My CEO 302

302 Old Times, New Questions (Jayden)

Lance leans back in his chair, one arm draped over the back, a beer in his other hand. We're out on the balcony of my penthouse, the city stretched out in front of us like it always has been, but life looks a lot different these days. "Man, you u ever think we'd be here? A few days out from a second wedding run?" Lance asks, taking a long sip from his beer. "You with four kids, me... well, still doing whatever the hell I'm doing."

I laugh, shaking my head, "Nah. Back in college, I figured we'd be tearing it up until we were fifty, still chasing girls and getting wasted every weekend."

"Well, one of us is doing that," Lance grins, tipping his beer toward me. "You're practically a family man. Settling down with Winona. Are you sure you're ready?"

I shrug, taking a drink from my own beer. "It's been a wild ride, but... It feels right, you

know?"

Lance raises an eyebrow. "Even with all the shit that's gone down? I mean, Judy, Gus, the whole Nexus Global empire-how are you not losing your mind?"

I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "Oh, I'm losing my mind, don't get me wrong. But I'm trying to keep it together for the kids, for Winona. I can't afford to let everything fall apart again." Lance nods, quiet for a second, then smirks. "And let's not forget that little hall pass week."

I let out a breath, shaking my head. "Yeah, Winona needed space. I had to give her that. Not gonna lie, that was hard as hell."

Lance whistles, tipping his beer bottle toward me again. "You're a brave man, Jayden. I don't know who

else could've done that."

figured if she needed

little too casual. I narrow my eyes at him. "So, were you clubbing during that week?" Lance freezes for half a second, but it's enough for me to catch. He

I press, leaning forward a bit. "You see Winona

bit of beer in his

but he doesn't. His usual cocky grin is missing,

me a sideways glance, his lips twitching. "We danced. I wasn't exactly keeping

press him, but I don't want to come off as paranoid. Still, something about the way he's answering me doesn't

Times,

+25 BONUS

up to?" I ask, trying to sound casual but feeling

blowing off steam, same

feels like he's skirting around the truth. "What

his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, man. It's nothing. Winona was just having

all?" I ask, pushing him

if I was holding something back, you'd know. You've got this superpower for sniffing out bullshit. But, yeah. This is between you two, and I have to stay friends with both, so leave me out of it." I'm just going to ask what's on my mind. "Was Phillip

never

else?" I ask

stretching. "Man, stop being a buzzkill. I

with it?"

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