New Rules
1623 Words
Chapter 9 — New Rules
The Henry mansion looked even more intimidating at night.
Warm golden lights glowed through massive windows while luxury cars lined the curved driveway. Water from the elegant fountains reflected against the dark sky, making the estate appear almost unreal.
Amara sat inside the taxi outside the gates for a moment longer than necessary.
“This place is ridiculous,” she muttered softly.
The driver chuckled.
“Rich people enjoy reminding everyone they’re rich.”
Amara smiled faintly before paying and stepping out.
The cold evening breeze brushed against her skin as she adjusted her black coat and walked toward the entrance.
Tonight was supposed to be a simple business dinner.
Nothing more.
Still, nervousness settled uncomfortably inside her chest.
Not because of the mansion.
Because of Jake.
Yesterday’s meeting kept replaying in her mind repeatedly.
Especially the strange moment during their handshake.
There had been tension there.
Unexpected awareness.
Dangerous awareness.
And Amara hated dangerous things.
Before she could knock, the front doors opened.
A middle-aged housekeeper smiled warmly.
“Miss Dlamini. Mr Henry has been expecting you.”
Amara stepped inside slowly.
The mansion felt elegant but strangely lonely.
Beautiful marble floors.
Expensive artwork.
Crystal chandeliers.
Yet the silence inside the house carried no warmth.
No family feeling.
Just perfection.
“Right this way.”
As they walked deeper into the mansion, Amara noticed large framed photographs lining the walls.
Business awards.
Fashion shows.
Magazine covers.
And then—
A family portrait.
Mr Henry stood beside a beautiful woman with soft eyes and graceful posture. A much younger Jake stood between them, maybe around ten years old.
Unlike the cold man she knew now, the boy in the photo looked genuinely happy.
Amara slowed slightly while staring at it.
“She was beautiful.”
The housekeeper smiled sadly.
“Mrs Elizabeth Henry,” she said softly. “She passed away many years ago.”
Something about the photo unsettled Amara unexpectedly.
Jake’s smile.
It looked so real.
So different from the guarded expression he wore now.
“Miss Dlamini?”
Amara quickly looked away.
“Sorry.”
The housekeeper led her toward the dining room where voices already echoed softly inside.
Mr Henry stood near the wine cabinet while Mr Maloi relaxed comfortably at the table.
And Jake—
Jake leaned against the window in a dark fitted shirt with the top buttons undone, casually holding a whiskey glass.
Unfortunately, he looked unfairly attractive again.
His eyes immediately lifted toward her the moment she entered.
And for a second, silence settled strangely across the room.
Mr Maloi smiled first.
“There she is.”
Mr Henry approached warmly.
“Amara, welcome.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Jake took a slow sip of whiskey while studying her quietly.
Tonight she wore a fitted emerald-green dress that complimented her skin beautifully.
Elegant without trying too hard.
Jake noticed everything.
The confidence in her posture.
The intelligence in her eyes.
The fact that she still looked completely unimpressed by wealth surrounding her.
It fascinated him endlessly.
“You clean up nicely, Trouble,” he said casually.
Amara raised an eyebrow.
“You almost sounded respectful.”
Mr Maloi burst out laughing immediately.
Mr Henry shook his head slightly.
“This should be interesting.”
Dinner began surprisingly peacefully.
The chefs served expensive meals while soft jazz played in the background.
Unlike previous business dinners Jake attended, tonight’s conversation felt strangely natural.
Mostly because Amara refused to behave like everyone else around the Henry family.
When Mr Henry mentioned a luxury resort investment in Dubai, Amara calmly said:
“That sounds unnecessary.”
Jake nearly choked on his drink.
Mr Henry looked amused.
“Unnecessary?”
“How many homes does one person need?”
Mr Maloi laughed loudly again.
“I like her more every minute.”
Jake smirked faintly while watching her.
Most people tried impressing his father.
Amara challenged him instead.
And somehow Mr Henry enjoyed it.
“Careful,” Jake muttered. “He’ll adopt you.”
Amara smiled innocently.
“Maybe I’d become the favorite child.”
Jake scoffed softly.
“You already are.”
The words slipped out before he fully thought about them.
Silence flickered briefly across the table.
Amara looked slightly surprised.
Jake looked annoyed at himself immediately.
Mr Maloi hid a knowing smile behind his wine glass.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Later, after dinner ended, Mr Henry excused himself to take an important business call while Mr Maloi disappeared toward the balcony.
Which unfortunately left Amara alone with Jake.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Sharper now.
Quieter.
Jake walked toward the bar and poured another whiskey.
“You always drink this much?” Amara asked casually.
Jake leaned against the counter.
“You always ask personal questions?”
“You didn’t answer mine.”
He studied her for a second before replying.
“Mostly at night.”
“Why?”
Jake shrugged lightly.
“It helps me sleep.”
Amara crossed her arms thoughtfully.
“No,” she said softly. “It helps you avoid thinking.”
Jake’s expression darkened slightly.
“You enjoy analyzing people too much.”
“You make it easy.”
Silence settled between them.
Through the massive windows behind Jake, Cape Town glittered beautifully against the night sky.
Everything about this moment felt strangely intimate despite neither of them wanting it to.
Finally Jake spoke again.
“You know, most people get nervous around me.”
“I noticed.”
“But not you.”
Amara tilted her head slightly.
“Should I be nervous?”
Jake stepped closer slowly.
“Probably.”
The tension between them thickened immediately.
Amara held his gaze calmly despite her heartbeat quickening slightly.
He smelled like whiskey, expensive cologne, and danger.
Far too much danger.
“You use intimidation naturally,” she observed quietly.
Jake smirked faintly.
“And you resist it naturally.”
“Maybe because I grew up around strong women.”
Jake looked curious.
“Your mother?”
Amara’s expression softened slightly.
“She raised me to never shrink myself for men.”
Something about the answer hit Jake unexpectedly hard.
His mother once said similar things.
Before he could respond, Amara asked quietly:
“What happened to you?”
Jake frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“You weren’t born angry.”
The words landed heavily between them.
Jake immediately looked away toward the city lights.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then finally:
“You ask dangerous questions.”
“And you avoid honest answers.”
Jake laughed softly under his breath.
“Maybe honesty is overrated.”
“No,” Amara replied calmly. “Fear is.”
His eyes met hers again sharply.
“You think I’m afraid?”
“I think angry people usually are.”
That answer irritated him.
Not because it was wrong.
Because part of him feared it might be right.
Jake took another slow drink.
“You always speak like you’re trying to challenge people.”
“Only men who think controlling everything makes them powerful.”
Jake’s jaw tightened slightly.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting control.”
“There is when it hurts people.”
Silence.
Heavy this time.
Amara immediately realized she had touched something deeper.
Jake’s entire body stiffened subtly.
Teresa’s frightened face flashed through his mind again without warning.
“You don’t know anything about my past,” he said quietly.
“No,” Amara admitted. “But I know pain when I see it.”
Jake stared at her carefully.
Nobody spoke to him this way.
Not his employees.
Not women.
Not even friends.
Most people either feared him or benefited from him.
Amara did neither.
And that made her dangerous to his carefully controlled world.
Suddenly footsteps interrupted them.
Mr Henry returned holding business files.
“Sorry,” he said calmly. “Duty calls.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly back to normal.
Amara stepped away slightly.
“Actually, I should go too. I have work early tomorrow.”
Mr Henry nodded warmly.
“I’ll have the driver take you home.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“It wasn’t a request,” Jake interrupted casually.
Amara looked at him suspiciously.
“You enjoy sounding controlling.”
“And you enjoy arguing.”
“Only when people deserve it.”
Jake smirked faintly again.
The driver eventually brought the car around while Amara prepared to leave.
As she walked toward the entrance, Jake followed unexpectedly.
“You don’t have to escort me,” she said.
“I know.”
They stopped near the doorway.
For a second neither spoke.
The cool night air drifted softly around them.
Then Jake suddenly asked:
“Why did you really accept the partnership?”
Amara looked at him carefully.
“Because I’ve spent my whole life fighting for opportunities.”
“And?”
“And I won’t let fear stop me.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Fear of me?”
Amara held his gaze calmly.
“Fear of what men like you can become.”
The honesty hit him sharply.
Before Jake could respond, she stepped toward the waiting car.
Then paused briefly.
“Oh,” she added softly while looking back at him, “and maybe because I think there’s still a decent man hiding somewhere inside you.”
Jake froze slightly.
Amara gave him one final look before entering the car.
Moments later, the vehicle disappeared through the mansion gates.
Jake remained standing outside long after she left.
Her words echoed inside his head repeatedly.
A decent man hiding somewhere inside you.
He almost laughed at the idea.
Almost.
Because deep down—
Jake Henry wasn’t entirely sure that man still existed anymore.
- Writer
