Chapter 12 Annulment
Muttering under her breath, she turned away from the door and walked straight back to the coffee table.
The first thing she did was open the settings for her smart lock. There was absolutely no way Alexa was getting inside again. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen. A few seconds later, the old password disappeared and a new one replaced it.
Juliet leaned back in her chair and smiled in satisfaction.
There.
Done.
For the first time all day, a sense of peace finally settled over her.
Or at least it tried to.
Because the moment she closed the laptop, her phone suddenly began ringing on the table.
The sharp sound echoed through the apartment, instantly breaking the silence.
Juliet's gaze immediately shifted toward the screen. The moment she saw Cassian's name flashing across it, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
The irritation Alexa had left behind seemed to disappear instantly.
Picking up the phone, she accepted the call and switched it to video.
A second later, Cassian's face appeared on the screen.
He was seated behind the large desk in his office, dressed in a freshly tailored black suit that fit him perfectly.
The bright office lights reflected off the glass walls behind him, illuminating the sleek, modern space.
Yet despite the expensive surroundings, Juliet's attention remained fixed on him.
His posture was rigid against the leather chair.
His shoulders looked tense.
And the moment the call connected, his dark eyes locked onto her face as though he had been staring at the screen waiting for her to answer.
"Hello," Juliet greeted cheerfully.
Balancing the phone against a stack of books on the table, Juliet shut down her laptop and began gathering the last of her belongings. She slipped a few documents into her bag, zipped up a folder, and reached for her keys, all while keeping an eye on the screen.
Cassian didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he sat back in his chair and watched her in silence, his dark eyes moving slowly over her face as though searching for something. His gaze lingered for several long seconds, studying every detail of her expression. Yet despite the careful inspection, his features didn't soften.
If anything, he looked slightly displeased.
"Where are you?"
Juliet slung her bag over one shoulder and casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm at my apartment," she replied as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. "I'm gathering some of my things before going home."
The moment the words left her mouth, she noticed the subtle shift.
His shoulders eased ever so slightly, and some of the tension that had been sitting rigidly in his posture seemed to melt away. A quiet breath escaped him, almost as though he had been unconsciously holding it until now.
Most people probably wouldn't have noticed the change.
Juliet did.
His jaw loosened before he finally spoke again.
"Alright."
His voice sounded steadier now.
"Come home soon. There's a business party tonight. I want you to go with me."
Juliet's eyes immediately brightened.
"A party?" A smile spread across her face so quickly that she couldn't stop it. "Of course I'll go with you. Why wouldn't I?"
Her enthusiasm seemed to catch him completely off guard.
Cassian blinked.
For a brief moment, genuine surprise crossed his face before he quickly concealed it behind his usual composed expression.
"You will?"
There was unmistakable suspicion in his voice, as though he couldn't quite believe she had agreed so easily.
Juliet laughed softly, the warm sound filling the apartment.
"Of course I will."
Still smiling, she pulled her bag onto her shoulder more securely and reached for her phone.
"I'll meet you directly at the party."
The reaction was immediate. Cassian's brows drew together. A deep frown settled between them.
Whether Juliet genuinely didn't notice or simply chose to ignore it, she continued speaking without pause.
"I'll send everything home with the driver, then I'll go buy a dress for tonight and head straight to the party."
She picked up her keys and twirled them absently around one finger before adding,
"I'll meet you at the entrance."
The atmosphere shifted the instant the words left her mouth.
Cassian's expression darkened.
"No."
The refusal came so quickly it nearly overlapped with her sentence.
His voice sharpened noticeably.
"You'll come with me."
Juliet paused, blinking at the screen.
She could practically see the irritation flickering behind his eyes.
"Come back home right now," he continued firmly, leaning slightly forward in his chair. "We'll go together."
Juliet bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.
There was something unexpectedly adorable about the way he suddenly looked determined to win this argument.
"I don't have any clothes for a business party," she pointed out patiently.
Stepping back, she gestured toward her casual outfit and raised an eyebrow.
"Cassian, I can't exactly show up wearing this."
His gaze immediately swept over her from head to toe.
The frown on his face deepened.
"And you already gave me your card."
Her smile widened.
"I'm going shopping now, getting a dress, and then I'll meet you at the party."
Cassian opened his mouth.
Clearly preparing to argue.
But before he could get a single word out, Juliet quickly lifted a finger.
"I want you to see me for the first time when I walk into the party wearing the dress you paid for."
A mischievous sparkle appeared in her eyes.
She had to bite back another smile.
"It'll be a surprise."
Silence immediately followed.
Cassian simply stared at her through the screen.
His expression became completely unreadable.
Then his fingers began tapping lightly against the surface of his desk.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The rhythmic sound echoed faintly through the speaker.
Juliet's smile grew.
She knew that habit far too well. Cassian only tapped his fingers like that when he was annoyed and actively trying not to show it.
Clearly, he hated her plan. She could practically see the internal battle raging behind those dark eyes.
His jaw flexed.
The muscles in his cheek tightened.
For a brief moment, conflict flashed across his face before disappearing just as quickly.
Part of him wanted to order her home immediately.
The other part clearly couldn't bring himself to deny her.
Tilting her head slightly, Juliet looked at him through her lashes.
"I want to look pretty when you see me, Cassian."
The tapping stopped instantly.
The sudden silence felt strangely intimate.
Neither of them spoke.
Cassian's gaze remained locked on her face.
The tapping immediately stopped.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
His dark gaze remained fixed on her face.
The tension in his expression softened ever so slightly.
Then she saw it.
The brief flash of confusion.
The hesitation.
The internal struggle.
As though part of him wanted to refuse while another part desperately wanted to hear her say things like that again.
Finally, he let out a slow breath.
"Alright then."
His voice was lower now. Reluctant. Resigned. But no longer angry.
His eyes locked onto hers through the screen.
"I'll see you at the party."
There was a pause before he added firmly, "Be there by eight."
"Got it."
Juliet's smile immediately brightened.
The happiness on her face was impossible to miss, and despite his attempt to remain stern, she could see the corners of Cassian's mouth twitch ever so slightly before the call ended.
***
Alexa stepped through the doors of Jacobs Capital Group, the sharp click of her heels echoing across the polished marble floor as she entered the magnificent lobby.
Her gaze swept over the familiar surroundings, and a sense of pride immediately filled her chest. The luxurious interior, the bustling employees, and the atmosphere of power surrounding the company all reminded her of how much influence she now held within these walls.
As she walked forward, several employees greeted her respectfully.
Some nodded, while others offered polite smiles.
Alexa accepted every greeting with practiced ease, her lips curving upward in satisfaction.
Over the past few months, her position within the company had become increasingly special.
Everyone knew who she was. More importantly, everyone knew she could walk into Vincent's office whenever she pleased without needing an appointment or permission from anyone.
That privilege alone made her feel superior.
Lifting her chin slightly, she carried herself with the confidence of someone who already considered herself the future mistress of the company and headed directly toward the CEO's office.
When she reached the door, she knocked once out of courtesy before pushing it open and stepping inside.
The spacious office looked exactly as she remembered.
Everything was neat, orderly, and meticulously arranged.
The modern décor was dominated by shades of white, black, and gray, reflecting Vincent's cold and disciplined personality.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, casting long beams of light across the office and illuminating the stacks of documents spread across his desk.
Vincent sat behind that desk, his attention focused entirely on the paperwork before him.
The moment the door opened, however, his head snapped up.
For a brief second, something flashed across his face.
Anticipation.
Hope.
His eyes immediately locked onto the doorway as he called out almost instinctively.
"Juliet?"
The single word struck Alexa like a slap.
The smile on her face froze before slowly disappearing.
A flicker of displeasure crossed her features, and her fingers curled tightly at her sides.
Across the room, Vincent's expression changed just as quickly.
The anticipation vanished from his eyes the moment he realized it was Alexa, not Juliet.
His body visibly stiffened.
The pen between his fingers slipped from his grasp and landed on the desk with a soft clatter.
A frown appeared between his brows.