CHAPTER 11

"You need to stop looking at me like that, Skylar." Jasper's voice startled me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I flinched, clutching my notebook tighter against my chest. "Like what?" I asked, though I knew what he meant.

He smirked, leaning casually against the edge of his desk, his dark suit pristine, his tie slightly loosened. "Like you think I have all the answers to your problems. I don't. But I can help if you let me."

Help. The word sounded foreign coming from him, and yet, lately, he had been the only one offering anything remotely close to guidance. It felt like stepping onto thin ice, but I was desperate for any sense of stability.

"I don't know what to think anymore," I admitted quietly, lowering my gaze. His office felt stifling, the walls closing in on me as his piercing eyes studied me.

Jasper straightened, walking over to me. He moved with the precision of a predator, calculated and smooth, but his tone remained soft. "Then let me help you figure it out. You've been carrying too much on your own, Skylar. No one should have to do that."

I wanted to believe him. The weight of everything—the secrets, the lies, the constant fear—pressed down on me so heavily that the idea of someone sharing even a fraction of it was tempting. But this was Jasper. He was the last person I should trust.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound firm. "You've never cared about me before. Why now?"

He chuckled, low and deep, his lips curving into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maybe I've changed. Maybe I see someone who's lost and needs a hand to hold."

The sincerity in his voice threw me off balance. I searched his face for a crack in his mask, something to tell me this was a game, but he held my gaze steadily.

"If I tell you what's really going on," I started hesitantly, "how do I know you won't use it against me?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Because you've got nothing left to lose, Skylar. And neither do I."

The words hit me harder than I expected. Jasper had always been untouchable in my eyes—confident, ruthless, and always in control. Hearing him admit vulnerability felt like seeing a chink in his armor.

"Fine," I said, exhaling shakily. "But if you cross me, I swear—"

"I won't," he interrupted firmly, his hand briefly brushing my shoulder. The touch was fleeting, but it left a chill in its wake. "Now, tell me everything."

---

Sitting across from him in his office, I poured out pieces of my story—the pregnancy, the suffocating weight of my uncle's watchful eyes, the growing distrust between Julian and me. I left out key details, of course, like the baby's father, but Jasper didn't press. He listened intently, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, his expression unreadable.

When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on me. "You're stronger than I thought," he said, almost to himself.

"I don't feel strong," I admitted.

"Strength isn't about feeling it. It's about surviving when everything is trying to crush you."

His words lingered, echoing in the silence that followed. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe him, to think that maybe I could survive this.

But then he stood, walking around the desk to tower over me. "You can't do this alone, Skylar," he said, his tone almost commanding. "You need allies. And whether you like it or not, I'm the only one who's willing to stand by you."

"What do you want in return?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He smirked, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his eyes. "Just your trust. For now."

For now. The words were a warning in themselves, but I nodded reluctantly. What choice did I have?

---

Over the next few weeks, Jasper's presence in my life became inescapable. He started showing up unexpectedly—at the office, outside my apartment, even at the café I frequented to escape the chaos.

"You're stalking me," I accused one evening, stepping out of the café to find him leaning against his car.

"I prefer the term 'keeping an eye out for you,'" he said smoothly, pushing off the car to approach me. "You never know who might be watching."

The implication sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced around, half-expecting to see my uncle's shadow lurking nearby, but the street was empty.

"You need to relax," Jasper said, noticing my unease. "Constant paranoia will eat you alive."

"Easy for you to say," I snapped. "You're not the one being hunted."

His expression darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something raw and unguarded in his eyes. "You'd be surprised what I've been through, Skylar."

The vulnerability in his voice caught me off guard. Before I could respond, he placed a hand on my arm, his grip firm but not harsh. "Let me drive you home. It's not safe for you to be out alone this late."

I hesitated, but the exhaustion weighing on me won out. Nodding silently, I allowed him to lead me to his car.

---

The ride was quiet, save for the hum of the engine. I stared out the window, my mind racing with thoughts of Julian, my uncle, and the baby growing inside me.

"You're thinking too hard," Jasper said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Maybe I have a lot to think about," I shot back.

He chuckled, the sound low and almost comforting. "Fair enough. But overthinking won't solve anything. Sometimes, you just have to let things play out."

"And what if they don't play out the way I want them to?"

He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. "Then you adapt. You're stronger than you think, Skylar. Don't forget that."

His words stirred something in me—a mix of hope and fear. For all his flaws, Jasper had a way of making me feel seen, even when I wanted to hide from the world.

As he pulled up outside my apartment building, I turned to thank him, but the words caught in my throat. His gaze was intense, his proximity overwhelming.

"You're not alone in this," he said quietly. "Remember that."

The sincerity in his voice was disarming, and for a moment, I believed him. But as I stepped out of the car and watched him drive away, a nagging doubt crept in.

---

The next morning at work, I couldn't shake the feeling of Jasper's lingering presence. He was in my thoughts, his words echoing in my mind as I went about my tasks.

But the reprieve was short-lived. By midday, my uncle summoned me to his office.

"Skylar," he greeted with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How are you settling in?"

"Fine," I replied cautiously, sensing an undercurrent of malice in his tone.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "I hear you've been spending time with Jasper. Interesting choice of company."

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm. "He's been helping me adjust to the new job," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

"Helping," my uncle repeated, his smile widening. "How generous of him. But I wonder… does he know about your little secret?"

Panic surged through me, but I masked it with a cold glare. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Oh, Skylar. You can't hide forever. Secrets have a way of coming to light."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to scream. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

His smile faded, replaced by a hard, calculating look. "Just remember, dear niece, trust is a fragile thing. Be careful who you give it to."

I stormed out of his office, my mind racing. His words were a warning, but what did he know? And more importantly, how much had he told Jasper?

As I returned to my desk, my phone buzzed with a message.

"Dinner tonight? My treat. —Jasper"

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. Was he part of my uncle's game, or was he genuinely trying to help me?

I typed a hesitant reply: "Okay. What time?"

His response came almost instantly: "7 PM. I'll pick you up."

As I put my phone down, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. Trust was a fragile thing, indeed.