The loud music blasted through the speakers, and it made the floors vibrate as people yelled on the dance floor.Zendaya stood at a table with Juliette and Anaya, sipping a cocktail that was sweeter than she liked. Her friends were deep in conversation, laughing and pointing at the dancers nearby.Zendaya forced a smile, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Normally, she had no problem with such an atmosphere, but the same couldn't be said at that moment. The music was too loud, the air too stifling, and the crowd too chaotic for her liking. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jayden, what he was doing and how he must have felt when she told him she couldn’t come.He had intended to cook for her, and she had shut him down. Most importantly, she hadn't seen him all day and she missed him."Okay, we need to get you on the dance floor," Juliette declared, snapping Zendaya out of her thoughts.Before Zendaya could protest, Juliette added, "No excuses. You’ve been brooding all night.""I’m not
Zendaya watched in silence as Jayden let Daniel drop to the floor, groaning and clutching his arm. The club's bouncers finally arrived and dragged the defeated man out, but Jayden didn't even glance their way. His focus was entirely on Zendaya. Unlike the past few days where he had looked at her with tenderness, the look in his eyes told her he was angry, very angry at her. "Outside. Now," he ordered, his tone cold and furious. Zendaya didn't dare argue and she nodded. The cool night air hit her skin as she followed Jayden out of the club. She barely had time to process what had just happened before Jayden turned around to look at her, his expression dark with anger. "What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "Jayden, I-I. Let me explain,” she said. "Don't," he snapped, holding up a hand, and she swallowed what she was about to say. "Don't even try to explain. You lied to me." "I didn't lie," she countered weakly. Jayd
As Zendaya followed Jayden towards the mansion, the weight of the night pressed heavily on her chest.Her heart pounded in her ears, and her stomach twisted into tight knots, and it wasn't one where she felt butterflies.It was shocking to see just how fast things had gone downhill. Just this morning, he had made breakfast for her, and they had spoken on the phone and now, he was mad at her, rightfully so.‘What the hell have I done?’ Zendaya sighed.Her mind raced as she replayed everything that had led up to this moment. From the moment she stepped into the club, the excitement of being out with Juliette and Anaya had clouded her judgment. She hadn’t meant for it to escalate like this. She didn’t expect Daniel to get so aggressive. But Jayden? She had never seen him this angry, this cold.Well, she had, but back then she didn't care too much about it. Now she did.‘I should have just listened to my gut feeling and stayed home with him.’ she sighed once more.The guilt crushed her.
Jayden looked at the woman who was in front of him and he sighed. He was mad at her, very mad, but it was increasingly difficult to remain mad when she looked at him with those big blue eyes of hers. He would forgive her in the morning but for tonight, he needed to stand his ground so she wouldn’t repeat what had happened tonight again.As for those two sisters of his, he trusted they would be handled properly as well. Seeing that Jayden wasn’t relenting, she decided to try another way to get him to forgive her and so, she slowly approached him. The closer she got, the more her nerves threatened to overtake her, but she ignored them. This was something she had to do.Apologizing wasn’t going to cut it, and she wanted to see if he would be able to resist her charms.“What are you doing?” Jayden asked when she got to where he was.Without giving herself a chance to back out, Zendaya lifted herself onto her toes, her fingers gently brushing against his back as she leaned in, pressing
“Fuck!” Jayden groaned as he collapsed on the bed. He turned to look at Zendaya, who was staring distantly at the ceiling as he smiled as he touched her thigh, which made her whimper.No more, I can’t feel my legs,” she rasped breathlessly and Jayden chuckled as he had fulfilled his goal of wearing her out.Wrapping his hand around her waist, she buried her head in his chest. “Sleep, darling,” he told her, and she did.****Jayden sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on Zendaya’s peaceful face. Her breathing was steady, her lips slightly parted as she slept.The intimacy of their earlier moments lingered in the room, and it brought a smile to his face.He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face and she stirred slightly but didn’t wake, a soft sigh escaping her lips.“I don't want to leave you,” he murmured under his breath, leaning down to press a light kiss to her forehead. “But I have to do this.”He pulled the blanket up, tucking it arou
The sight of him half-baked wearing a dangerously low grey sweatpants made the heat rush in between her legs.Her lips curved upward before she could stop herself and he noticed it. Damn Jayden for looking so handsome.“Good morning,” Jayden said, his voice low and warm.“You’re still here?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought work took you away again.”Jayden smirked, leaning casually against the door frame. “What can I say? I'm full of surprises. Besides, I wasn't planning on leaving you after what happened between us”His words made the memory of their last disagreement surfaced, and her expression softened, a hint of guilt creeping in. “Are you still mad at me?”Jayden’s smirk faded, replaced by something quieter, gentler. He crossed the room in a few strides, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. “No,” he said firmly. “But I need you to promise me something.”Zendaya tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. “What?”“Don’t lie to me,” he said, his tone serious. “And don’
The warmth of the bathwater with her dipped inside it made her feel a lot better. Jayden crouched beside the tub, his hand swirling the water lazily as he watched her.She was too relaxed to say anything, but when she felt the weight of Jayden’s stare, she broke her silence.“You’re staring,” she murmured without opening her eyes.“You’re stunning,” he shot back without hesitation.Her lips twitched into a smile, though she tried to suppress it. Jayden’s charm was second to none, and they came out so easily.“Flattery won’t get you anywhere right now, and not especially what you’re thinking.”Jayden chuckled, his eyes shining with amusement. “Who said I’m trying to get anywhere? Maybe I just like seeing you like this.”Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting his. She raised a brow, her voice filled with suspicion. “Like what?”“Content and Happy,” he said simply.She was expecting another answer, and so she didn’t know how to respond. However, his next action proved she had been r
After breakfast, the two returned to the room and the atmosphere was calm, a contrast to the whirlwind of emotions from the night before, and Zendaya was content with it. Jayden had decided to work from home, surprisingly, and when she asked him why, he told her because she wanted him to stay back.She didn't tell him, even though the thought ran through her head, and she couldn't stop smiling over the fact that the man she once thought cold and emotionless could understand her without her having to say anything.Jayden’s laptop perched on his lap as he leaned against the headboard. His legs stretched out on either side of Zendaya, who rested comfortably against his chest, scrolling through her phone.Jayden smiled as his wait was finally paying off and all had gone according to his plan. He made a mental note to shove it in his cousin's face, as the asshole had been a pain in the ass about the whole issue.He returned his focus to his screen and his fingers started flying across
Two Months LaterThe Gerano mansion was buzzing with energy as the family and other well-wishers gathered to celebrate Jayden's birthday. The air was filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses as the sun began to set. Jayden stood near the center of the room, talking to friends when he caught sight of Lucas approaching him.“Excuse me,” he said to the men he was talking to and he walked towards Lucas.“Enjoying the party?” Jayden asked with a smirk.Lucas shot him a look, which showed that he had been forced to be there probably by his wife and daughter. “I still don't like you. Don’t push it,” he warned.Jayden pouted as he pretended to be sad. “Don’t say that father-in-law,” he said and he had to stifle his laughter at the horrified expression Lucas always gave whenever he called him that. After he was discharged from the hospital, he and Lucas sat down to have a chat about Zendaya and his relationship.Lucas' words were simple, “Hurt her and you die.”He wondered w
Jayden's losing consciousness lingered in Zendaya's mind as Lucas led her out of the dark, suffocating room. Her heart pounded as she hoped Jayden was okay. “Get an ambulance here immediately!” Justin barked at an officer as they exited the building.Zendaya stumbled slightly, her legs weak from exhaustion and fear. Lucas caught her, steadying her with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.“You’re safe now,” Lucas said gently.“But Jayden…” Zendaya whispered, her eyes never leaving Justin’s retreating figure as he carried Jayden toward an ambulance that had just arrived.“He’ll be fine,” Lucas assured her. “You need to rest as well.”Paramedics rushed to Justin, quickly taking Jayden onto a stretcher.Blood seeped through his bandages, and Zendaya’s stomach churned at the sight. She tried to follow, but Lucas held her back.“You need to get checked too,” Lucas insisted, gesturing to another paramedic who was approaching her.“No,” Zendaya protested, shaking her head. “I need to go wit
The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, and Zendaya braced herself for the end. But to her surprise, she felt no pain. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.Anil stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock. And her mouth fell open when she saw that he had been shot in the shoulder. Regardless, he proceeded to shoot her once again and another shoot to his legs brought him down on his knees."Step away from her!" a familiar voice roared with anger as he stepped into the room.It was Jayden. He looked disheveled, and her heart bled when she saw his physical condition. “Jayden?” Zendaya called her voice a mix of relief and disbelief.Anil snarled, raising his gun to fire, but Jayden didn’t hesitate. Another shot rang out, and this time, it was to his palm.Anil groaned in the weapon slipping from his grasp and Jayden kicked it away as he then pounced on Anil.“Jayden, he'll die,” Zendaya stated when Anil had turned into a bleeding mess.Her words
Zendaya’s head throbbed as she slowly opened her eyes. She saw she was in a dark room and a frown appeared on her face. Her body ached as she tried to move, only to find herself bound to a chair. Her wrists were tied tightly behind her back, the coarse rope digging into her skin as she moved. Panic immediately set in as she struggled, her breaths quick and shallow.The faint creak of a door opening sent chills down her spine as she turned in the direction of where the sound had come from. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice hoarse. “What do you want?”The figure didn’t respond immediately, stepping closer until the overhead light flickered on. The sudden brightness made her wince, but when her eyes adjusted, her blood ran cold as she saw who was in front of her.“Anil?” she whispered in disbelief.He stood before her, a cruel smile on his face that sent shivers down her spine. He looked different his usually composed demeanor replaced with something sinister and there was a
The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway greeter Jasmine and Justin rushed toward the ER, their steps hurried and frantic. The receptionist’s voice on the phone had been calm but grave when she’d informed them of Jayden’s accident. Jasmine’s heart hadn’t stopped pounding since as her mind conjured every worst-case scenario about Jayden and how he was doing. Justin walked beside her, his face pale and tight with worry.“What do they mean someone hit him and then disappeared?” Jasmine muttered, her voice trembling. “Who does that? Who leaves someone on the road like that?”Justin placed a hand on her back, and he rubbed it gently. Though his expression was grim. “We’ll find out. Let’s focus on Jayden first.”The moment they reached the nurse’s station, a staff member gestured them toward a private room. “He’s stable,” the nurse reassured them quickly, seeing the panic etched on their faces, and it made them calm down a bit. “The doctors did a thorough examination, and his in
Jayden drove aimlessly through the city, the steady hum of the car engine doing little to drown out the storm raging in his mind. As he remembered his father’s revelation, he felt suffocated. His hands clenched the steering wheel with such intensity that his knuckles turned white, and the faint creak of the leather beneath his grip was the only sound competing with his labored breathing.Jasmine isn’t my mother.The thought repeated itself over and over, echoing in his mind. He couldn’t believe it. She was the woman who had raised him, loved him, been there for him through every high and low. She wasn’t his real mother.Every memory of her felt tainted now, overshadowed by the truth. The fact that they had hid it from him for all of his life and probably wouldn’t have told him had the article not come out was a slap to his face.The betrayal hit him in waves, each one stronger than the last. Why hadn’t they told him? Why had they waited until the news forced their hand? He thoug
Jayden drove home in a haze, his hands gripping the steering wheel, and he imagined his being someone's neck. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. The article, the headline that Jasmine wasn’t his real mother, echoed in his mind. His mind struggled to make sense of it, but something deep inside him was beginning to put two and two together, and something began to shift. ‘You’re being unreasonable,’ he muttered to him as he shut those thoughts out of his head. The drive home felt longer than it should have been, and when he finally arrived at the mansion, the weight of it all pressed heavily on his chest. As he entered the house, a strange sense of heaviness hit him. It was more than just the eerie quiet that settled over everything; there was something palpable in the air. “Your parents are in their room, sir.” The helper who opened the door informed him. Jayden nodded, his heart pounding harder as he made his way up
Zendaya stirred awake, the first rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains. The room was warm, and the faint smell of Jayden lingered in the air, a mix of his cologne and something undeniably him. Opening her eyes, she blinked a few times before turning her head to see Jayden sleeping beside her, his face relaxed and peaceful.Her lips curled into a soft smile as she took in the sight of him. He was lying on his stomach, the sheets were around his waist, leaving his broad back and a glimpse of his toned arms on display to her.His dark hair was messy, sticking up in different directions from her fingers running through it last night.Last night. Her cheeks warmed at the memory.Last night, he’d truly proven he was a beast, just as he’d promised. The passion, the fire, the way he’d driven her to the edge over and over, it left her breathless just thinking about it and the heat rushed to her legs even though he was sore. A smile appeared on her face as she brushed her fingers o
The room was dimly lit, the only source of illumination being the faint glow from a laptop screen on a cluttered desk. .Papers and files were scattered, some bearing Jayden’s name in bold letters. The two men stood on opposite sides of the room, their faces partially hidden.The taller man paced, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as his mind raced. He finally stopped, turning to face his boss, who was seated behind the desk.“We’ve got something big,” the taller man said, his voice laced with excitement and malice. “Something that’ll change everything, boss.”The boss didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the man before him. “What is it?” he asked, his tone calm but deadly.The taller man hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and placing a file on the desk. “It’s about Jayden,” he said, tapping the file with a finger. “Something that has been hidden.”The boss arched a brow, his interest piqued. He opened the