Chapter 8 SKYLA'S POV

It had been two uneventful days in Chicago, yet my encounter with Mr Anderson still playing vividly in my mind like a broken tape stuck on repeat.

I had thrown myself into helping out at the bakery, taking orders, making deliveries, and also trying out new deserts that we could add to the menu.

It was the perfect distraction, the escape that o currently needed to take my mind away from the disaster my life had become in Manhattan.

I was currently trying out a new peach cobbler recipe. Flipping through my grandma's recipe while taking as notes.

The shrill ring of my phone made me jump with fear.

I took a quick glance at the phone, but it was pointless. Almost all my apps and contacts had been deleted. The only contact I had saved was Ed's, and my mom's.

I had been trolled during the first few days the scandal broke put, numerous strange numbers called just to cuss me out. So I had taken almost everything down.

I didn't have the strength for it.

I swiped at the receive button without bothering to check the caller ID.

"Hi Ed," I said breathlessly into the phone, whipping the heavy cream that I intended to use for the toppings.

A scratchy, static noise crackled at the other end of the line.

"Uhm, hello.... Ed ?" I called again, frowning. ."

Hello? You there?"

When no response came, I sighed and decided to fill the silence. " You know what? I have thought long and hard about it. So I decided to share it with you."

"So I have decided to open my bakery in Frankfurt, far away from all the drama going on. I could move to another place and like start afresh. Like you know get married to a foreigner and pop out a whole football team...."I rambled, slightly munching on the half eaten pie I had nicked from Lee moments ago.

I let out a small laugh, feeling oddly Light-hearted.

A cold chuckle drifted through the speaker.

"Even if you ran to the end of the world, Ms. Jefferson, I would find you. "

The whisk slipped from my fingers, clattering noisily against the marbled kitchen counter,

splatters of heavy cream seeping onto the parchmthe paper that I had intended to layer my pan with.

My breath hitched, cold beaded sweat forming at my temple at tge familiarity of the voice.

Even if I was taking my last breath and he had whispered to me, I would have known.

Xavier.

I forced myself to look at the caller ID even though I was sure I deleted his number.

"You won't reply, Sky, for someone thaA shiverchatty moments ago you're suddenly quiet?" His voice was smooth, amusement laced in his voice.

A shivers rolled down my spine.

"How.... how did you get my number?" I stammered, gripping the edge of the counter for support.

He let out another low guttural chuckle. " I have my ways, Sky, rather than run away from your problems, why don't you face them?"

My stomach knotted

"So you are not only selfish, manipulative, ambitious, you are also a coward?" He spat harshly,

Xavier sighed, the sound sharp and disappointed. "You have today to return to Manhattan, or I swear Sky.......

"Or else what Xavier?" I snapped, my voice shaky despite all my effobreathsemain calm.

And I was a Jefferson. We were strong

Silence

Only our uneven breathes filled the empty space between us.

"Are you stalking me, Xavier? Is that what we are doing now?" I asked, inhaling a sharp intake of breath. "Look, see, I know you are having fun playing villain, and you are on a mission to ruin my life? But I don't take orders from you, Xavier. Not now, not ever."

In a voice colder than ice, he whispered. "Your life wouldn't vein her only one I ruin Skyla

Eddie's too."

A chill slithered through my vein.

"You can't do that?" I said through gritted teeth, every muscle in my body going rigid.

"Watch me, Skyla."

The line went dead .

For a moment, I just stood there frozen. My mind reeled with shock as I felt my leg give way beneath me. The world blurred, tipping me off balance, I barely managed to grip the counter before collapsing.

I barely had the time to process everything that had just happened before my phone rang again.

With trembling fingers and fraying nerves, i answered. " Xavier.....?"

"Sky..... ?" Ed's voice rang out, familiar and urgent.

Relief crashed over me, " Thank God , Ed are you safe,"

He exhaled sharply. "I am sorry for cutting your trip short, Sky, but you have to return to Manhattan now," Ed ordered, his voice tight with several emotions.

A sinking feeling settled in my gut. "This is about Xavier Isn't it ?"

Ed hesitated " I can't tell you much over the phone, Sky, but you need to hurry?" He says, his voice sharp with fear.

" Ed? My pulse pounded. "What is going on? What did he do?

"Sky, you need to get back now." His voice was sharp, urgent. " It's Xavier. He...."

The line suddenly went flat, beeping twice before the call ended.

My breath hitched, my heart pounding frantically, and I could hear the sound of blood rushing into my ears.

"No," I whispered.

A sudden panic seized me. I tore off my apron. Discarding it carelessly on the kitchen counter as I scurried out, barely hearing Lee's frantic calls as I bolted out of the bakery.

The asphalt roads blurred beneath my feet as I ran home, my vision blurry with unshed tears as I hurried towards the red mahogany door, my heart thumping frantically

"Skyla" my mom's voice rang behind me as I bounded up the porch steps.

I ignored her, rushing into my room, and yanking my suitcase open as I hastily stuffed my clothes into the box without any care in the world.

"No, no, no." I muttered, mistakenly jamming my suitcase.

"What is wrong, Skyla?" She demanded appearing in the doorway.

"I need to go, mom." I swallowed hard

She released a sad sigh, "Won't you at least tell me what is going on?"

I paused, guilt gnawing in my stomach.

I didn't have the time or the heart to tell her, but I knew she deserved an explanation.

I stepped forward, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. My voice barely above a whisper. "Ed needs me, Ma."

And with that, I was gone, fraying nerves and all.

I knew the moment I stepped foot in Manhattan, my whole world be on literal fire,

A raging inferno ready to consume anything in its path.