FATAL TROUBLE | JAY

14 - The Edge of Betrayal

Y/N'S POV

When I step inside Jay's black Bentley, the interior is as cold and impersonal as the man himself. The leather seats are pristine, the dashboard gleaming under the soft overhead light. It's the kind of car that screams power and control, much like its owner. I watch as he slides into the driver's seat, his movements precise and calculated. 

My whole life, Jinyoung was the one person I could trust apart from my mother and my brother. He was more than just a driver. He was my friend, the only friend I could make in a world so dark I couldn't see. And that one person turned out to be a traitor. The realization hits me like a cold shower, washing away the last vestiges of hope I clung to. Jinyoung, the man who swore loyalty, and promised to protect me, was the one who set me up. The betrayal burns like acid, a corrosive poison eating away at my trust.

I force Jinyoung's memory out of my mind. There's no room for sentiment here. Not when he didn't hesitate to hand me over to those men. I was so naive. I trusted him with my life, and he repaid that trust with a bullet. The image of him, smiling and seemingly loyal, flashes through my mind, a stark contrast to the monster he truly is.

Glancing at Jay, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard. His face is a mask, revealing nothing. But I know better than to trust the calm exterior. Beneath that polished facade lies a predator, a man who thrives on control.

"Anything you want to say?" His voice cuts through my thoughts, his tone deceptively casual. I glance at him, his eyes fixed on the road, but I sense a flicker of something in his gaze—a challenge, perhaps? Or maybe just boredom. "You've been staring at me for the past five minutes." I don't know whether he's just good at reading people or if I'm more transparent than I thought.

I remain silent, my mind racing. What could I possibly say to this man? The truth? That would be foolish. A lie? Equally pointless. I'm trapped in a web of deceit, and every word I utter could tighten the noose around my neck. 

Jay is a hard man to read. He keeps me on my toes and I can't tell whether he's playing a game or if he's genuinely curious. The silence stretches between us but he doesn't speak again. Until we arrive at my building and he steps outside, opening the door for me. Once again. I don't know what to make of his actions. Are bodyguards supposed to be this chivalrous?

I step out of the car, my heels clicking against the pavement. Jay walks beside me as I make my way inside the building, employees bowing our way when they recognize me. I offer a polite smile, though I never liked having to do this. The fake politeness, the constant smiles—it makes me sick. Any of these people can be a potential threat, a pawn in someone else's game. 

When we reach the elevator and step inside, Jay speaks. "We must run background checks on everyone who works here." He's right, of course. Everyone is a potential threat. But hearing him say it out loud makes the reality of my situation even more stark.

I nod, my voice barely a whisper. "I know."

"And you need to stop exposing yourself to the world until we find out who's after you," This, on the other hand, is a direct order. It's not a suggestion, not a request. It's a demand. And for some reason, it ignites a spark of defiance within me. I've spent my entire life adapting, conforming, and disappearing into the background. To be told to disappear completely is like being told to cease to exist.

"I can't just disappear," I manage to say, my voice barely audible over the hum of the elevator. "I have responsibilities. I'm not a doll with nothing  but strings to be pulled." My voice rises slightly and his eyes narrow, making me wish the ground beneath us would open up and swallow me whole.