Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Grasping my concerns, Ronan slid a freshly grilled cheese sandwich my way. "You should look after yourself," he advised, "I'll have someone check out Hilltop Retreats thoroughly today. Leave the keys with me. It's a good excuse to drop off some stuff. There's probably someone keeping tabs on you."

"Someone's watching me?" I asked a hint of alarm in my voice.

"It's par for the course, considering you're a person of interest to them. Using the house delivery as a pretext to monitor your movements, and that's where the real value lies." Ronan explained with a reassuring tone, "But don't worry, and the more they watch, the safer you are."

I shrugged helplessly and looked at him, my voice tinged with a mix of humor and frustration, "Tell me, how did I end up living in a spy thriller?"

He smiled softly, "It's not your fault. It's their intrusiveness that's to blame."

I shared with Ronan about my encounter with Jaylan from the previous day, including the situation between Jaylan and Azure Enchantress.

He nodded, "We've been keeping an eye on that High-rollers Hangout for a while now. AzureEnchantress is cunning and never shows face in public. So it's no surprise Jaylan says he's never seen them."

"Do you think Jerome could be tight with Azure Enchantress?" I asked as I grabbed a slice of toast and slathered it with jam, sighing deeply, "When it comes down to it, Jaylan's downfall was by Jerome's hand." "That's hard to say. Jerome has been lying low, not making a move."

"That means he's up to no good. By the looks of it, Jaylan is just a pawn to be sacrificed."

"Jaylan was never cut out for greatness anyway. Not the sharpest tool in the shed," Ronan quipped.

I couldn't help but snort with laughter, "That's one way to put it, and you might as well have called him an idiot."

Ronan chuckled too, "Not exactly. More like his brain isn't wired for the serious stuff. Without Jerome, he would've been a non-starter, bound to run Medsafe Liyah Inc. into the ground. He's got no head for business. He could run a corner store just fine, and that's about it."

My face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, and I dared not meet his gaze anymore. Talk about a slap in the face.

I had managed to be outplayed by an idiot and if that was not a reality check, what was?

"You shouldn't beat yourself up. The mistake wasn't yours." Ronan, as if reading my mind, spoke directly to my insecurities.

"And if I'm not wrong, who is?" I retorted, "I always thought I was too smart to be conned."

"There's a saying, and it's never too late to mend. You learn from your mistakes," Ronan said, eating his breakfast with an elegance that somehow didn't quite match the Ronan I knew.

Internally, I contested his optimism, "Not too late? I had wasted ten years of my youth, left only with three children and one missing. A good hand played terribly."

Sometimes I wondered, was it all Jaylan's fault? My so-called intelligence was just a facade. In reality, I was just as immature.

"Don't overthink it. Don't weigh yourself down, and everything will turn out fine. You're doing great."

I gave a rueful smile, "Alright, enough comforting me."

Eager to change the subject, I mentioned, "I'm meeting with Geneva later."

"Good," he said, glancing at me, "try to relax. Act as if nothing has happened. Everyone goes through trials, and what you see isn't always the reality. So, the Geneva you meet may not be as happy as she seems."

His words made me pause. Maybe he was right.

After finishing breakfast, I hadn't even had a chance to call Geneva when Catherine rang, announcing her return to Silverdale City. The shoot on Oldtown Avenue was scheduled for next Tuesday, and she wanted to know if I'd be back.

"I should be able to make it back. Once I sort out the house situation here, I'll return," I replied noncommittally, my mind occupied with whether I could actually leave given the current circumstances. "Alright, then I'll wait for you in Silverdale City. Give me a call before you come, and I'll pick you up if I'm free," Catherine's voice bubbled with affection.

"Sure, you do your thing. I can head back anytime."

"You were right about one thing, and the food on Oldtown Avenue is to die for," she laughed through the phone, "We'll hit the town when you're back." "Okay. Gotta go," I said, my patience waning, "before you drain my phone battery."

She teased me one last time, "That's a skill I've mastered since childhood. Talk later."

I shook my head with a smile, this girl was pure joy. Hopefully, she'd always keep that happiness going.

I paced for a few moments, gathering my thoughts before dialing Geneva's number.