Chapter 8 - Second time is NOT a coincidence
"How many fucking hours are you planning to take?" Elias growled, irritation thick in his voice as he leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching his twin take his time as if the world outside wasn't waiting for them.
Jasper didn't even glance back, too busy studying his reflection with critical focus, fingers smoothing his hair for what had to be the tenth time. "You're just jealous," he said lazily, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve, "that I'm more handsome than you."
Elias rolled his eyes. "Narcissistic asshole."
"Grumpy asshole," Jasper shot back, finally stepping away from the mirror with a satisfied hum.
"You get in the car now," Elias snapped, already turning toward the garage, "or I'm leaving without you."
Jasper followed, mocking his tone exaggeratedly as he went, enjoying every second of Elias's simmering annoyance. The drive to the mall passed in tense silence, broken only by Jasper's occasional teasing and Elias's growing impatience, especially knowing from the report that Iris had already arrived and that every minute wasted increased the chance of missing her.
"Smile, brother. You don't want to scare our sweetheart off," Jasper teased, seeing the permanent scowl on Elias's face. Elias narrowed his eyes in response. Jasper was not at all bothered by the threatening look on his brother's face. If this were someone else, they would have cried on the spot or run for their life.
Elias shot him a warning look, which Jasper ignored with practiced ease, lifting his chin smugly. "No woman has ever escaped my charm."
Elias muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like an insult but tried—poorly—to soften the permanent scowl etched into his expression, earning a laugh from Jasper, who found his effort far more amusing than successful.
He wouldn't lie. He practiced in front of the mirror what he was going to say to his sweetheart. The lady's man was nervous for the first time to have a conversation with a girl.
---
Iris wandered through the mall aimlessly, stopping now and then to peer into shop windows until her gaze snagged on the familiar sight of a bookstore, her steps slowing instinctively as longing curled in her chest..
Iris, don't you dare go into that bookstore. You just bought 500 dollars worth of novels this week, her subconscious refused.
But one can never have too many books.
You need to manage your money. You will be broke at the end of the month.
But books…
No, Iris, be a responsible woman.
She hesitated, foot lifting, then lowering again, torn between desire and responsibility, her internal debate playing plainly across her face as she finally turned away with exaggerated restraint, casting one last mournful look over her shoulder.
---
From across the corridor, Jasper and Elias watched the entire performance with barely contained amusement, the way she visibly battled herself only making her more endearing.
Closing her eyes, she turned away from the store, using all her self-control, appearing as if she just made the biggest sacrifice in humankind. A chuckle escaped their lips when they saw her expression.
Such an adorable little thing, how can one not like it?
"She looks like she just gave up her soul," Jasper murmured.
"Adorable," Elias agreed quietly.
They waited ten minutes before entering the clothing store she'd disappeared into, timing their arrival carefully so it appeared accidental rather than intentional, though both of them knew better.
The female attendant nearly tripped over herself at the sight of them, batting her lashes and offering assistance in a voice that dripped with invitation, only for Jasper to dismiss her with a single look and a tone so sharp it wiped the smile from her face instantly.
"She should be grateful," Jasper muttered once she fled. "I spared her."
"You should've killed her," Elias said flatly.
"I need to smell good," Jasper replied casually. "Blood ruins Ford."
Elias didn't dignify that with a response.
Their attention shifted to Iris as she examined a dress, her fingers brushing the fabric thoughtfully before asking a young employee for her size, the boy turning red instantly, nerves getting the better of him as he scrambled to please her.
Elias's jaw clenched as he watched, irritation flaring hot and sudden. Jasper, who was worried about having the smell of blood on him, wished to strangle that boy till he gurgles up blood.
The boy returned, stumbling over his words as he offered the dress and—against all instinct—asked for her number, his voice shaking as he spoke.
Iris blinked, caught off guard, opening her mouth to respond when Elias's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Iris."
She turned, heart lurching as she came face-to-face with the Sinclair brothers yet again, disbelief flickering across her expression before giving way to unease.
"Hello, Iris," Elias said, his voice steady enough to pull her back from the brief haze she'd slipped into.
"Umm… hello," she replied, still disoriented, her senses scrambling to keep up with the sudden shift in her surroundings.
"You may leave," Jasper said coolly, not even sparing the boy a glance as he dismissed him, the dark look in his eyes enough to make the employee shudder and retreat without protest.
Iris swallowed hard, panic already blooming in her chest as questions tumbled over one another in her mind, each worse than the last. What do they want to talk to me about? she wondered frantically, her thoughts spiraling into places she didn't want to visit. Is this about my hacking? Are they finally going to report me? I'm too young to go to jail. And too pretty. How much punishment is there for hacking anyway? Would jail even allow books? Or coffee? Or soft toys?
Her thoughts scattered chaotically, as if a hundred tabs had opened at once in her brain, all competing for attention.
Jasper cleared his throat, breaking through her spiral, and when she looked up, she found him smiling—softly, reassuringly, as though nothing about this situation was alarming at all. "Calm down," he said gently. "We just wanted to have a simple chat. Nothing more."
She hesitated, uncertainty tugging at her instincts, but his expression seemed harmless enough, and eventually she let out a small breath she hadn't realized she was holding, nodding despite the lingering unease.
"Let's talk on the food floor," Elias suggested casually. "Over coffee."
Against her better judgment, Iris followed them, her steps slow and cautious as they made their way to the food court, where Jasper and Iris settled at a table while Elias returned moments later with three iced coffees, placing one in front of her with practiced ease—extra sugar, just the way she liked it, though she didn't consciously register that detail.
"Thank you," she smiled and accepted the coffee. Elias showed a slight smile, seeing how polite and well-mannered she was despite having raised herself.
"Thank you," she said automatically, offering a polite smile, and Elias watched her for a moment longer than necessary, something unreadable flickering across his face at how well-mannered she remained despite having grown up on her own.
"So?" Iris finally asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked between them, confusion tightening her features. What do they want to talk to me about?
"Do you like dogs?" Jasper asked suddenly, his tone serious enough to throw her completely off balance.
She stared at him, blank. Is this really happening?
"We can tell a lot about a person based on whether they prefer cats or dogs," he added thoughtfully.
"Oh," she said, her mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise. "None, I guess. I've never really been around either of them. They're both… visually appealing."
Her answer only deepened her confusion, and as the conversation dragged on—books, genres, food preferences—an unsettling awareness slowly began to take root inside her.
Do billionaires really have this much free time? Her subconscious whispered. Why are they asking you these things? This is not normal.
The realization struck hard and fast.
This isn't a coincidence.
Oh shit, her brain started understanding the fucked up situation.
Her chest tightened as Rhea's voice echoed in her memory—One of them might like you—and suddenly her body went rigid, panic flooding her veins. That couldn't be right. It didn't make sense. These men could have anyone—models, actresses, powerful women who belonged in their world. What could they possibly want with someone like her?
"I have work to do, and I am running late. So please excuse me," she made a lame excuse, to get up and leave. "Wait," Elias stopped her. He had observed how suddenly her expression changed from someone oblivious to someone who raised suspicions against them.
"I… I have work to do," she said quickly, the excuse tumbling out clumsily as she pushed her chair back. "I'm running late, so please excuse me."
"Wait," Elias said sharply, stopping her mid-motion, his gaze narrowing as he observed the abrupt shift in her demeanor, the way her innocence had given way to suspicion in an instant.
Even Jasper could see through the lie now, displeasure briefly darkening his expression.
"Y-Yes?" she squeaked, alarm flaring as she took in their irritation.
"You haven't answered my question," Elias said again, his voice no longer gentle but firm, edged with something cold.
"P-Pizza," she blurted, the word sounding fragile even to her own ears, as though the wrong answer might cost her something she couldn't afford to lose.
Every instinct in her screamed to leave.
"Can I… can I go now?" she asked timidly, her hands slick with sweat as she fiddled nervously with her ring.
"No," Elias replied immediately.
Her face drained of color, panic flashing openly in her widened eyes as her breath came quicker, shallower, until Jasper finally intervened, casting his brother a warning look.
"We're sorry," Jasper said smoothly, a smile curving his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You may leave."
She didn't wait for him to repeat it.
Iris forced a shaky smile, stood, and hurried away.
---
Watching her flee like a startled kitten, Elias let out a low, dark chuckle, irritation simmering beneath the surface at the thought that she believed—truly believed—that they would let her walk away so easily.
Every attempt she made to distance herself only fueled the possessive frustration tightening in his chest, and the idea of giving her more time began to feel like a mistake. She was beautiful, gentle, and far too appealing to the male population at large, a thought that ignited something ugly and violent in his mind.
"Where is that boy?" Elias growled suddenly, recalling the employee who had dared to ask for her number.
"Edward," Jasper said calmly, gesturing for him to step forward. "Make sure he's fired for inappropriate behavior with customers. And ensure he never finds work in this industry again."
It was worse than killing that boy. His entire life would be spent in misery, taking loans to survive. Such circumstances would most likely result in the boy committing suicide on his own, instead of the brothers soiling their hands.
Such wicked thinking was the reason they were at the top. Unknown to people killed by their bare hands, hundreds like this were indirectly destroyed by them under various circumstances.
Edward nodded and carried out the command.
---
Iris didn't slow until she reached the parking lot, her breath shaky as she clutched her purse, becoming acutely aware of how damp her palms had grown. Something about the brothers unsettled her deeply—the way their warmth could turn cold in seconds, the way their smiles hid something darker beneath.
The duality terrified her.
Stay away, she told herself repeatedly, each step carrying her closer to safety. Stay away, stay away—
The cloth came out of nowhere.
All her thoughts broke when someone from behind placed a cloth in her mouth. She struggled in alarm, thrashing in the predator's arms. "You thought we would let you leave this easily," the low voice contained a tinge of wickedness and mockery. Iris let out a scream for help when she realized the owner of the voice, but it got muffled by the cloth.
"Breath," another voice crooned.
Her lungs burned as the world blurred, her limbs growing heavy as darkness crept in, and despite her struggle, her body betrayed her, sinking into helplessness as the drug took hold.
"Sleep, darling," the voice once again commanded. And she succumbed to the darkness, her body going limp in the captor's arm.