The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 56 Part 2

Airports

"Not even me?"

"Especially not you."

Unsurprisingly to me, his words simply bounced off without an effect. Not when I could feel the slight tremor running through his body as he held on to me.

As inexcusably distasteful as his attitude was lately, I hated to admit that I understood the weight of the responsibility that was suddenly bearing all on his shoulders.

If he failed with his upcoming period he's staying in Asia... this was it for Nero Hotels.

I sighed into his chest. My arms involuntarily wrapped around his waist, my right hand patted low on his back to comfort him in a way.

"Well," I mumbled, "If you don't think you can trust me—"

"You're not going with me."

"I don't mean that," I tried to detach myself from him to look at his face, but Jace tightened his arms around me. And with a sigh, I gave up. We stood there quietly for a bit longer before Jace finally released me.

"What do you mean then?"

I waved a hand at the notepad he threw away, "Why don't you help me look for a university? One you also approve of?"

"Not overseas, no."

I blinked up at him, waiting for an explanation. And realizing the explanation wasn't coming, "Because..?"

"Because part of the reason I'm not taking you with me is so there's someone who could monitor Nero's headquarters for me."

I pressed my lips together to avoid curving into any and all expression, "Don't you have your dad for that?"

Jace continued without replying to my question, "I'm leaving Sierra here with you."

"She's not going with you?"

"No, she's needed in the office. You'll need her in the office."

Looking much calmer now, Jace picked up the notepad again. Gray eyes scanned the schools I'd jotted down.

"But I thought you didn't trust me?"

"You don't want to?" Jace turned to me and frowned, "Why are you smiling?"

I wiped the expression in an instant, "I've always wanted a look at Nero Hotels."

"I'm sure your grandmother would be happy about that."

I burst out laughing at that. The man simply rolled his eyes at me.

"Sierra will have her eyes on you the whole time," Jace finally added.

"Will your parents be fine with me working there?"

He shrugged, "You'll be working under me. Don't think about doing anything funny."

Waving me off, he sat on his swivel chair. He started going through my open tabs on the monitor.

I stood beside him, leaning against the heavy office table, rubbing my arms.

"Actually," I cleared my throat and looked up at me, "I was thinking if it would be okay if I go to the state university here. I looked it up and their business school looks good enough."

His hand on the mouse paused and mentioned the name of the state university, I hummed in reply.

"Are you sure?"

"It's near," I quickly reasoned. It was a thirty-minute drive from here.

Jace turned his chair so he's fully facing me. His eyes looked at me seriously, "But that place is so... humble. I'm not even sure we can effectively secure their campus."