Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Chapter 65

I tensed, my eyes scanning the room until I spotted a figure leaning casually against a table, their face obscured by a hoodie.

"Had to make sure I wasn’t being followed," I replied, my voice steady despite the slight tremor in my fingers.

The person chuckled, the sound low and amused. "So, the famous Eclipse is a woman. I’ve heard whispers, but seeing it for myself... I never expected it." He whistled softly, pulling back the hood to reveal a sharp jawline, deep-set eyes, and a cocky grin that immediately set me on edge.

I made sure my hand was resting close to my concealed gun, my fingers brushing the cold metal for reassurance. My eyes didn’t leave him for a second. Broad shoulders, tall, probably strong enough to be a problem if this went sideways.

The man extended his hand in mock politeness, though his grin never wavered. "Name’s Karl, but you know me as Ghost."

I didn’t move to take his hand, keeping my mask firmly in place. "I didn’t ask for introductions."

He chuckled again, lowering his hand but not looking offended. "Fair enough. You’re a cautious one. Makes sense, considering your reputation. Do you even realize how many people idolize you? Hell, I can’t even figure out how you managed to hack into those encrypted servers. Genius work."

His words made me uneasy, though I kept my face neutral under the scarf. "Let’s keep the flattery to a minimum. You have a job to do, and I expect results."

He stepped closer, just enough to make me tense but not enough to make a move. "Come on," he said, lowering his voice slightly, "share the secret. How does someone like you bypass top-tier security like it’s child’s play?"

I leaned forward slightly, my voice dropping to a whisper. "You want to know the secret?"

His grin widened. "Desperately."

I leaned in even closer, watching as his expression turned eager, almost reverent. "The secret is..."

He tilted his head, hanging onto my words.

"...being pretty," I finished, leaning back with a smirk under my mask.

Karl blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before bursting into laughter. "Touché. Alright, Eclipse. I’ll take notes on that one."

I didn’t laugh. My hand remained close to my gun, my phone in my pocket set to speed dial the police if this turned sour. "Enough games," I said, my voice sharp. "Let’s get to it. Show me what I’m paying you for."

Karl’s expression turned serious, and he gestured toward a black tarp on the floor. With a single motion, he pulled it back, revealing the body underneath.

The sight was brutal—blood matted the hair, the neck twisted at an unnatural angle. The face was contorted in terror, the wide-open eyes staring at nothing.

"She’s the owner of the apartment, Name is Reyna Greene" Karl explained, his tone clinical now. "Jessica Wilde owes back rent for three months. Amount’s just over $6,500."

I frowned, my mind racing. Jessica was earning more than enough at JFK to cover rent. So why the debt?

"Do you know why?" I asked, kneeling slightly to get a closer look, though I kept my distance.

Karl shrugged. "Not my job to dig into the why, just the facts. Wilde’s been dodging payments for months. Landlady wasn’t exactly a fan."

My stomach churned as I tried to process it. Jessica Wilde, who always flaunted her expensive designer shoes and bags, couldn’t afford rent? The same Jessica who practically glowed with pride when she was promoted at work—a promotion that was based on a pitch I had written.

I bit back the wave of resentment that memory stirred. Jessica had begged me for that pitch, pleaded for a chance to "prove herself." And when it was rejected in my department, she took it straight to her supervisor and got promoted for it.

I straightened, glancing at Karl. "Anything else?"

"Not much. Just the basics. The body’s here, the debts are real, and Wilde’s got skeletons in her closet that might interest you. Literally and figuratively." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "You gonna tell me why you care so much about this one? Seems messy, even for someone like you."

"That’s none of your business," I replied coolly, standing up and brushing off my hands.

Karl raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. You hired me, and I delivered. I don’t ask questions beyond that."

I turned back to the body, the gruesome scene burned into my mind. Jessica Wilde was hiding something, and whatever it was, it had to be big. Big enough to drive her into debt, big enough to involve murder.

I glanced back at Karl. "Cover it back up."

He nodded, pulling the tarp back over the body with practiced ease. "What’s the plan now?"

I didn’t answer immediately, my thoughts a swirling mess of possibilities. Jessica had always been a ghost, slipping through life without leaving much of a trail. But now, I was starting to piece together the cracks in her façade.

"I’ll be in touch," I said finally, heading toward the exit. "But for now bury the body."

"Careful out there, Eclipse," Karl called after me, his voice laced with amusement. "You’re stepping into dangerous territory."

I didn’t bother responding, pushing the door open and stepping into the cool night air.

I walked briskly to my car, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Humming softly to myself, I tried to process the mess I was unraveling. Jessica. Gabriel. The body. How had it all come to this?

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and pulled out, the hum of the car a comforting backdrop as I navigated the dimly lit streets. The drive home was uneventful, though my fingers tapped restlessly against the steering wheel, my thoughts drifting back to Jessica’s camera feed.

I needed answers. And if those answers were hidden in her home, I’d find them.

When I arrived at my apartment complex, I parked, grabbed my bag, and stepped into the lobby. The elevator doors dinged open just as I reached them, and I stepped inside, already pulling my phone out to review the footage.

But then I noticed him.

Jason.

He stood slouched in the corner, one hand bracing the wall of the elevator, the other clutching his stomach. He wasn’t wearing his usual confident smirk, nor did he have that air of superiority he so often carried. He looked... tired. Stressed.

It had been a week since I’d seen him. A week of silence, no Jason at the office, no sarcastic remarks, no infuriating grins. And now, here he was, looking like he’d been through hell.

I held my mask tightly in one hand, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. He didn’t say anything, which was unusual for him. Jason was always quick with a quip or a comment, no matter the situation.

The elevator doors slid shut, and the silence between us felt heavy. I shifted slightly, glancing at him again. He looked pale, hunched over, his breathing a little uneven.

I didn’t want to care. I shouldn’t care. But something about the way he was standing, the way he held his stomach like he was in pain, gnawed at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence.

Jason didn’t answer immediately. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to respond at all. Then, without looking at me, he muttered, "I’m fine."

It wasn’t convincing. Not even close.

"Sure, you are," I said dryly, leaning against the opposite wall of the elevator. "You look like you’re about to pass out, but fine. Got it."

He let out a short, humorless laugh, still not meeting my gaze. "Didn’t realize you cared."

"I don’t," I replied quickly, though the words felt hollow. "But if you pass out in here, I’m not dragging your sorry ass out."

His lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing. "Noted."

The elevator jerked slightly as it ascended, and Jason winced, his hand pressing harder against his stomach.

I crossed my arms, watching him carefully. "Seriously, what’s wrong with you? Stomach ache from too many pastries? Or did Joselle finally poison you?"

Jason let out a small chuckle, though it sounded strained. "If she did, it’s taking its sweet time."

I frowned, shifting closer to him. "You don’t look great, Jason. Maybe you should see a doctor."

He finally glanced at me, his eyes tired but still holding that familiar spark of mischief. "You volunteering to take care of me?"

"Not in your dreams," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

He finally glanced at me, his eyes tired but still holding that familiar spark of mischief. "You volunteering to take care of me?"

"Not in your dreams," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

The elevator dinged softly as it reached my floor. I stepped out, already planning to leave him to his misery. But just as the doors began to close, Jason stumbled, his knees buckling slightly. Without thinking, I turned and grabbed his arm, steadying him before he collapsed.

"Dang it!" I muttered, glaring at the elevator as the doors slid shut, trapping us on my floor.