Chapter 5 EX-FACTOR

Natasha's POV

The door chimed softly, I looked up to see Jace stepping inside, scanning the room before his gaze landed on me. He smiled, his easy confidence tempered by a hint of nervousness.

"Hey," he greeted, walking over to my table. "Sorry if I kept you waiting."

"Not at all," I said, returning his smile.

He took the seat across from me, his movements deliberate but relaxed. The waiter appeared, and Jace ordered a latte before turning his attention back to me.

"So," he began, leaning slightly forward, "how's your day been?"

"Busy," I admitted. "But good. And yours?"

"Productive, I guess," he said with a slight chuckle. "Though I'm glad to be here now."

That simple admission caught me off guard, but I brushed it aside, deciding to keep things light.

We talked about random topics-favorite coffee flavors, travel dreams, and the small absurdities of daily life. I couldn't help but notice how easy it was to talk to him. Jace had a way of drawing you in, making you feel like the only person in the room.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to hobbies, and I mentioned my love for tailoring.

"Really?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting in genuine interest. "Like sewing and designing clothes?"

"Yeah," I said, feeling a little shy. "I've always loved it, but it's more of a side passion right now."

"You should make time for it," he said earnestly. "You seem like the type who could turn that into something amazing."

I smiled, touched by his sincerity.

"What about you?" I asked. "Any hidden talents?"

He chuckled. "Not unless you count managing family drama as a skill."

That opened the door to a deeper conversation about his family. He spoke about his father's business and the pressure to live up to expectations.

"It's like no matter what I do, it's never quite enough," he admitted. "But hey, that's life, right?"

Before I could respond, the door chimed again, and an unexpected voice cut through the cozy atmosphere.

"Jace?"

We both turned to see a stunning woman standing near our table. Her confidence was palpable, her gaze sharp as it flicked between us.

"Laura," Jace said, his smile tightening. "What a surprise."

"I didn't expect to run into you here," she said, her tone casual but calculated. Her eyes shifted to me, and her expression softened into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Mind if we join you?"

Before I could protest, Laura motioned to the man beside her, and they both sat down.

"This is Dan," she said, gesturing to her companion. She turned back to me. "And you must be Jace's girlfriend."

My mouth opened to correct her, but Jace beat me to it.

"I always have good taste," he said smoothly, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

I blinked, caught off guard. He gave me a subtle shake of his head, silently asking me to play along. Not wanting to make a scene, I went along with it, though my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Laura laughed, the sound sharp and grating. "Well, she's lovely, Jace. You've definitely outdone yourself."

"Well, I always go for the best" he repliy

Dan, her fiancé, offered a polite smile and called the waiter over to order. Meanwhile, Laura pulled an ornate envelope from her bag and slid it across the table to Jace.

"It's for the wedding," she said, her tone dripping with sweetness. "We'd love for you to come."

Jace's expression remained neutral, but his jaw tightened slightly. "Thanks, but I don't think-"

"Here," Laura interrupted, handing the invitation to me instead. "Maybe you can convince him. It'll be fun."

I glanced at Jace, unsure how to respond, but he didn't seem inclined to argue.

The conversation meandered from there, with Laura occasionally steering it toward memories of her time with Jace. Her attempts to rile him up were met with calm, measured responses, which only seemed to frustrate her further.

Dan, meanwhile, seemed oblivious to the tension, sharing anecdotes about their wedding preparations.

Eventually, he checked his watch. "We should get going. Lots to do before the big day."

Laura stood, giving Jace a lingering look. "Think about the invitation, okay?"

"Will do," Jace said, his tone polite but distant.

As they left, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"Well, that was...something," I said, looking at Jace.

He laughed, shaking his head. "She hasn't changed a bit."

We finished our coffee, and when Jace offered to drive me home, I hesitated but eventually agreed.

---

The car ride was quiet at first, with the soft hum of the engine filling the space between us. I stared out the window, replaying the odd encounter with Laura and her fiancé in my mind. Finally, curiosity got the better of me.

"So," I began, glancing at him, "why did you lie?"

Jace shot me a quick, puzzled look before focusing back on the road. "Lie? About what?"

"About me being your girlfriend," I clarified, folding my arms and raising an eyebrow at him.

Lowering his voice, he said jokingly, "I never said that." A sly smirk played on his lips.

I rolled my eyes. "You didn't correct her either. Why?"

He shrugged, his expression relaxed. "What would've been the point? Let her think what she wants."

"But it's not true," I pressed, feeling the need to defend myself even though no one else was listening.

"Does it really matter?" he asked, glancing at me with a playful glint in his eye. "It's not like we'll be seeing her again anytime soon."

I hesitated, studying him. "You're not going to the wedding?"

"Absolutely not," he said firmly. "Who goes to their ex's wedding? That's just asking for trouble."

"Well," I teased, trying to lighten the mood, "maybe you'll make history as the first ex-boyfriend to attend without causing drama."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, no thanks. I'll pass."

A beat of silence stretched between us before he gave me a sideways glance. "You're really trying to convince me to go, aren't you?"

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Not really, but Laura did ask me to persuade you, so I figured I'd at least try."

He sighed, pretending to think it over. "Fine. I'll consider it-on one condition."

"What's that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him suspiciously.

"You come with me," he said, his tone light but his gaze holding an intensity that caught me off guard.

I blinked, surprised. "Me? Why?"

"Because if I have to go, I'm not doing it alone. And," he added with a smirk, "you did say you'd persuade me. This would seal the deal."

I stared at him, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Part of me was flattered-Jace was clearly comfortable enough with me to propose such a bold idea. But another part of me felt a pang of discomfort. This wasn't my world, and I wasn't sure I wanted to step into it.

"Jace..." I began, choosing my words carefully. "I don't think I can."

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Why not? It's just one evening."

"It's not just about the evening," I said softly, looking out the window. "I have a lot on my plate right now. Between work, taking care of myself, and meeting my own needs, I barely have time to breathe. Adding something like this..." I shook my head. "It's just too much."

Jace's jaw tightened ever so slightly, though he quickly masked it with a neutral expression. "I get that," he said after a pause. "But you don't always have to carry everything on your own, you know."

"I'm not carrying it alone," I said, turning to face him. "I'm just realistic about what I can handle."

He nodded, but the silence that followed was heavy. I could sense he wanted to push further, to convince me, but something held him back.

As we approached my house, I sighed, deciding to address the unspoken tension. "Jace, you and I...we live in different worlds."

He parked the car in front of my house, turning to look at me fully for the first time. His eyes searched mine, a flicker of something-disappointment, maybe-crossing his face.

"Different worlds?" he echoed, his tone questioning but not defensive.

"Yes," I said firmly, though my voice softened. "You come from a world where things like weddings, ex-girlfriends, and family business drama are just part of the picture. My world is different. I have responsibilities and struggles that don't leave room for all...this." I gestured vaguely, unsure how else to explain.

He leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair. "That's fair," he said finally, though his voice carried a note of reluctance. "I just thought maybe..."

"Maybe what?" I asked gently.

"Maybe you could step into my world, even just for a little while," he admitted, his vulnerability catching me off guard.

I smiled sadly, reaching for the door handle. "I appreciate that, Jace. Really. But I can't. Not right now."

As I stepped out of the car, I felt the weight of unspoken words between us. Jace's gaze followed me as I walked to my front door, and when I turned to wave goodbye, he gave me a small nod, his expression unreadable.

Inside, I leaned against the closed door, letting out a shaky breath. Something about Jace stirred emotions I wasn't ready to face. But for now, I had to focus on the world I knew.