Page 28 of The Trade

“Wait,” he interjects, propping himself against the door frame. “Is there a guy in your room, Jade?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” I pinch my eyes shut. “Yes, there is.”

“Damn, is he—”

“Jade, everything okay out there?” Fred calls out again, his voice reverberating through the living room.

“Oh my God. I wish he would just leave already,” I mumble under my breath, massaging my temples, utterly drained from the previous night’s sleepless ordeal. I place a pleading hand on West’s shoulder. “Wait . . . could you maybe help me get rid of him?”

He winces. “Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Oh, come on, please?” I quietly plead. “Look, if you help me with this, I’ll um . . .” My voice trails off, a desperate whisper. “I’ll go to the banquet with you.”

That perks him up. “For real?”

“Yes, I promise!”

“Fine.” His eyes twinkle with mischief. “It’s a deal. Tell me, do you ever want to see this guy again?”

“No, definitely not.”

“Well, in that case . . .” He cups both hands around his mouth to project his voice. “What the fuck is going on here, Jade?”

“It’s not what it looks like, I swear.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” West raises his voice even higher, his faux outrage echoing through the apartment. “After everything we’ve been through?”

I wince at the sound of Fred’s hurried footsteps approaching from the bedroom. I don’t have time to mentally prepare myself for the impending chaos. But, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.

A bewildered Fred appears from the hallway, confusion painting his features. “What’s going on out here?” he asks, his gaze flicking between West and me. “Jade, who is this?”

Assuming a protective stance, West slips his arm around my waist, drawing me closer. “I’m Theo, her fucking boyfriend,” he announces with a faux ferocity that’s as convincing as it is comical. “Who the hell are you?”

Caught off guard, Fred stammers, “Uh, shit, man.” His eyes dart to the floor as he shuffles toward the corner, hastily reaching for his shoes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.”

“Yeah, well, she does,” West says, feigning a menacing tone. “So why don’t you get the fuck out of here?”

“Yeah, yeah, definitely.” The awkward shuffle becomes more pronounced as Fred maneuvers to put his shoes on and make his escape, all while avoiding eye contact. “I’m already gone.”

West tactfully steps out of the doorway, making room for Fred’s swift exit and pulling me along with him.

“Sorry, Freddy!” I call out, stifling a giggle. The man practically sprints toward the elevator, desperate to leave. When he’s finally out of sight, I gently close the door behind him and press my forehead against the wood, cheeks flushing.

“Jade, come on,” West exclaims, failing to hold back a hearty laugh. “Is that seriously the type of guy you’re bringing home?”

I release a sigh, dropping my shoulders in resignation. “What? Fred’s a nice guy.”

“Mhm, yeah, nice.” He snorts, a touch of amusement in his voice. “I think he just about pissed himself.”

“I mean, to be fair, youwerekind of scary.”

His laughter bubbles up again, soft and low, and I suppress a shiver at the pleasant timbre of it. “Yeah?” He seems amused at the concept. “Good scary?”

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “To be honest, yes?”

“Hmm,” he muses, drawing out the word with a slow, considering grin. “So that’s what you’re into, then?”

“What do you mean?”

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