The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

I do want her. Emotional conflict.

~ Jasper ~

Why did I do that?

I stood in the middle of the room, completely still, replaying the conversation with Lexi over and over again in my head.

Every word.

Every look.

Every second I could have said something different—

And didn't.

I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through my hair.

Because the truth was—

I hadn't just been cold.

I'd pushed her away.

Again.

And this time...

I'd seen it.

The shift.

The moment something in her pulled back.

And that—

That unsettled me more than anything else.

—

"She made her choice."

The thought came uninvited.

Sharp.

Unwanted.

"She didn't hesitate."

Dale.

Of course.

Dale was easy.

Open.

Safe.

Everything I wasn't.

Everything I couldn't be.

—

I turned toward the door just as the knock came.

Right on time.

Of course he was.

—

I don't usually answer the door.

I don't usually deal with anyone face to face.

But Dale—

Dale was different.

History.

Business.

And right now—

A problem.

—

I opened the door.

He stood there like he always did—confident, relaxed, that easy grin already in place.

"Hey, brother," he said, stepping forward slightly. "Nice to finally see you. You got the paperwork?"

I handed him the file without a word.

He took it, flicking through it briefly.

Then looked back up at me.

Still smiling.

—

I should have left it there.

I should have kept it professional.

That would have been the smart thing to do.

Instead—

"Dale," I said, my tone calm. Controlled. "Leave Lexi alone."

—

The smile didn't disappear.

But it changed.

Subtly.