Chapter 2: Jarren’s Circle

#### **Chapter 2: Jarren’s Circle**

The soft glow of the city skyline illuminated Jarren Villarreal’s office as he leaned back in his leather chair, eyes fixed on the sprawling view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. From here, everything seemed within his grasp—the towering buildings, the bustling streets, the people. This was his kingdom, and he was its ruler.

Yet, behind the sleek surface of his well-tailored suit and confident demeanor, Jarren carried a weight few people knew about. His five closest friends—Gabriel, Luke, Renz, Sean, and Martin—had been by his side for years, but even they didn’t fully understand what it was like to be Jarren Villarreal. To be born into wealth, with an empire waiting for him to take over, and the crushing expectation that came with it.

_"Sir, the documents for the Villarreal-Sierra deal are ready for your review,"_ his assistant’s voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.

_"Thank you, Stephanie. I’ll take a look later,"_ Jarren replied, his voice calm and composed. But as soon as the door clicked shut, the mask fell away. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. This wasn’t just another deal—it was a key to solidifying his place in the company’s future. But there was more to it than that.

There was Keisha Joli.

He couldn’t pinpoint when his irritation with her had started, but ever since their first meeting, something about her got under his skin. She was fierce, driven, and utterly unwilling to play by the rules he was used to. She challenged him in a way no one else ever had, and for that, he both hated and admired her. Mostly, he hated how she made him feel—vulnerable, as if the walls he had carefully constructed around himself were crumbling at the edges.

The door to his office swung open, and Gabriel strode in, followed closely by the rest of Jarren's inner circle.

_"Look who decided to take a break from running the world!"_ Gabriel joked, flashing his usual charming grin.

_"Nice to see you, too,"_ Jarren said, shaking hands with him. Gabriel had been his best friend since childhood, the one constant in a life full of ever-changing faces. While Jarren was cool-headed and reserved, Gabriel was the opposite—loud, easygoing, and always ready with a joke.

Luke followed behind, more serious and sharp-eyed, the analytical mind of the group. Then came Renz, the youngest and most carefree, with a smile that never left his face. Sean, the reserved but fiercely loyal friend, quietly took his seat, and finally Martin, the reliable and pragmatic one, entered last, carrying a bottle of whiskey like he always did when they got together.

_"We thought we'd drag you out of your tower for a drink,"_ Luke said, his tone half-joking, but with an edge that Jarren recognized too well.

_"Or more like rescue you from all this business crap,"_ Renz added, plopping down onto one of the leather chairs in Jarren’s office.

_"You know, it wouldn’t kill you to take a break every now and then, man,"_ Martin added, pouring a glass of whiskey and handing it to Jarren.

_"I don’t need rescuing,"_ Jarren replied, though he took the drink anyway.

_"Sure you don’t,"_ Gabriel said with a smirk, sitting down opposite him. _"But I heard you’ve got a new business partner who's giving you hell. Joli, right?"_

At the mention of Keisha, Jarren’s grip on the glass tightened slightly. He forced himself to relax, not wanting to give away how much she was actually affecting him.

_"She’s difficult, that’s all,"_ Jarren said, his voice casual. _"Thinks she can outsmart me, but I’m not worried."_

_"Difficult or just different?"_ Luke asked, always the one to see beyond the surface.

Jarren glanced at his friends. They all knew him too well, knew how he could charm his way through most situations, but also knew how rare it was for someone to really get under his skin. And Keisha, for all her stubbornness and attitude, had managed to do just that.

_"She’s just another business partner,"_ Jarren said, leaning back in his chair. _"I’ve dealt with people like her before."_

But even as he said the words, he knew they weren’t entirely true. Keisha wasn’t like anyone else he had dealt with. From the moment they had met, there was a tension between them that he couldn’t shake. She didn’t fall in line like everyone else. Instead, she pushed back, refusing to let him have the upper hand.

Jarren remembered their first meeting vividly. The boardroom had been filled with executives, and as usual, he had entered the room confident, in control. He had expected the usual polite smiles, the nods of approval that came with his presence. But when his eyes landed on Keisha, seated at the opposite end of the table, he was met with something else entirely—defiance.

She didn’t rise to greet him like the others, didn’t offer the usual pleasantries. Instead, she gave him a curt nod and immediately began laying out her position on the negotiation, as if she didn’t care who he was or what his title meant.

Jarren had been caught off guard by her audacity, but more than that, he had been intrigued. Most people in his position would have been offended by her lack of deference, but there was something about her confidence, about the way she carried herself, that had piqued his interest. For the first time in a long time, he felt challenged.

_"Earth to Jarren?"_ Renz’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. _"You good, man?"_

_"Yeah, just thinking about the next move for the deal,"_ Jarren said, though his mind was still on Keisha.

_"Right,"_ Gabriel said, leaning forward. _"Speaking of next moves, what’s the deal with you and Miss Joli? I’ve heard the tension’s pretty thick every time you two are in the same room."_

Jarren’s eyes narrowed slightly. _"She’s... difficult to work with. Thinks she can take control of the situation. But I’ll handle it."_

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. _"Is that what this is about? You don’t like her because she doesn’t fall in line like everyone else?"_

Jarren stayed silent for a moment. It wasn’t that simple. Sure, he was used to people bending to his will, used to having the final say in every deal. But with Keisha, it wasn’t just about control. It was about how she saw him.

He knew the look she gave him—the one that said she thought he was just another spoiled rich kid who had everything handed to him. And maybe in some ways, she was right. But what Keisha didn’t see was how much pressure came with that privilege, how hard he worked to prove himself in a world that only saw his last name, not the man behind it.

_"She’s underestimating me,"_ Jarren finally said, his voice low. _"And I’m going to prove her wrong."_

_"Or,"_ Luke chimed in, _"maybe she’s exactly what you need. Someone who doesn’t care about your money or your name. Someone who’ll make you work for it."_

Jarren shot him a look, but Luke just shrugged.

_"I’m serious, man. You’ve always had everything come easy to you. Maybe it’s time for a real challenge."_

Jarren didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure if Luke was right or if he was just overthinking it, but one thing was certain—Keisha Joli wasn’t going to be an easy opponent. And for some reason, that made him want to win even more.

---

Later that evening, as Jarren sat alone in his office, his thoughts wandered back to Keisha. He replayed their interactions in his mind, the way she had stood up to him in that meeting, the fire in her eyes when she spoke.

She wasn’t afraid of him, and in a way, that made her different from everyone else in his world. Most people either feared him or tried to win his favor because of his money and power. But Keisha... she didn’t care about any of that.

Jarren couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than what she let on. She was fierce, yes, but there was a vulnerability beneath the surface, a softness that he had caught glimpses of in their brief encounters.

He wasn’t sure why, but he felt drawn to her, even if they clashed at every turn.

As he stared out at the city lights, Jarren made a decision. He was going to win this deal with Keisha—both in business and whatever unspoken battle lay between them. She might think she had the upper hand, but Jarren Villarreal always came out on top.

No matter what it took.