From Betrayal to Billions

Reynolds nearly dropped his tablet in shock when Jace emerged from his study, looking all rumpled in a wrinkled cotton blue shirt, faded colored loafers and tattered jeans.

"Sir, is everything okay?" He asked incredulously, looking genuinely worried. "Are you ill?"

"I want to take a stroll," Jace replied with a slight nod. "Don't wait up for me?"

"Looking like that?" Reynolds asked incredulously. "You look like a hobo…forgive my manners."

Jace adjusted the faded green baseball cap over his brow and chuckled, "It's a disguise, Reynolds. I would like to be anonymous and I don't want to bring any unwanted attention to my self."

"Anonymous." Reynolds scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You. The man who bought Luxembourg's largest hospital by accident last Tuesday."

"Well, they don't have to know that," Jace laughed. "I am tired of staying indoors Reynolds."

"Ok…should I go with you?"

"And blow my cover?" Jace asked as he opened the huge foyer doors. "No I don't think so."

"You won't be treated nicely in this," Reynolds muttered. "Trust me."

Jace smirked, sliding on an opaque lenses. "Exactly. No one will expect this."

Reynolds muttered a prayer as the billionaire ghost strolled into the night.

The night air was crisp, with the decent of distant rain and faint cackling of lightning and Jace inhaled deeply—freedom. No boardrooms. No calls…for the first time in a long time, he felt free, though in his borrowed skin.

A few passerby glanced at him. Not in recognition, but in vague distaste and disapproval, no doubt with the question in mind….

'Who let this middle class nobody in our neighborhood?'

Jace chuckled inwardly as he returned their stares with gusto.

Then he saw it…La Lumeire, the restaurant Stella had once told him was "reserved for people with real pedigree" whenever he had requested to follow them for the family dinner.

The restaurant she had once told him never to step his foot, except as a cleaner.

Perfect!

The waiters all eyed Jace's outfit like it was a costume from an horror movie, but they went on their Buisness without any interruption, and couldn't help in side looks as they passed.

Finally, his order arrived. Crab legs with mayo sauce and champagne. For the first time in years, Jace ate without an agenda…with free spirited…until….

He heard it. He swore he did as he paused mid bite.

Stella Whitman's shrill laughter, unmistakably behind him.

And as she seems not to notice him, he continued tearing his crabs quietly, hoping not to attract any form of unwanted drama, but—

"Oh my God. Is that…? No. It can't be."

Jace's fingers tightened around his fork. Stella.

Stella's shrill laugh cut through the dining room, capturing the attention of the diners and waiters alike. "Jace Parker? In La Lumiere?"

She clapped her hands dramatically, summoning an audience and said melodically, "Darling, did you sneak in through the kitchen?"

The hotel diners all turned their head, their bored faces looking interested as they all brought out their phones like a firing squad.

"Look now you all will believe me. I told you you he was obsessed with me," Stella announced dramatically to her clique. "First he crashes my wedding plans, now he is stalking me to dinner?"

"Which is very shocking…as he is not in a caliber to be allowed in." One of her mousy haired friends chuckled as she stared at him with disdain written on her face.

Jace didn't flinch. He just poured more mayo sauce and methodically cracked another crab leg without glancing up.

"Look at him!" Stella jeered. "Looks like a rat in a five star dumpster, searching for scraps."

Laughter erupted as everyone clinked their glasses and camera flashed in his direction…egging him to react.

"Say something you pig." Stella seethed, seeing he kept eating like nothing was happening. "Are you going to remain mute forever?"

Finally, he raised his head and turned to look at her with his eyes shrouded on pity and asked croakily, "Why Stella, why are you disgracing yourself? What is the need of this spectacle? Aren't you tired already? You won."

"Oh please cut the crap!" Stella rebuked his words with disgust. "I am not done until you are trash—"

"But according to you, I am already trash. What more do you want?" Jace asked as he turned himself a glass of champagne, his eyes never leaving the angry woman.

"I don't want to see you…I don't want to breathe the same air as you because it's polluted," she spat at him. "You are a vermin."

"Then I have to be grateful that you are not God," Jace chuckled. "Or I and one thousand more others wouldn't have seen daylight a long time ago."

Then—

A ding…

A phone notification.

While others stood jeering at Jace with Stella, Mila Santos sat perfectly still, cutting her steak with surgical precision.

Then her phone buzzed again.

Silence. And suddenly, her knife clattered and every one turned to look at her with eye brows raised in question.

"Stella," Mila said slowly, holding up her screen. "Why is your husband, Ethan, inviting me to his penthouse?"

And that wiped Stella's smile off her face instantly, "What?"

Mila turned her phone and Ethan's name gleamed above a text…

'Come to my penthouse for dinner, Mila. And come alone."

"Was this the reason he had postponed the wedding Stella?" Her mousy haired friend asked, with a side smile on her face.

"Shut it!" Stella snapped under her breath and turned to Mila. "Has he done this before?"

"No," Mila shook her head. "This is the first time."

The room froze instantly as everyone seem to sharpen up their ears for the latest Luxembourg gossip. Every socialite's phone now discreetly angled to capture the unfolding scandal. Have watched with detached amusement as Stella's carefully cheerful mask slipped—just for a second, before she forced another huge smile.

"Ohhhh how sweet of Ethan," Stella purred sweetly, her perfectly manicured red nails tapping against Mila's phone screen. "Though I do wonder why he didn't mention this little…gathering to me."

One of her friends…a skinny brunette with a gift of creating chaos giggled into her champagne glasses and said stylishly, "Maybe he wanted to surprise you, Stella. Like when he surprised you with that necklace from Cartier…right after your birthday."

Stella's eyelashes fluttered as she snapped, "Darling, if you are implying—"

"I'm not implying anything," the brunette interrupted, smirking. "But it is odd, isn't it? First he postpone the wedding, now he is inviting your best friend to dinner…alone?"

As the air grew thick with tension. Mila, ever the picture of calm, set her phone down and dabbed her lips with a napkin. "Stella, of this makes you uncomfortable—"

"Don't be ridiculous," Stella snapped, then immediately softened her tone. "I trust Ethan. And I trust you." Her gaze flickered to Jace, her lips curling. "Unlike some people, who wander into places they don't belong."

"Are you sure about this?" Mila asked concerned, "I will be more than happy to refuse his offer."

"No sweetheart. Don't. Go."