My Annoyingly Handsome Vampire

Chapter 10

Trisha's phone buzzed under the table.

*Unknown Number:* _Be good to Jace. He may look overbearing, but he's weak at heart. Xeron_

Trisha looked up. "Your friend just texted me."

Jace went still. "Xeron?"

"Just said: _Welcome to the family. Try not to ruin him._" Trisha lied.

Jace exhaled. For the first time, the Vance heir didn't have an idea for what to say next.

He just had dinner. And time.

And a friend who was watching from the shadows.

Across town, Xeron Val stood in the Valor Group tower. 80 floors up. No lights on.

He didn't drink. Didn't sit.

"27 days," he said looking out the glass. His voice was ice.

His assistant, Ken, didn't answer.

"Make sure Alex doesn't find out about her before the announcement," Xeron said. "And tell Butler Larson to run a sweep. Stepmother is getting curious."

---

*VALOR Annual Gala. Burberry City Grand Ballroom.*

Hosted by Valor Group. Ironically.

No one in the room knew the man who built all of this was standing on the balcony, unseen.

For he hardly makes a public appearance.

Trisha stepped out in silver. A blade of a dress.

Jace waited in black. When he saw her, the CEO mask slipped for 1 second.

He offered his arm. "Mrs. Vance."

"Not yet," she murmured.

"Publicly, we are," he said, low. "For the rest of our lives."

Cameras exploded.

From above, Xeron watched. Face blank. Cold.

Next to him, Aria J whispered: "Alex is here. With Jadel."

Xeron's jaw ticked once. "Let them watch."

Downstairs, the knives came out.

Alex Val cornered them by the bar. Smile too wide.

"Well well. The Vance heir and the Lake girl. Marrying for money or love?"

Jace didn't blink. "Does it matter to you, Alex Val?"

Alex laughed. "Just curious how long this merger will last."

Then Jadel appeared. Eyes locked on someone behind Trisha.

Kira.

Jadel smiled slow. "Kira Li. Didn't know you'd be here."

Kira's mood dropped instantly. Trisha stepped between them immediately.

From the balcony, Xeron saw it. His hand gripped the railing.

"Jadel is obsessed," Aria J murmured. "Should I-"

"No," Xeron said, voice flat. "Jace should handle it. Don't interfere."

Later on the terrace, away from cameras:

"You okay?" Jace asked Trisha.

"No," she said. "CEO Val's brother is really awful. And who was that guy staring at Kira?"

"Jadel," Jace said. "He's like a ticking time bomb."

"Why do I feel like I just walked into a war zone?" Trisha asked.

Jace was quiet. Then: "Because you did. And I'm asking you to fight it with me."

Before she could answer, Ken appeared.

"Mr. Val needs you. Now."

Jace looked at Trisha. "Wait for me?"

Trisha nodded once.

As Jace walked away, Xeron's voice came through Ken's earpiece. Cold. Final.

"27 days, Jace. Announce it, or Valor Group pulls the funding. And Alex wins."