Chapter 34
Halley kept her eyes on the city lights flickering beyond the car window, refining to look at Owen
You’re jealous Owen mammaired, his voice dropping lower at he reached for her hand. His touch was warm and steady- disarmingly gentle
Her expression didn’t waver. “I’m not. Why would I be? Her tone was calm, and perfectly measured, with not a hint of emotion dipping through.
The deep chuckle that followed sent a pate of irritation through her.
She exhaled sharply, her patience thinning Unfastening her seatbelt, she reached for the door handle. If you don’t want to drive me home, I’ll just call a cab
The door barely cracked open before his hand wrapped around her wrist, firm but not forceful, pulling her back before she could step out.
Off balance, she stumbled–and landed right in his arms.
His voice rumbled against the top of her head, a quiet amusement laced beneath the words. “If you’re jealous, just say it. I like it when you’re jealous?
“I’m not, she bit out, trying to push away from him, but his hold was unyielding
“Careful,” he murmured, the deep timbre of his voice dipping into something darker, something more dangerous. “If you keep moving like that, I can’t promise I’ll behave.
Her breath caught, heat rushing to her face as she abruptly stopped struggling, suddenly all too aware of the closeness, the warmth of his body pressed against hers.
Silence stretched between them.
Hailey barely breathed, her heart pounding hard enough.
After a beat, his grip loosened.
Seizing the opportunity, she pushed away, scrambling back into her seat, her face burning as she averted her gaze. “I’ll just get a cab.”
Owen reached for her wrist again. His voice was quieter but no less firm. “Relax. I won’t do anything.”
Hailey pressed her lips together.
He leaned back, swallowing as he loosened his tie with one hand. The fabric slid open, revealing the sharp cut of his collarbones that was, frankly, unfairly distracting.
Hailey’s gaze flicked away immediately.
A soft chuckle escaped him before he reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.
With a tap, a familiar voice filled the car.
“Just take care of Grandma. No need to worry about me. Oh, by the way, Jeanie–there’s a coffee shop near the hospital entrance. Do you like that sort of thing?”
Then came Richard’s bewildered voice. “What? What are you even talking about? Who’s Jeanie? I mean, I don’t even like coffee, but if you’re offering, I guess I could-
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Chapter 34
The recording cut off.
Hailey stared at him and a slow, dawning comprehension settled over her.
Owen met her gaze, his expression nonchalant. “I knew you were there. That’s why I said it–I wanted to see if you’d react.”
Her emotions tangled in a knot too tight to unravel.
So that’s what this was.
It had been a test and it had worked.
She had felt that sharp, inexplicable irritation that she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge.
“Childish,” she muttered.
Owen nodded. “Maybe. But it got me what I wanted.”
He leaned in slightly, smiling. “At least now, I know you care.”
“I don’t,” she countered instantly. “You’re imagining things.”
Owen chuckled softly, reaching out to tap her forehead with his fingertip. “Such a little liar.”
He sighed. “Why do you always do this? Pretend you don’t feel anything when it’s so obvious you do?”
Hailey clenched her jaw, inhaling slowly before speaking. “Owen… what I want from a relationship, you can’t give me.”
His head tilted slightly, eyes dark and unreadable. “And what is it that you want?”
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Hailey held his gaze, her expression steady. “If you weren’t Owen–the head of the Calhoun family, powerful, untouchable– if you were just some regular guy, a college student, maybe I’d consider it.
“Because even if you got bored of me, I could use money to keep you around.”
She let that sink in before continuing. “But you’re not ordinary. You don’t need anyone. And if you ever left me, it wouldn’t affect you. But I’m not like that, Owen.
“I don’t handle detachment well. When I fall, I fall hard. And I’m not willing to gamble with something I can’t afford to lose.”
Owen pursed his lips. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower, more restrained. “You don’t believe in yourself, do you?
“Why are you so sure I’d leave? Why do you think I wouldn’t love you as much as you love me? What happened to you, Hailey?”
She experienced the betrayals, the deception, the kind of hatred that ran too deep to ever be washed away.
But none of that was something she could tell him.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said softly. “What matters is that I don’t play games I know I’ll lose.”
Owen exhaled sharply. His jaw tensed, but he didn’t argue.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then, at last, he broke the silence. “I’ll take
you home.”
Hailey lowered her gaze, nodding faintly.
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Chapter 34
She thought, ‘Maybe this time, it’s enough to make him give up. Maybe this is where we end;
The rest of the ride was silent. Neither of them spoke, and before long, the car rolled to a stop outside her place.
Just as she reached for the door handle, his voice broke the quiet. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Nine o’clock.”
She blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “That’s not necessary. I can go on my own.”
“It’s decided.” His tone left no room for argument.
Hailey exhaled but didn’t push further.
The next morning, as soon as she stepped outside, a sleek black car was already waiting by the curb.
The window rolled down, revealing Owen’s effortlessly handsome face.
There was no ignoring him. No pretending she didn’t see him.
She sighed and made her way over. “I told you, I could go on my own.”
“Get in,” Owen said simply.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before relenting and sliding into the passenger seat.
But instead of heading to the estate, the car moved toward the heart of the city.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Owen replied lazily. “We’re going to Calhoun Group first. I have some business to handle.”
She exhaled but said nothing more.
A short while later, they arrived at the towering glass building, and she was led straight to the top floor.
Inside his office, the desk was buried under an avalanche of paperwork. She took in the surprisingly modern space–warm colors, and bright lighting. Nothing like the owner.
Owen made a quick call. “Is Nielson here?”
Richard’s voice came through the intercom. “He’s here. I’ll send him in now.”
A moment later, a round–faced man in a sharp suit stepped inside. “Mr. Calhoun.”
Owen nodded, then turned to Hailey, smiling. “Come here. I need you to sign something.”
She frowned. “Me?”
He nodded and led her to the sofa.
The lawyer, Nielson Femwick, placed two documents in front of her.
“One is a stock transfer agreement. The other is an asset transfer agreement,” he explained.
Her breath caught. She turned to Owen, her voice quieter now. “What is this?”
Owen’s smile was slight, but his gaze was steady. “Hailey,” he said, voice calm but unwavering, “I’m giving you everything I have. Will you take a chance on me?”
And yet, despite the effortless grace in his expression, it sent a storm raging through Hailey’s heart.
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