Chapter 97

Ten minutes later, I was starting to worry they were going to delay leaving or do something else entirely, and I would be stuck outdoors for ages. If I could have given up in that moment, I would have.

It was terrifying, waiting for the hardest part of my mission. Sneaking into the house was going to be challenging, and I still had no way of knowing for sure that Jack wouldn't not only reject me, but make a fool of me if he didn't appreciate what I intended to do.

Eventually, the door on the back of the house opened, and Jack led his friends out. I noticed everyone but Alma and the other girl were there, and it made me feel a little better.

Keeping out of sight, I lowered myself farther down, shielded by the bushes nearby but equally unable to see Jack and everyone else for a moment.

I could hear them talking and chatting, but not what they were saying. For a while, it didn't seem to move, but eventually, the sound of their talking moved to the east of the island and away from the house.

With each second that passed, I felt more relaxed. If only Alma and one other were in the house, I stood a much better chance of getting in without detection.

As the group traveled away, I came into their view again and had to move, trying to keep the closest bush between us. When I put my foot down and transferred my weight to it, the ground beneath it slid downward, and I almost fell over, sliding to that side and dropping my bag.

The rustle was followed by silence as I didn't dare move, unable to see the group but aware none of them were talking anymore. I held still, barely daring to breathe until they began talking again.

Jack got farther and farther away until I could move without fear of being detected. I was only starting to make my way closer to the house when my phone buzzed again.

Coast is clear, but you'll need to hurry. This new girl is pretty curious about everything, and I can only keep her distracted for so long.

It was all the encouragement I needed. Practically running for the house, I made my way out of the thick of the trees and around to the back door, closest to the stairs and farthest from any position Jack would notice.

I was still a few meters from the back door when I heard a sound in the open storage shed.

The housekeeper came out, and our gazes locked. Immediately, I stopped, rooted to the spot in fear.

"Juno, what are you doing here? How did you get on the island?" As the housekeeper spoke, I could see her mind catching up.

She knew I hadn't been on the boat with the others, and that meant I was in a world of trouble.

"I… I'm not supposed to be here. I won't lie. But. I wanted to surprise Jack. I was awful to him and I let fear get the best of me after the storm. I wanted to apologize in a way that would mean something. I promise I won't do anything to harm anyone or him. I?—"

The housekeeper lifted her hand and shook her head.

"I want to let you through, Juno, but I can't. If Jack doesn't know you're here and hasn't given you permission, at the least, you need to come with me until I've talked to him."

"Please, I want to surprise him. I promise I won't cause a fuss. If he doesn't want me here, I'll leave immediately."

I could see the housekeeper wavering, but it wasn't enough. Again, she shook her head and stepped toward me to try and usher me away with her.

At the same time, Alma opened the back door, calling to me before she realized the housekeeper was even there. When Alma saw why I'd stopped, she did the same.

"Ah," she said, pulling a face. "Could we possibly persuade you not to say anything so Juno can try to put a smile back on Jack's face?"

The woman deciding my fate frowned.

"You knew about this?" she asked Alma.

"Yes. Kai does, too. We're both hoping it works, but if it helps, I'll bear all responsibility for the fallout. Although I don't think there will be any. He still loves her, and she's the one who paid for all the island fixes. If that doesn't show she cares…"

"You did?" the housekeeper asked, finally acknowledging me again.

I nodded and exhaled, desperate to be in the house or somewhere else. Anywhere but a place where Jack might notice me before I was ready for it.

"All right," she said, relenting. "Go inside. But if this goes badly, I will tell Jack I saw you, and you promised me you just wanted to apologize to him. Got that?"

"Thank you." I exhaled before Alma took my hand and pulled me inside.

"Clarice is in the bathroom. Get upstairs before she comes back out." Alma ushered me in that direction, giving me no other form of greeting.

I didn't hesitate, handing her the envelope I wanted her to pass to Jack and then hurrying toward the stairs and up them before anyone else could see me. My heart hammered in my chest, and for a moment, I had to pause on the landing, the decor changed so much it was unfamiliar and a little unsettling.

It made sense. The top floor had been ruined by the broken glass and water, as had much of the lower floor, but where the downstairs areas of the house had been kept in a similar style, the upper floors were a different color and feel.

Trying to move quietly along, I looked for Jack's room and hurried inside, shutting the door after myself. My legs gave way, and I sank toward the bed, relieved and still thrumming with adrenaline at the same time.

I'd ensured it would be Jack who discovered me now, but I still had his reaction to contend with. While Alma and Kai thought he would take me back in a heartbeat, I knew I would think twice after everything I'd done.

Taking several deep breaths, I stowed my bag in the closet and fetched one item—a pair of sturdy handcuffs. The key was in the envelope I'd handed Alma, and there was no way these things opened up again once they were closed, so I wasn't putting them on until I was sure I was ready for what might follow.

With shaking hands, I slowly took off all my clothing before slipping into the lingerie I'd brought with me and adjusting it. There wasn't much to it, but I had picked out the most enticing set I had, and I looked at my body in it now.

I wasn't the most attractive of women, my body never curving exactly the way the magazines said it should, but I wasn't unattractive, either. I didn't struggle too badly with my weight, and I had enough cleavage to not need to pad it out. It had been enough for Jack once before, however. I had to trust that it was enough again.

With my attire how I wanted it, I tried to decide where I wanted him to discover me. I wanted to appear vulnerable, but if someone else walked in, I didn't want them to see something intended only for Jack.

It was also a fraction too cold in the room to be comfortable wearing this little for a long time, and I had no idea how long Jack would be. I needed to find some way of staying warm and making sure I could ditch it with my hands cuffed behind my back.

Going to the bed, I lifted off the blanket and grabbed the sheet. It was lightweight enough to shrug off, but it would keep me a little warmer in the meantime.

After I'd made the bed again without it, I knelt on the floor and wrapped the sheet around me from the front so I could reach behind me and hold the ends in place.

The next minute or so was the hardest. I had to keep the sheet in place yet let go of it so my hands were free to do one last thing. It was time to put the handcuffs on and make it so I couldn't go anywhere or do anything without Jack's say-so. If this wasn't showing him I trusted him and intended to give myself over to him if he wanted me to, I didn't know what was.

Finally, it was done, the handcuffs attached to the bed with a cord and my body stuck on the floor at the foot of his bed, wearing nothing but panties and a sheet.