<b>Chapter </b><b>130 </b>
<b>I </b><b>answered </b>while still chewing. <b>Jared’s </b>voice was low and calm <b>as </b><b>he </b>asked, “Where <b>are </b>you?”
“At the hotel,” I replied.
<b>“</b>You’re back?<b>” </b>His tone went up a notch.
<b>“</b>Yeah,” I said.
“Did you have fun?<b>” </b>Jared asked, his concern obviously just for show.
My heart thudded twice in my chest. ‘What was he getting at? Did he actually have someone tail me to Showtown Bay and catch me hanging out with Nathan?‘ <b>I </b>wondered.
“I just finished a meeting in the hotel conference room. We’re heading out for dinner soon. Come join us<b>,</b><b>” </b>Jared finally spoke up when I stayed silent.
I tried to <b>read </b>his tone, and it seemed like he really didn’t know about me meeting up with Nathan. That was <b>a </b><b>relief</b>.
“Alright, I’lle over in a bit.” Since I was here to learn the ropes of business from him, I might as well go along. You <b>never </b>know. Watching and learning more could alwayse in handy.
I changed into something a bit more proper, not unting my body like I used to.
But it was nothing like my old baggy, casual clothes either–this outfit was fitted enough to show off my shape, but still kept things ssy.
When I arrived at the ce Jared mentioned, they were still in the conference room, discussing business.
This time, it was Jared’s team talking things over. The door was open, and Jared sat at the head of the table in a slightly more formal suit, listening intently.
He was elegantly spinning a pen between his fingers. When he saw me, he waved me over.
I walked in right away and spotted Tracy in her professional attire. The moment she saw me, her eyes sharpened, like she <b>was </b>ready for a fight.
<b>Jared </b>pointed to the seat next to him, and I sat down. The people in the room didn’t pause their conversation at all because of my arrival.
It turned out that the whole reason we were here was to invest in a real estatepany, and the investment was no small sum. That’s why Jared and all the other execs looked dead serious.
<b>I </b>listened in on their discussion, learning a ton just by being there. Tracy was as professional as theye. Her analysis and numbers <b>were </b>seriously impressive.
I could tell that Jared clearly admired her.
Tracy just oozed superiority. Whenever she spoke, her eyes would sweep over me, but always ended up lingering on Jared. She lived for those moments when he nodded at her, giving his approval.
It was already after <b>six </b>when Jared and his <b>crew </b>finally got up and headed to the restaurant.
On the way <b>there</b><b>, </b><b>it </b><b>was </b><b>just </b>Jared and me in the car, no one <b>else </b>around.
“Did you understand?” Jared asked, sounding a bit tired after a long afternoon of work, but still turning to look at me.
“Yeah, I understood,” I replied. I’m not stupid. If I actually try to understand something, I usually get it. Well, except for math. That <b>was </b>the one thing I just couldn’t do.
Jared suddenlyughed, “I thought you’d find meetings like that totally boring.”
“I used to, but not anymore,” I said, shaking my head.
Jared nodded and then went quiet for a long moment.
I gazed out the window at the night–this forest of steel and ss, all those city lights merging into one, like a giant fire dragon snaking along the ground.
It was so breathtaking I couldn’t even put it into words.
“Victoria, how long has it been since you actually cared about me?” Jared asked offhandedly, just as I was getting lost in the neon lights outside.
I blinked in surprise, turning to look at him. I really hadn’t expected him to ask me something like that.
Jared kept his gaze locked on me, a stubborn look in his eyes, and pressed on, “And you haven’t called me in ages. Like today, you went out to have fun, and I had no idea where you were.
“You didn’t even bother to check in or tell me what you saw, where you went. You used to be so excited to share everything with me. Did you forget?”