#Chapter 156: Falling

JACOB When she threw herself into my arms, I knew—without a doubt—that the entire insane, overpriced, bureaucratic nightmare of this venture had been worth it. Not for the headlines. Not for the tax advantages or the PR optics or even the potential leverage in Council politics. No. It was her. The way she looked at me—up at me—with tears in her eyes, completely unguarded, raw and grateful and glowing. That moment cracked something open inside me. I had gotten into this with her to toy with Derek. But now? I think I was in it for more. I wasn’t a stranger to female attention. Far from it. I’d been called handsome, magnetic, infuriatingly charming more times than I could count, usually while someone was trying to drag me into bed—or kick me out of one. But this? This wasn’t about charm. This was connection. Purpose. Power. And I knew, if I pushed just a little—if I leaned down and kissed her then, maybe even suggested we christen her new office right there on the dust