JADE LAURENT
1003 Words
I woke up warm.
Too warm.
And too… satisfied. Like the kind of satisfaction you only get from reckless decisions and a man who apparently had a personal vendetta against sleep.
Kai was still out cold beside me, the sheet tangled around his waist, his hand resting palm up like even in sleep he was offering more. His face was peaceful. Chiselled jaw, dark lashes against cheekbones sculpted like he was born to ruin someone’s life. Which, judging by how many times I lost count last night, was very much on-brand.
I blinked at him, cheeks heating with the flood of memory. My thighs ached in the best way. My neck was marked. My soul? Probably sold.
But also? This was a very bad idea.
I sat up slowly, careful not to disturb him, and slid out of bed, picking up my dress from the floor. The damn thing still smelled like coconut liquor and guilt. My heels dangled from one hand, my dignity barely clinging to the other.
By the time I snuck back into my suite, Evie was still sleeping, dead to the world and star-fished across her bed. I shut the door quietly behind me and leaned against it, pressing a hand towards my face.
What was I thinking?
He didn’t even give a last name. Or maybe he did, and I was too distracted by his hands to remember. Either way, it didn’t matter. He was probably already boarding a yacht to wherever Sin lives, and I had a retreat to plan.
I took a long, scalding shower, equal parts damage control and denial, then pulled on a crisp, tailored white blouse and soft beige pants. Corporate enough to say “I’m serious,” but breezy enough to scream “island chic.” I even added a touch of lip gloss, just to feel like I hadn’t completely lost control of my life.
Evie emerged from her room just as breakfast was wheeled in. She looked at me over a pineapple slice.
“Walk of shame complete?”
“Please,” I snorted. “That was a victory march.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Wait, you actually did it? With that guy?”
I just raised a brow and sipped my coffee.
She squealed and flung a croissant at me. “Jade! On your almost wedding night?”
“It was better than the real one would’ve been.”
I was such a badass. Now I was such a hoe. Yay.
Holding that thought, I powered on my phone, ignoring the multitude of notifications and sent a concise message to the family group chat stating that I couldn’t marry Pete and was also ending my relationship with him to pursue my own interests and goals.
I then powered off the phone again. There. That’ll do.
We ate in a mix of frantic chewing and giddy giggles while scrolling through the itinerary. The GreyStorm team had booked out a coastal estate called “The Ridge,” and we were expected to meet them by 10 a.m. to begin the retreat planning process. Team introductions, a walk-through, vision presentation. Basic stuff. Which was good, because I was running entirely on caffeine, adrenaline, and muscle memory.
We arrived at the estate ten minutes late, thanks to my fourth outfit change and Evie’s eyeliner disaster.
The Ridge was impressive. Grand, modern, and intimidatingly clean. Security ushered us through double glass doors into a conference room filled with a mix of resort staff, logistics coordinators, and a few sharp-dressed people who definitely didn’t come to the beach.
As we slipped in, a tall woman in a tailored lavender suit glanced up and gave us a tight smile. “Ah, the event team. Perfect timing.”
She stepped forward. “I’m Saffron LeClair, executive liaison for GreyStorm’s coastal operations.” She shook our hands briskly. “And you must be…”
“Jade Laurent. This is Evie Lane. From Jewel Events Planning.”
“Of course. You’ll be handling the full itinerary and presentation for the retreat week, yes?”
“Exactly.”
“Wonderful,” she said, gesturing to the long table of already-seated execs. Let’s get started with some quick introductions. Then we’ll move into location scheduling and executive accommodations.”
I was halfway into my chair, still smiling, when the doors at the far end opened again.
A man stepped in. He was tall and broad-shouldered. Wearing a suit that fit him like sin and power had a baby. His dark hair was neater than last night, slicked back in a clean sweep. His face was expressionless. Cold and unreadable. Also, very familiar.
Until his eyes met mine.
My heart seized. No. No, no, no.
He blinked once. Recognition flared hot in his gaze, but then, worse, was doused in something cooler and dubious. Something annoyed.
He looked away before I could even breathe.
Saffron cleared her throat. “Perfect timing, sir. Everyone, please welcome our CEO and retreat lead, Carter Greyford.”
The name hit me like a slap.
Greyford.
Why was that name chasing me around? Karma was such a b***h bringing another man with the same surname as Pete my way.
Hell, I had slept with this man.
And now he was my billionaire boss.
Saffron turned with a smile, still blissfully unaware of the fact that the air had been sucked out of the room.
“And this is Jade Laurent from Jewel Events, the lead on our planning. And her assistant, Evie.”
Carter’s, Kai’s? His eyes dropped slightly. His mouth twitched. Annoyance, definitely. Possibly a touch of something else. Regret? Amusement? Rage?
All I knew was my throat had gone dry, and my entire career might have just walked into the room with a raging case of morning-after awkwardness.
“Mr. Greyford,” I said, somehow managing a nod.
His jaw clenched. “Miss Laurent.”
The room moved on. People introduced themselves. Schedules were adjusted. Conversations resumed.
But all I could think was:
Shit.
- Writer
