“Is your home in the same direction as Joe’s? Aren’t both of you living near Jubilant Street? If so, he can give you a ride,” Rowan suggested casually, making arrangements without hesitation.
Skylar blinked.
She knew Joe owned several properties, and Jubilant Street was indeed close to the Martin Group’s headquarters. However, it was nowhere near their actual residence—Galaxy Villas.
“It’s not convenient,” Joe declined coolly, his tone firm. “I live in Galaxy Villas.”
His refusal came swiftly—without even the pretense of an excuse.
Rowan was caught off guard. Beside him, Annie’s poised smile faltered slightly, the tension barely noticeable but present to those who were watching.
The others pretended not to have heard anything.
“I’ll just call a cab,” Annie said softly, clutching her limited-edition handbag a little tighter.
Rowan quickly recovered. “Then I’ll drive you. I’ve got an apartment on Jubilant Street. I’ll stay there tonight.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jakeman,” Annie replied with a graceful nod.
A few minutes later, when Joe stepped into Skylar’s small car, several pairs of eyes widened in disbelief.
“What brand is that little car?” Lukas frowned, clearly puzzled. “Is it a newly released limited edition?”
Annie, recognizing the model from a recent feature on her show, responded calmly, “It’s a domestic new energy vehicle.”
She couldn’t help but wonder how close Joe and Skylar had become.
Mark snorted. “It must belong to Mr. Joe’s secretary.”
He watched the compact car with eyes full of speculation. Skylar, in his mind, was just another girl from an ordinary background, pretending to be demure. With Joe supporting her now, he assumed she was playing the role well. But how long could it last? How long before she was cast aside?
“Almost fooled me,” Rowan muttered with a click of his tongue. “For a moment, I thought it was some luxury limited edition.”
The ride home was quiet.
Joe leaned back in the passenger seat, his posture relaxed. A slight flush on his cheeks hinted he was a bit tipsy. In the small space of Skylar’s car, he somehow seemed even larger—like the vehicle wasn’t built to accommodate a man of his stature.
Skylar glanced at him. “If you’re tired, you can rest for a while. I’ll wake you up when we get home.”
Joe opened his eyes and met hers for a moment. “Okay.”
Perhaps it was the calm ambiance of the car, or the way Skylar never pushed him, never expected anything more than what he was willing to offer—whatever it was, it made him let his guard down.
There was no cloying perfume scent in the air, just a subtle, comforting hint of herbal medicine—one of Skylar’s custom blends, likely with calming effects.
She turned on some soft, soothing music. Joe, who often struggled with sleep, closed his eyes—and this time, didn’t open them again.
By the time they reached Galaxy Villas, he had fallen into a light but peaceful sleep.
Skylar parked quietly, not wanting to wake him. But moments later, Joe stirred and opened his eyes, still heavy with sleep.
Joe gave a soft hum in response and glanced at his watch. “Let’s go home.”
As the words left his lips, he paused, the phrase lingering in the air. Let’s go home.
He seemed to catch himself just as he was reaching for the door. Turning slightly, he glanced back at Skylar, who was unbuckling her seatbelt.
She noticed his gaze. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Joe said quickly. “Let’s go.”
They stepped out of the car together. Under the pale moonlight, the contrast between their heights was striking—Joe’s tall frame practically wrapped around her small figure. Their overlapping shadows stretched across the driveway like a single silhouette.
“Let me carry that,” Joe said, reaching for the tote bag in Skylar’s hand.
The tote, handed out by the club, was packed with the cash she had won—millions in bills. It was heavy, but not unmanageable for her.
Before she could protest, Joe had already taken the bag from her.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
The lights were still on when they stepped into Galaxy Villas. It was already 1:30 in the morning.
Skylar yawned softly. Normally, she never stayed up this late.
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