Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress Chapter 28

Kiara’s POV

I imdiately banged the door in his face.

Who the hell shows up at soone’s place this late for food? Jason Cole, apparently. I stood there for a mont, my heart pounding in annoyance and confusion, wondering if this man was actually insane.

Then I heard a light knock on the door again.

I groaned. "You’ve got to be kidding ."

"Kiara," Jason’s voice called out from the other side, "you didn’t even hear out."

I rolled my eyes, gripping the doorknob before swinging it open just a crack. "What do you want, Cole?"

He grinned like I had just made his night. "I told you. I’m out of food."

I glared at him through the small gap. "And you thought the solution was to knock on my door?"

"Well, yeah," he said, as if that was the most reasonable explanation. "You owe after being rude to.your boss earlier. Figured I’d collect on that."

I blinked, staring at him for a beat, trying to process his ridiculous logic. "Are you seriously using that as as an excuse to show up at my door at—" I glanced at the clock on the wall behind , "—eleven at night for food?"

Jason shrugged, completely unfazed. "It’s as good an excuse as any."

I groaned, pushing the door all the way open now. He stood there, still wearing that damn smirk, looking way too comfortable for soone who had just had a door slamd in his face.

"What if I don’t have food?" I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Then we’ll go hungry together," he said smoothly, stepping forward, fully expecting to let him in.

I sighed and stepped aside, glaring at him as he sauntered into my dorm room like he belonged there. "Fine. But after you eat, you’re leaving."

Jason turned to face , his expression feigning innocence. "Of course. I wouldn’t dream of overstaying my welco."

I closed the door behind him, locking it with a little more force than necessary. "You’re already overstaying your welco."

He laughed lightly, walking around the small space as if he was inspecting it. "Nice place," he comnted, looking over at my cluttered desk. "Not what I expected for you."

I shot him a look. "You don’t even know . What did you expect?"

"Sothing more... polished," he said, tilting his head toward the shelves stacked with books and papers. "You’ve got a lot going on here."

"Yeah, well, so of us work for a living," I muttered, making my way to the small kitchen area. "Now sit down and be quiet. You’re lucky I’m even entertaining this."

Jason sat down on the edge of the couch, watching as I rummaged through the fridge. I could feel his eyes on , but I ignored him, grabbing so leftovers from earlier. He wasn’t getting anything fancy, that’s for sure.

"So," he began, leaning back as if he owned the place, "are you always this hospitable, or is it just ?"

"Just you," I replied flatly, tossing so food into the microwave. "You’re special."

Jason chuckled softly. "I’ll take that as a complint."

"You shouldn’t."

The microwave beeped, and I handed him a plate of reheated pasta. He looked down at it, then up at with a raised eyebrow. "Pasta, huh?"

"That’s what’s available," I said, sitting down opposite him, crossing my legs on the chair. "You can either eat it or starve. Your choice."

He picked up a fork, twirling it around the pasta before taking a bite. "Not bad."

"Good," I muttered, watching him eat like he hadn’t had a proper al in days. "Now finish up and get out."

Jason smirked, chewing slowly. "You always this charming?"

I rolled my eyes. "You always this annoying?"

"Only with you."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Great. Lucky ."

We sat in silence for a few minutes as he polished off the plate. I had to admit, it was weird seeing him here, in my space, eating my food like we were sohow on friendly terms. Jason Cole, CEO of JLK International, living in the sa building as , showing up for leftovers. It made no sense, and yet here he was.

When he was done, he leaned back on the couch, looking way too comfortable for my liking. "Thanks for the al, Kiara. Really hit the spot."

I raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the door. "Glad you enjoyed it. Now, ti to go."

He glanced at the door, then back at , a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, I think you’re a little too eager to get rid of ."

I crossed my arms. "That’s because I am."

Jason stood, stretching slightly before walking over to the small counter where I had a bottle of wine sitting from earlier in the week. He picked it up, glancing at the label. "Wine, huh?"

"It’s not for you," I snapped, standing up and walking over to him. "Put it down."

But instead of listening, he grabbed two glasses from the cabinet, smirking as he uncorked the bottle with a swift motion. "Co on, Kiara. Let’s toast to our little reunion."

I stared at him, incredulous. "What reunion? We’re not even friends."

Jason shrugged, pouring the wine into both glasses. "We don’t need to be friends to share a drink."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but sothing in the way he casually leaned against the counter, holding out the glass, made hesitate.

"What’s the harm in one drink?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. "I’m not staying long, rember?"

I sighed, grabbing the glass from his hand. "Fine. One drink. Then you’re gone."

"Scout’s honor," he said with a smirk, raising his glass.

We clinked glasses, and I took a sip, keeping my eyes on him. "So, what’s your real reason for being here, Cole? Because I don’t buy that you just wanted food."

Jason took a sip, setting the glass down on the counter. "Does there need to be a reason?"

"With you? Absolutely."

He smiled, swirling the wine in his glass. "Maybe I was just curious."

I narrowed my eyes. "Curious about what?"

"About how you’ve been doing," he said, his voice casual but his eyes serious. "We haven’t exactly been on great terms."

"That’s putting it lightly," I muttered, taking another sip. "I thought you hated since you had my flowers thrown away."

"I never said that," Jason said, his gaze locking with mine. "The flowers...maybe I just hate flowers."

"Or you being an arrogant jerk?" I shot back.

He smirked. "And you being stubborn as hell?"

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the counter. "Well, you’re still the sa arrogant jerk."

Jason didn’t answer right away, his eyes drifting down to his glass. "I know."

I paused, watching him. Sothing about his tone had shifted. He seed... different, like the usual cocky bravado was slipping.

Before I could press him on it, though, he stepped closer, his body just inches from mine. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker.

"You know," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "you’re not as bad as I rember."

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. "What..what do you an?"

Jason’s lips curled into a half-smile. "Wouldn’t you like to know."

We were close now. Too close. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, the scent of his cologne mixing with the wine in the air. My breath hitched as he leaned in, his face just inches from mine.

For a second, I thought he was going to kiss . And, for a brief mont, I didn’t stop him.

But then, reality snapped back. I stepped away, putting distance between us, my pulse racing.

"Okay," I said quickly, my voice a little too high. "That’s enough wine for tonight."

Jason chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusent. "Almost had you there, didn’t I?"

I glared at him, trying to regain my composure. "Out."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I’m going. But next ti, you’re bringing the wine."

"There won’t be a next ti," I muttered, pushing him toward the door.

Jason laughed as he slipped on his jacket. "We’ll see about that."

I rolled my eyes, holding the door open. "Goodnight, Cole."

He paused in the doorway, looking back at with that infuriating smirk. "Goodnight, beautiful."

I slamd the door behind him, leaning against it with a groan.

What the hell just happened?