THE CONSPIRACY-BANGTAN MAFIA FF ➡️

SEVENTY-SIX

The black car eased to a stop at the hotel's curb. Eva stepped out without acknowledging the driver, sweeping past the doorman's polite nod. She marched through the opulent lobby, indifferent to the lavish décor—her only goal was to put as much distance between herself and that black car as possible. In the elevator, Yoongi's cologne still clung to the heavy suit coat on her shoulders, a suffocating reminder of her failure to escape.

At her suite door, a surge of annoyance hit—her key card was in her purse, and Jackson had taken it. She let out a weary sigh and knocked sharply.

The door flew open almost instantly. Jackson stood there, his face etched with sleepless anxiety and panic. Still in last night's clothes, his usually perfect hair a mess, he looked utterly drained and terrified, his posture rigid with tension.

Jackson froze, watching as she slipped into the suite. Relief and anger warred in his wide eyes. "Eva!" he called, taking a step toward her.

She ignored him, heading straight for the bathroom. Peeling off the black dress, she tossed it into a heap on the floor—desperate to shed the night's anxiety along with her clothes. She quickly changed into a fresh silk robe.

When she returned, Jackson sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, hands clenched tight. She crossed to the dresser, grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, then settled at the vanity and placed a cigarette between her lips. With a quick, frustrated motion, Jackson snatched the cigarette from her lips before she could light it. 

"Stop that! Just tell me what the hell happened! Where did you go?

Eva stayed perfectly calm, leaning back in her chair. "Relax, Jackie. I was fine."

"Fine? You disappeared for eight hours! Your phone was here! The receptionist said you never came back! I was about to call Jae-Chul—do you understand how close I was to doing that?" His voice was tight, nearly shrieking.

"Then I'm glad I called when I did," Eva replied coolly. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "It's nothing to worry about. I met someone new. We had a long night. I stayed over."

Jackson ran a hand through his hair, glancing anxiously at the door. "A 'someone'? Was this person a man or a woman, Eva?" His voice rose in pitch.

 Eva tilted her head back, a small, provocative smile curving her lips. "A man, Jackie," she answered smoothly. Jackson's shock was genuine. His face went slack, then hardened with fear. He lowered his voice, forcing out the question. 

"Did you... did you sleep with him?"

"Why not?" Eva countered, arching an eyebrow. "He was interesting, and I was bored," she said, her tone dismissive.

Jackson scrubbed his hands over his face, composure in ruins. "Why not? Are you insane? Eva, if Jae finds out about this, he'll have my head! He'll say I was careless! He trusts me to keep you safe and stable—not let you go off with some random man!"

Eva waved a dismissive hand, reaching for another cigarette—this time Jackson didn't stop her. She took a long, steady drag, smoke curling around her head. "Stop being dramatic, Jackie. I'm telling you, there's nothing to worry about. I'm an adult—perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

But Jackson couldn't calm down. Her casual tone only intensified his fear. Eva didn't grasp the gravity of her actions—or maybe she didn't care.

"You don't understand," Jackson said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. Jae-Chul worried about her illness. He knew the triggers and how easily she could be influenced or taken advantage of when she was reckless like this.