Badass in Disguise Chapter 111

Chris Jensen. The Three Pillars' young leader. Golden boy of the courtroom with an undefeated record.

And somehow, this legal prodigy had connections to Jade Morgan.

First, he'd lowered himself to handle what amounted to a high school cheating case for her. Then he'd flown back from Toronto overnight because of a bet. They'd gotten drunk together at a bar, fought side by side, and now Jensen had spent the night in her apartment.

Princeton's gossip forums were already buzzing with speculation about their relationship. "Old friends," they'd been called. "Reunited acquaintances." Photos of their embrace circulated wildly.

Ethan's jaw tightened. Something wasn't adding up. Jensen didn't strike him as the type to maintain purely platonic relationships with women, especially ones as striking as Jade. And Jade herself was notoriously selective about who she allowed into her circle.

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The atmosphere in Jade's living room crackled with unspoken tension. Jade sat on the couch, looking completely unfazed despite last night's events. Her hair was pulled back in a casual ponytail, highlighting the sharp angles of her face. Chris had strategically positioned himself next to her, leaving Ethan to take the seat opposite them.

Chris lounged with practiced ease, his designer suit slightly rumpled from the night before but still emanating an air of authority. The way he sat – slightly angled toward Jade, one arm stretched across the back of the couch behind her – spoke of familiarity and territorial claim.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this early visit, Mr. Haxton?" Jade asked, her voice neutral, eyes clear and alert despite what must have been a late night.

Ethan placed the cooler bag on the coffee table. "I thought you might appreciate something for the hangover. And breakfast."

"Thoughtful," Jade said, her expression unreadable. She turned to Chris. "I'm surprised you haven't headed back to Toronto yet."

Chris shrugged, his posture relaxed but alert. "No rush." His eyes flickered briefly to Ethan before returning to Jade. "Some things are worth sticking around for."

"I saw your lecture was quite the hit yesterday," Ethan commented, deliberately keeping his tone casual. "Princeton's forums can't stop talking about it."

"People are easily impressed," Chris replied, his eyes never leaving Ethan's. "Although I must admit, academia has its charms when the right invitation comes along."

Jade reached for the cooler bag. "What's in here?"

"Special blend. Works wonders after a night of drinking," Ethan explained. "Contains electrolytes, B vitamins, and a few proprietary ingredients. Developed specifically for Haxton executives after particularly demanding client dinners."

"I wasn't drunk," Jade stated matter-of-factly, examining the bottle with clinical interest. She handed the bottle to Chris. "But he might need it."

Chris reached for the bottle, but Ethan's hand shot out, pressing down on Chris's wrist. The movement was swift, calculated – not aggressive enough to be threatening, but firm enough to establish dominance.

"That's an exclusive formula," Ethan said smoothly. "Not mass-produced. Worth about five hundred per bottle."

Chris's eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Mr. Haxton is feeling possessive this morning." He leaned back, making no effort to free his hand. "Or is it just that you're reluctant to share with me specifically?"

"Just clarifying its value," Ethan replied, matching Chris's tone. "I wouldn't want you to underestimate what Morgan is offering you."

"Mr. Haxton, if you're worried about wasting your precious drink on me," Chris said with a hint of mockery, "don't be. Jade and I have always shared everything." The implication hung in the air between them. "We don't believe in 'mine' and 'yours,' do we, Jade?"

Jade watched the exchange with clinical detachment, her eyes moving between the two men like a spectator at a tennis match. "The drink, gentlemen?"

Ethan released Chris's wrist, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Any friend of Morgan's is a friend of mine. Please, help yourself."

Chris took a deliberate sip, maintaining eye contact with Ethan over the rim of the bottle. A satisfied expression crossed his face. "Impressive."

Ethan unpacked breakfast containers from the cooler – egg white omelets with spinach, avocado toast, and fresh fruit salad. The spread was clearly meant for two, presented in elegant containers with the Haxton family logo discreetly embossed on the lids.

"I assumed you'd need protein after your night," Ethan explained, sliding a container toward Jade. The movement was casual, but his eyes carefully tracked Chris's reaction.

A slight smile tugged at Jade's lips as she looked at Ethan in his impeccable suit – charcoal gray, perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders, with a pale blue tie that brought out the intensity of his eyes. Something about his perfectly tailored appearance triggered a memory from last night – wondering what he would look like fighting in formal wear, delivering precise blows while straightening his cufflinks between punches. The mental image made her chuckle involuntarily.

"Something funny?" Ethan asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Nothing," Jade replied, quickly composing her features into their usual mask of indifference. She took some of the food and passed a portion to Chris. "There's enough here to feed an army."

Ethan's eyes tracked the movement with the focus of a predator watching prey. The simple act of Jade sharing his carefully prepared breakfast with Jensen felt like a small betrayal, though he kept his expression neutral.

"Jensen, I understand you stayed here last night?" Ethan asked, cutting into his omelet with surgical precision.

"I did," Chris answered flatly. "Is that a problem?"

"Just concerned about appearances," Ethan responded. "Photos of your... embrace are trending. A night alone together could fuel unfortunate rumors about Morgan's reputation."

Chris's expression hardened, a flash of something dangerous flickering behind his eyes. "As I said before, I've known Jade a long time. I don't particularly care what people think about our relationship."

"Interesting," Ethan mused. "I was under the impression that someone in your position would be more concerned with perception. The courtroom is as much about appearances as it is about facts, isn't it?"

"Speaking of reputations," Jade interjected, cutting a piece of omelet with surgical precision, "Mr. Haxton and I shared accommodations for two months in Venezuela this summer. Nobody seemed concerned about my reputation then."

Chris's fork paused halfway to his mouth. "Two months?"

Jade nodded casually. "During the summer break."

"You never mentioned that," Chris said, his relaxed demeanor slipping momentarily. His eyes darted between Jade and Ethan, reassessing something in his mind.

Ethan couldn't quite suppress the satisfaction he felt at Chris's reaction. He took a slow sip of his coffee, savoring the moment like fine wine.

"It wasn't relevant until now," Jade replied. She turned to Chris. "By the way, this apartment belongs to Ethan."

Chris's gaze sharpened. "Lacking funds or real estate, Jade? Since when do you casually accept favors?"

"It's perfect," Jade replied. "Just what I needed, and he happened to have it available."

"She's welcome to stay as long as she likes," Ethan added, not bothering to hide his smugness. "It's no trouble. I have several properties in the area. Mr. Jensen, if you..."

Chris checked his watch. "I should head to the airport." He stood, straightening his jacket with a practiced flick of his wrists. "Wouldn't want to overstay my welcome in Mr. Haxton's property."

"I can have Connor drive you," Ethan offered, standing as well. The movement was smooth, calculated – a host asserting his domain.

"No need," Chris said with a thin smile. "I've already arranged transportation." His gaze fell to Ethan's wrist. "Nice watch."

"Thank you," Ethan replied, glancing down at the timepiece. "It was a gift from Jade."

Something flickered in Chris's eyes – recognition, perhaps, or warning. "Such a precious gift," he said, his voice deceptively light. "You'd better wear it carefully, Mr. Haxton."

Chris nodded to Jade and walked out, leaving Ethan with the distinct impression that he'd just been issued a warning.

Ethan turned back to Jade, who was calmly eating her breakfast as if the testosterone-laden exchange hadn't happened at all.