Lana
The past three weeks had been a rollercoaster of emotions. Jaden and I had grown closer after the incident with James at the tasting event, but that also made me realize how vulnerable I was. With James gone, Jaden had been my rock, and I didn’t know what I would have done without him. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for accepting his help around the vineyard. At first, I couldn’t accept his kindness, but he reassured me that his nightclub could run itself under Ben’s capable management. And during the interviewing process for new employees, having Jaden by my side made it far less daunting. He had a keen eye for picking out who would fit in well at the vineyard and who wouldn’t. I thought that hiring James was the best decision I had ever made, but now I saw how awful I was at reading people. His charm clouded my judgement, and I overlooked his true character flaws. Now I hoped I could move on from this and find someone who truly deserved to work at Porter Vineyards.
As the last interview came to an end with a successful hire, it was only fitting to treat ourselves to a picnic. As I prepared sandwiches for our picnic, Jaden’s voice drifted to me from the living room, his conversation with Ben piquing my curiosity. I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but when Jaden mentioned my name, I couldn’t stop myself from listening.
“Lana is smart, but she’s also stubborn. It’s going to take some convincing to get her to sign the deed to Porter Vineyards over to Dynasty,” Jaden said, his words carrying through the air.
The longer I listened, the more every word hit me like a punch to the gut. Every moment spent with Jaden, every sweet word and gesture, was all part of a deceitful plan to acquire Porter Vineyards. The last three weeks had been a cruel façade, and I felt foolish for falling for it. Betrayal and anger boiled inside me as I realized the depth of Jaden’s lies. It was clear that our relationship meant nothing to him; it was just a means to an end.
When the call ended, I slowly backed away from the kitchen door, my heart pounding in my chest. I braced myself as Jaden entered the kitchen, knowing that he would see the raw emotion etched on my face.
“I think it’s best you leave,” I managed, my voice quivering with emotion.
He hung his head in defeat, knowing he had been caught before meeting my gaze. “Please, let me explain,” he pleaded. “What you heard... it’s not what it seems.”
“It seems pretty clear to me.” I choked. “After all, I am a smart woman.” My hand shook as I reached for my cell. “Now get out of here before I call the police.”
Without another word, Jaden turned and left the kitchen. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the empty house as I collapsed to my knees, tears streaming down my face. The weight of betrayal and heartbreak crushed me like a ton of bricks.
* * *
The days all seemed to blend together since I found out the truth and demanded that Jaden leave. Every morning, I woke with a heavy weight in my chest as I remembered the commitment to stock his nightclub with Porter wines that I had foolishly made. But I was determined not to succumb to my feelings for him. Instead, I buried myself in work and focused on training Manny, the new man hired to take James’ place.
As I made my way toward the front door, a knock sounded against it. My heart skipped a beat as I opened the door to find Ben standing on the other side. Seeing him here was a complete surprise, and the only explanation for his presence was that Jaden had sent him to do his dirty work.
“Whatever you want, you can tell Jaden he can find another woman to manipulate,” I spat out as I tried to brush past him.
“Lana, I’m not here because of what Jaden did to you,” Ben interjected, causing me to pause and give him a chance to explain.
“Then why are you here?” I asked, still feeling cautious and defensive.
“I wanted to tell you that when Jaden returned to Sioux Falls, he went straight to the board at Dynasty Development with an alternative plan for the Deadwood Project. Porter Vineyards is no longer part of the deal. Jaden secured another location owned by the Bureau of Land Management,” Ben began. “And just so you know, Jaden never intended to hurt you. In fact, if anything, he had fallen deeply in love with you.”
“Well, you can tell him I loved him too, but what he did hurt me.” A bittersweet pause followed, and I couldn’t help but remember everything we had shared before it all fell apart. “How is he doing?”
“How about you ask him yourself?” Ben’s voice snapped me back to reality.
Before I could respond, the sound of a car door closing echoed behind me. When I turned around, Jaden was standing in front of a gleaming white Escalade, slowly making his way toward me. My heart sank to my stomach at the sight of him—tall, handsome, and full of regret. I wanted to back away from him, but my feet were rooted to the ground. The closer he got, the more I realized just how much I missed him.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Jaden admitted with raw emotion in his voice. “I wish I could take back everything I did to you. I never meant to hurt you.”
My heart clenched at his words and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Why did he have to come back now? Why couldn’t he have realized this sooner?
“Why? Why did you lie to me? Why couldn’t you tell me the truth?” I asked calmly, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me.
“I did lie. I should have told you about wanting your land from the start. But that all changed.” His eyes bore into mine with sincerity. “I fell in love with you, Lana, and I couldn’t follow through with it. That was what I was trying to tell you during our last conversation. You didn’t hear the rest of it—when I told Ben to start looking for another location for the Deadwood Project.”
“You did?” The shock was evident in my voice.
“He did,” Ben chimed in from behind me, reminding me that he was still there. “I told him he was crazy, but I couldn’t blame him for falling for you. After meeting you at the wine tasting,” Ben paused, shaking his head back and forth. “Let’s just say, I knew he was doomed.” The corners of Ben’s mouth twitched into a small smile, showing his approval for Jaden’s change of heart.
With a few strides, Jaden closed the gap between us and gently placed his hand on my cheek. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but lean into it. His eyes searched mine, pleading for forgiveness.
“Can you forgive me and let me make it up to you?” he asked softly.
My heart ached at the sight of him, torn between the love I still had for him and the pain he had caused. But at that moment, all I wanted was to be close to him again.
“On one condition,” I replied, placing my hand over his.
“Anything,” Jaden promised eagerly.
“Promise me that you will never lie to me again.” I held my breath, hoping for a sincere response.
“I promise. No more lies,” he vowed, determination etched on his face.
And then, without hesitation, Jaden lowered his head and pressed his lips against mine. At that moment, everything else faded away as we reconnected with each other. It didn’t matter that Ben was still standing behind me, watching. All that mattered was Jaden’s soft kisses, each one feeling like a balm to my wounded heart. And I was going to savor every single one of them.
The end
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