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Chapter_189
Jeremiah smirked slightly at his grandfather’s teasing but chose not to respond directly. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying the older man with a thoughtful expression. “Grandpa, we both know that’s not really the issue. It’s not about getting a wife. It’s about finding the right one.”
Jase raised an eyebrow, his piercing gaze sharp despite his age. “Right one? Are you telling me you haven’t found someone who can handle you? I know the girls back in Clusia must be throwing themselves at you. Why are you still so picky?”
Jeremiah took another sip of his coffee, his fingers drumming lightly on the rim of the mug. “You could say I’ve found someone,” he said, his tone casual but with a hint of seriousness that didn’t go unnoticed by Jase.
Jase’s eyes narrowed slightly, his interest piqued. “Oh? And who’s this mysterious woman? Someone I should be looking out for?”
Jeremiah didn’t answer right away, his gaze flicking to the window where the night sky had begun to darken. “Someone complicated. But I’m not rushing into anything. You know how it is—when it’s right, you’ll know.”
Jase chuckled, shaking his head with mock disapproval. “You sound just like your father. All this talk about waiting for the perfect moment. There’s no perfect moment, Jeremiah. You either take the leap or you end up with regret.”
Jeremiah was silent for a beat, the weight of his grandfather’s words sinking in. He had always admired Jase’s straightforwardness and determination, but there were moments when Jeremiah couldn’t help but feel that his grandfather didn’t truly understand his situation. “I’ll figure it out, Grandpa. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Jase studied him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “I know. I’m just getting old, that’s all. I want to see my great-grandson before I retire for good.”
Jeremiah smiled faintly, a little amused by the older man’s persistence. “Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know when I get serious with someone. But don’t expect it to be soon.”
Jase’s lips twitched, half in amusement, half in impatience. “You’re too cautious for your own good. Don’t let life pass you by, boy.”
Jeremiah stood up, nodding to his grandfather. “I won’t. I’ll make sure you get that great-grandson eventually.”
Before Jase could respond, Jeremiah turned to leave, but then paused at the door, his hand resting on the frame. “By the way, Grandpa, don’t try to play matchmaker for me. I know you’ll be plotting something.”
Jase let out a hearty laugh. “I’m not that old yet! But if I were you, I wouldn’t take too long to settle down. Life’s too short.”
With that, Jeremiah exited the study, his mind still occupied with thoughts of Yvette. Though Jase’s words lingered, Jeremiah felt a strange sense of calm. He had already made his choice—Yvette had left an indelible mark on him, one that couldn’t be ignored, no matter how much he tried to fight it. He had no intention of rushing things, but it was becoming increasingly clear that Yvette was someone he couldn’t let go of.
The night was still young, but Jeremiah was already thinking of her—thinking of their brief but meaningful conversations. Her words lingered in his mind: “Keep missing. I’m hanging up now.” The playful edge to her voice, the subtle but confident way she carried herself, made him want to know more. Maybe it wasn’t about rushing. Maybe it was just about waiting for the right moment.
As he walked down the hallway, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. His thumb hovered over her name, but before he could hit call, he paused, letting the moment stretch out. He wasn’t going to rush. But when the time came, he knew it would be worth it.
Back at the villa, the morning after Frankie’s little “torture” session, Yvette sat quietly at the table, eyes scanning over the paperwork she had set aside earlier. The others had gathered again, and though there was a certain tension in the air, it was clear that everyone was still processing the events of the previous night.
Emmett shot Frankie a teasing look. “You good there, buddy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Frankie shot him a glare but didn’t respond. His mind was still reeling from the unexpected outcome of his prank and the subsequent fallout. He had underestimated both Yvette and Jeremiah. In the end, he’d ended up as the butt of the joke, and worse, he had lost a lot more than he bargained for.
Bruce, noticing Frankie’s discomfort, chuckled. “You never learn, do you, Frankie? You should know better than to mess with someone who’s not afraid to make you pay.”
Yvette raised an eyebrow but didn’t engage in the teasing. Instead, she picked up her cup of tea and sipped slowly, her thoughts elsewhere. The conversation had shifted away from Jeremiah, but the thoughts of him were never far from her mind. She knew that their connection, whatever it was, was far from simple. And if there was anything she had learned in her life, it was that nothing was ever truly easy. Jeremiah might be playing his own game, but she wasn’t about to be a pawn.
With a small, almost imperceptible smile, she set her cup down and glanced at the others. “Well, I think it’s time to get to work,” she said, her voice sharp and purposeful. “No more distractions.”
Emmett, Bruce, and Chris nodded, their earlier amusement fading as they shifted into their more professional personas. Frankie, still recovering from his “torture,” merely nodded, not willing to speak out of turn.
As Yvette focused on the tasks ahead, she couldn’t help but wonder just how much more complicated things were going to get—especially when Jeremiah was involved. But for now, she would push those thoughts aside. There was work to do, and she wasn’t about to let anything, or anyone, derail her plans.
Meanwhile, across the world, Jeremiah leaned against the railing of his balcony, staring out at the distant city lights. His thoughts were far from his duties, focused entirely on the woman who had been running through his mind nonstop. Yvette might be playing her own game, but so was he. And as much as she might pretend otherwise, Jeremiah had a feeling she wasn’t as indifferent as she seemed.
He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he thought, This is only the beginning.
