Open At Your Own Risk Chapter 02
Zoe reached over and gently placed a piece of burrata on my plate.
She made sure her wrist showed when she did it.
There was a delicate pearl bracelet on it.
That bracelet was a failed sample from last month. The clasp wasn’t secure enough to sell, so I’d tossed it in the scrap tray to be melted down.
Sean had given it to Zoe.
Zoe blinked at me. “Jenna, isn’t it pretty? Sean said you made it yourself. Said you can’t buy anything like it.”
I glanced at it. “It’s pretty.”
She got smug and doubled down on the innocent act. “I’m so glad you don’t mind. I was worried you’d be upset.”
I said, sincerely, “I don’t mind.”
I had plenty more where that came from. She could wear a whole armful.
Dinner dragged until ten-thirty. Sean, a few drinks in, leaned over.
“Jen, I know this is hard. But you can’t be selfish. Loving someone means accepting all of them.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“You’ll adjust to Zoe. Give it time.”
“I will.”
“We want the same things.”
Sean read that all wrong. He patted my shoulder, satisfied.
“See? I knew you couldn’t let me go.”
I ducked to check my phone, one thought looping in my head: When is this dinner going to be over?
Leo had sent a novel.
Baby, I washed my hair.
Baby, I changed.
Baby, I’m seriously not in a rush.
Baby, when are you coming?
Soon soon. Just hang tight.
He sent a photo. Him on the bed, in the matching pajamas I bought us, only two buttons done, showing a truly unreasonable amount of abs.
I swallowed and my mouth twitched up.
Sean saw. He thought I was smiling at him.
He decided, right then, that I was never going to leave him.
When the party wrapped, he draped his arm around Zoe and walked ahead of me. He turned back one last time.
“Jen, come in early tomorrow. I’m staying with Zoe tonight.”
I smiled sweetly. “Sure thing.”
…
The next morning I got to the studio at nine.
Chloe at the front desk saw me and her whole face crumpled. “Jen…”
I followed her eyes.
Zoe was sitting in the client lounge. Specifically, the seat I use for my highest-tier custom clients.
There was a new mug on the coffee table. It had a little rabbit on it. Next to it, a set of keys.
I narrowed my eyes. Not just the front door. Sample room, materials cabinet, safe drawer. The full set.
Sean came out of the back with a coffee. He set it down in front of Zoe.
“Careful. It’s hot.”
Zoe looked up. “Thanks, Sean.”
Then, finally, she noticed me. “Morning, Jenna.”
I dropped my bag. Pointed at the keys.
“What’s this?”
Sean, casual: “Zoe’s spare keys.”
“I can see that. I’m asking why she has them.”
He frowned. “Jenna. We agreed on this last night.”
I laughed. “Since when does an open relationship come with copies of the studio keys?”
Sean looked at me like I was being petty. “Zoe’s status is different now. She’s my girlfriend too. As the boss, and as both your boyfriend, I have to give you the same access.”
I actually stuck a finger in my ear. Made sure I heard him right.
I was the one who signed the lease on our first tiny space. I was the one who put the first round of broken tools on my own card. I was the one who sketched our first bestseller at four in the morning.
And this man was calling himself the boss?
I gave up. “Give me the keys.”
Zoe went pale and instinctively hid them behind her back.
Sean stepped in front of her. “Jenna, what are you doing? I know you’re jealous, but you agreed.”
“An open relationship gives you the right to do this?”
“Well, yeah. I’m not going to shortchange my girlfriend.” Then, softer: “You two have equal standing with me and at the studio. Isn’t that beautiful?”
I never realized Sean could be this shameless.
“Look, I know you care about me—”
“I care about the studio.”
He smirked. “Fine. Say it’s about the studio. But maybe don’t dress up possessiveness as ambition.”
That was the moment I lost the will to argue.
You cannot reason with a man in love with his own reflection.
I reached over and took the keys off the table.
Zoe panicked. “Sean—”
Sean grabbed my wrist. “Leave her the front door and the lounge. Take the rest.”
Fine. I split the ring and tossed two keys back at her. “Here.”
She caught them, shaking.
Sean smiled, pleased. “See, Jen? That wasn’t so hard. Nobody can replace you, you know that.”
“Really.”
“Of course.” He leaned in, voice low and warm. “But stop testing me like this. The more you act out, the worse I feel for Zoe. I’m staying with her tonight. When you’re ready to admit you were wrong, I’ll come home.”
I texted Leo without looking up.
Suit yourself.