"I must say I'm really proud of you, sis."

Jade looked over and stared at her older brother, Tyler who was in the driver seat of his car.

"Why is that? What did I do?"

"I'm proud of you for getting a job. And you've kept it for a month."

It made Jade happy to know that her brother was proud of her. She loved him dearly and valued his opinion more than anyone else's. "Really?"

"Yeah. And here I was thinking you couldn't focus on a job long enough." Tyler teased.

Jade nudged her brother, "Shut up!"

"Seriously. I thought you were allergic to work."

"More like allergic to boring work."

"You just need drama in your life."

"That's not...entirely false. I've always had a flare for dramatics."

"You're a drama queen."

"I resent that."

"So how is it, working with all those Hollywood big shot executives?" Tyler asked, gripping his steering wheel a bit tighter.

Jade shrugged, "It's alright I guess. They're the same as anyone else. They just happen to be extremely wealthy, powerful, and practically run this town. It's a lot of men. They're simple minded creatures."

"Hey! Now it's my turn to resent that."

"It's true. You just give them their coffee and tell them they're handsome. Guys need to hear stuff like that."

"When did you become such an expert on men?"

"When I started working with so many. I picked up on their habits."

"So mom told me that you and your boss don't get along."

"Well I had a horrible first day on the job, but it's slowly going uphill."

Tyler looked knowingly looked at his sister, "What did you do?"

"Why do you assume I did something?" Jade asked, feigning offense. "Why is it always me?"

"Because you're Jade West." Tyler deadpanned. "Did you do something?"

"Maybe."

"What did you do?"

"I may or may not have poured coffee on his pants." Jade admitted, looking down at her shoes.

"Jade..." Tyler groaned, rubbing his hand against his head.

"I know, I know. It wasn't my finest moment."

"And you didn't get fired?"

"I thought I was going to, but I didn't." Jade smirked. "My boss happens to like me. A lot."

Tyler quickly looked at his sister before focusing on the road. "What's that smirk all about?"

"Nothing." Jade chuckled. "It's an inside thing."

"Hey, promise me that you will stay out of trouble."

"When have I ever been a troublemaker?"

"I'm serious. Do not cause any trouble. Don't be stupid."

"When have I ever been stupid?"

"Ryder Daniels."

Jade pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, "Okay, our...whatever it was, wasn't my brightest idea."

"Promise me you won't screw up."

"I promise. Topic switch."

"Okay. Have you spoken to dad recently?"

"Ugh. Topic switch."

"Come on. Have you?"

Jade shook her head, "No, I have not seen or spoken to dad recently. Have you?"

"I went over to his place yesterday." Tyler replied.

"Was his wife there?"

"Yes, she was."

"What was she doing?" Jade questioned. "Was she playing little Suzy Homemaker?"

"Of course not. You know that was mom's job. Cooking, cleaning, having the kids-"

"-not being a gold digging leech?" Jade guessed.

"I was going to say, just having a soul, but I like yours better."

"I like yours too."

"But I talked to dad yesterday." Tyler said. "He wants me to have dinner with a few of his friends tomorrow."

"Why?"

"His friends happen to be doctors. I am in med school. It's more like a business meeting, or networking."

"You know, for a second, I was almost jealous of that, but I'm over it."

"There is nothing to be jealous of. It's nothing more than dad singing my praises over a catered meal. And there is a one hundred percent chance that Tiffany drinks more than her fair share of red wine."

"Please video tape of if she gets drunk."

"I will. I'll probably come to your place and we can order a pizza."

Jade smiled, "That sounds perfect."

"I had the most amazing time in Spain." Diana gushed, as she rolled her suitcase into her bedroom.

"I'm glad you did."

"The food, the shopping, the sight seeing." Diana continued, not even looking at her husband. "I could go on for hours."

"There's really no need."

"Have you ever been?" Diana asked.

"No."

Diana unzipped her suitcase and started pulling stuff out, "You have to."

"It seems like you go enough for the both of us." Beck remarked.

Diana gave him a tight smile, "I really missed your dry sense of humor, darling."

"Now you have it twenty four-seven."

"I am pretty glad to be back. Outside of the fun time I had, it was nothing but drama."

Beck sat down on the bed and watched Diana shuffle back and forth between their closet and her suitcase. "Really?"

"Oh yes. I don't know why I go anywhere with Sarah. All she does is get drunk. Be the fourth day there, I was sick of watching her throw up the lining of her stomach. And do not get me started on how petty that Lisa is. I swear, it is her goal in life to make everyone hate her."

"What did she do now?" Beck asked, trying to make conversation. He usually drowned Diana out when she started gossiping, but he was going to actually try this time.

"It wasn't anything major, but she likes to make subtle digs at people and they do not go unnoticed by me. That is the last time I go on vacation with her." Diana closed the suitcase and zipped it back up. She just pushed it into the closet. "I will deal with that later." She sighed. "So did anything eventful happen while I was away?"

"Nope. Same old Los Angeles."

"Well when you put it that way, something had to happen. It's Los Angeles!"

"Well I'm sure something happened, somewhere, but it's been pretty boring for me and the people I associate with."

"Oh. How's work going?"

"Work is...work. Busy. Stressful. Chaotic. Then you do it all over again the next day."

"Anything particularly stressful?"

"Actually, yes. Before I came to get you from the airport, I got a call. We have to push production back for one of the movie's we're working on. Again."

"That's is so...unfortunate."

Beck heard rustling around in the closet. "Are you still engaged in the conversation?"

"Mhmm."

"I don't believe that you are."

"I'm listening!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Then what did I just say?"

Diana walked out of the closet, a dress and two pairs of shoes in her hands. "Your job is stressful. You can't work on your movie because it's been pushed back."

"Good."

"I know how to do more than one thing at a time." Diana held up her dress. "What do you think of this dress?"

"It's red."

"Thanks Captain Obvious. Can you think of anything else to say?"

"It's nice."

"Ugh, you are such a man."

"Why does this matter?"

"Because I have to get ready."

"Ready for what?"

"I'm going to a party tonight." Diana said. "Alexis is throwing together a little dinner party, and I am going."

"Are you serious?"

Diana turned around to face her husband, "Do I look like I am joking?"

"No."

"Okay, then."

"Are you seriously going to leave? You got home fifteen minutes ago."

"I made a promise to Alexis. I have to show up. It would be extremely tacky if I didn't show up."

"I've said this a million times but I'll say it again. I can't keep you in one spot long enough to spend time together."

"We have the rest of our lives to spend together. Let me have this one night."

"This one night? You've had this entire month."

"Oh relax. It's just a party."

"Fine. At least we'll have tomorrow."

"Oh I can't do tomorrow."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm going to Malibu tomorrow."

"What's in Malibu?"

"Kim asked me to come over. You know she and Tommy are divorcing and she wants me to help her get her things together."

"Kim can't hire someone to help her move her stuff?"

"Now what kind of friend would I be if I let her go through this alone?"

"You seriously aren't going to be here tomorrow?"

Diana rolled her eyes, "Yes."

"Really?"

"Beck, I don't know why you are being so complicated. I want to spend times with my friends. Sue me."

"I probably would, but what would I get?" Beck muttered under his breath. "It would be my money going back to me so..."

"Did you say something?"

"Not a word."

"Okay." Diana let out a breath and walked back into the closet.

Beck laid back against his pillows and sighed, exasperated. "Love spending all this quality time with you, wife."

"I swear, your life gets more miserable every time I see you." Jade said, staring up at her boss. She impatiently tapped her nails against Beck's desk. "You are a miserable man."

"You really need to stop giving me such glowing compliments. They're going to go to my head."

This was practically the first thing Beck and Jade had said to each other in two weeks. Ever since that awkward encounter they had, Beck had been keeping Jade at a distance. She brought him coffee, he sent her to go get things for him, she scheduled his appointments, and then they went their separate ways at the end of the day.

"Why are you here so late?" Jade asked, looking at the big clock on the wall. "It's almost midnight, and here you are, working."

"I know where I am and what I am doing."

"Why are you here?"

"I have nothing better to do, I might as well work."

"I thought your wife came home earlier."

Beck nodded, "She did. And as soon as she got home, she turned around and now she's with her friends at some party."

"Oh. Why didn't you go with her?"

"Because I cannot stand to be around ninety-nine percent of her friends. I'd rather have jury duty every day for the rest of my life."

Jade frowned, "Yikes. They're that bad?"

"Yes. I have a company to run. I don't have time to hear about Carrie's bad plastic surgery, or how Dominic just closed another successful case. I also really just don't care."

Jade smiled, "Sounds like a reality show. Idle gossip at a party thrown for no reason."

"Sometimes, I'm shocked that Diana hasn't put us on one."

"You aren't interesting enough to carry a reality show."

"Really?"

"I'm serious. Who would watch a show where the main cast member sits in his office all day?"

"Probably no one."

"Exactly. I was just giving you a little honesty."

Beck's phone rang. He reached across his desk, picked it up, and answered without looking at who called. "Hello? Hi mom...thank you...no, that's not necessary...oh okay...no...I am working right now...I know...she's out..let's not get into this right now...I'll see you tonight...I love you, too...goodnight." He hung up and put the phone back on his desk.

"Who was that?"

"My mom." Beck answered.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. She just called to wish her eldest child a happy birthday at exactly midnight."

Jade's eyes got back, "It's your birthday?"

"Yes."

"Oh my goodness!" Jade got out of her seat and wrapped her arms around Beck's torso. "Happy birthday!"

Beck eventually hugged Jade back, "Thank you."

"So you're thirty-two now."

"Yup. I'm moving further and further away from my prime."

"I think you still have some good years left in you."

"I can't believe you haven't called me old yet."

"Shouldn't it go without saying?"

"I'm only six-and-a-half years older than you, Jade."

"I'm just messing with you."

"Such a tease."

"You have no idea." Jade lifted herself up. "I will be right back!"

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back!" Jade repeated. "Stay put, okay."

"Okay!"

About twenty minutes later, Jade returned, a small box in her hand. She sat the box down and opened it. Inside it was a slice of chocolate cake. Jade dug into her purse and pulled out a lighter and a candle. She stuck the candle into the slice of cake and lit it. "I just ran around and got all of this stuff from my apartment, so bear with me."

Beck said nothing. He just watched Jade with an amused expression plastered onto his face.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you." Jade sang. "Happy birthday, Mr. President. Happy birthday to you."

Jade slid the container in front of Beck. He smile, "Jade, you really-"

"Blow out your candle and make a wish."

"This is so unnecessary."

"Blow out your candle and make a wish. Or are you too old? Do I need to do it for you?"

"There's the Jade I know." Beck closed his eyes and blew the candle out.

"What'd you wish for?"

"I wished that I could get more than three hours of sleep."

"You're a bad liar."

"I'm actually a pretty skilled liar. And besides, if I tell you, my wish won't come true."

Jade walked over to the corner of Beck's office. Sitting on a table was a bottle of scotch and a couple of glasses. "Valid point. You like your scotch on the rocks?"

"God, no. Who wants watered down scotch?"

Jade poured the drinks, "I'm not really into this stuff, but c'est la vie, darling. You're the birthday boy." She handed him a glass.

"How do you not like scotch?"

"Have you ever seen someone in their twenties drink scotch?"

"Now that I think about it, no. You guys are too busy taking tequila shots out of each other's belly buttons."

"Not me. I'll take vodka with a splash of cranberry juice as my drink of choice."

Beck lifted his drink to his lips and quickly downed it. "Well I guess you're different."

"I'd like to think so. My brother just calls me obnoxious."

"I can see it."

Jade glared at Beck before grabbing his glass, "You're pushing it."

"Now I'm the one being a tease."

"Ha ha. So birthday boy, do you have any plans?"

"Knowing my mother, she is probably going to cook me a huge dinner that could feed all of Beverly Hills."

"You're mom likes to cook?"

"Likes to? She loves it."

"So does my mom. She made the slice of cake I got for you."

"Can't wait to eat it. So my mom is going to make me something huge. Who knows what my dad is going to do, because he is full of surprises. And I think my brother is flying out from Cambridge."

"What's the wife doing for you?" Jade asked, pouring Beck another drink.

Beck chuckled, "She's going to Malibu."

"Are you guys going to the beach or something? Do you have a house there?"

"No, and no. She is going to go out there to spend time with one of her friends."

"On your birthday?"

"Yes, on my birthday."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Maybe she's lying and she's planning a surprise party for you." Jade suggested.

"If I am being completely honest, I don't think my wife is capable of something like that. And I wouldn't be able to believe it if she did. She's too self absorbed and selfish. She is more interested in going to parties, and being the poster woman for a trophy wife, and spending more money than people know what to do with. So maybe you're right. Maybe my life is miserable."

Jade frowned. She felt bad for Beck. His wife was completely blowing off his birthday. "Well, why don't you make her spend the day with you?"

"Because it's obvious that I am not on her mind. Making her spend the day with me would only make the both of us miserable and I'm really not interested. I'm not her priority and I'm not going to make her make me her priority."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"You want another drink?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you for offering."

Jade silently mulled over what Beck just told her. This was the first time he actually opened up to her. It was odd. And nice.

"Why don't you just forget her birthday? An eye for an eye…"

"…makes the whole world blind. And I'm not a tit-for-tat type of person."

"Well you have a birthday that deserves celebration. I hope you have a great birthday dinner tonight."

"I hope so, too."

"But in the mean time," Jade got up and made her way to the other side of the desk. She hopped on, "you get to spend the first few hours of being thirty-two with me. Lucky you."

Jade smiled, "Lucky indeed."

Beck looked up at Jade, "You know, you have a gorgeous smile."

"Thank you. Your smile isn't half bad either."

"Thanks." Beck sighed. "Why don't we both try to smile more."

"Well, Beck Oliver, you got to give me a reason to smile."

"Okay. I'll try to make you smile more often. You have to stop giving me migraines."

Jade stuck out her pinky, "You have yourself a deal."

"A pinky swear? Are we in elementary school?"

"I've been doing these with Cat and Tori for years now. Cat loves these things. We never break a pinky swear."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Beck rolled his eyes, "Fine."

"You know, if you don't keep this promise, your pinky gets cut off."

Beck locked pinkies with Jade, "Uh-oh. What did I get myself into?"

"Nothing but fun." Jade checked the time. "I should get going."

"Yeah, I'm probably going to get going, too."

"I want you to drink a cup of coffee before you go driving anywhere." Jade ordered.

"Yes, ma'am."

Jade hopped down from Beck's desk and slightly lost her footing. Beck grabbed onto her wrist to keep her from falling.

She looked down at the rug and saw the the bottom of her heel had gotten stuck in it. "Ugh. Stupid rug."

"Here let me help you." Beck slid his chair back and bent over. He lifted Jade's foot up and untangled it from the rug beneath his desk. "You're free."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"My mom always said that these high heels are more trouble than they're worth." Jade joked, straightening out her shoe.

Once Jade was done fixing her shoe, she stood up sighed, and started to get up when Beck tugged on her wrist. Before Jade could even ask him what was going on, his lips were on hers.

Jade's mind was moving a mile a minute to even process what the in hell was happening. The only thought in her mind that seemed to be sticking was, "Oh my God. What the hell is he doing? What the hell am I doing?" The second thought that popped into her head was that Beck tasted like coffee, breath mints, and alcohol. It was a weird combination, but it worked for him. But after that momentary lapse of judgement, she went back to, "What the hell am I doing?"

Jade gently pushed Beck away from her and took a deep breath, trying to calm down her racing heart and pulse.

" I have to go."

"Jade, wait!"

Jade turned around and sped out of the office with lightning speed. Once she knew she was far away from him, she stopped running.

She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. She quickly went through her contacts and found the person she wanted to talk to.

"Hello?"

"Tyler, it's me."

"Jade?"

"Yes."

Tyler groaned, "Jade, do you know what time it is?"

"Yes, I know what time it is." Jade sighed. "Ty, I just did something really stupid."

"Are you okay? Do you need me to come get you from somewhere?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"I broke my promise to you. I screwed up. Big time."

Thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock. :)