Page 119 of The Jaded Notes

“The truth is, Jax, I don’t want to lose what we have, what we’ve built together. And I'm terrified that if I stay here and you leave, we’ll just...fade away. Long distance, time zone gaps, and living different lives… It would kill us slowly.”

With her admission, I visibly shudder. “Why do you believe that?”

She takes a shaky breath. “I’ve been in a relationship like that before, and it turned out awful. There would be days when I couldn’t reach him, and it hurt. I can’t do that again. Ever.”

“So you’d rather take the risk of starting over together?”

“Yes.” Her voice gains strength. “But I need to know this isn’t just about convenience for you. That you’re not asking me to come just so you don’t have to deal with the messiness of ending things.”

I close the distance between us, cupping her face in my hands. “Livianna, if this were just about convenience, I would’ve let you walk away tonight. I went looking for you because the thought of losing you makes me feel like I can’t breathe.”

Her eyes search mine, looking for lies, for cracks in my resolve. Whatever she finds there seems to satisfy her because she smiles slowly.

“Okay. But if we’re doing this, Jax, we’re doing it right. I’m not moving to California to be your kept woman. I needmy own space, my own office, and my own life that intersects with yours but isn’t consumed by it.”

“Of course. Whatever you want.”

She pulls away, pacing to the window as her mind clearly starts working through the logistics. “Your building in LA, the one where CVI is headquartered. Do you have available office space?”

“Several, actually.”

“I want the office directly across from yours.” She turns back to me, the designer and the businesswoman taking over. “Close enough that we can collaborate easily, but separate enough that I maintain my independence.”

I nod, already mentally organizing the building layout. “Consider it yours.”

“You said you’d continue mentoring me. With the way my brand is exploding, I need that guidance now more than ever.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Good. My designs are flying off the table, and it terrifies me. I don’t want to drown in my own success.”

“You won’t. I’ll be there for you whenever you need.”

“And I want to pay market rate for the space. No special deals or ‘relationship discounts.’ This needs to be a legitimate business arrangement.”

“Livianna—”

“No.” She sends me a stern stare. “This is important to me, Jax. If I’m going to make this move, I need to know I can stand on my own two feet. That I’m there becauseI’mbuilding something valuable, not because I’m your girlfriend.”

The word “girlfriend” hangs between us, loaded with implications we’ve both been dancing around. But I don’t push it.

Instead, I focus on what she needs to hear. “Market rate it is. But I reserve the right to take you to lunch every day.”

A slight curl tugs at her lips. “I suppose I could allow that.”

“And dinner. And breakfast, when you’ll let me.”

“Don’t push it, Crowne. My parents still can’t know about us. Not until my relationship with them is solid again. I don’t want anything to interfere with that.”

“Of course. I agree with all your demands.”

Her grin is wider now, and some of the tension leaves her shoulders. We stand there for a moment, the weight of the decision settling between us.

“When do we leave?” she asks.

“Two weeks. That’ll give you time to wrap up anything urgent here.”

She glances around the penthouse that’s become as familiar to her as her own place. “It’s going to be strange leaving all this behind.”