Chapter Four
Diane stepped out of the restaurant, letting the cool evening air brush against her skin. The city lights glittered like diamonds, but for a moment, she didn't notice any of it. She was still digesting the conversation or rather, the battle of wits that had just taken place across the private dining table with Jeffrey Black.
Only when she turned did she realize that her parents' car was nowhere in sight. "Wait… where are Mom and Dad?" she asked instinctively, glancing at Jeffrey, who had just snapped his cufflinks into place and was leaning casually against the hood of the sleek black Maybach waiting for her.
Jeffrey smirked, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "I was beginning to wonder the same thing," he said smoothly, sliding the passenger door open. "But apparently, your parents are efficient. They left you… all on your own. Seems I get the honor of being your chauffeur."
Diane blinked, a mix of surprise and irritation rising in her chest. "They left? Without me?" she asked incredulously.
He chuckled softly, stepping aside to let her in. "Apparently. Either that, or they trust you're clever enough to survive dinner without them hovering over your every move and I'm happy to see you're not necessarily a daddy's girl. I'd say congratulations are in order."
As she settled into the leather seat, Diane rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the flicker of amusement dancing at the corner of her lips. "Congratulations, indeed. Seems I'm under your custody now. Though I'd have you know my parents indeed loves me."
Jeffrey grinned, starting the car and easing smoothly into traffic. "Custody is a strong word. Let's just call it… mutual supervision. I make sure you don't get bored; you make sure I don't get arrogant. And then I'd know who to bootlick; your parents"
Diane tilted her head, giving him a mock-serious look. "Arrogant? Me? Never. I'm far too busy trying not to be hypnotized by your… charm." She said sarcastically.
His eyes flashed with amusement. "Hypnotized, huh? Dangerous word choice. I hope you're planning to fight it."
"I always fight," she replied with a sharp smile, "especially against people who think they can intimidate me."
Jeffrey's lips twitched in a rare, approving grin. "Good. That's the spirit. I'd hate a woman who bends too easily… and you, Miss Dalton, clearly don't."
Diane rolled her eyes "oh puh-leaaaassee".
A silence fell over the car, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that held electric tension, the kind that made her pulse pick up without her permission. Diane found herself staring out the window, though she was acutely aware of Jeffrey's presence beside her. Somehow, he didn't just fill the car; he owned it, and in a way, she felt challenged by it.
When the car finally pulled up in front of her estate, Diane's instincts immediately sensed something: her parents knew. They knew she had come with Jeffrey, and they hadn't tried to hide it. That subtle, knowing look they would give...if they were there...would be enough to drive her insane. She sighed, slipping out of the car gracefully.
Jeffrey followed, holding the door with exaggerated politeness. "Here we are," he said, voice low, teasing. "Safe and sound, and I didn't even charge you for the ride."
Diane shot him a look, half amused, half irritated. "You'll probably still find a way to make me pay, won't you?"
He winked, leaning closer just enough to make her heart skip. "Only if you let me."
As she walked toward her front door, Diane caught the familiar hum of the city at night, but her thoughts were consumed with him — his gaze, his smirk, the way he challenged her without saying a word. She turned slightly, catching him watching her from the car, and in that moment, a dangerous curiosity sparked between them.
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Inside the Black estate, Jeffrey's phone buzzed with a group chat notification from his brothers. He ignored it for the moment, letting Diane disappear into her home, but the instant he was alone, he dialed.
"Where have you two been? We were starving!" Damon's teasing voice rang through the line.
Jeffrey's eyebrow lifted. "Starving? I was in a very delicate negotiation. You should try it sometime."
Jason laughed on the other end. "Negotiation? Since when do you negotiate without threatening someone's bank account?"
"Since tonight," Jeffrey replied, leaning back in his chair. "This time, the other party had charm… and an attitude. Very rare. Very interesting."
Damon whistled. "Interesting, huh? Sounds serious. Did she… infuriate you?"
Jeffrey smirked, dark eyes glinting. "Infuriate is one word. Bold, witty, and not easily impressed. She's literally an emerald colored storm. And I do not intend to back down."
Jason chuckled. "Careful, Jeff. That kind of storm doesn't let anyone walk away unscathed."
"I'm aware," Jeffrey said, voice low, yet threaded with amusement. "And I like storms. They keep life…interesting."
Damon groaned. "Brother, you're playing with fire. I can already see it."
Jeffrey didn't answer, only stared out at the city lights, his smirk growing. Diane Dalton was unlike anyone he had ever met, sharp, unflinching, beautiful, and dangerous in ways that intrigued him to no end.
And deep down, he welcomed the challenge, though wondering if he'd indeed get burned like Jason mentioned.