The Storm Skrikes

Let's

Chapter Fifteen: The Stirm Strikes

Jade's Response to Jonathan's Call

Jade sat at her desk, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across her face. Her fingers lingered over the phone, still warm from the call she had just ended. The day had been long, filled with meetings and attempts to push her business forward, but nothing seemed to be going right. She had no idea what was about to hit her.

The phone rang again, the number unfamiliar but undeniably ominous.

She hesitated. A wave of dread washed over her, but her instincts kicked in, and she answered before it could ring a second time.

"Hello, darling," Jonathan's voice oozed through the speaker, his tone like velvet, smooth and suffocating.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Jonathan. What do you want?"

"You know exactly what I want," he replied, a quiet threat in his voice. "I think you've forgotten who holds the cards in this game, Jade."

Her grip on the phone tightened. The last time they spoke, she had made it clear she was done with him. He had betrayed her, used her, and now, it seemed, he was trying to reel her back in with the same manipulative games.

"Listen to me," he continued, "You're not getting away. I've arranged a few... things, just in case you were thinking of making a move. You wouldn't want your precious little secrets coming to light, would you?"

Jade's pulse raced as his words sank in. Her mind flashed to the documents Elara had uncovered, the things she had tried so hard to bury. Jonathan had leverage—powerful leverage. If he wanted to ruin her, he could.

"You're playing a dangerous game," Jade said, her voice icy, betraying none of the fear she felt. "But I'm not the one who's going to lose."

The line went dead, but the weight of his threat hung in the air long after the call ended.

---

Alexander Confronts Jade

The atmosphere in Alexander's office was thick with tension as he stared at the door. Elara's revelation had shattered his trust in Jade, and now, he was forced to confront her.

He knocked once, the sound sharp and deliberate, and waited. Jade opened the door, her face a carefully crafted mask of composure. But he could see it—just barely—her lips trembling, the faintest sign that she was rattled.

"Alexander," she said, her voice soft but firm. "What brings you here?"

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I know what you've been hiding, Jade."

Her eyes flickered, betraying her. She stepped back from the doorway, allowing him to enter. "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play coy with me," he snapped, stepping further into the room. "I've seen the documents. I know about the offshore accounts, the fraud case, and—" His voice faltered for a moment as he flipped the photo of her, Jonathan, and Mara across the table. "And this."

Jade's throat went dry, and for a split second, her calm façade cracked. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"How long were you planning on keeping this from me?" Alexander demanded, his voice laced with frustration.

"Alexander, please," Jade finally said, her voice trembling. "I never wanted you to know about any of this. I was trying to protect you... protect us."

His heart clenched. He wanted to believe her, but the evidence was right in front of him. "Protect us from what? From who you really are?"

Jade stepped toward him, her eyes desperate. "You have to understand, I was forced into this. I didn't have a choice."

He shook his head, backing away from her. "No more lies. You should've told me everything."

"Please, Alexander," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "I'm not the person you think I am. I'm not like them."

For a moment, their eyes locked—both of them standing on the edge of a precipice. The silence between them stretched, heavy with the weight of unspoken truths.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I need time to think," he said, his voice cold. "I can't do this right now."

Without another word, Alexander turned and walked out of the room, leaving Jade standing there, her heart breaking as the reality of her choices set in.