Secretary Jane

Chapter 4

Jane pulled her coat tighter around her as she stepped into the dimly lit café on the outskirts of the city. It was a refuge for those who wanted to vanish: soft lights, old wallpaper, and a faint scent of smoke from cigarettes. Kelvin was surely there already, settled in a booth toward the back. His posture was relaxed quite a bit, but his eyes were dark with something dangerous undeniably.

He spoke as she was simply sitting in the seat next to him.

“Jane.” His tone seemed quite quiet, exceedingly polished—so polished. “You’ve been ignoring me.”

Jane’s pulse pounded. She held tightly to her purse on her lap, as though that act could guard her from what's next.

Kelvin, what is the thing that you want?

As Kelvin leaned ahead, she felt his hot breath. “I want you back.” His eyes flickered from within with glimmers of something possessive, a touch of something unhinged. “You belong to me, Jane. Always have, always will.”

She felt from a chill in her bones, but she stayed with quiet and serene. Kelvin thrived on fear. She could not give it to him like that.

“It’s over.” She met his certain gaze, firm. “I’m with Steve now.”

Kelvin laughed softly, moving with his head like she had told of a joke. “With Steve?” he questioned, with derision. “Does he know all about us? About what you did do?”

Jane’s stomach twisted itself into innumerable knots afterward.

“Leave Steve out of this,” she said from behind clenched teeth.

Kelvin grinned, his eyes fairly shining with some amusement. “Too late for that.”

Jane didn't bother listening to hun any further. She stood abruptly, going for her purse and stepping out of the cafe, even as she felt Kelvin staring at her from behind.

What did he mean by “too late for that,” her thoughts raced as those words kept replaying in her head.

By the time she got to the penthouse, Steve’s parent had left, she was shaking visibly shaken. She tried her best to remain composed, to act normal, but Steve noticed the second she stepped inside.

He was in the living room, seated on the couch, holding a glass of drink in his hand. His blue eyes usually piercing and calm were looking at her with something unreadable.

“What's the problem?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying firmness, expecting that she would give him an answer this time.

Jane hesitated.

She could tell him everything. Tell him about Kelvin, about the past she had locked away, about the fear growing inside her.

But before she could open her mouth…

Steve got a message.

He looked at his screen, his expression changing instantly as he stared at his phone. Something dark passed over his face. His grip on the glass tightened.

Jane heart pounded that she could hear her own heartbeat.

“Steve?”

He turned the screen towards her.

A photo.

Her and Kelvin sitting at the café.

The message written under it sent a chill down her spine.

“Your fiancée is hiding something. Ask her about Kelvin. …Chloe”

Jane felt dizzy as she was speechless. She couldn't believe Steve had found out about her going to meet with Kelvin.

Steve set his drink down on the table with slow precision. When he looked up at her again, his entire demeanor had changed.

“Jane,” he said, his voice rigid than she had ever heard it. “We need to talk,”

The room was in decorum, save for the faint hum of the city outside.

Jane felt traapped, the walls of the penthouse suddenly too close, too suffocating.

“who is Kelvin?” Steve asked, his tone measured….but there was something lethal underneath.

Jane throat tightened. “He is my ex.”

Steve's gaze didn’t waver. “And why was my fiancée meeting her ex in a secret café on the outskirts of town?

Jane took a deep breathe slowly, trying her best to remain calm. “It wasn't a secret, he contacted me, he….he threatened me.”

Steve jaw clenched. “What do you mean by threatened you?”

Jane hesitated.

If she told Steve everything, how would he react?

Would he judge her for her past? Would he accept her nevertheless?

She took a shaky breath. “Kelvin and I were together a long time ago. It ended badly.”

Steve paused,his expression unreadable.

“He…he was dangerous. Controlling.” Jane swallowed. “And when I finally left him, he swore he’d make sure I regretted it.”

Steve's fingers tightened into fists. “Hope he didn't hurt you?”

She hesitated, then answered slowly. “No, he did.”

Steve exhaled slowly. Something flickered in his eyes…something dark, dangerous.

He grabbed his phone. “Where does he stay?”

Jane's stomach twisted. “Steve, no…”

“Jane,” he said in a quiet tone. “Do you think I was going to do nothing about this?”

She held his hand. “Please. if you get involved, it'll only make the situation worse. “

Steve's jaw ticked, his entire rigid body was in a barely controllable rage.

Finally, after what felt like eternity, he exhaled sharply and put his phone down.

“Fine. But if he reaches out to you again, don't hesitate to tell me immediately.”

Jane nodded, but she knew in her heart… it wasn't over yet.

The next day. Jane woke up to uncanny silence. Steve had already left for work, despite that, something still felt off.

She got out of bed, padding toward the kitchen, when….

She heard a knock on the door.

Her breath hitched.

Slowly, cautiously, she headed towards the door and looked through the peephole.

Kelvin.

She panicked. How did he know where she lived?

She chose to ignore him at first, but then…

“I know you're in there, Jane.”

Her stomach twisted.

“Open up the door,” Kelvin said flawlessly. “Or I start making a scene.”

Jane's hands shook. If he made noise, the neighbours might call Steve. And Steve would have him killed.

Inhaling deeply, she had no choice but to open the door.

“Leave, Kelvin.”

He smirked. “Now, now. That's not how you greet an old lover.”

She moved back, gripping the door tighter. “We have nothing to discuss with you”

Kelvin tilted his head, studying her. “"Oh, but I have so much to discuss with you.“

Then, he brought out his phone…and before she could stop him, he held up the screen.

A video.

Jane's blood ran cold, feeling like she Was almost going insane.

It was her. From years ago. A recording She thought had been deleted.

Kelvin grinned. “Tell me, Jane. What do you think Steve's reaction will be when he finds out about this?”

She suddenly lost the ability to breathe.

This wasn't just blackmailing.

This was a nightmare resurfacing.

The clock is Ticking.

Jane shut the door in Kelvin’s face, her mind racing.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Kelvin.

“You have twenty four hours. Or Steve Sees this.”

She gripped the phone with so much force she felt the pain.

She had two choices. The first was to inform Steve about the truth before Kelvin could destroy her. The second was to surrender to Kelvin…before it's to late.

Her phone buzzed again.

A final message.

“Tick tock, Jane. Tick tock.”

And for the first time in years…

Jane felt truly powerless.