Seven

Jade stood at the Pentagon, absently waiting for their appointment with Pete, who was still fully nervous and kept yammering in her ear. She'd had a good night and a pleasant morning when she woke to the blonde waitress curled up around her naked body. And he was seriously killing the vibe. "Look, Pete… just shut up," The dark-haired woman finally said, turning around. "Let me go in there and do my job, and we'll deal with your nerves later. There was a reason you called me here, so relax, I've got this."

The door opened, and an older man walked out of the room. She smiled brightly. "Hello, General," she said, her voice dropping in pitch and taking on a seductive tone as she stepped up next to the older man.

The man's eyes focused on her, and they lit up. "Ms. West… It's always a pleasure." He took her hand and kissed the back of it with a courtly bow, then spread his arms toward the door. "Come on in. Let's talk." His eyes drifted to John. "Thanks… we'll see you later."

Jade suppressed a laugh, her face hidden by her position, and her lip to keep a laugh in, then cleared her throat as the door shut behind them. "That wasn't nice, Gerry."

The elderly general chuckled. "He's an ass, Jade… get yourself better people."

She shrugged a little then took the offered seat in front of his desk and leaned back as the military man settled in his thickly stuffed chair. "He's not that bad. He just hasn't been around the big boys as much as I have," she explained. "Your soldiers freak him out."

General Oliver smiled at her. "Jade, you look good," he mused, studying the young woman across from him.

She inclined her head. "So do you. How's the Pentagon treating you?"

"The biggest pile of horse shit east of the Potomac. Now they want us to repaint everything. Did you hear that? Some idiot kid came in and did a study, told some damn politician that the walls here were depressing, so we have to paint everything shades of pink and beige."

Jade made a face. "Ugh."

"Yeah, ugh is right." The general turned to his aide, who had been standing quietly watching them. "Eileen, can you get Ms. West and me a pitcher of something cold, please?"

The aide nodded briskly and disappeared.

They looked at each other in comfortable silence for a moment. "Jade, you look more like your daddy every time I see you," the general said, a tender expression in his eyes. "Same nose, same chin." He paused and chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Damn, girl, I miss him."

Jade's eyes dropped to his desk, and she exhaled softly. "So do I."

"He'd be so proud of you, that's for sure." A gentle twinkle entered the general's eyes. "Imagine him seeing you practically running that joint. I can just imagine his face."

Blue eyes drifted. "I don't know about that, Gerry," Jade shook her head a little. "I don't think he'd see it as very honorable. You know what we are…" She paused, Gerry was always looking out for the little guy. "We make a corporate policy of eating them alive." She gave him a wry look. "But here I am. So what's the score?"

Old eyes studied her for a long moment, then the general pulled a file folder out from a desk drawer and tossed it over to her. "All yours, rugrat," he chuckled fondly at the look on her face. "Ma, it's not charity. You were pretty close in the bidding, and let's just say I felt more comfortable awarding a defense contract this large to someone I trust."

Jade drew the folder over and riffled through the contents. Her brows rose. "Yeah… I threw in a couple of other sins. And that damn IRS website support contract. Please, Jade, get them off my back, will you? They can't keep that thing running to save their lives."

"I'll do my best," Jade replied with a shake of her head. "John was about to be in heaven over the added perks. I'll make sure you get taken care of."

"I know it," the general said then hesitated. "Hear from your mother?"

A flinch tugged at Jade's face. "No," she replied quietly, with a faint shrug. "Not since the funeral. I don't think I ever will."

"Bitch," Gerry muttered under his breath. "Like it was your fault he decided to put his hand in the field one last time."

Jade stared at the carpet, a sturdy maroon tweed. "They were inseparable, Gerry. I remind her of him too much, I guess." Her voice was quiet and even. "He was her whole world." And now all she had left were pictures—eight or ten treasured photos of her tall, dark-haired father, mostly in fatigues, one with his arms wrapped around her shoulders, the two of them looking more like brother and sister than father and daughter.

She remembered the solidity of him, the sturdy, powerful body whose shoulders she'd dampened with tears on more than one occasion. She tried not to remember that last goodbye too often—not unless she was alone with the stars or the endless stretch of ocean where no one could see her.

The general exhaled. Then he got up and moved around the desk, holding his hand out to her. "Come here, Rugrat." He tugged on the hand she extended to him and pulled her up into a hug. "Your daddy was one of my best friends. You know that, right?"

Jade allowed herself the luxury of accepting the embrace, feeling the scratchy wool of his uniform against her cheek. The smell, a mixture of dry cleaning and leather, brass and starch, was very familiar. "I know that," she said softly, giving him a pat on the back as he released her. "He was a good man."

The general leaned back against the desk, studying her. "He was a very good soldier," he acknowledged. "I always half expected you to follow in his footsteps." His hand patted her arm. "You've got his strength, you know."

Jade let a tiny smile shape her lips. "I save my battles for the boardroom, Gerry," she said, holding up the folder. "It can be just as dangerous, even though it lacks the bullets."

The aide returned and handed them both a glass of frosty iced tea, already sweetened Southern style. Then she discreetly left at a hand signal from the general. They silently toasted each other, and Jade felt herself relaxing a little as the cold beverage slid down her throat. It was always hard seeing Gerald Oliver, but it was getting easier with time as she knew one day she'd see the old general and not think of her father first. "Well, I'd better get going. I need to be back in San Francisco by this afternoon."

Oliver set his glass down and folded his arms across his chest. "Why not spend the night over, Jade? I know Prianka would love to see you, and Beck's in town." His eyes twinkled again. "You know he's madly in love with you."

Jade gave him a rueful grin. Gerald's tall, half-Indian son certainly did flatter her with the subtle, almost hesitant attention when they were together, and she really didn't mind doing things with him. They'd spent a great time last year touring the Civil War Battlefields in the area, which helped a lot for visualizations for her war game series. And the thought of just relaxing in Beck's peaceful presence was tempting. "Gerry… I have to admit to you… if I was going to marry anyone, it'd be Beck. He's the sweetest guy I know."

Oliver beamed. "Welcoming you into my family would be one of the bright points in my life, Jade. You know that." He shook a finger at her. "Don't be so fast to wave off marriage… I know you're tied up with your career, but you should give it a chance sometime." He put a hand on her arm. "Give yourself a chance. C'mon, stay over."

Jade sighed. "Honestly, I wish I could… But I'm right in the middle of a mess out there, and I can't be gone too long this time." She gave him an honestly regretful look. "I'll take a future rain check though."

"Hm." He glanced at her shrewdly, his tactician's mind working. "Hey, why don't you come back for Christmas?" He cocked his grizzled head at her. "Have a real holiday, tree… maybe some snow, the works, huh?"

Jade smirked and rolled her eyes. "You know it hasn't snowed here on Christmas in over twenty years. But maybe I will. Thanks for the invitation, Gerry."

His gray eyebrows waggled, and a smile of mild military triumph crossed his features. "Anytime, rugrat. Now g'wan and get out of here before that man out there loses his mind with nerves."

"Nice seeing you, Ger. Give my best to Prianka and Beck, alright?"

"I sure will," the general promised, "have a good flight and take care, you hear?"

"I will," Jade told him, then picked up her folder and glided out of the door. She straightened her shoulders as she spotted Pete approaching from the window where he'd been pacing. Without a word, she handed him the folder, which he almost dropped.

"You got it?" he said in surprise. "That son of a bitch…"

Jade exhaled. "Post them. I'm taking off."

The man looked at her aghast. "What did it take to get this? He didn't try to be inappropriate with you, did he?"

Jade paused, her eyes narrowing. "You know, for someone who seems so concerned, you sure did let me do all the dirty work," she said sharply. "The man took care of me… maybe you need to learn to do the same." Without waiting for an answer from him, she simply left.

"Jade, when are you leaving?" Mariela stood in the doorway, her bag over her shoulder. It was Friday night, at the end of the worst week the secretary could remember. She looked at her boss with concern, noticing Jade's pain. "Jade?"

"Hmm?" the CEO glanced up from her monitor, giving the woman a rueful look. "Oh, well, I've got to finish up this damn financial report, Mari. It will be a few hours yet." Her desk was scattered with different reports, just so she had everything open to her at one time. Mari had drawn the line at adding more than two screens to her desk, so she compensated with paper, which felt wrong somehow.

Mariela shook her head. "Well, I will see you Monday, Jade," she said, "try not to stay too long, alright? You're young, you should be out with friends."

"What friends?" Jade mumbled, waving at her as she glanced back down at the reports. "See you Monday."

She sat back and reviewed the spreadsheets for the dozenth time. It was like building a puzzle that had too many pieces. You had to pick which one you used, and the pickings were getting ugly tonight.

Of course… Jade glanced at the reports from Buzz Media. It would be easier to just claim the entire account as a new business in applicable areas and restructure the cost by disbanding the company. Easier, and it would make the numbers work, on top of allowing her to go home after almost thirty-six straight hours of working on the project. She wouldn't need to hide anything else, and everything would

just… fall into place. In fact, twice she'd done just that, her fingers hovering over the submit keys and then backed off, for reasons she really didn't have a handle on.

Maybe it was the persistent optimism of Tori's notes as the young manager worked her numbers, getting closer and closer to the goal Jade had set.

A goal that was probably irrelevant by now, unless a miracle happened.

The phone buzzed, and she slapped the connect button. "Yeah?"

Rob's voice came through. "All of our numbers have been processed," he said, shuffling some papers. "They're very bad, Jade."

Jade closed her eyes and hit the refresh on her page, opening them after counting to ten. The bottom line blinked at her, and she felt an overwhelming weariness settle on her shoulders. "We gotta cut down," she commented.

"MM," Rob agreed, his voice sounding equally tired. "Too late for this time though… I'll make you a list of my favorite candidates for the Burger King line." The VP of finance, one of Jade's closest allies in her company, was a pragmatist if anyone was.

"Thanks, Robbie," the weary woman replied. "All right… is Cat still there?" Cat Valentine was the VP of HR, who worked hand in fist with Robbie, and some said sleeping with him. Jade didn't care and thought they would make a cute couple if they would get themselves together.

"She's right here."

"I'm gonna have to cut all of Buzz Media loose, Kitten," Jade said quietly. "You might as well start setting up packets. Send the worklists to me."

A soft sigh came over the line. "All right, Jade," the high-pitched voice came over the line. She had a little girl's voice, but you didn't want to cross her. Cat was no pushover. "They never really transitioned, so it's just a matter of notification."

"I know. They won't even get two weeks," Jade exhaled. "Let me finalize this. You'll get an update in a bit." She hung up the phone and stared at the screen, pulling her alternate plan to the foreground and processing it. The bottom line flickered and then resolved. She gave it a little nod. "Sorry, Vega…" she took a deep breath and picked up her phone, dialing a now-familiar number and waiting. "Sometimes it sucks to be the big boss," she mused, then straightened as the phone was answered, and she heard Tori's soft voice.

"Buzz Media, Tori Vega."

"Ms. Vega," Jade paused to gather her thoughts.

"Oh… Hello." Tori cleared her throat. "Listen... I know you're getting close to the deadline, but I think I've got it. It took forever, but I finally found some slack in the facilities budget."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Vega. It's just not going to fit in with our plans," Jade said quietly. "It was a good try, and you were on the right track, but it's not going to be possible."

Dead silence.

"Vega?" Jade asked, checking to see if the line was actually disconnected.

"You bitch." Tori's voice was strangled, with either rage or tears, Jade couldn't tell. "I hope you go straight to hell because that's exactly where you belong."

The phone slammed down and went dead.

Jade quietly replaced her receiver and let her hands fall to her thighs. It certainly wasn't the first time she'd been told that, and probably wouldn't be the last… but after two days with no sleep, her emotional defenses were in tatters, and it hurt. It got past her carefully cultivated and hardened attitude, and she let her head rest against the high-backed chair with her eyes closed tight as the silence of the mostly empty building settled over her.

Finally, she got up and opened her top drawer, taking her keys out and throwing her jacket over her shoulders. She had till midnight to close the books. Right now, all she wanted to do was find some empty space and salt air.