Chapter 7

Chris had another scheduled “business trip” coming up, which both Megan and Jalen knew was bullshit. Chris wasn’t flying out for work. He was meeting up with another woman. This, however, suited Jalen just fine, because while Chris was off doing whatever the hell he wanted, Jalen was going to do something Chris had never done.

He was going to give Megan a night that made her feel like the most important woman in the world for once.

Jalen booked a luxury suite at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta. He had to dip into a chunk of his savings to do it, but he felt like this would be worth it.

The suite was gorgeous. It had floor-to-ceiling windows with a skyline view, a kitchen so he could cook her something with his own hands, and a plush king-sized bed waiting for her at the end of the night.

It wasn’t just about the luxury though. It was about the details. Jalen took the time to get candles, rose petals, and muscadine wine, a southern favorite, rich and sweet, just like the night he had planned for them. Then came the final touch.

Jalen sent Megan a text message via Facebook Messenger.

Jalen: “Hey. I want to take you out this weekend. Friday night, but not just anywhere. I want you to dress up. Wear something that makes you feel like the most beautiful and powerful woman in the world. I’ll handle the rest.”

He hoped she would see it. He wasn’t sure if she ever even checked Facebook. To his relief, she responded about an hour later.

Megan: “Jalen ... what are you up to?”

Jalen: “Something Chris never has. Just trust me.”

A pause. Then...

Megan: “What time?”

Jalen: “I’ll send you the time and address soon. Just be ready for me.”

With that, it was set.

Jalen arrived first, setting everything up.

He unpacked fresh ingredients in the kitchen, ready to cook a handmade Italian dinner. He spread the rose petals across the bed, made a path leading from the front door to the bedroom and dining areas. He put some around the candle-lit dining table as well.

Jalen put on a crisp black suit, clean-cut and sharp with a red tie. He set out the Muscadine wine, pouring two glasses. He dimmed the lighting so that the candlelight was prominent and played soft jazz on his portable speaker in the background, setting the perfect mood.

Everything was perfect. Now he just had to wait for her.

Eventually, there was a knock on the door of the suite. Jalen went to the door, took a breath before opening it, and his breath caught in his throat.

Megan was already a stunning woman, but she had taken it up to a whole other level now.

“Hi,” she said smiling nervously.

“Hi” Jalen barely managed to respond.

He stepped aside to let her in.

She walked in dressed in a long, silky crimson-red gown that clung to her curves like it was made for her with slits on the side allowing her legs to show. Her freshly done hair cascaded down her back, framing her striking blue eyes and full red lips.

She had freshly manicured long acrylic nails painted in a crimson color to match her dress. Her golden high-heeled pumps clicked softly against the hotel floor as she stepped inside, looking around at the setup, then back at him.

Jalen could see it in her eyes. The surprise, appreciation, and emotion. This was the first time in years that someone had put this much effort into making her feel special.

Jalen smiled, stepping forward. “You look incredible, Megan.”

Megan exhaled, a slow smile spreading across her lips. “And you, Jalen ... look like trouble.”

Jalen chuckled, offering her a glass of Muscadine wine. “Then you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

Megan sat at the beautifully set table, her fingers lightly tracing the delicate stem of her wine glass. She watched as Jalen moved in the kitchen. His sleeves were rolled up slightly while his strong hands plated the food with careful precision.

The warm, rich aroma of penne fettuccine alfredo filled the air, blending with the faint scent of vanilla candles and the musky cologne Jalen wore. Beside the pasta, he had prepared a fresh Caesar salad, the crisp green of the romaine lettuce vibrant against the candlelight. The Muscadine wine sat between them, deep and ruby-colored, just waiting to be savored.

Megan could barely breathe. This was real effort, intention, and thoughtfulness. This wasn’t an expensive dinner in a crowded restaurant, a careless, last-minute reservation, or a box of jewelry as an afterthought.

This was different. This was a man cooking for her, setting the table for her, and thinking about her.

For the first time in a very, very long time, she felt wanted. Not as a trophy, a convenience, or someone’s wife ... but as Megan.

Jalen set the last plate down and looked up, meeting Megan’s eyes. She was staring at him, her eyes soft, almost unreadable.

Jalen smiled, sitting across from her. “You keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna start thinking you’re in love with me or something.”

Megan let out a soft, breathy laugh, shaking her head, but she didn’t deny it. Instead, she picked up her wine glass, swirling the dark liquid.

“You put a lot of effort into this.”

Jalen shrugged, picking up his own glass. “Of course I did.”

Megan tilted her head slightly, eyes still locked onto him. “Why?”

Jalen exhaled, leaning forward slightly. “Because you deserve it.”

Megan’s throat tightened. No one had ever said that to her before. Not Chris or anyone. The worst part about it was that she had almost forgotten that she did.

Jalen picked up his fork, watching her as he took a bite. “So? Tell me how I did.”

Megan smiled, twirling some pasta around her fork and taking a slow bite. The creamy, garlicky alfredo sauce melted in her mouth, perfectly paired with the rich pasta and the hint of herbs he had added. She closed her eyes for a second, letting out a small, satisfied hum.

Jalen grinned. “That good, huh?”

Megan opened her eyes, smiling wider now as she wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

“You should’ve been a chef.”

Jalen chuckled. “I like building things with my hands. Cooking is kinda the same thing.”

Megan watched him as he spoke, taking in every detail. The way his deep voice carried in the quiet space, the way he held himself, calm and confident but never arrogant, and finally, the way he paid attention to her, like she was the only thing that mattered in this moment.

It wasn’t just the dinner. It was him. This was who Jalen really was, and Megan was falling ... hard.

They finished dinner and Jalen poured two fresh glasses of Muscadine wine, the deep red liquid catching the candlelight as he handed one to Megan.

She took it wordlessly, her blue eyes lingering on the rim for a moment before finally exhaling. “I don’t talk about Chris much.”

Jalen leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully. He didn’t push or press. He just let her speak at her own pace, and for the first time in a long time, Megan actually wanted to.

Megan swirled the wine in her glass, her voice measured. “I met Chris when I was 23. My mom and I were in trouble financially, legally, every way you can think of. Chris was the attorney who helped get us out of it, and ... he took an interest in me. Told me I was beautiful. That I was special. That I deserved more than the life I was born into.”

She let out a soft, bitter chuckle. “At the time, I was struggling just to survive. So, when this rich, charming lawyer swooped in and said he wanted to take care of me? I thought I’d won the lottery.”

Jalen didn’t say anything, but Megan could see it in his eyes. He already knew exactly where this was going. She took a sip of wine before continuing.

“At first, it felt like a fairytale. He took me to expensive places, bought me things, made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. He proposed after two years. My mom was ecstatic. She thought I had secured the best future possible. I thought so too.”

She paused. Then, her lips pressed into a tight line. “But after we got married? Everything changed.”

Jalen tilted his head slightly. “How so?”

Megan exhaled, rubbing her thumb along the stem of the wine glass. “I stopped being a person and started being ... a possession. A trophy. Something to be shown off when convenient and ignored when not. I wasn’t allowed to work. He made sure I was financially dependent on him. The prenup he made me sign basically guarantees I get nothing if I leave him.”

She swallowed. “And the worst part? The man I fell for, the charming, loving version of Chris, wasn’t even real. He was just the mask he wore to get me.”

Jalen’s jaw tensed because he had seen this story before. Different men. Different women. Same game, and he hated it.

Megan let out a slow breath. “Chris isn’t just selfish. He’s ... dangerous in ways most people don’t see. He uses people. Manipulates them. He knows exactly how to twist situations in his favor.”

She took another sip of wine. “He’s also a serial cheater.”

Jalen didn’t flinch. “Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.”

Megan let out a dry laugh. “He doesn’t even try to hide it anymore. Different cities. Different women. I found emails, texts, hotel charges. He knows I know, but he also knows I can’t leave without walking away with nothing. So, he doesn’t care.”

Jalen’s grip on his glass tightened. This wasn’t just a bad marriage. This was a cage, and Megan was just now realizing how badly she wanted out. She set her glass down, looking directly at Jalen now. Her voice dropped, softer now.

“I know I should’ve left a long time ago, but when you’ve spent years believing that something is just the way it is, you stop questioning it. You stop thinking you deserve more.”

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table. “But then ... I met you.”

Jalen’s breath caught. Megan leaned forward slightly, her eyes shining with something raw, something unguarded.

“You saw me, Jalen. Before I even saw myself again. That woke something up inside me,” she exhaled, almost laughing to herself, “And now, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Silence.

Jalen held her gaze, his own emotions carefully restrained because he knew that Megan had just admitted something huge. Jalen exhaled, looked directly at her, and then finally spoke.

“We need to get you out of this marriage,” he said.

Megan stared at Jalen, her breath catching in her throat. “We?”

Jalen leaned forward, his dark eyes steady, unwavering. “Yes. We.”

Megan blinked, trying to process what he was saying. Jalen wasn’t just telling her to leave. He was saying he would stand by her while she did it. He was saying she wouldn’t have to do this alone. It was the first time in years someone had fought for her. Not for her looks or body, but for her freedom.

Megan exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Jalen, you don’t know what you’re saying. Chris isn’t just going to let me go. He’s going to make this hell for me.”

Jalen leaned back, his expression calm, but serious. “Then we’ll be ready for it.”

Megan let out a soft, almost shaky laugh. “You don’t get it. He has power. Influence. Lawyers who owe him favors. He’s not just some husband I can leave ... he’s the type who’ll try to ruin me for doing it.”

Jalen’s jaw tightened. He knew men like Chris. Men who needed control and didn’t care who they hurt, as long as they stayed on top. That didn’t scare him though. What scared him was letting Megan stay trapped.

Jalen stood up, walking over to her side of the table. Megan watched him, heart pounding as he knelt down beside her chair, looking directly into her eyes. His voice dropped, quiet but filled with certainty.

“Megan, listen to me. I know this won’t be easy. I know Chris is powerful. I know he’s going to fight back,” He reached for her hand, his warmth steadying her, “But you are not alone in this. Not anymore. You want out? You’ve got me.”

Megan swallowed. He was dead serious. This was real. Jalen wasn’t just talking. He was willing to stand in the fire with her. No one, not any other man in her life, had ever done that before. She exhaled, tears burning at the edges of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She looked down at him, the man who had changed everything for her. Then, for the first time in years, she made a choice for herself.

“Okay.” She said softly.

Jalen squeezed her hand, nodding once. “Okay.”

They looked at each other for a moment until...

“Now,” Jalen said, extending a hand, “Will do me the honor of dancing with me?”

Megan stared at Jalen’s extended hand, her heart still pounding from everything they had just decided. This was happening. She was going to leave Chris, and Jalen was going to be by her side while she did it.

For tonight, though, for just one moment, she didn’t want to think about the fight ahead. She didn’t want to think about Chris, or lawyers, or the chaos waiting for her. She just wanted to feel. So, she took his hand.

Jalen’s strong fingers curled around hers, warm and steady, grounding her. Then he gently pulled her into his arms. The soft hum of jazz music played through the suite, a slow, sensual rhythm filling the air. Jalen’s hand rested on the small of her back, holding her close but still giving her space to breathe.

Megan placed her hand on his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him beneath the fabric of his crisp suit. For the first time in a long, long time she felt safe. She let her body relax, lean into him, and let herself just ... be.

Jalen swayed them gently, his movements smooth, effortless, like he had done this a hundred times before. Megan let herself fall deeper. Not just into the dance, but into him. He looked down at her, his voice low, deep, and intimate.

“You know, you deserve this feeling, Megan. Every day. Not just for a weekend or when someone decides to pay attention.”

Megan’s chest tightened again. She knew he was right. She lifted her head, locking eyes with him, her voice barely above a whisper. “Then don’t let me forget it.”

Jalen’s hand tightened slightly on her waist. “I won’t.”

The music played on. The world outside didn’t exist. In this moment, with Jalen’s arms around her, his warmth against hers, and his words still hanging in the air, Megan had never felt surer of what she needed to do.

She looked up at Jalen, her breathing uneven and heart racing. She loved the way he held her, firmly, steadily, and safely. The way he looked at her like she was something worth protecting made her feel all the butterflies. With the soft music playing, the candlelight flickering, and the world outside falling away, she didn’t think. She just acted.