s pulling away. The next, he’s reeling me back in—dangling a dream and a brand-new office space.
But when he takes my hand, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time… love.
“You’ve been ready for months, Jenna.” His touch makes my pulse race. “The only thing stopping you is you.”
He’s right. I’ve worked my ass off. I’ve spent so many late nights learning from the best. Maybe it is time to do it on my own. I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Thank you. Really. I appreciate this more than you know. But I need to start smaller.”
His thumb brushes my skin with soft strokes. “Timing is everything, I guess,” he says with a warm smile, just as his phone buzzes.
I grin, nodding for him to take it. “Go ahead, answer.”
As Jacob gets distracted with a work call, I start typing.
Jenna:If your sister still wants me, I’d love to plan her wedding.
A reply comes almost instantly.
Dylan:She does. And so do I.
My heart pounds. Not from fear, or from how Dylan makes me feel. But from anticipation. And maybe even hope.
I’m back on the bridge. The air is thick and heavy. Birds cry out, circling overhead. Shadows creeping closer. A figure approaches. The face hidden behind a mask.
Drip. Drip. Blood?
Maybe water? I can’t tell.
Hands clamp around my throat.
Pressure. Tightening. The world blurs at the edges.
My lungs seize, my body fights—
Then silence.
