Cracks Beneath The Mask
1594 Words
Chapter 10 — Cracks Beneath the Mask
Jake did not sleep that night.
He lay awake in the darkness of his penthouse bedroom staring at the ceiling while Amara’s words replayed endlessly inside his mind.
A decent man hiding somewhere inside you.
Ridiculous.
She barely knew him.
Yet somehow her voice carried the kind of honesty impossible to ignore.
Jake turned onto his side irritably and checked the time.
3:12 AM.
He groaned and sat up.
The city lights outside reflected against the glass walls of his bedroom while silence wrapped around the massive penthouse.
Too much silence.
Jake walked barefoot toward the kitchen and poured himself another whiskey.
Lately sleep came only in pieces.
Sometimes not at all.
Especially when memories surfaced.
And tonight, memories refused to leave him alone.
Without warning, his eyes drifted toward the old piano standing near the far corner of the penthouse.
His mother’s piano.
Jake hadn’t touched it in years.
Still…
He walked toward it slowly.
His fingers brushed lightly across the dusty keys.
And suddenly—
A memory hit him hard.
“Again,” Elizabeth Henry laughed softly while sitting beside him. “You’re rushing the notes.”
A younger Jake groaned dramatically. “Because it’s boring.”
“Patience makes beautiful things.”
“I hate patience.”
Elizabeth smiled warmly and tapped his forehead gently.
“That’s because you got your father’s temper.”
Young Jake frowned immediately. “Is that bad?”
Her expression softened slightly.
“Only if you let anger control your heart.”
The memory vanished as quickly as it came.
Jake stepped away from the piano immediately, jaw tightening.
He hated remembering her.
Not because he stopped loving her.
Because losing her destroyed something inside him permanently.
He poured more whiskey into the glass.
Then drank it too quickly.
Across town, Amara sat at her desk sketching new designs while soft music played through the apartment.
But unlike usual nights, concentration refused to come easily.
Her thoughts kept drifting back toward Jake.
Annoying man.
Complicated man.
Dangerous man.
She sighed and dropped the pencil onto the desk.
“Still thinking about him?”
Amara looked up sharply.
Thandi stood in the kitchen doorway smirking knowingly.
“I am not thinking about him.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m serious.”
Thandi walked closer while stealing one of the snacks beside the sketchbook.
“You’ve said Jake Henry’s name at least six times today.”
“That’s because he’s impossible.”
“That usually means attractive.”
Amara rolled her eyes dramatically.
“He’s emotionally exhausting.”
“But attractive?”
“Unfortunately.”
Thandi laughed loudly.
“I knew it.”
Amara leaned back in her chair.
“It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because men like Jake always become disasters eventually.”
The confidence in her voice weakened slightly toward the end.
Because the truth was—
Amara had noticed things during dinner.
Things she didn’t expect.
The sadness hidden behind Jake’s arrogance.
The loneliness inside the mansion.
The way he seemed constantly prepared for battle even during normal conversations.
People were not born that broken.
Something happened to him.
Still…
Pain did not excuse hurting others.
And Amara refused to forget that.
“You’re overthinking again,” Thandi said gently.
“Maybe.”
“Just be careful.”
Amara nodded quietly.
That part she agreed with completely.
The next morning, Henry Group headquarters buzzed with activity.
Models, designers, assistants, and executives rushed through the building preparing for upcoming international projects.
Inside the jewelry design department, Jake stood reviewing luxury pieces while employees worked nervously around him.
His mood looked terrible today.
Worse than usual.
Nobody dared speak unnecessarily.
“Sir,” his assistant approached carefully, “the investors requested another meeting.”
Jake didn’t look up.
“Declined.”
“They’re concerned about recent press rumors.”
Jake finally looked at him coldly.
“And I’m concerned about incompetence. Yet here we are.”
The assistant swallowed nervously.
“Understood.”
As the man hurried away, Amara entered the department carrying fabric samples and design folders.
Immediately she noticed the tension in the room.
Everyone looked terrified.
Jake stood near the center table reviewing documents with his jaw visibly tight.
And somehow—
He looked exhausted.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes again.
“Good morning,” Amara greeted calmly.
Several employees looked relieved by her arrival for reasons they didn’t fully understand.
Jake glanced up.
“Morning.”
“You look awful.”
The bluntness shocked nearby staff instantly.
Jake stared at her for a second before giving a humorless laugh.
“Nice to see you too.”
“You didn’t sleep.”
“You always this observant?”
“Yes.”
Amara placed her folders down before studying him carefully.
There it was again.
That tension beneath his skin.
Like he spent every waking second fighting himself.
“Come,” Jake said suddenly. “We need to review designs.”
He led her toward a private creative office overlooking the city.
The moment the door closed behind them, the atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Amara noticed it immediately.
“You know your employees are scared of you, right?”
Jake loosened his tie irritably.
“They’re dramatic.”
“No,” Amara corrected softly. “They’re anxious.”
Jake walked toward the mini bar.
“It helps productivity.”
“No,” she repeated calmly. “It creates fear.”
Jake poured coffee instead of whiskey this time.
Progress, she thought silently.
“You criticize me a lot.”
“You give me material.”
That almost made him smile again.
Almost.
Jake handed her several jewelry sketches.
“These match your latest clothing concepts.”
Amara reviewed them carefully.
The craftsmanship truly impressed her.
“You’re talented too,” she admitted quietly.
Jake leaned against the desk.
“I know.”
“There’s the ego again.”
“It’s not ego if it’s true.”
Amara shook her head while laughing softly.
Then she noticed something strange beside the sketches.
A crumpled drawing partially hidden beneath paperwork.
Curious, she pulled it free slightly.
It was old.
A child’s drawing.
A woman standing beside a younger boy.
The woman looked beautiful even in rough pencil form.
Jake’s expression changed instantly the moment he noticed it.
“Don’t touch that.”
The sharpness in his voice startled even her slightly.
Amara slowly placed the paper down.
“Sorry.”
Jake grabbed the drawing quickly and shoved it into a drawer.
The tension in the room thickened immediately.
“That was your mother,” Amara guessed softly.
Jake’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Amara watched him carefully now.
Interesting.
Pain flickered across his face so quickly most people would miss it.
But she saw it.
“She died when you were young?”
Jake looked out the window toward Cape Town’s skyline.
“I was thirteen.”
Something about the answer felt heavier than simple grief.
“You were close.”
He laughed quietly without humor.
“She was the only person who could calm me down.”
Amara remained silent, allowing him space to continue if he wanted.
Unexpectedly—
He did.
“After she died…” Jake paused slightly. “Everything changed.”
His voice sounded different now.
Less controlled.
More honest.
“My father buried himself in work. The house became empty.” He shrugged lightly. “I learned quickly that people leave eventually.”
Amara’s chest tightened slightly.
There it is.
The wound beneath the anger.
“You think hurting people first protects you,” she said softly.
Jake immediately looked at her sharply.
“Careful.”
“It’s true.”
He stepped closer slowly.
“And what exactly qualifies you to analyze me?”
Amara didn’t back away.
“Nothing. But I know what unresolved pain looks like.”
The tension between them deepened.
Not romantic.
Not soft.
Raw.
Jake stared at her carefully.
“You think you understand me because you had one emotional conversation?”
“No,” Amara answered honestly. “I think you spend so much energy avoiding vulnerability that anger became easier.”
The words hit too close.
Jake looked away immediately.
Outside the office window, clouds slowly gathered above the city.
A storm approaching.
Fitting.
“People always disappoint you eventually,” Jake muttered quietly.
Amara crossed her arms.
“That doesn’t justify becoming someone dangerous.”
Jake’s eyes met hers again.
For a second, something dark flickered there.
Not directed at her.
At himself.
Then suddenly a loud crash echoed outside the office.
Both turned sharply.
An employee had accidentally dropped an expensive jewelry display.
Diamonds scattered across the floor instantly.
The young employee looked horrified.
“I-I’m so sorry, sir.”
Jake’s entire body stiffened immediately.
Amara noticed the change instantly.
Like watching someone preparing for violence without realizing it.
Fear spread across the room outside.
Everyone froze.
Waiting.
Jake clenched his jaw so tightly a muscle ticked visibly.
His breathing changed.
And for one terrifying second—
Amara thought he might explode.
Instead, Jake closed his eyes briefly.
Then spoke through gritted teeth.
“Clean it up.”
The employee nearly collapsed from relief.
“Yes sir. Right away.”
Jake turned away sharply and walked back toward the office window.
The entire room outside remained silent.
Amara stared at him carefully.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because she realized something important in that moment.
Jake Henry was fighting himself constantly.
And today—
For the first time—
He had barely won.
- Writer
