Love Rents A Room
Chapter 126: Her Trust In Him

Chapter 126: Her Trust In Him

Seeing the smile on Joanne’s face only made Jeffrey’s nervousness worse.

He hated feeling this way in front of her. He was supposed to be the man, the leader. He shouldn’t be standing here, shaken by doubt like a coward.

He almost wanted to give up and ask her to get help from his grandfather. But deep down, he didn’t want to. He wanted to handle it himself.

It was her unwavering trust in him that made him more nervous.

"I trust you, Jeffrey. You can do it."

Her voice was soft but steady, unwavering.

"Even if this meeting doesn’t go exactly as planned—which I doubt, because it’s you and..." She patted his shoulders with a playful smile. "You’re looking way too dapper to fail. Even if things don’t work out the way we want them to, we’ll find another way. This isn’t the end."

She meant every word.

And in her heart, she wished him all the success in the world.

She wanted him to win.

Not just for the company, not just to protect what was theirs, but for himself.

She wanted Jeffrey Winchester to succeed. She wanted him to prove, not just to his family but to himself, that he was more than a man who spent money without purpose. He had the potential to be a leader, to be someone who stood tall on his own.

He just never had the conviction to try.

But now? Now, she wanted him to see what she saw in him. She wanted him to believe.

And maybe, just maybe... he did.

The doubt in his gaze flickered, something shifting in the depths of his eyes.

Belief.

Then, without warning, Jeffrey pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

Joanne let out a soft laugh, leaning into his embrace as she patted his back. "Only you can do this," she whispered.

Because she wanted him to be the one to do it.

Jeffrey exhaled shakily, his arms tightening around her as if drawing strength from her warmth. "Why do you trust me this much?"

The question struck something deep inside Joanne.

She had doubted him before. The thought of it sent a pang through her chest. But did she regret it? Not really. She was in a position where doubting people wasn’t just an option—it was a necessity. She was responsible for the livelihood of many people.

And yet...

That doubt was gone now.

"I don’t know..." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to know the answer too. "I always wanted to leave the company’s management to you. I knew you’d handle it..."

It was strange.

Back then, she had known nothing about him. And yet, a part of her had been willing to entrust him with something so important. But the moment she realized he was Jeffrey Winchester, she hesitated.

His name clouded her judgment.

But him? His presence, his eyes, the way he stood before her now...

She trusted him completely. She couldn’t understand it.

Jeffrey took a deep breath and met her gaze, his expression filled with quiet resolve. "I’m going to do it," he said. "For you."

Joanne’s lips parted.

"For me?" she asked.

He had never been the kind of man who took charge. He could live the rest of his life in comfort, without ever stepping into responsibility. So why? Why was he suddenly willing to break free from that?

What made him want to change?

Jeffrey smiled, a slow, knowing curve of his lips. "Because I want to stay by your side. I want to see you smile all the time."

It was a simple answer.

And yet, it was everything.

She was his only motivation.

Joanne felt her eyes sting, a warmth spreading through her chest.

Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his in a tender kiss. "Thank you..." she murmured.

Jeffrey deepened the kiss, his hand cradling the back of her head, pulling her closer.

She was his strength.

And he never wanted to disappoint her.

Joanne watched as Jeffrey strode toward his car—his rundown, well-loved car, of course. But then, just as he reached for the door handle, he hesitated.

A second later, he turned back, determination flashing in his eyes.

"I’ll take the Audi," he announced.

Joanne arched an amused brow as he rushed past her to grab the keys.

He wanted to feel the part. The suit had already given him confidence, but driving a sleek car would add to it. After all, they say clothes make the man—but so does the car he drives.

Before stepping out again, he stole another kiss, quick but lingering enough to make her heart skip.

Then, as he reached the driveway, he called out over his shoulder, "Wish me luck, Jeffrey!"

The horse neighed loudly in response, lifting its front leg in what almost looked like an encouraging gesture.

Jeffrey grinned. "You’re the man, Jeffrey!" He pointed at the horse with exaggerated confidence.

Joanne couldn’t hold back her laughter.

She used to vent her frustration by shouting at the horse, cursing its name just to blow off steam. That was why she had named him "Jeffrey" in the first place.

And now, the real Jeffrey was using the horse as a confidence booster.

It was poetic, really.

With a final wave, she watched as the Audi sped down her driveway, carrying him toward his first real challenge.

She exhaled, shaking off the emotions threatening to settle in. She had her own battle to fight.

Her lawyer was already working on drafting a legal notice against the news channel that had smeared her name. False accusations wouldn’t go unanswered. She wanted to make it clear—if anyone dared to spread lies about her, they wouldn’t do so without consequences.

This was only the beginning.

-----

Jeffrey stepped into the hall, his presence commanding attention before he even spoke. The club’s opulence, its gilded chandeliers and polished mahogany, was nothing new to him. He had seen finer, grander halls in his grandfather’s company.

This? This was just another room filled with men who thought they owned the world.

His stride was smooth, effortless—confidence woven into every step. He wasn’t nervous. Not because he didn’t belong here, but because he refused to fail Joanne. That was the only weight he carried.

The butler led him to the snooker room, where a handful of members were already gathered. As he entered, the conversation hushed, all eyes turning to him. Assessing. Measuring.

The thick scent of cigar smoke clung to the air, curling around the dim lights. He didn’t flinch. He was used to it—had grown up in rooms just like this, where power was exchanged over whiskey and veiled threats.

He buttoned his suit jacket with an easy flick of his wrist and met their gazes head-on. "Jeffrey Daniels. Shamrock Logistics."

A slow wave of smirks passed through the room.

"You’re taking your role seriously, huh?" the vice chairman mused, exhaling a stream of smoke.

"Grifting?" The chairman of Bates Logistics chuckled, his amusement edged with disdain.

Jeffrey arched a brow, his expression unreadable.

Grifting?

Interesting.

He let the word settle, rolling it over in his mind. Then, with the barest hint of a smirk, he stepped further into the room, making himself at home.

If they thought he was here to play small, they were about to be very disappointed.