What kind of man was Jonathan, really?
To her, he was a heartless jerk. But with Marina, he played the perfect gentleman.
Yet tonight, Jonathan hadn’t shown up with Marina, which was unusual. If he’d been here, the security staff wouldn’t have dared throw Marina out just on her say–so.
In Niamh’s memory, Marina and Jonathan had always been practically inseparable, joined at the hip like twins. Lately, though, every time she caught sight of Marina, the woman was always alone.
Niamh picked up a cocktail from a passing tray, took a sip, and told herself firmly to stop thinking about it. Whether Jonathan and Marina were close or on the outs–none of it had anything to do with her.
Jonathan had accused her of seeking revenge on him before, but that wasn’t true. The only person she wanted payback from was Marina. Sure, Susy was the mastermind behind hiring those thugs, but Niamh refused to believe Marina was innocent in all of it. If she wanted revenge on Marina, she felt perfectly justified.
As for Jonathan…
Niamh knocked back the rest of her drink, finishing it in one go. She and Jonathan–well, the less they had to do with each other, the better. Strangers passing in the night; that was how it should stay.
The evening was winding down when Niamh’s phone lit up with a call from Elmer, letting her know his car was nearly there. Elmer’s job was technically flexible, but as a government recruit, he couldn’t exactly lounge around with nothing to do all day. He’d been busy today, so although Niamh had invited him to the dinner, he’d politely declined. Still, he’d promised to pick her and Lana up once things wrapped
- up.
All evening, Niamh and Lana had barely exchanged a word–Lana had been glued to Jarrett’s side, the two of them whispering and laughing together. Niamh was happy for Lana finding her own slice of happiness, but she couldn’t help worrying. Lana was inexperienced when it came to romance, and Niamh didn’t want her friend getting hurt, not the way she had.
“No need, Nia. Mr. Jarrett said he’ll take me home,” Lana chirped as she gathered her things.
“But-”
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20:29
Chapter 408
“Relax, seriously! Mr. Jarrett’s a good guy.”
Lana’s breezy confidence was impossible to argue with. Even a blind man could see how smitten she was with Jarrett, but his feelings weren’t quite so clear.
“Mr. Jarrett, are you sure you want to take Lana home?” Niamh asked, leveling him with a pointed look.
He smiled. “Yeah, it’s on my way. I already promised her.”
Niamh frowned when he called Lana by her first name so casually after just one evening. Lana, meanwhile, blushed and ducked her head, looking both flustered and delighted.
“Alright then.” Niamh exhaled, fishing out the business card Jarrett had given her earlier. She dialed the number in his presence. A moment later, Jarrett’s phone
rang.
“Lana’s phone’s dead,” Niamh said coolly. “I’ll be in touch–I need to make sure she gets home safe.”
Jarrett nodded, still smiling.
Lana tugged at Niamh’s sleeve and whispered, “Did you really have to check his number right in front of him? You think he’d give you a fake business card or something?”
Niamh frowned, not entirely sure herself why she felt so uneasy about Jarrett.
In the end, Lana left with Jarrett, and Elmer picked up Niamh alone.
On the drive home, Niamh recounted the whole story of Lana’s instant crush on
Jarrett.
“Nia, you sound like a worried mom fussing over her kid,” Elmer teased.
“Can you blame me?” Niamh sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Lana always called me the hopeless romantic, but she’s not much better herself. This is her first real crush–I have to look out for her, make sure she doesn’t make the same mistakes!
did.”
Elmer glanced sideways at her, especially as she mentioned her own missteps. Thankfully, her expression was calm, not haunted or conflicted.
Satisfied, Elmer turned his attention back to the road.
They turned into Trinity Lane, headlights sweeping across the street–and illuminating a figure standing outside Niamh’s building.
Jonathan turned, meeting Niamh’s eyes as she sat in Elmer’s car.
