Part 2: Victoria
Two weeks after first meeting, Nolan invited Jade to be a live-in companion, liking her company all the time. Since she was about to be kicked out of her apartment anyway, she gladly accepted his offer. Jade had been a resident in his house for two days when she came down with a bad chest cold.
"Hey, what's up?" Nolan knocked on her door and entered her room. She had her own bedroom as she wasn't expected to sleep in Nolan's room all the time. He understood her need for privacy and didn't badger her.
"Jade?" Nolan sat on the edge of her bed, shaking her shoulder gently. "Time to get up, hon."
The photographer turned to look at Nolan, her eyes red like she hadn't gotten enough sleep. "Hey," she grunted.
"You look terrible."
"No shit." Nolan pulled the covers up over her shoulders and frowned as he put a hand to her forehead.
"You've got a fever, feels like a mild one but still," he got up and went to her medicine cabinet in her own bathroom. "come on, take a few of these and I'll look in on you later."
"OK." Jade sat up and took the medicine he handed her. "Where are you off to today?"
"Doing the social rounds," he didn't go any further into it and Jade did not ask. "I'll be back sometime this afternoon. Stay in bed until your fever's gone, all right?"
"I'll be good." she promised as Nolan looked regretful at leaving her, but she waved him out without any further ado. "Keep on going, don't worry about me!" Jade produced a raspy honking cough which made both of them wince at the intensity.
"Text me if you need anything." he offered as he left. Jade merely managed a nod of acknowledgement as she sprawled out on the bed.
Emily was waiting for Nolan at the bottom of the stairs, tapping her foot with mild impatience. Finally her friend bounced down with a look of hesitancy in his eyes.
"What's up?"
"Jade's sick," he answered as he grabbed his keys and walked outside with Emily in tow. "I feel bad about leaving her."
"She'll be all right," Emily reassured him. "I don't think that you should be hanging around her when she's ill anyway, she might get angry about that."
"Are you saying I'm a worrywart?"
"I'm just saying that she's not going to be awake for long and it would be boring for you to keep hanging around her while she's sick. You know colds take weeks to recover from."
"True." they slid into the car and took off for town.
Around midmorning, Jade woke up with a sneeze and she fumbled for the tissue box she always kept nearby her bedside. Pulling one out, she held it up to her nose and honked into it loudly.
"Rude awakening," she stood up, feeling lightheaded from a sudden spell of dizziness. "ugh." A hot shower was just the thing, so Jade went into the bathroom and put the water on, flipping up the drain and changing the shower to a nice hot bath.
Ever since she met Nolan Ross, she'd been happier in her life. The photographer had been on several high end assignments the past week and a half, taking her to Spain for a few days, then to Europe and Italy. Jade had traveled worldwide before, but now it was something extra special to her as Nolan shared in her enthusiasm. She had friends before but her new friend was really something special. Knowing of his love of art, Jade bought him a print of a classic Van Gogh painting, had it framed, then brought it home for him. He was thrilled with it and hung it up in his front room.
When she'd arrived back only four days ago, Nolan had greeted her with an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek and words that she wanted to hear from a friend, the coveted 'I miss you' and 'let's go out'. It was nice for her to have a friend with genuine affection.
It was even better since he treated her like an equal, regarded her as a friend/girlfriend, particularly if he was a bit randy. Jade was just happy to know that she mattered to someone, that she was worth it to be greeted with affection and to have someone around to share common interests. Her old friends had been too jealous of her traveling career and had cut her out. The pain still hurt but it had lessened after awhile.
Jade flipped the drain up and let the water vanish, standing up she immediately had an attack of the chills. Grabbing a thick towel, she wrapped it around herself, got out of the tub, and changed into a fresh pair of pajamas.
The house was relatively big, Jade had her room painted in pastel purple with white linen and trim to make it look a bit girly. Some of her favorite photos had been blown up and framed like Boldt castle in New York, Notre Dame in Paris, and a few special prints she'd had bought as well. The most poignant of all were one of the memorial prints of the World Trade Center after 9/11. Jade liked the symbolism of the two spotlights where the centers once stood against the night sky.
At the time of the attacks, she had been on location in Prince Edward Island for an event and her traveling back to the US had been impeded by the higher security. Jade had been frustrated, but she was happy to be back home and she was busier than ever because of all the memorial fundraising.
A print of President Kennedy and Jackie hung nearby as well, both of them disembarking Air Force One at Dallas before the fatal shooting. Jade was an admirer of the late President though the shooting hadn't happened during her lifetime.
Jade tied the drawstring on her pajamas, dried off her hair, then sat down on her bed, taking another dose of medicine for her cold. She pulled her laptop up and began to surf online idly, waiting for the medicine to take effect so she could feel somewhat better.
Three PM rolled around and Jade roused, blinking slowly. Her eyelids still felt heavy and she was lightheaded. The photographer knew that her mind wasn't firing on all cylinders, as she felt like she was awake but not really. She brushed out her hair and stood up shakily, fighting back a sudden spell of dizziness that overcame her.
"The hell?" she cursed, grabbing the stairway banister and maneuvering herself down to the first floor cautiously.
"This has to be something more than a cold," Jade proclaimed as she leaned back against the kitchen countertop. "when does Nolan get home?" the clock on the wall told her it would be another half an hour and melodramatically she wondered if that would be enough time.
She was about to go and sit down in the living room when the dizziness got more severe as the world around her went into a tailspin. In an effort to stabilize herself, Jade made to clutch at the armchair nearby, but she missed and slipped on the hardwood floor, crashing down and losing consciousness.
"So anyway Ems, I was telling Jack that..." Nolan's voice wafted in as he unlocked the door and stepped into the front hall. He hung up his sport jacket and called out Jade's name.
"I'll see you later, Nolan. I have to meet Daniel."
"Bye, Ems." the billionaire walked idly into the living room and turned when he saw a slight shadow against one wall. "Jade?"
"Oh god, Jade!" Nolan went closer and saw her lying on the floor. "You hit your head or something?" turning her over he didn't see anything wrong, she wasn't even bleeding.
"Come on." he picked her up and put her on the couch while he pulled out his cell phone, calling in a favor that a doctor owed him.
It was all a blur to Jade. She vaguely recalled Nolan calling her name and she did remember being picked up, then voices just went in and out of her mind for a long time after that. Somebody was examining her, prodding her, and she wanted to take a swing at that person but restrained herself. She was sick, probably delirious, and it wasn't going to help by getting physically aggressive.
Finally the voices began to make sense to her again. Swimming up as close as she dared to full consciousness, Jade foggily concentrated on her friend's voice.
"What was that all about, doc?"
"She's got a slight blow to the head but that wouldn't have caused her to faint like that. She's in low shape right now, as she has the flu."
"We thought it was just a cold."
"No. With her fever that high it is definitely the flu."
"Damn. When will she wake up?"
"Hard to say," Jade felt a cool hand brush against her forehead and she sighed in momentary comfort. "maybe within the hour or so. She needs rest, Mr. Ross and I know she'll get it here. In the meantime, I'll give her a shot of penicillin in case this flu is bacterial, and you call me if anything changes."
"I will, doc. Thanks a lot." Jade felt the poke of the needle and mercifully she fell asleep again.
Time passed and the next time she roused, Jade saw Nolan sitting next to her in an armchair, dozing lightly. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and Jade saw Emily standing in the doorway.
Emily smiled at Jade, seeing her awake, then walked over to her, spying Nolan asleep. "Hi, I'm glad you're awake."
Jade tensed up a bit. Emily made her so uncomfortable but she tried her best not to let on how she felt. The woman didn't exactly give out the best friend vibe but she made an effort to be civil at least.
"Likewise," they spoke in soft tones not to wake Nolan up. "do you know how long it's been?"
"From when Nolan texted me last night it's been almost 12 hours. He told me you were sick and he wasn't going to leave you until you're well."
Jade glanced at Nolan with sincere gratitude in her eyes. The look was not missed by Emily as she picked up a thermometer from the side table and took Jade's temperature.
"Almost normal." the digital readout read 101. "I wanted to stop by to check on you both before I head over to the Grayson estate."
"I worked for Victoria once," Jade took a drink of water. "you must love punishment, Emily."
"Did you do an assignment for her?"
"Once. Someone else does it now. I won't have anything to do with her."
"Wise choice. I've got to go. I'm glad you're looking better, truly."
"Thank you, Emily." the girls cordially bid their goodbyes and Emily left the room. Jade sat up in bed and latched hands with Nolan, smiling as he stirred awake.
"Hey," he greeted her. "you're alert at last."
"So it would seem," she yawned. "what happened? I remember falling but nothing else."
"I had a doctor friend of mine come and take a look at you," Nolan sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her hair away from her eyes. "he said your dizziness was dehydration and you needed fluids and rest. He also said you've been overdoing it lately."
"What can I say?" she sighed. "I have to work to make ends meet and keep myself busy."
"You can cut back a little bit, right? I'm here now and you don't have as many bills to pay."
"True, I don't." the billionaire grinned as he pulled the covers up to her shoulders.
"Slow down some and take some time to recover." he advised. "I will make sure of it."
"Speaking of which, did you stay up all night? I mean you look tired too."
"I am a bit. I better go to bed to keep myself in good shape."
"Then have good dreams." Nolan gave her medicine. "We'll go out to supper sometime as soon as you're well enough."
"I'd enjoy it." Jade relaxed back and began to fall asleep to Nolan's approving look. He knew that Jade was out of the woods now and he went to his bedroom to catch up on his own rest.
Five days after her bout with the flu, Jade woke up and felt normal again. She stood in front of the mirror that afternoon, pinning back her locks and trapping them under barrettes at each side of her head. Nolan had invited her to dinner and the dress attire was business casual.
Selecting her emerald green peacoat and white undershirt, Jade put on tan chinos and her black boots. The photographer didn't own any real jewelry to speak of, so she put on a pair of simple gold hoop earrings and a small chain link necklace in gold.
As she was threading her belt through the loops, the doorbell rang. Jade groaned as she put her lipstick in her pocket and set her clutch purse in the end table of the living room.
Her boots clicked on the hardwood floor as she entered the foyer, marching down to the back door, ready to give whoever it was a lambasting for delaying her in meeting Nolan.
"Ah, I didn't expect to see you here," Victoria Grayson smiled in the fake way she was so accustomed to. "stealing Mr. Ross's artwork?"
"Well, this day keeps getting better now, doesn't it? Nolan isn't here right now. I will give him the message if there is one." Jade knew that Victoria was a person who was accustomed to getting what she wanted and didn't care how she got it.
"I was here to ask him about doing a possible joint art gallery show, but seeing as you're here, I wanted to ask you about something as well."
Jade frowned but invited her in to be polite. What in the hell could that woman want with her? In an instant, a flash came to her mind that Victoria understood a lot of things but she never understood more basic things in life that Jade did. As far as she knew, the matriarch had never experienced true love, friendship, kindness out of the goodness of one's heart.
Undoubtedly the ice queen would simper and snark at her, goading her to anger or guilt or some other emotion. Jade resolved then to be as even tempered as possible, maybe a bit endearing to her.
"So, you're Nolan's live in girlfriend then?" Victoria sat down on the couch as Jade sat in the armchair. "I have heard rumors about him and I didn't know you were back in town."
"Oh, Victoria, you almost disappoint me," Jade simpered right back. "Apart from the fact that what Nolan and I do behind closed doors isn't any of your business, you wouldn't come here asking me questions you already know the answers to."
"I do?" she pretended innocence but Jade openly rolled her eyes.
"It's very obvious, Victoria. A lady alone and isolated as yourself with an adult family now lives on petty gossip. You wanted to get out of the house and harangue someone with your nonsensical ravings to get attention your husband has been denying you all these years."
"Playing psychoanalyst now?"
"You see, just by that response you still want the attention that I'm giving you. I studied psychology at school years ago but only as an amateur."
"Oh, how wonderful for you to be able to psychoanalyze me with your jargon."
"Can't think of anything else to say then, can you? Look, I'm not here to make moral judgments on people."
"But you make them on me." her eyes flashed, a warning sign.
"No, I merely gave my opinion. I don't envy you in the least with your unhappy marriage Victoria, I really do pity you. I don't like to see people unhappy at all, truly."
"Oh, since you're the complete expert now, what do you suggest I do?" she crossed her arms defensively.
"You're making a classic error, Victoria. You take money over love. Love can help make the burdens of the world easier to bear. Love doesn't corrupt, it never loses value, it doesn't make you sick. Money does. And with both of them or just one, they require sacrifice."
"It's easy for you to say, as you're not me!" she shot back. "My husband would find me within days if I left and probably kill me!"
"Get legal protection then. It's your life. If you're unhappy with it, then you only have yourself to blame. We all make sacrifices, some good and some bad." Jade refused to get worked up like Victoria was doing.
"Don't lecture me about sacrifices!"
"I'm not. We all make them. You chose to isolate yourself, you choose to see imaginary demons in Emily Thorne's past, you choose to see her as the enemy. Any mother would be glad to see her son married to a fine young lady, yet you go the opposite route."
"Who are you to proclaim such things?!" Victoria got up and started to pace. "There's something wrong with that girl and I'm going to find out what!"
"Please don't do anything rash," Jade got up and trailed her. "it's the emotional state of mind which leads us to do things that we will regret later. Why don't you let your son make his own mistakes? He'll learn from them and grow more mature over time. He won't learn anything if you keep doing it for him. He will resent you and push you away."
"Save your psychobabble for Nolan!" she opened up the door but Jade shut it with a bang.
"I know you've been betrayed and hurt in the past Victoria and I do pity you for it. I get the overprotection of your children, I even understand your philandering husband and why you despise him. You need someone to vent to."
Victoria's eyes widened. "Are you offering to be my friend?"
"I am offering to find you some help in the form of a fully licensed therapist you can see under an assumed name. HIPAA laws are strict so you have complete confidentiality. You repress so much and it comes out in odd ways."
"What's your deal then?" she asked suddenly. "Everyone has ulterior motives and you must have some."
"No, I don't," Jade gave her a little smile. "must be disappointing for you Victoria, but I don't. I'm human, my parents raised me right, and I would feel bad if I didn't at least offer to find you some help."
"Your parents did raise you right." Jade nearly fell over with that proclamation.
"I don't like seeing people unhappy and in good conscience my policy is offer to help. I don't judge, I don't do ulterior motives. It's not me. Call me old fashioned but I like to see people smile when I'm out and about in the world."
The ice queen of the Grayson clan felt her facade melting away. Jade was truly genuine, even she could see it.
"You don't need to answer now. Take some time and think it over."
"You must think I'm insane with everything I've been through not to leave that bastard."
"I'm not judging, Victoria. It's harder to do what you say. Follow your dreams. Just know now that I will not judge you and I will be happy to find you help." they left the house with Jade locking it behind her.
"Well, I must thank you, Jade. It is a relief to know that someone finally understands my position." they walked over to their cars.
"You're welcome, Victoria. Have a good day." Jade gave her a genuine smile that Victoria actually returned with no frosty look in her eyes.
Supper was over and done with in good time and as soon as they got home, Jade told Nolan about Victoria's unexpected visit.
"Wow. She didn't seem to be able to get you riled up." they sat together on his bed as she peeled off her shoes and socks.
"I empathized mostly, Nolan. Amazing the doors that can open up when you just say that you understand where a person is coming from."
"She must feel validated to some degree now."
"Maybe. I offered to find her some help, a therapist that can help her work through her past and all that entails. Maybe she'll loosen up and stop being such a bitch."
"That's all up in the air at the moment. Hmm, I'm guessing you had your Buddha expression on when she started in on you?" Nolan called Jade's understanding face the Buddha look.
"It took a bit of explaining actually but in the end she was mollified and very much feeling validated in her feelings," Jade put her head in Nolan's lap. "call me crazy, but I hope she has the courage to break ties and follow her life's dreams. I don't want anyone to be unhappy. I believe everyone gets a happy ending."
"Ain't it the truth." Nolan leaned down to kiss her. "You have the one quality Emily doesn't show often: humility. That girl's hell bent on her revenge and nothing stops her. You have the remarkable ability to be empathetic, etc. Just make sure she doesn't become a gal pal of yours."
Jade snorted into laughter. "You have my word on that one. I do not care to be associated with her as I'm sure the feeling's mutual."
"That's better." Nolan sniggered and the two of them began a makeout session.
