THE LAST VOW

chapter 4 ( The man behind the glass)

A black expensive luxurious car arrived at first dawn the following morning in front of her residence and to her greatest shock. The moment the car stopped completely her phone rang almost immediately.

Hello, Good Morning sir,

Get in the car in front of your residence… the voice said and the line went dead

The car was very expensive and didn’t feel real, it was too quiet, too smooth and it screamed class in a way that didn’t announce itself but it was very intentional…

Jessica hesitated at first before getting in the car due to the uncertainty of the future events ahead of her the moment she gets into it and worse off the drivers absolute silence brought another level of ambiguity but on a second thought of her brother’s health she had no reasonable option left so she did.

The driver didn’t speak, he didn’t even stare… he just stepped out to open the door for her.

Jessica sat in the back seat, her hands folded tightly into her lap in fear and uncertainty as her companions. Her reflection faintly visible in the tinted window beside her but what she saw was a different person, someone who was selling her life for financial gains.

The city blurred past in familiar streets slowly giving way to something else that was vague, uncertain, unplanned and even unpredictable, it felt like something colder, richer, distant and a bit unsettling but the calm in her mind was the unsettling part.

She had not spoken since she got into the back sit of the car. The driver had not said anything to her, there was no conversation between them not even a word of pleasantry. Her phone rested in her hand, the screen dark now but her mind replayed the call over and over again, especially the part of the call he said “You’ll be contacted.

There was” no name, no reassurance, no explanation yet here she was.

How did all these happen so fast without a track of events. Her heart beats faster as the car slowed down before it came to a complete stop in the drive way at the entrance of a tall building.

Jessica looked up and her breath caught. Atmosphere Towers?

A place where glass and steel rose into the sky like something untouchable, going up that building felt like going into a part of the atmosphere or even the clouds, the building did not just stand there, it dominated everything, everyone and everywhere around it, its power wasn’t just loud it was always echoing. It didn’t need to be loud it was dominating and domineering.

The front door opened and the driver stepped out and open the door for Jessica to step out instead of a butler because he was restrained by authority but there was still silence that was unreadable.

Jessica stepped out slowly, her shoes meeting polished ground and a well-organized environment that reflected more than it revealed, for a moment she considered turning back.

You can still leave, the thought came suddenly into her heart, sharp, tempting, but just as quickly as it did the thought of her brother’s face replaced it.

She straightened her posture and composed herself as she stepped forward.

“Miss Williams.”

The voice was calm, composed and measured as if not wanting to waste speech.

Jessica turned just to see a man approaching her, his presence as precise as the building itself, tall, composed and observant as nothing about him was and looked accidental.

“I am Hassan,” he said and “I represent Mr. Vale.”

Of course, he did she perceived it in him as she gave a small nod and moved behind him.

“You move quickly Jessica said struggling to keep up with his pace. “We don’t believe in delays.”

There was something about the way he said it, it was not rushed, not pressured even if the pressure was evident, it was just… certain.

“Is that a warning?” she asked.

A flicker of something crossed his expression, it wasn’t quite a smile he gave as he turned slightly and Jessica caught a whim of his face.

No, it is just a simple clarification.

He gestured toward the entrance.

“This way.”

The lobby felt like stepping into another world. Cool air, polished marble floor, mirrored reflection very loud silence that carried weight. Jessica’s footsteps echoed faintly as she followed him, aware of everything. The space, the distance, the way people glanced quickly to avoid a stare. This was a place where power lived quietly without an iota of doubt.

The elevator doors slid open and they both stepped inside as they headed for the penthouse. The ride up felt longer than it should have been not because of time but because of anticipation.

Jessica watched the numbers climb increasingly and gradually as her heart beat also increased higher and higher.

“You’re calm,” Hassan said as he broke the silence suddenly.

She didn’t look at him nor say a word for a few seconds

“I’ve had practice with things like this before now making sure not to fall apart when it matters.” she finally said calmly.

“That there, would be very useful keep it handy,” he said, but as assuring as that should have sounded it didn’t come close to the tiniest bit of assurance.

The elevator stopped finally and the doors flung open and everything changed, the air, the atmosphere, the environment and above all the overall state of her wellbeing.

The penthouse wasn’t just beautiful but was controlled elegance surrounded by luxury, every detail and finishing placed with intention and accuracy. Every space designed to remind you exactly where you stood in class and sophistication.

Jessica stepped forward slowly and carefully taking it in one step at a time because the silence in the room looked like very tender like it could break if not handled carefully.

She felt something that was not just a sound, not a movement but a presence that came with a low strong and assured voice

“Leave us.”

The voice came from behind her very low and controlled.

Jessica turned almost immediately in shock and there he was Adrian Vale, he sat near the glass wall with the entire city stretching behind him like something he owned. The light framed him in a way that felt almost deliberate and majestic with sharp edges, effective and accurately placed lighting controlling the shadows to the barest minimum giving his sitting position a royal appearance.

For a moment Jessica forgot everything she had expected because what was in front of her had beat her imagination a thousand times over. He didn’t look weak neither did He didn’t look fragile but He looked… contained, dangerously calm and unpredictable. Then her gaze dropped and the wheelchair appeared alongside the stillness in his lower body, weak but intentional tension in his hands.

There, it was the truth about it all.

He watched her eye move round him, carefully waiting for what her first reaction would be? Pity? Shock? Fear? or Discomfort?

Jessica lifted her gaze again but this time was met with his eyes but gave him no attention of it or even the slightest iota of consent to him or his well being

Silence stretched as Hassan stepped back briefly and a bit disappearing.

“Call me if needed,” he said quietly as he backed away gradually not in fear but intentionally, then he left and the door closed and just like that they were alone in a jiffy.

Adrian studied her openly now as if it was an open auditioning with no politeness and no hesitation just pure hardened stare and a pure and intentional observation.

You’re younger than I expected,” she said as the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them or take a hold of her thoughts.

A mistake? or maybe not as something shifted in his expression.

No offense, non-quite taken.

“You’re more direct than I expected,” he replied as Jessica held his gaze.

“Would it not be too early to start with pretense or should I pretend?

“I’d prefer you don't.

“Good,” she said. “Because I won’t, if you were expecting me to.”

Adrian paused then it seemed like something in the air tightened as he leaned back slightly, his movements controlled and deliberate.

“Do you understand what this arrangement is?”

“Yes, I do.”

Explain it.”

Her chin lifted slightly in relief as she shot her response almost immediately.

“Marriage in name. no emotional obligation. I stay until you die and I get paid.”

That was straight, blunt, clean and true but Adrian’s eyes sharpened, then came his response

“And that doesn’t disturb you?”

“It does, honestly.”

The honesty in her words surprised him, it was obvious and she saw it.

“Then why are you here?” he asked.

Jessica didn’t look away saying

“Because I don’t have the luxury of being disturbed or of the time to waste. I am running out of time”

That landed harder than anything else she had said. For a moment something flickered behind his eyes, was it understanding, or recognition? but it was gone in a jiffy.

“Sit,” he said.

She did like she owned the space not because he told her to but because she chose to without a trace of fear.

After a few moments Adrian dropped a black colored bulky file on the table and it stayed in between them for another few seconds without neither of them saying a word to each other.

The contract lay on the table between them and then Jessica reached for it, then paused. Something felt… off, not the situation that was already absurd but something else. Her gaze shifted slightly to the side table where there was a tray, on it was his medication neatly arranged, too neatly arranged. The attention of the medication got her attention which narrowed her eyes just slightly taking off her gaze from Adrian for a bit.

“You’re being treated here?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“By who?”

there was a brief pause

“My medical team.”

That wasn’t an answer.

Jessica leaned back slightly, studying him now more carefully.

“You don’t trust them,” she said.

Adrian’s gaze snapped to hers.

“What makes you think that?”

She held his eyes unshaken and shot back at him.

“Because you didn’t answer the question.”

Silence flowed in the air heavy for a second—Too long—Something slipped not weakness, not fear but suspicion. Then it vanished.

“You’re observant,” he said.

“I have to be.”

Another brief pause. Then Adrian’s voice lowered slightly.

“Good.”

The word carried weight meaning more than it should have meant, Jessica didn’t fully understand it, not yet, but something inside her twitched because for the first time this did not feel like just a contract. It felt like stepping into something else, something hidden and maybe dangerous.

Adrian Vale watched her carefully and intently as a thought crossed his mind "She might survive this". What he failed to realize was that she might, not just survive the stress and troubles but might also uncover everything hidden going on around him that he is unaware about.

Observation is key to fasting learning.

Adrian said in a low, calm but intentional voice

Rest assured I do that for a living and nothing of importance or even the slightest detail get passed me

Do not be nosy as you observe and steer clear from my business, know your boundaries and stay within you confine space to avoid getting into trouble.

She shrouded off his words with an instant reply

That would be fine by me.

Adrian stared hard into thin air wondering if bring Jessica into his private space and his world was a good idea... but then he remembered his plans of survival and remained calm as this was his only and most effective option left.