Hearts or Swords

"Go away and never return!" Lavender’s voice cut through the air, her face twisted in a fury that made Ximena’s stomach churn. Ximena’s lips parted, but the apology caught in her throat. Her mother’s eyes, cold and unrelenting, pinned her to the spot. She felt the weight of Lavender’s anger like a physical blow. Without another word, Ximena turned on her heel, her footsteps heavy as she made her way out of the house. Her heart pounded as she yanked open the car door and sped down the street, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. --- Willow’s fingers hovered over her phone, the live feed paused, while her eyes flicked to the glowing alarm clock in the next room. "Seriously?" she muttered, pushing herself off the bed. Her feet slapped against the hardwood floor as she rushed into Rex’s room. The alarm blared on his nightstand, but Rex lay sprawled across the bed, oblivious. With an exasperated sigh, she grabbed the clock and shoved it close to his ear. He jerked awake, blinking rapidly. “Oh, Willow…” Willow folded her arms, her foot tapping impatiently. “That’s what you get for ruining my live stream,” she said, her voice dry as she turned and left the room. Rex rubbed his eyes, the events of the day slowly filtering back into his mind. “Today is—Oh, no!” He shot out of bed, his bare feet sliding across the floor as he dashed into the bathroom. The sound of rushing water was followed by his frantic footsteps as he tore through the closet, throwing on a suit, barely glancing in the mirror. He grabbed his briefcase and keys before bolting out the door. Stopping by his favorite coffee shop, Rex ordered his usual, but his mind was elsewhere. As he rounded the corner, he barely registered the black Rolls-Royce Phantom before it scraped the side of his car with a screech. “Hey! Watch it!” Rex shouted, leaning out the window. The driver, a woman with sunglasses and a smirk, rolled down her window, raised her hand, and flipped him off before speeding away. Rex’s jaw tightened as he stared at the disappearing car, the coffee sloshing over his lap. He cursed under his breath, grabbing a handful of napkins to clean the mess. The sting of the hot liquid against his skin was nothing compared to the heat of his growing frustration. His phone buzzed on the dashboard. “Sir, the meeting is in ten minutes,” his assistant reminded him, her voice clipped. Rex ground his teeth. “I know,” he muttered. With a huff, he restarted the car and sped toward JSK. --- Ximena’s car slid smoothly into the parking lot of JSK. She stepped out, her eyes lifting to the towering glass building that gleamed in the morning sun. Even after all these years, the sheer size of the place left her feeling small. The faint scent of fresh paint lingered in the air, a sign of the company’s constant growth and changes under her father’s care. A sharp honk behind her pulled her attention away. She glanced back and rolled her eyes—it was the same Rolls-Royce from earlier. She turned away, swiping her card at the entrance as the gate slid open, and stepped inside without sparing the car another glance. In the office, her father was hunched over a sea of papers, the lines on his face deeper than she remembered. His tired eyes lifted when she entered, softening slightly at the sight of her. “Hey, Dad,” she greeted, her voice quiet. “Ximena,” he said with a weary smile, “I didn’t expect you.” “I wanted to help with work,” she offered, her gaze shifting to the disorganized mess of files and documents. Without waiting for a reply, she moved toward the desk, rolling up her sleeves. Her father gestured toward the door. “There’s a meeting now. We’ll talk later.” --- Rex’s car rolled to a stop at the entrance of JSK, his jaw clenched as the security scanner read his license plate. The barrier lifted, but his mood didn’t. He was still fuming about the Rolls-Royce incident, his suit still damp from the spilled coffee. His phone buzzed again. “The meeting is about to begin,” his assistant’s voice cut through the speaker. “I’m here,” he snapped, stepping out of the car, adjusting his jacket, and heading inside. His footsteps echoed through the marble halls as he approached the meeting room. The CEO was waiting with an outstretched hand, but just as Rex moved to shake it, the CEO’s assistant whispered something in his ear, and the CEO hurried off. Rex’s hand hung in the air for a moment before the manager stepped in, giving him a firm shake and a knowing smile. “You know, Mr. Williams,” the manager said, clapping him on the shoulder, “there’s a shop nearby that does wonders for coffee stains.” The chuckle that followed set Rex’s teeth on edge, but he forced a smile. He couldn’t afford to lose his cool—not here. --- Ximena’s fingers flew over her phone screen as she walked down the hallway, barely paying attention to where she was going. She was lost in thought when a figure appeared in front of her, and before she could stop herself, she collided into a hard chest. Her phone slipped from her hand as she stumbled, her fingers instinctively grabbing the man’s arm for balance. "Whoa," the man muttered, catching her by the shoulders. Ximena’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up, her eyes locking with the man’s. His dark eyes studied her face for a moment, and for a brief second, neither of them moved. “Sorry,” Ximena whispered, taking a step back. Rex blinked, the recognition dawning on his face. His gaze flicked to the Rolls-Royce keys in her hand, and a slow smirk spread across his lips. "You..." he started, pointing to the keys, "You’re the one with the Phantom?" Ximena stiffened, her face flushing as she remembered the morning’s incident. “Look, I—” “Don’t worry,” Rex interrupted, his smirk widening. “Mirrors can’t laugh. Lucky for you.” Ximena glared at him, her fists clenching at her sides. “You’re lucky they can’t run.” --- The tension between them was thick as they glared at each other, the silence only broken by the sound of heels clicking against the floor. “Ximena!” a cheerful voice called from behind. Ximena turned, her heart lifting at the sight of Valerie, who rushed toward her with open arms. She barely noticed Rex as she hugged her sister tightly, the weight of the day’s frustrations melting away in that one moment. Rex watched them for a second before turning on his heel and walking in the opposite direction, the smile fading from his face. --- At the Jones family dinner, the clinking of cutlery against plates filled the air. Ximena sat quietly across from her sister, her appetite long gone. The faint sound of footsteps caught her attention, and she looked up just in time to see her mother entering the room. Lavender's hair was loose, cascading down her shoulders as she moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural. Her eyes skimmed over Ximena, her lips curling into a sneer. "You don’t belong here," Lavender said, her voice cold as ice. Ximena’s stomach twisted, the words sinking deep. She pushed back her chair, the screech of wood against tile loud in the silent room, and walked out without another word. --- At the party later that night, the air buzzed with excitement. Laughter and music filled the grand ballroom as the city’s elite mingled under the soft glow of chandeliers. Rex, nursing a drink at the bar, glanced around with mild disinterest. He wasn’t one for these gatherings, but his friend had insisted he attend. Suddenly, the energy in the room shifted. A hush fell over the crowd as two women entered the room, their presence commanding attention. Rex’s eyes followed them, but it was the brunette that caught his gaze. Her confidence, the way she carried herself—it was impossible not to notice. As she made her way through the crowd, her heel caught on the edge of the carpet. Her arms flailed for balance, but before she could fall, Rex stepped forward, catching her around the waist. Their eyes met, and the faintest smile tugged at his lips. “Well, if it isn’t the rich kid,” he murmured, his grip tightening slightly as he steadied her. Ximena’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him, the recognition hitting her like a wave.