Chapter 3

Jalen pulled into the small parking lot of Wellness Georgia, shutting off his truck and taking a deep breath. It was Monday morning, and he was here to survey a potential renovation project for a nonprofit that focused on providing healthcare for low-income residents. This was exactly the kind of project he liked--something meaningful, something that actually helped people. His contact, 29-year-old Kristen Stanley, had found him through his website and had been impressed enough to recommend him to her boss. She had seemed polite and professional over the phone, but Jalen had also caught something else in her voice--a warmth, a curiosity. And he had to admit, she had a sexy voice. Now, it was time to put a face to the name. Jalen stepped out of his truck, adjusting his work boots and tool belt, wearing fitted dark jeans and a crisp navy polo that hugged his broad shoulders and strong chest.

As he approached the entrance, the glass door swung open, and there she was. Kristen Stanley. And she was gorgeous, with a natural understated elegance. Jalen had expected her to be attractive, but damn. Her long, wavy dark brown hair framed her soft yet striking features, her cheekbones defined, her lips painted a bold, bright red. Her eyes were almond-shaped and accentuated with dark eyeliner and neutral-toned eyeshadow, giving her a subtle smoky-eye effect, and her eyebrows are well-shaped, enhancing her expressive gaze. Her nails were well manicured and painted a violet color. Her blouse was tucked neatly into a tight, black pencil skirt, hugging her curves perfectly, and on her feet were sleek black patent leather high heels with red bottoms.

For a moment, Kristen just stared at Jalen. She had heard his voice before, and that had already intrigued her - deep, smooth, effortlessly confident. But she wasn’t prepared for the man behind the voice. Jalen was tall, broad-shouldered, muscular, and light-skinned with a chiseled jawline and short, fresh-cut hair. She felt her stomach tighten involuntarily. For a second, she actually forgot to speak. Jalen smirked slightly, noticing her hesitation.

“Kristen Stanley?” he asked, extending a hand.

Kristen blinked, snapping out of it, before plastering on a professional smile and taking his hand. “Yes! Sorry, I--” she cleared her throat. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jalen. Thanks for coming in.”

Jalen nodded, his grip firm and warm, and Kristen was acutely aware of how strong his hand felt around hers. She pulled away, brushing a stray hair behind her ear, mentally shaking herself.

“Get it together. You have a fiancé.” Her mind raced.

She stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. “Come on in. I’ll show you the space we need renovated.”

Jalen followed, his eyes subtly taking her in from behind--the way her hips moved in that tight skirt, the confident click of her heels against the floor. He exhaled slowly as he followed her. Kristen led Jalen through the halls of Wellness Georgia, her heels clicking against the tile floor as she tried to keep her focus on the task at hand. The storage space. The renovation plans. The funding. That’s what she was supposed to be thinking about. Not about how damn good Jalen Moss looked standing next to her. Kristen could smell his cologne--something clean, masculine, subtle but powerful. And every time he responded to one of her explanations with that deep, steady voice, she felt an unexpected tingle run down her spine. She led him to the bottom floor in the building and towards the end of the quieter hallway. “So, this is the current storage area.” She said.

She pushed open the double doors, stepping inside. The space was cluttered but functional, with shelves stacked high with medical supplies, equipment, and outdated storage containers that would need to be completely reworked. Jalen stepped forward, taking it all in with a professional eye, nodding slightly. Kristen crossed her arms, watching as he moved through the space, his broad shoulders flexing beneath his fitted polo, his jeans hanging perfectly on his muscular frame. She had worked with contractors before--but none of them had looked like this. None of them had made her feel ... distracted.

“How much space are y’all trying to add?” Jalen asked, running a hand along one of the shelves, testing its stability.

Kristen blinked. Right. The project. “Oh--uh, we’re looking to maximize vertical space while also making room for larger medical devices that we’re planning to purchase.” She said hastily.

Jalen turned to her, nodding as he listened. Kristen’s heart skipped as their eyes met--his dark, focused gaze locking onto hers. “Why does he have to look at me like that?” She thought, exhaling slowly, shifting her stance, feeling suddenly warm despite the cool air conditioning.

“And, um ... we also need better climate control in here,” she added quickly, looking anywhere but at him.

Jalen didn’t seem to notice her flustered state. Or if he did, he wasn’t letting on. He remained completely professional, taking mental notes, asking all the right questions, nodding in understanding as she walked him through the issues. Kristen tried to mirror his professionalism, but it was getting harder and harder to ignore how drawn she was to him. She found herself watching his hands as he measured out distances, imagining how strong they must be. She caught herself staring at his lips when he spoke, wondering how they would feel against...

“STOP IT, Kristen. You have a FIANCÉ.” She thought, swallowing hard, shifting on her heels.

Jalen finished looking around, turning to her with that same calm, unreadable expression. “I’ve got a good idea of what needs to be done,” he said. “I’ll put together a proposal and send it over in a few days.”

Kristen nodded quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “That sounds great! Um ... thank you, Jalen. Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.” She smiled a little too brightly, hoping it masked the fact that she had been anything but focused during this walkthrough.

Jalen smirked slightly but remained all business. “Of course. I’ll be in touch.” And with that, he turned to leave, leaving Kristen standing in the middle of the storage room--flustered, hot, and more confused than ever.

Later that day, Kristen returned home from work. She pulled into the driveway of the townhouse she shared with Rob, her mind still lingering on Jalen Moss as she cut the engine. She had spent the entire drive home trying to shake the feeling that had settled in her chest since leaving Wellness Georgia. It wasn’t just about how attractive Jalen was--though, God, he was. It was something else. Something about the way he had looked at her when he listened, the way he carried himself with quiet confidence, the way his presence felt strong, steady, and ... alive. She sighed, running a hand through her dark waves before grabbing her bag and stepping inside.

“Hey,” Rob called from the kitchen. “How was your day?”

Kristen set her bag down and kicked off her heels. “Good. You?”

“Same.”

That was it. The same halfhearted exchange they had every night--like an obligation rather than an actual conversation. Rob was standing at the counter, still dressed in his work attire, scrolling through his phone as he stirred something in a pan. Kristen went to freshen up, washing her hands, reapplying her red lipstick out of habit. When she came back, dinner was already plated and waiting at the table--simple, practical, unremarkable. Rob and Kristen had been engaged for over a year, but they still hadn’t set a date for their wedding. Before their engagement, they’d been together for three years prior to that. They ate in near silence, the occasional clink of utensils against their plates the only real sound between them. Kristen tried to engage.

“So ... any update on that project you were excited about?” she asked.

Rob barely looked up from his plate. “Yeah, it’s coming along. Probably gonna have to fly out next week for some meetings.”

Kristen nodded, taking another bite. “Where to?”

“New York. Maybe L.A. after that.” He replied.

Kristen had heard this before. Another trip. Another week of him being gone. Another excuse to push back setting a wedding date. She didn’t press him. After dinner, Rob migrated to the living room, turning on the TV, settling into his usual spot on the couch with a beer. Kristen stayed at the table for a while, absently scrolling on her phone, not even sure what she was looking for. Maybe something--anything--that didn’t feel so lifeless. Her mind kept drifting back to Jalen. The way he had moved. The way he had looked at her. The way he had made her feel something real, even if it was fleeting. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. This was just one of those nights where she had to wonder ... Is this really it? Kristen wasn’t going to sit in silence tonight. She wasn’t going to let another evening drift by without feeling something. So, as Rob sat glued to the TV, nursing a beer, she took a deep breath and made a move she hadn’t made in a long time.

She walked over to him, climbed into his lap, and straddled him. Rob’s body tensed in surprise, his hands instinctively coming up to rest on her hips, but his eyes never left the damn screen. Kristen slowly rolled her hips, her hands sliding up his chest, her lips just inches from his jawline.

“Hey, baby,” she whispered, trying to sound sultry, teasing, inviting.

Rob blinked, finally tearing his eyes away from the show. “Whoa, what’s this about?” he asked, half-laughing, but not in the way that made her feel desired. More like ... confused.

Kristen bit her lip, holding back frustration. “Just thought we could ... change up the routine a little.”

Rob exhaled through his nose, glancing back at the TV. “Babe, this is a really good episode,” he muttered. “Can we do this later?”

Kristen froze. The rejection hit her like a slap. It wasn’t even just about sex. It was about the fact that he barely looked at her anymore. That he barely wanted her. That she had just put herself out there, only to get brushed off for some stupid show. Her face burned, not with embarrassment, but with anger. Without another word, she pushed herself off of him and stormed upstairs, her heels clicking against the wooden steps with sharp finality. Rob didn’t even call after her. Didn’t even pause his show. By the time she reached the bedroom, her hands were shaking. She yanked off her blouse, tossing it to the side, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Her heart was pounding, but not in the way she had wanted. She felt rejected. Unwanted. Stupid for even trying. And before she could stop herself, she grabbed her phone and opened Facebook. Her fingers hovered over the search bar. This was stupid. She shouldn’t do this. And yet...

Jalen Moss.

The second she typed in his name, his profile popped up. His profile picture was a casual shot of him in a black t-shirt, arms crossed, standing in front of a renovation project. Strong. Confident. Capable. Everything Rob wasn’t. Kristen bit her lip, her pulse picking up as she scrolled. His photos weren’t flashy--mostly work-related, a few candid shots of him with friends, a couple of old basketball pictures from back in the day. And then, one that made her pause. It was him in a fitted white dress shirt, standing at what looked like a formal event, holding a glass of whiskey. He looked damn good. Kristen swallowed hard, her thumb lingering over the picture. Before she even fully registered what she was doing, she clicked on his “Add Friend” button. The second it sent, her stomach dropped.

“What the hell am I doing?” She thought to herself.

She quickly turned off her phone, tossing it onto the nightstand, and laid back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her body was still burning--but for an entirely different reason now. Because for the first time, she wasn’t just disappointed in Rob. She was actively seeking out someone else. And deep down? She knew exactly what that meant.

Kristen lay flat on her back, still in her pencil skirt, her blouse discarded somewhere on the floor, her body burning with frustration. Her breath was shallow, her skin still tingling from the rejection downstairs, from the way Rob had barely even looked at her, from the way she had put herself out there--only to be ignored. Her fingers tightened in the sheets, her thighs pressing together. But she didn’t want to feel frustrated anymore. She wanted to feel something else. Something deeper. Hotter. Real. Her hand slid down her stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of her skirt, finding her vagina--already wet, already aching for touch. And as she exhaled sharply, she let her mind wander. Not to Rob. Never to Rob. Instead, she saw Jalen. She pictured him standing in front of her, just like he had earlier that day--his broad shoulders stretching against that fitted polo, his strong, calloused hands running over the shelves in the storage room. She imagined what those hands would feel like on her, gripping her hips, pulling her close, making her feel claimed. Her fingers moved slowly, teasing herself, her lips parting in a soft, desperate sigh. She imagined Jalen’s dark eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and commanding in her ear.

“You need me to take care of you, don’t you?”

Kristen let out a quiet moan, her back arching slightly, her hips rolling against her own touch. She thought about how his hands would feel, sliding up the inside of her thighs, parting them, his breath warm as he kissed a trail up her stomach...

“You feel so damn good, Kristen.”

Her pace quickened, her breaths coming faster, heavier, her body trembling as she imagined Jalen between her legs, his mouth on her, his tongue teasing, stroking, sucking.

Oh God.

Her vagina was now soaking wet. She thought about how deep he would feel, how he wouldn’t hesitate, how he wouldn’t ignore her, wouldn’t ask to finish watching some stupid show first. No. Jalen would have dropped everything and taken her right there in the living room. The thought alone sent a surge of pleasure rushing through her, her body tensing, tightening, her toes curling as her climax crashed over her. She bit her lip, muffling her moans, her heart pounding as her body shook beneath her own touch. And as the waves of pleasure slowly faded, her chest rising and falling rapidly, reality came creeping back in. Her fiancé was downstairs. Clueless. Uninterested. Meanwhile, she had just gotten herself off thinking about another man. Kristen stared up at the ceiling, still breathless, still dazed. She knew what this meant. This wasn’t just frustration anymore. This was desire.

By Wednesday afternoon, Kristen felt stupider for sending Jalen that damn friend request. She had checked more times than she cared to admit, but there was still no notification that he had accepted it. And with every passing hour, her regret grew stronger. Maybe he had seen it and ignored it. That thought alone made her stomach twist with embarrassment. She tried to shake it off, but when Jalen’s email came through, all those thoughts were shoved aside by something else entirely ... His proposal.

Kristen and Jim sat together in the conference room, both of them pouring over Jalen’s email. The proposal was detailed, precise, and thorough. Jalen had thought of everything--from storage optimization to climate control adjustments to maximizing efficiency for medical supply access. It was ambitious and modern, and it was clear he had put serious thought into it. Kristen had expected to be impressed, but this was ... beyond that. This was someone who actually cared about the work he was doing.

Jim leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. “I gotta say, Kristen, this is one of the best proposals we’ve seen in a long time.”

Kristen nodded, still scanning through Jalen’s breakdowns. “I agree. It’s really well put together. The pricing is a little higher than we expected, but ... the quality of the vision speaks for itself.”

Jim exhaled. “Exactly. I think we need to bring him back in, have him talk us through the details so we fully understand the costs.”

Kristen’s stomach flipped. Seeing Jalen again. She had been dreading it and anticipating it at the same time.

“Thursday?” Jim suggested. “We can do late morning, around eleven?”

Kristen swallowed, trying to keep her expression neutral. “Yeah, that works,” she said smoothly, even though her pulse had just kicked up a notch.

Jim typed out the meeting request and sent Jalen a reply, officially inviting him to come in for a walkthrough of his proposal. Kristen sat back in her chair, tapping her fingers against the table.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, she would be face-to-face with Jalen again. And after everything--after that night in bed, touching herself to the thought of him, after sending that stupid friend request, after waiting and waiting for him to accept it-- She had no idea how to act around him.

The next day, Jalen pulled into the parking lot of Wellness Georgia, shutting off his truck and exhaling slowly. This was just another meeting. A normal walkthrough of his proposal. But something in the air felt ... different. Maybe it was because of Kristen. She had been a little flustered the last time they met--professional, sure, but he had caught the way she looked at him when she thought he wouldn’t notice. And if Jalen had learned anything over the years, it was how to read people.

He stepped inside, and before he could even fully scan the front lobby, a cheerful voice greeted him. “Well, you must be Jalen Moss!”

Jalen turned toward the front desk, where an older white woman with short, curled gray hair and bright eyes was already beaming at him. She had the warm, welcoming presence of someone who had been the heart of an office for years.

Jalen smiled. “That’s me.”

Betty clapped her hands together, clearly delighted. “Oh, honey, I’ve heard all about you! Kristen and Jim have been talking nonstop about your proposal.”

Jalen chuckled, shaking his head. “Hopefully, they were saying good things. “Oh, only the best!” Betty assured him.

Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if telling him a secret. “And between you and me, I think Kristen was extra excited about you coming in today.”

Jalen raised an eyebrow, but before he could even process that, Betty had already grabbed her desk phone. “Let me call her and tell her you’re here. Just a moment!”

Kristen had just finished fixing her lipstick in the bathroom when her desk phone rang. She glanced down and saw Betty Clover’s name. She swallowed hard. Jalen. Kristen took a deep breath before picking up. “Hey, Betty.”

“Morning, sweetheart! Your contractor is here! And my, oh my, is he handsome!” Kristen closed her eyes for a second, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt.

“Thanks, Betty. I’ll be right there.” Kristen responded.

She hung up, steadied herself, and grabbed her folder. Her heels clicked a little too fast as she made her way toward the front. And then ... there he was. Standing near the reception desk, tall, broad, confident as ever, his dark eyes focused on something Betty was saying to him. Kristen’s breath caught in her throat. He looked better than she remembered. His fitted button-up stretched across his muscular chest, tucked into dark slacks that sat just right on his frame. He exuded the kind of quiet confidence that made him even more attractive, calm, in control, completely unbothered. Meanwhile, Kristen felt like a mess. She smoothed down her blouse, ran a hand through her dark waves, and forced herself to step forward.

Jalen’s eyes snapped to hers immediately. And when they locked gazes, she swore she saw something flicker in his expression. Like he knew. Like he could tell she had been thinking about him. Dreaming about him. Wanting him.

Kristen forced a smile and approached, her voice steady despite the rapid thudding in her chest. “Jalen. Good to see you again.”

Jalen smirked, his handshake firm and warm as his dark eyes held hers just a second longer than necessary. “Good to see you too.”

Kristen’s stomach flipped. This was going to be a long meeting.

Later, Kristen sat across from Jalen and Jim in the conference room, her back straight, hands neatly folded over the project folder in front of her. She was trying her best to stay focused. Jalen sat calm and composed, exuding his usual quiet confidence as he spoke with ease. Meanwhile, Jim was hanging on to his every word--nodding, asking follow-up questions, completely absorbed in Jalen’s expertise and vision. And Kristen? She was barely holding it together. She was stuck staring at him, pretending to take notes, pretending that she was as engaged in the discussion as Jim was. But her thoughts were betraying her. Jalen’s sleeves were rolled up, exposing his strong forearms, the veins in his hands visible as he gestured. His voice was deep, steady, smooth as silk, and every time he said words like “sturdy foundation” or “reinforced structure,” Kristen found her mind going places it definitely shouldn’t. She clenched her thighs together beneath the table.

“God, get a grip, Kristen!” She thought to herself.

Jalen, of course, was completely composed. If he noticed how flustered she was, he didn’t show it. His focus remained on the proposal, breaking down his pricing, the construction timeline, the efficiency of his designs.

Jim, enthralled, leaned forward. “Jalen, I gotta say, you clearly know your stuff. Everything you’re proposing makes a lot of sense. The cost is a little higher than we anticipated, but after hearing your breakdown, I can see why.”

Jalen nodded. “I understand the budget concern, but the quality of materials and the additional storage optimization will ensure this space is not only functional but built to last.”

Kristen was barely keeping up with the conversation at this point. She had the numbers in front of her. She had gone through them last night. She should be asking questions. She should be engaged. But instead, all she could focus on was how effortlessly Jalen commanded the room.

Jim, completely oblivious to Kristen’s internal struggles, kept talking. “Kristen, what do you think? This all looks solid, right?”

She snapped out of it, forcing herself to sound normal. “Uh--yes. Yes, I agree. The layout is excellent, and I like the long-term efficiency considerations.”

Jalen smirked slightly, just barely. Like he knew. Like he could sense the way she was struggling. Kristen crossed her legs beneath the table, gripping her pen a little too tightly as she tried to rein in the storm inside her.

After nearly an hour, Jim finally leaned back, satisfied. “Alright, Jalen. I think this is exactly what we need. Let me run some final budget approvals, and we’ll get back to you with an official go-ahead.”

Jalen nodded, standing smoothly. “Sounds good. Take your time. Let me know if you need any adjustments.”

Kristen stood as well, feeling lightheaded, relieved that the meeting was over but not relieved at all that she’d have to walk Jalen out.

Jim clapped Jalen on the shoulder. “Kristen, why don’t you show Jalen out? I’ll get started on finalizing the budget discussion.”

Kristen forced a tight smile. “Of course.”

As they stepped into the hallway, the air felt different. The tension between them was real now. And as they walked toward the entrance, Kristen could feel Jalen watching her. She had made it through the meeting. But now, alone with him, she wasn’t sure she’d make it through this short walk without completely losing her composure. As they approached the lobby exit, Kristen thought she was in the clear. The meeting was over. She had survived an hour of barely holding herself together, flustered out of her mind while Jalen remained his cool, confident, completely unshaken self. All she had to do now was walk him to the door, and then she could finally breathe again.

But just as they neared the exit, Jalen suddenly stopped in his tracks. “Oh! Shoot, I almost forgot!”

Kristen’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him.

Jalen pulled out his phone, casually unlocking it with his thumb. “Let me accept your friend request--my bad,” he said smoothly. “I saw the notification, but I always forget to go into Facebook and accept those darn things. I definitely should’ve accepted yours right away.”

Kristen felt her entire body freeze. Her breath caught in her throat. “Oh, God.” She thought.

This is happening. Right now. Her stomach flipped, her hands suddenly clammy as she watched him tap through his phone with ease, completely unaware of the absolute spiral she was going through in real-time. He saw it. He saw the friend request. And now he was accepting it--right in front of her.

Kristen swallowed hard, trying to sound casual, trying not to look like she wanted to disappear into the floor. “Oh--uh--yeah, no worries. I, um, wasn’t sure if you’d seen it.”

Jalen glanced up from his phone, smirking slightly. “Of course I saw it. Wouldn’t ignore you, Kristen.”

Wouldn’t ignore you. Why did that sound so much deeper than it should?

She forced out a small laugh, hoping it didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. “Well, uh, thanks for accepting.”

“Idiot. Why did you say thanks?” She thought to herself.

Jalen’s smirk lingered as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Yeah, now I get to see what you’re up to outside of work.”

Kristen’s heart pounded. “Oh, God.” She thought again.

He’s going to see everything. Not just the professional side of her, but her life. Her old photos, her posts, everything. Her fiancé. The thought hit her like a brick. Her fiancé. Rob. The man who had barely looked at her in weeks. The man she hadn’t thought about once while pleasuring herself to the thought of Jalen Moss. And now? Now Jalen was about to see into the life she had been desperately trying to ignore.

Kristen forced a smile, stepping back, needing air. “Well, um--glad we got that settled.” She let out a small, awkward laugh. “I’ll let you know when Jim finalizes the budget discussion.”

Jalen nodded, but his dark eyes lingered on her just a second longer, as if he could sense something shifting in the air. “Sounds good, Kristen.”

Then, with one last look, he walked out the door. And Kristen? She just stood there, gripping the door handle, staring at her own reflection in the glass.

Jalen sat in his truck, his hands pressed against his face, his mind racing. No. No, this can’t be right. But he had felt it. That same pull. That same warm sensation deep in his chest. Just like with Sydney. The Beyonder had told him that when he met one of the eight, he would know. And just now--as Kristen walked him to the door, as their eyes locked for that fleeting moment--he had felt it. But this time? This time, it didn’t make sense. Because Kristen Stanley was engaged. To a guy named Rob Patton. Jalen had seen it the second he accepted her friend request--her relationship status, clear as day.

“Engaged to Rob Patton”

Jalen let out a long breath, staring blankly out the windshield. “What the hell am I supposed to do?” He said to himself.

He wasn’t a homewrecker. He wasn’t some selfish asshole who went after engaged women, who tore apart relationships for his own benefit. This didn’t feel right. There had to be some mistake. Maybe the Beyonder got it wrong. Maybe Kristen wasn’t supposed to be one of them. Or maybe ... maybe she was, but the timing was all wrong. Jalen rubbed his temple, his jaw tight. He had just gotten himself wrapped up in something big with Sydney Swanson. And now this? He needed to think. He needed to figure out what the hell to do next. Because if Kristen was truly one of the eight, and if fate was going to pull them toward each other anyway ... Then how was this supposed to happen without him destroying her engagement in the process? Jalen exhaled sharply. He didn’t have the answers. Not yet.

Jalen spent the entire weekend trying to push Kristen out of his mind. Trying to convince himself that this was just business. That whatever pull he felt toward her was a mistake. That the Beyonder had somehow gotten it wrong. Because if he didn’t believe that, then he had to face something far more dangerous. So, by Monday morning, Jalen had almost talked himself into walking away from the whole damn project. He’d tell them something came up. That his schedule was too packed. That he couldn’t take it on after all. Because if he stayed in Kristen’s orbit, if he worked closely with her every day, there was a chance that something could happen. Something that could turn everything upside down. Something that could pull him into a situation he wasn’t ready to handle. But then ... Monday afternoon. His phone buzzed with an email notification. He glanced at the screen.

From: Kristen Stanley CC: Jim Harbor Subject: Wellness Georgia Renovation Project -- Next Steps

Jalen’s stomach tightened, his pulse picking up as he clicked it open. The email read:

Hi Jalen,

I’m pleased to inform you that after reviewing all the details of your proposal, we are officially moving forward with the renovation project. Jim and I both believe your vision is exactly what we need, and we’re ready to sign off and begin.