Chapter 51
JETT
We file into my father’s penthouse apartment as usual. Me, Dex, and Zach. We always make it a point to come here together when it’s that night.
Our father lives in the most luxurious skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. And he has the penthouse, of course. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer unparalleled views of Central Park and the New York skyline. But despite its opulence and grandeur, its whiff of exclusivity and jaw-dropping wealth, this is a cold place, devoid of warmth and human touches.
Cari's apartment feels more cozy and homey than this place ever will. But this signals power and wealth, and my father's imagined place at the top of the world.
I breathe freely only when I leave here.
We head straight for the dining room. Paul Knight sits at the head of the large and polished rectangular dining table, the Don, God. A puppet master presiding over his empire, while the other sons sit on one side of the table. He’s showing them a photo of a woman. I already know who she is. Christ, the man didn’t waste any time.
“Just on time,” my father says, beckoning us in.
The half-Knights nod and murmur greetings, and me and the boys do the same, sitting down directly opposite them.
“Isn’t she stunning?” Paul asks. We look at the photo. This woman is indeed stunning, with dark, cascading waves of hair and eyes that could set fire to a room. The kind of woman men like my father deem suitable , but more so because she comes from a filthy rich family. She will be useful to my father’s calculated way of thinking.
“Absolutely beautiful.” Paul’s voice drips with snakish charm.
Dex smirks, leaning back in his chair. “Looks photoshopped.”
Zach chuckles, raising his glass. “She looks pretty good to me.” Paul ignores them, his focus razor-sharp as he turns to me. “I trust you’ll be making the right decision, Jett.”
I grip my glass tighter, my jaw clenching. “Oh, trust me, I will.”
CARI
I step out of the taxi and my breath catches.
Paul Knight lives here. I know because I saw a photo of him in a magazine on Jett’s desk. He had a smug smile and this building in the background.
Towering above me is a shimmering, glass monolith that seems to touch the sky. Its sleek, reflective facade gleams under the city lights, projecting opulence, exclusivity, and everything that screams obscene wealth. It’s the pinnacle of luxury, and home to billionaires and titans of industry. It’s no surprise Paul Knight would live here. He’s the kind of man who wouldn’t settle for less than the best—or, more accurately, what he deems the best.
Tonight is a Knight family dinner. The other assistants mentioned it and when Jett handed me the address, my stomach churned. It’s no coincidence that I’m here. Jett asked me to trust him, and I do. With all my heart, but still, the knot in my stomach tightens as I approach the entrance.
What has he got up his sleeve?
I know what these dinners are like. I’ve never come here, but some of the other assistants have been called in on occasion to take notes. I’ve heard that these family dinners are already a minefield on a good day, and after everything that’s happened, my insides fill with dread. I’m so tempted to run, but I can’t. I won’t. For Jett’s sake.
The concierge greets me with a sharp nod as I approach the revolving doors. He’s impeccably dressed, every button of his uniform polished to perfection.
“I’m here for the penthouse,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. I clutch my bag tighter.
His polite smile barely shifts. “Of course. Penthouse residents only.” He presses a button, summoning a private elevator. As I step inside, the gold paneling gleams and plush carpet swallows me up. My anxiety coils tighter with every floor we ascend.
The elevator doors open directly into the penthouse and the space before me takes my breath away.
Marble floors stretch out like a canvas, shimmering under the glow of a massive chandelier dripping with crystals. The windows offer an unobstructed view of the city, the lights below twinkling like stars. Every detail screams wealth, from the grand piano in the corner to the sleek, contemporary furniture perfectly arranged for an artful, yet lived-in feel.
A woman steps into view, dressed in a fitted black dress, her hair swept into a sleek bun. She’s regal, poised. For a moment, I wonder if she’s one of Paul Knight’s girlfriends, but her practiced smile and deferential tone give her away.
“This way, madam,” she says, gesturing with a graceful wave of her arm. I follow her, my heels clicking against the marble. This feels like walking into a trap. Blindfolded. I don’t know what lies before me, but my anxiety is off the charts. My heart beating as if I’ve run ten miles, the blood coursing through my veins, my mouth dry. We turn the corner, and what looks like a dining room comes into view. There is a buzz of low voices. It feels like I’m walking into the Colosseum in Rome, only I don’t feel like a gladiator. I’m more like a mouse.
Sleek lilies in expensive-looking vases sit atop a long table. It’s dressed in white linen, and resting on it are long-stemmed glasses, silverware, and what’s likely the best fine China money can buy. One of the largest chandeliers I’ve ever seen—obscenely oversized and shimmering like flawless diamonds—is suspended above. The chairs look plush, a mixture of velvet and wood.
Seated around the table are the Knight men.
Jett is on one side, flanked by Dex and Zach. Across from them sit the three Italian Knights—handsome, dark-haired, olive-skinned, with sharp suits and sharper eyes. They look at me like I’m a runway model they’re deciding how to approach.
At the head of the table is Paul Knight, his expression unreadable, though the faint tightening of his jaw suggests he wasn’t expecting me.
Every head turns toward me, the room falls into an expectant silence. Jett rises immediately. He crosses the room in quick strides and offers me his hand, and I take it like the lifeline that it is. His touch grounds me in the storm.
“Cari,” he says, his voice steady but loud enough to carry across the room. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“What is this?” Paul Knight’s voice cuts through the room, cold and sharp.
Jett ignores him, standing beside me as he takes my hand. “This,” he says, his voice steady and commanding, “is me taking control of my life. Of my future.”
“You’re making a mistake,” his father growls, his voice full of venom.
Jett squeezes my hand reassuringly. “The mistake would be letting you dictate who I can and can’t love. The mistake would be walking away from the one person who understands me better than anyone else in this room.”
The silence is deafening.
His father’s gaze hardens, his fury barely contained. “This is not how we do things.”
“It’s how I do things,” Jett counters. “And if that means throwing your plans into disarray, so be it.”
He offers me his hand. “You don’t belong in my world, Cari. You are my world.” He looks at his father, before turning back to me. “This is the woman I love.”
I think I’m going to faint. The room erupts into whispers and gasps. I’m afraid to breathe. I don’t want to give away the maelstrom of emotions inside me—happiness, and shock swirl in a sea of disbelief. I feel giddy. Like this isn't real. Like I'm in a dream and I'm scared I'll wake up to cold reality.
Jett Knight just declared his love for me in front of his family, in front of his tyrannical father. My parched mouth turns even drier. I'm going to choke soon if I don't get any water.
Paul leans back in his chair, slow and deliberate, his gaze narrowing. “What are you playing at?”
Jett’s jaw tightens, but his eyes stay locked on mine, steady and unyielding. “I’ve loved Cari for a long time. I’m done hiding it.”
Dex breaks the tension with a low whistle, and walks over. I feel like he’s about to give Jett a bear hug, but shifts back a little, as if he’s remembered where he is. “Well, damn. That’s … cool, brother.” His eyes turn to me and he gives me a smile. An approving smile. Not that I need his approval, but it feels nice. Like he’s on our side. Jett squeezes my hand tighter, and I squeeze it right back.
Zach gets up, grinning as he saunters over. “Yeah, you didn’t have to go full Titanic declaration, but good for you, man.” He pats Jett on the back, and I think he whispers a soft “Hey,” to me. I manage a smile, but feel uneasy on account of the other eyes on me.
This show of support from his brothers gives me a sense of relief for Jett’s sake. ? The Italian Knights exchange intrigued glances. Rio smirks as he leans back in his chair. With his Mafia energy, and jet-black hair swept back to show off his sharp features, it’s clear that he’s enjoying the drama. Matteo casually watches us, looking unfazed and bored. He carries the magnetic charm of a rockstar and looks out of place at this table of suited men. Next to him sits the debonair Enzo, a man of few words. The youngest of the entire bunch, he seems wiser than his years.
Paul claps, slow and mocking. “Well, this is touching. Truly.”
“Let’s sit down,” Jett tells his brothers, his tone firm.
Sit down?
What am I supposed to do? Jett makes his brother shift down a seat, and where he was next to his father, he’s now sitting at the end, with me at his side. The table has only been laid for the seven of them, but I’m so thirsty, I quickly reach for a glass of water and drain it dry, not caring who it belonged to.
“Love doesn’t run empires, Jett. Strategy does. Loyalty. And smart decisions.” His father picks up his utensils and casually continues eating.
Jett’s expression hardens, and under the table, he takes my hand, his grip tightening. “You tried to pay me off. Ten million dollars to marry someone I don’t love. Do you really think that’s loyalty?”
Paul’s face stiffens, his composure slipping.
“Ten million dollars?” Dex cries. “Hell, for that much, I’ll marry her.”
“Oops,” Jett says. “Was that meant to be a secret? Guess what? I’m not for sale. And neither is Cari.”
“But, ten million dollars? Just to marry someone, on paper?” Dex seems intrigued by the idea.
“Why don’t you consider it?” Our father asks. “You are the next in line.”
The Italian Knights chuckle amongst themselves. They must find this highly amusing. Then, Rio asks, “Why the hell would you do that—marry someone just for the money?”
Dex shakes his head. “I wouldn’t. I control my future. I don’t have it dictated to me.”
My insides are in freefall now. Not only has Jett declared his love for me, but he’s fighting for us. “Unlike you,” Jett continues, his voice raising, “I hold myself to a higher standard. Love can’t be bought. And fake love? It’s not worth the time or money.”
Paul’s gaze darkens, but he says nothing.
Jett turns to me, his voice softening. “Cari has stood by me through everything. She’s been my anchor, my confidant, my partner in every way that matters. I love her, and I’m not going to let anything—or anyone —come between us.”
Emotion swells in my chest, my throat tightening as I try to hold back tears. This is too much, he didn’t need to do this, in front of them, but I realize in that moment why he did.
He did it for me.
“Isn’t she too young to be a mother to Brooke?” His father’s question riles Jett, because I feel him stiffen beside me.
“She’s amazing with Brooke, but that’s not why I love her. I’m not with her because she serves a function. I’m with her because—” He scoffs. “You wouldn’t understand. All you think about is commodities and how you can benefit. How you can make more millions, even when you already have more than you’ll even need, even if you lived forever.”
He stands up, and instinctively, so do I. We’re still holding hands, and I notice the way Paul Knight’s beady eyes fixate on them. “If you’ll excuse us.” Jett turns to leave.
Dex leans back, smirking. “You’re really leaving? Dinner’s not even over.”
Zach shakes his head. “Bold move, bro.”
Jett doesn’t respond. He leads me out of the room, his hand warm and steady in mine.
As the elevator doors close behind us, I exhale, my shoulders slouching as I nearly keel over with relief.
“Hey. Hey. Shortcake.” Jett’s arms lift me up and he presses me to him. I lean against him. “Sorry. I know that must have been hard on you.” He kisses the top of my head. I’m so exhausted, so mentally drained, that I need a moment to recharge.
The elevator begins its smooth descent, and I stand up straighter, staring up at his now dark eyes. “Did you mean it?” I whisper. “When you said you love me?”
His gaze fixes on me. “With all my heart.”
I’m so overcome with feeling, I want to cry. Jett looks at me as if I'm the only woman in the world. I used to dream of such a thing. But now this man makes me feel like I'm the only one for him.
He's the only one for me.
As we walk out of the revolving doors, I tug at his hand.
“What?” He turns to me, and immediately, his arms wrap around my waist. Even though I have my thick winter coat on, I feel the spark of his touch. Something happens to my body whenever he holds me. I feel grounded, yet also ready to fly into the air. He nuzzles my nose. “You okay, Shortcake?”
I nod and look up at him. “I love you. I’ve loved you for the longest time.” I sniffle, in typical fashion, dampening the enormity of the moment by falling apart. Jett’s eyes widen as he looks down at me, but it can’t be surprise. Surely he knows and has felt what I’ve felt? A connection so strong, it seems other-worldly. It’s nothing like a crush. It’s something deeper. I'm so deeply in love with this man. I am so profoundly grateful to have met someone who loves me so much. Someone, now that I'm connecting all the little things together, who has been taking care of me, wanting the best for me, helping me, even when I didn't even know it.
He raises his hand to my face, and strokes it gently, waiting patiently. “It was a crush. A silly crush, as Eliana used to say, but it’s something more, Jett. What I feel for you, it scared me. It was all consuming, and I’ve missed you so much since we got back. I thought I had to leave for my sake and yours and when your father …” I hesitate because I don’t want this moment and this evening to be about that wretched man.
“I. Love. You .” His big hands frame my face. “Completely. Unreservedly. Forever.”
I open my mouth to tell him that forever isn’t guaranteed, but he presses his lips to mine, hushing me. “Don’t think with your practical head, and leave your logic and reason, and your excuses and buts out of this. Feel it with your heart. I feel it here.” He taps his chest. “I know you feel it, too, Cari. I see it in your eyes. You surely see it in me? The change, what you’ve done to me? What being with you has made me? A better man, someone who deserves you.”
“Jett …” Words don’t usually fail me, but in this moment I’m speechless. He sounds so different to that arrogant, bullish boss who used to break my heart each time I’d see him with a new woman.
But he’s picked me.
His thumbs trace over my lips. “We’ll figure it out. All of it. The Knight legacy isn’t important. This …you and me—”
“And Brooke,” I add, because the sentence feels incomplete without any mention of her.
“Always Brooke, but you and me, what we have, Cari. This is special. I never thought I would fall in love again, and this special kind of love, I never thought it would be mine to have once more.”
He kisses me again, deeply and feverishly, giving me a taste of our forever, and I believe him with all my heart.