Page 35 of The Jaded Notes

“Yes, but why would you build something like this?”

“Again, not what we’re here to talk about.” He runs his palm over his beard, adjusts a few pillows, sits across from me, and rests back while still radiating power and control. “I’d like it if you told me what happened in my office.”

I glance down.

Just be honest, Livianna. He said it wouldn’t leave this room.

Thinking about Lehlani Rose has my heart pounding and my pulse racing. The lights adjust to a deeper lavender, and the air fills with the newly familiar scent that’s disarming.

Somehow, the room is reacting to my emotions. It’s fascinating.

I raise my gaze to a patient Jaxon. “My business… It shouldn’t be called Livianna Grace Designs.”

“Then what should it be?”

“I want it to reflect…” I check in with myself and trust I’m safe. “My company is a lie.”

He studies me for a brief moment. “It’s not a lie. It’s just not aligned.”

“Yes! That’s exactly how I should’ve articulated what I’ve been trying to say.”

He nods as if he’s known all along. “Who is she?”

“What?”

“Earlier, you said, ‘She deserves to be seen.’ Who were you talking about?”

Panic strikes me, but Jaxon reads it as fast as it hits. He lifts a gray blanket and places it over my legs. It’s heavy and grounding.

“Livianna, the longer you keep this deep-seated secret to yourself, the longer you’ll live with your self-induced suffering.”

Self-induced? What the ever-living…?

My eyes round. “You think I want to feel like this?”

“No, but I believe you’re terrified ofnotfeeling like you do. It’s part of you.”

“What? That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Then why not tell me what you’re hiding and let yourself be free of it? There’s a reason, a payoff you’re getting by dealing with thisthingall on your own.”

His words make a bit of sense. What am I getting by keeping this in? The truth comes as fast as the question leaves my mind.

My insides empty. “I can’t tell anyone because I shouldn’t be here. I don’t deserve to live, not after what I did.”

“What did you do that makes you believe you don’tdeserve to be alive?” He rubs my leg and shoots me a sincere look of wonder.

My chest heats. I want to tell him everything, but my world tips and adrenaline snakes up my spine.

Oh, no. I’m not falling for this mindfuckery. I stand and get ready to run the hell out of this chamber of…?

Fuck if I know what this place is. It’s a mind game. I take one exaggerated step away.

Jax stays where he is. “If you leave now, you’re choosing to let your dreams die. I won’t chase you, Livianna. I’ll let you go, but don’t expect anything more from me.”

I growl, knowing I’m out of my league trying to beat him at this…

Fuck!