Chapter 2

"How could you talk to that poor woman like that?" We were sitting in the back of the Rolls Royce, speeding off towards Jacque's hotel. Jacque sat beside me, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. It was quite apparent that he wasn't going to answer my question. "Jacque, did you hear me or should I ask again?"

"Please, Ada," Jacque looked over at me, "Let's not fight. Not now. I have too much on my mind right now."

"No, you agreed to an interview with her and now look what's happened!" I pointed my finger at him. "You've run off, but not only that, you've insulted her!" I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. When I began to speak again, I made sure that my tone was back to normal. "What's gotten into you? Is it the project?"

"Ada," Jacque's tone was sharp. I knew immediately that I had pressed one too many buttons. "Don't mention the project."

"Why not? You want to make me your wife but tell me, how is any sort of marriage going to work if we don't communicate?"

"We do communicate."

"Asking to "pass the butter" is not communicating." He smirked, thinking this was my attempt at a joke. My serious expression showed him contrary. "We've been together, how long?" I paused, allowing him time to think. "I've been with you since I was fifteen years old. I've never loved another man. Five years. Five years and you have yet to tell me what this project is! I don't understand why it has to be so secretive."

"I've told you about the regeneration."

"But I know there's more to it then that. I've been to the laboratory back home. Your laboratory has twelve levels. Three of those twelve levels are used for Project: Regeneration. What could you possibly need with nine empty levels?"

"Storage." He was on the defensive now. Good. Just where I wanted him. "The project requires a great deal of storage space!"

"Don't take me for some air-headed bimbo, Jacque. You should know me by now. But okay, just for arguments sake, let's say you do use nine of those twelve levels for storage. Where do your meetings with Japan and Italy's Prime Ministers fit into all of this?" I watched as Jacques' face became a ghostly sheet of white. "I thought you were going to use your research to benefit the scientific and medicinal community?"

"You've been sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Ada."

"Maybe I wouldn't have to stick my nose anywhere if you would clue me in to what's going on! Before we came here, the police paid us a visit in Milan. Tell me what's going on!"

"How would you know that?" Jacques' eyes widened. "You were at a photo shoot."

"Yes and no." I turned from the man beside me, the man I no longer knew, and faced forward. "But that's not all I know. I also know that they were demanding to search the lab."

"No more!" He made a frantic glance at the driver before returning his gaze upon me. "We won't speak of such things here. If you wish, we'll continue this conversation over dinner." Jacques opened the car door. We wouldn't finish this conversation, ever. "Driver, will you please take Ms. Summers to her apartment in Manhattan, Upper East Side." He stepped out of the car then leaned back in and kissed me. He tried for my lips but I turned my cheek to him at the last minute. "Goodbye, beautiful."

Jacques closed the car door and we began to drive away. I bit my lip, straightened out my spine, and began to wring my sweating palms out on my black skirt. My eyes were stinging so I focused on the world outside of myself, just past my window. I watched as the sun made its slow descent behind the tall skyscrapers. I bit my lip until my canines threatened to break the skin. My eyes closed to shut out the tears. Unfortunately closing my eyes only forced the tears to fall down.

We used to be in love. I honestly believed he was the one I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with. Jacque Rausenbluem was caring, charismatic, hard-working, and honest. Dr. Jacque Rausenbluem was cold, unfeeling, and secretive. I was in love with Jacque Rausenbluem but unfortunately, it seemed that he had been taken over by the doctor in him.

"Aw, Ms. Summers," I opened my eyes to see the driver peering at me from the rearview mirror. He spoke in a charming thick New York accent. "Please don't cry. It don't look good for such a pretty lady to cry."

"I'm alright." I smiled as I flicked a tear from my cheek. "See? All better. It was just a little dirt, that's all."

He nodded. "Yeah, I deal with dirt like that all the time. You may call them dirt in Europe but here in New Yoik we call them scumbags. I've seen you's on magazine stands. If I was a pretty young model like you'sself, I'd kick that fella' to the curb and find me a nice New Yoiker to take his place."

"You're sweet." I paused before scooting forward until I was at the edge of my seat. I leant forward so that my head was in the front seat, suddenly remembering something. "Speaking of New Yorkers… do you know anything about this so-called "half-man, half-spider" fella'?"

"Do I know anything about him?" He laughed. "I know a pretty good deal. Everyone knows about Spiderman. You really have been in Europe a long time, haven't ya? " He pulled the Rolls Royce up to the front of my apartment and got out to get my bags from the trunk. I jumped out of the car and followed him, an excited puppy after its master.

"Too long. But yes, Spiderman… yes, that sounds like him." I was nearly bouncing with excitement. "Everyone in Europe thinks he's some sort of fluke."

"Nah, I used to think so too." With a grunt, he grabbed my bags in either hand and began to walk towards the concierge standing near the revolving doors. "But fluke or not, he's helped a lot of people."

"If I wanted to see him where might he be found?"

"Jeeze, he's everywhere. Not too hard to find." He handed my bags over to the concierge, "Jus' keep your eyes to the sky and you'll find him."

I handed him a twenty dollar bill. "Thank you so much, for everything." He tipped his hat and left.