as promised a massive chapter 14 enjoy ~ S.K.


Fourteen


"Okay, I think that will work. But can we use that processor in slack hours?" Tori asked as she absentmindedly played with a pencil, pushing it against the surface of her desk and turning it over. "I know the Rage group is looking for extra bandwidth for their graphics. Can we use it there?"

She listened to the response, then smiled and made a note on her pad. "Good, okay then I'm going to call them and let them know they can count on you for that." A pause. "Sure, the chargeback will go toward your budget."

A pleased sound emanated from the phone. "Nice working with you, too. Yes, that's right—Vega—from operations. Well, thanks… I try… good night."

Tori sat back, letting out a pleased breath. "That worked."

She scribbled down a few words in her notebook, then adjusted several items in the spreadsheet on her screen, recalculating it before sending a copy to Jade and to the two departments she'd just made a deal with. It was a good feeling. She was actually starting to get things done after two days of settling in, and she finally felt like she was earning the salary increase her new position had come with.

That had been a surprise. She hadn't bothered to check in CAS for it when Jade had hired her, figuring her new boss would simply keep her salary at the level it had been with Buzz. The benefits package she'd gotten had been a lot better, after all, and she'd been contented with that.

Then she'd gotten paid for the first time yesterday and had actually called the bank thinking it was a mistake. It was not. It was directly deposited into her account from West Trek. Then she'd belatedly gone in and checked her employee file, spending several minutes just staring at the screen in blank disbelief. Not that she'd been hurting before, but the addition enabled her to go out and spend a very satisfying amount on upgrading both her home computer and Smart TV.

She'd also gone out and selected a nice mug, constructed from unbreakable, coated wood, and brought it back for Jade, who had smashed her own against the wall just the day before. Breaking mugs wasn't a new thing for the other woman, she'd learned from Mariela, and the secretary kept a supply of royal blue plain ones to replace those that were shattered.

Jade had peered at her offering, then given her "that look." But she'd chuckled a little, her rolling eyes acknowledging the gentle tease at her temper.

Tori had decided she really liked Jade despite the executive's mercurial moods and consistent state of conflict which seemed to exist around her office. They'd spent quite a bit of time together, easing into a fairly good working relationship as Jade turned more and more responsibility over to her. She'd made a few mistakes, but Jade had reassured her that they were smart ones, and she only lost her shit a little bit.

It had been surprising, however, just how much that yelling hurt. She felt like she'd let Jade down and had gone out onto the roof just above her office and gazed out at the bay for a while to settle her guts, hoping it wouldn't be an experience she had very often. Then she'd squared her shoulders and gone back inside to throw herself at her work again, surprised to find a chocolate chip muffin placed squarely on her desk—a peace offering Jade knew she wouldn't refuse. It was an odd counterpoint to Jade's rough and tumble reputation, she realized, that the CEO had taken the time to reassure her.

The dark-haired woman certainly had Tori's number where treats were concerned, though she was constantly tempting Tori with all kinds of goodies. And the Latina found that she had surprisingly little willpower where Jade West was involved. She was seriously contemplating using the stairs instead of the elevator in the mornings to compensate for her boss's edible sabotage.

This afternoon was quiet, since Jade had left the office for an appointment of some kind, and she decided she'd try to finish off the two projects she had pending, then see if Mariela had anything Jade was too busy to do that she could take care of.


Jade had long ago concluded that everyone just naturally hated going to the doctor's office. She knew she wasn't alone in that sentiment, suspecting it had more to do with the loss of personal dignity than anything else. She closed her eyes and attempted to summon some patience while sitting in the examining room, clad in a gown half the size of a cocktail napkin.

The door creaked open, and Dr. Dodie entered. He was an older man in his sixties, with a kindly, sweet face. "Well well… look who we have here."

Jade sighed. "Hi, Dr. Dodie." She managed to wipe the rueful grin off her face. The older man had been her family doctor for years and still treated her as though she were a gawky adolescent.

He donned his stethoscope and placed it on her back, then moved around to her chest, listening with an annoyingly omniscient manner typical of most doctors. "Breathe."

She obediently did so, while flexing her arm a little against the pain from three bouts of blood drawing.

"Okay, lie down." Dr. Dodie proceeded to gently examine her, his fingers steady and professional as they poked and prodded. "You've got a pretty good bruise here."

"Just from the gym," Jade said untruthfully. One of Tori's attackers had gotten in a lucky punch.

"Mm." The older man felt up along her neck carefully, rolling her head to one side and then to the other. "Pretty stiff."

"Part of the problem, I think," the dark-haired woman acknowledged ruefully. "That's where the pain usually starts."

"Uh huh. How have you been sleeping?"

She shrugged. "All right… about the same as always."

"Oh… so four or five hours a night…" Dr. Dodie remarked dryly. "You'd do yourself a favor if you snuck in an extra hour or two."

Jade exhaled. "I've tried. I just can't fall asleep… and if I do, I wake up early."

The older man leaned on his hands and studied her. "No… you never could. Your daddy was the same way, you know." He sighed. "How are you feeling otherwise?" He placed his stethoscope against her chest and listened. "Any flutters? You feel out of breath sometimes?"

Jade thought about it. "No… not that I've noticed," she replied slowly. "When the pain's really bad, I'm more conscious of my heartbeat. It feels like it's causing the throbbing."

"Mm… that's natural," Dr. Dodie reassured her. "Sit up."

Jade complied, running a hand through her hair. "So what's the story… am I dying?" The mention of her heart had made her a touch nervous, evident in her dry mouth and uncomfortable swallow as she waited for his response.

The doctor rolled his eyes. "If you are, you're the healthiest dying person I've ever examined." He leaned back against the wall. "But your blood work's a mess, your white cell count is down, every stress indicator we know of is up, and I'm a little worried about some other things I see with your blood pressure. I scheduled you for the Bay Area Heart Institute for a stress test." He raised a finger to her lips to forestall the protest he anticipated. "Don't argue with me, all right? Just humor me. I'm an old man." He paused. "Look, honey, I really think you need it."

Jade let her head drop and exhaled. "I don't have time for that, Dodie."

He gently reached over and tipped her chin up to face him. "You don't have time not to do it, sweetheart. Come on, they're not busy today. It'll take an hour and then you can tell me you told me so, okay?"

"An hour, huh?" she hesitated, then surrendered. "All right, but I think you're barking up the wrong tree."

"Uh huh… and you got your medical degree… where?" the older man inquired pointedly. "Of course, we could dispense with all this if you'd just take my advice and take a week off, and go bum around in your boat somewhere."

A crafty look entered the pale blue eyes. "Oh… so all I have to do is agree to go on vacation? I don't have to go to the institute?"

Dr. Dodie wagged a finger at her. "Oh no, you tricky little girl you. I know you- you'll agree, then you won't go for two years." His voice gentled. "Jade, please… I hate to see you doing this to yourself." He cocked his head. "It's not going to get better, Honey. It's just going to get worse unless you start taking it easier."

Jade was silent for a bit, then she finally nodded. "All right. I get the message. I'll arrange… somehow… to take a few days off." She paused. "Meantime, can you give me something for the damn headaches? I've been taking over-the-counter stuff, but it just doesn't work."

The older man nodded. "You go to the institute, I'll give you a script for some Imitrex and Flexeril. That should help. Deal?"

Jade hesitated, then capitulated. "Deal… look, I know I feel lousy. I even got myself an assistant. How do you like that?"

"You did?" Dr. Dodie glanced up with a surprised smile. "You found someone who can put up with you? Lord, it's a miracle." He laughed at the look on her face. "He must be a saint."

A dark brow lifted. "She…" Jade felt her face creasing into an unexpected smile.

His grizzled brow edged up, and he paused, watching his patient closely. He had been the first person Jade had come out to when she was fifteen and was asked the "are you sexually active" question. "What are your pronouns and your preferences," Jade had told him, knowing that it would never reach the ears of her parents. "I see…" he said and patted her knee gently. "You'll have to introduce me to this modern-day Saint sometime."

Jade snorted. "C'mon… I'm not that bad. Tori deals with me just fine. She's a nice lady."

Her smile lingered, and Dr. Dodie regarded her wisely as he leaned back in his chair. "If she makes you smile like that, she must be nice," he teased, watching a faint blush of color on her skin. "Now I really want to meet her."

"Well, I'd better get dressed and get outta here, if I have to go across town." Jade ignored the prodding. "I've still got stuff to do back at the office." She hopped off the table and grabbed her clothes and the prescription the doctor held out. "Thanks, Dr. Dodie."

He stood and patted her arm on his way out. "Good seeing you, my friend. I'll call you when I get the results of the stress test. Okay?"

"Right," Jade sighed resignedly. "On my way."


"Hey, Mari." Tori slipped in the door and gave the older woman a smile.

The secretary looked up from her task. "Victoria… vem ca," Mariela said, motioning for Tori to come closer in Portuguese, and patted the chair next to her desk. "What have you been doing? I heard two people in the lunchroom saying very lovely things about you."

Tori obligingly dropped into the chair. It had taken a day or two of them gingerly feeling each other out, but she was certain now that she and Mariela were going to like each other. Apparently, Mariela had felt Jade needed help for quite some time, but she resented the usual parade of applicants who tended to treat the secretary as… well, like a secretary.

Tori had alternatively taken her cue from Jade and accorded the older woman a high degree of respect, deferring to her whenever possible, like a good Latina girl. Her upbringing allowed her to the respect due to the older woman.

"Oh… this and that… trying to get some of my worklist done. You know," she smiled. "Anything hot you need taken care of with the boss out of the office?"

Mariela rolled her eyes. "When is there never hot things?" She handed Tori a folder. "You might want to take a look at this. Customer service sent it over and put it right on my desk."

"Okay," Tori said, taking it and glancing around. "Is she coming back today?" she asked, signaling to Jade's closed door.

Mariela looked around as well, though they were both alone. "Si… she is supposed to, but she is at the doctor's."

Brown eyes widened a little. "Just a check-up, or…"

The secretary hesitated, torn between her knowledge of Jade's intensely private nature and her need to share her concerns. "It's the headaches. She gets them so bad. She went to have them checked out," she finally said. "But, shhhh… she doesn't like to talk about it."

"Mm…" Tori said with a slow nod. "Yeah, I noticed she takes a lot of Tylenol… but her job is enough to give a rock a headache."

Mariela sighed. "It's so good that you're here. It's terrible the way they expect so much from her."

They both jumped a little as the door opened, and Jade slid inside, giving them both a look of mild surprise. "Afternoon," she muttered as she walked through the outer office and pushed her own door open. "Anything going on?"

Tori and Mariela exchanged apprehensive glances. Jade's demeanor was quiet and grim, and her blue eyes lacked their customary sparkle. "Um…" Tori stood up and held up the file. "Just some stuff from customer service… I was going to take care of it."

Jade regarded her for a moment, wrestling with her conscience, then gave the Latina woman a nod. "Good." She turned and went into her office, putting her briefcase down and dropping into her chair. Instead of glancing at her monitor, she turned her seat and gazed out of the window, watching the slow drift of clouds across the horizon in the west.

The stress test had shaken her up. Not because she'd felt bad while she was doing it… she hadn't. But the medical professionals had clustered over the monitor displays, giving her worried looks the entire time. She'd been on the treadmill. The results had disappeared moments after she'd finished, to be looked at by a specialist, according to the pleasant young nurse who had patiently taken off the instrument leads they had stuck to her.

Jade felt unnerved, and anxiety gripped her chest. She hated the uncertainty most of all. What would they find? If they did find something… what would she do?

A soft knock made her look around. "Yeah?"

The door edged open, and Tori poked her brunette head in. Jade exhaled and lifted a hand, motioning her in. No sense in taking out her nerves on the woman, right?

"Come in."

Tori obeyed, moving across the carpet and settling in the chair across from Jade's desk, the folder clasped in both hands. She looked uncharacteristically nervous. "Uh…" she took a breath. "Everything okay?"

Jade spared her a rueful smile. "Does everyone in the building know where I went?"

"No… Just us, I guess," Tori replied, obviously referring to herself and Mariela. "Don't be mad at Mari for telling me… she's just worried about you." Caught between annoyance and embarrassment, Jade compromised by rolling her eyes. "Just… forget I asked. I think the whole rampage thing is going to work out… infrastructure was able to grab a server for their graphics storage on time."

"Good… I was afraid they'd screwed that one up past redemption," Jade said, grateful for the reprieve. "Did you sit on them until they finished it?"

"Not exactly…" Tori said with a sheepish smirk. "I kind of just talked around the problem, got each department to agree to some concessions and voila!"

"Good work," Jade said then hesitated. "Tori?"

Brown eyes lifted and met the big blue eyes which were filled with vulnerability. "I'm fine, thank you for asking."

Tori blinked. "I know you don't like people getting into your personal business," she stated softly. "I didn't mean to intrude or anything… I'm glad everything's alright."

Jade felt a quiet regret at the other woman's apology. "I… um… I don't mind - not if it's Mari… or if it's you. I just don't like the entire company involved," she gave Tori a rueful smile. "You'd be surprised at what passes for juicy gossip around here."

"Ah." Tori nodded in relieved understanding. "I got you, so if anyone suspected you were sick, they'd come for your head."

"Right," Jade stated with a smirk.

"Jade, that sucks."

That got her another rueful grin. "What can I say? I don't disagree, and I'm not one for idle chatter myself, but it's a fact of life here."

Tori pressed her lips together and nodded. "I understand." she paused and looked up, studying Jade's half-shadowed face. "Anyway, I'm glad things are okay," she said with the faintest hint of a question in her tone.

Jade leaned forward and rested her arms on her desk. "Mostly," she admitted. "I basically got told I should take a vacation and not work so hard." She shrugged. "Like always." She tucked the memory of the stress test away, deciding her assistant didn't need to know that bit of information- at least not until something was confirmed to be wrong. After that…

Jade didn't want to think about it after that. "I got some drugs for the headaches, and that was it."

Tori absorbed that. "So… when was the last time you took a vacation?" she asked curiously. "I know mine was a while ago. So much stuff was going on… but I went over to Catalina Island a few months ago." It had been a fun excursion. She and a few of the folks from Buzz had rented a small cabin on the west coast of Catalina and spent some time bumming around the island.

Jade concentrated. "Um… I think mine was Sundance… I was supposed to go skiing, but I mainly just hung out at the festival," she recalled and chuckled softly. "I finally got on the slopes the last day, and almost killed myself."

Tori chuckled with her. "I've been skiing a bunch of times. I'm not that good at it either," the Latina confessed with a smile. "I ran into a rabbit my last time and went head over heels… Ended up with a broken wrist."

"Ouch," Jade laughed softly.

"So… are you going to take the doctor's advice?" Tori inquired. "Take a vacation, I mean?"

Jade looked up. "You trying to get rid of me?" Her tone was light, but wary.

"No," Tori answered very seriously. "I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get a machine gun mounted on my desk in time." She held up her hands.

She couldn't help it, Jade burst into laughter, leaning back and feeling her whole body relax from the day's tension. "Oh god. Thank you. I needed that," she complimented. "But no automatic weapons in California, Tori… It's not an open Carry state."

The two of them laughed.

"Listen… I've got to go to the Life Sim offices for a quick meeting. I think you should come along so I can introduce you to the guys down there."

"Okay," Tori agreed amiably, somewhat tickled at being able to make Jade laugh. "Sounds good to me… and it's on my way home, practically any way."

Jade nodded and moved to stand. She paused. "Hey... we could try that Thai restaurant after the meeting, it's right by there. I didn't get any lunch so…" Jade felt a little awkward asking for her assistant's company but relaxed when she saw Tori's eyes light up.

"Sure!" The other woman agreed enthusiastically. She knew she wanted to explore more of the city with Jade, and was happy to have an opportunity to do so. "I've been waiting for a chance. None of my friends like Thai, so it was either wait around for someone who did, or go by myself… I hate going alone."

Jade glanced at her hands. "I've gotten used to it over the years," she commented lightly. "But I know what you mean." She walked around her desk toward the door. "Okay… well, then let's get going. The meeting is set for five."

"I'll get my things and meet you at the elevator," Tori agreed and trotted out.

The room seemed so much more empty without her assistant in it, Jade mused. She hardly knew why she brought up the restaurant, other than the fact that she was hungry and…

And.

Jade chewed her lip. And you like spending time with the girl, she told herself. Come on, just admit it. She's got a fresh perspective… a whole lot different from yours, and for some reason… she actually likes you. With a soft sigh, she sat on the corner of her desk pondering that for a moment longer, then gathered her things and headed out.


"So… her secretary goes in and gets the cup, then she washes it out with vinegar!" Tori exclaimed, picking up a stuffed shrimp and taking a bite. "Wow… that's great. Where was I? Oh yeah… I'm standing there getting coffee, and I just look at her…"

"Mm.." Jade nibbled on her own shrimp and listened, getting a kick out of stories of things she certainly never saw. "Vinegar, huh? That explains a lot about Vi."

"Right. So I see she doesn't even rinse the cup, then she pours decaf into it. My curiosity finally got the better of me. I asked her what she was doing, and she just kinda laughed." Tori cautiously took a sip of the amber fluid in the wine glass that had just been set before her. "Ooh… That is good."

Jade flashed a smile, glad that she liked it. "I usually prefer sweet reds; they are both sweet and hardy. But this… This plum wine is pretty good." She took a sip. "I keep a bottle of it around the house. Nice to sip out on the dock sometimes."

"I try not to go over my limit much." Tori sighed. "They get me out to a club once in a while though, but I usually regret it in the morning." She took another sip of the plum wine. "Amuwau. So I asked her, and she tells me that she and a few of the other secretaries… Excuse me, administrative assistants… want this other coffee vendor to do the building- or at least the floor. But this one is the building manager's cousin, or brother-in-law or something. So they won't change even though they think the coffee's lousy."

Jade took note of this and bit through another appetizer, which was shrimp stuffed with crabmeat and deep-fried until it was crunchy. It had an orange/honey/ginger dipping sauce she particularly liked. "The coffee does suck; it's why I stop at Jet brew most mornings. But it's not the worst either," she commented.

"That's what I thought too… I mean, it's office coffee, not Jet brew, for Christ's sake." Tori shook her head. "But they've got this scheme. They put the vinegar in her boss's coffee because they know she's got a big mouth and she'll complain all the time. They think if she does that long enough, they'll change the vendors."

"It's a smart strategy, and Vi does complain about that constantly, too. I'm in trouble now. Next time we have a board meeting and she complains about it, I'm going to lose it," she relaxed in the chair. "Why don't they just buy whatever damn coffee they like and bring it in?"

Tori eyed the large plate of white rice and the container of chicken curry that had just been placed down in front of her. "Uh oh. Looks like I have lunch tomorrow out of this."

"Bet you won't," the dark-haired woman stated with a wry grin. "It's got a way of disappearing."

"Yeah, into me…" Tori patted her stomach wryly. "Oh… back to the coffee… Well, that's what I suggested to her. I mean… they've been doing this for three months now, Jade. In that time, they could have hired the CEO of Starbucks as a consultant, you know?"

Jade snickered.

"They looked at me like I was a three-headed dog." The Latina lifted her hands with a shrug. "They said something to the effect of. Not everyone worked for you and got paid the megabucks."

A dark brow lifted, "You're not my administrative assistant," Jade said flatly. "And I pay people what they're worth." Jade gave her managers leeway as to what they will pay the people in their department with the budget allotted, but she wonders how the money is divided by department and made a note to do that later.

Tori blushed slightly, and fiddled with her plate a little, mixing her rice with the fragrant curry on her plate. "I just told them I guess I picked the right boss, then." She lifted her eyes shyly and met Jade's. "And I think that's true, regardless of what I get paid."

Jade was silent for a moment, absorbing the unexpected compliment. "So does that mean I haven't scared you off yet?" Her tone was joking, but there was a serious undercurrent to it.

"I guess that's what it means," Tori replied. "I really like what I'm doing. I'm learning so much." She exhaled and gave Jade a smile. "I like it."

"That's a relief," her boss answered quietly. "As of tonight, you've officially lasted the longest ever of all my assistants. Congratulations." Jade lifted her glass and held it up, letting a quiet, almost wistful smile twist her lips as Tori touched her glass to Jade's. "Wasn't quite what you expected two weeks ago, hmm?"

A small laugh. "No, it sure wasn't. But… I've learned that sometimes things happen for a reason. I think this is one of those times." Tori reflected that toasting her new boss with plum wine over very good curry wasn't what she'd expected either, but she'd take that too.

"No complaints."

Jade was content. She'd made the right choice and events were proving that to the point where even Robbie had made a comment, nudging her in the ribs and complimenting her on Tori's handling of some account or other. "Thought you were picking for looks there, my friend," he said. "Guess I was wrong."

She'd smirked in response. "You're so superficial, Rob. You gotta learn to look beneath the surface." She'd gotten a good employee, and a smart manager, and…

And.

Their eyes met casually, and Jade felt a

gentle warmth in her gut. Good god, I might have even found a friend, scary as that thought is.

"Glad to hear it."

Tori sighed happily and chewed her curry chicken. "So… in this 'us and them,' who exactly is us, Jade?" she wiped her lips. "Because you need so many scorecards at that office. I'm considering coding a form to keep tabs."

Jade almost inhaled a bit of rice. "Don't make me laugh like that… I'll choke," she protested. "Okay, well. Who is us? That's a hard question because everyone has their own agenda. You realize that, right?"

Tori nodded.

"Rob- that's Robert Shapiro- and Cat and I usually team up in our meetings. That frustrates Sales and Marketing because between Finance, Personnel, and Operations, well, they call us Cerberus behind our backs." Jade explained, equating their three-department team to the three-headed dog of Greek mythology.

"Rob and I go way back. We started the company together practically. He said he would take care of the money if I would just create. He was my cheerleader, and when we graduated Stanford, he and I just kept it together."

"Okay, so you, Rob, and Cat are a clique." Jade considered that. "Well, I guess," she shrugged. "We know we can depend on each other- at least in the context of running this company. I know I never have to worry that we are hiring the best, and that my money is mishandled." Jade swallowed her next bite. "Sales and Marketing are our natural adversaries. They try to push boundaries and sell things that overreach our capacity. It's my job not to let them do that."

She took a sip of wine, draining her glass, then motioned for the waiter to refill it. "Rob's number crunchers have to approve all the contracts- so between us, we have a pretty big stick."

"Mmm…" Tori mulled this over, smiling and nodding as the waiter offered to fill her glass. "You have the most clout though; can't you just override everything?"

"Sure… But sometimes I have to listen to them; otherwise, we would sell absolutely nothing. I have to make sure that I don't block all their efforts, but it's a double-edged sword because I have to deliver 100 percent of the time."

"That's a lot of pressure," Tori acknowledged. She ate some of her food then looked at Jade through her lashes. "They say Rob and Cat are lovers… is that true?"

Silence fell as Jade considered how to answer that. "I've never been invited into their bedrooms."

Tori flushed. "Sorry… that was an inappropriate question."

"No. Gossip is a fact of life in a place that size," Jade sighed. "Anytime you have two people who spend a lot of time together, you get that kind of thing spreading around. I've heard the rumors, and I know they're very good friends, but beyond that- who knows?"

"People spend a lot of time wondering," Tori shrugged. "Seems kind of counterproductive to me."

Jade chuckled. "You'd be surprised what's fair game for speculation. For instance, I heard yesterday that there was something going on between Mariela and the night security chief."

"What?" Tori's head jerked up. "Mari is married!"

A faint smirk. "And your point is?" Jade inquired archly. "Seems she was seen talking to him in one of the supply rooms in a very low voice."

Tori laughed… "I was there!" the Latina shook her head. "She was telling him one of the junior clerks was taking reams of paper out of the building."

"See?" Jade chuckled. "It's insidious."

The Latina's face sobered. "Mari would be very hurt to find out people were talking about her in that way," she stated quietly. "She's a very devout woman. And from the way she talks about her husband, I think she really loves him."

Jade smiled. "I think you're right, which is why I told the person who told me about it that if I heard it ever again, I was going to find out who was saying it and fire them on the spot."

Tori stared at her a moment. "You would do that, wouldn't you?"

An impish grin transformed Jade's usually sober face. "No, I really wouldn't just do that, but everyone thinks I would."

The brown eyes across from her gentled into something very like awe. "I guess that's why I don't hear more gossip about you, huh?"

Jade blushed a little under her gaze and dropped her eyes, fiddling with her fork. "The reputation comes in handy sometimes, yes," she admitted. "I tend to be very protective of my staff… those that stay on, anyway… and most people know that," she considered a moment. "And I don't do much to cause gossip… at least I haven't lately."

Tori laughed softly. "Well, I certainly feel safe," she looked up and met pale blue eyes gazing back at her. A faint, not unpleasant shiver ran down her back. "But I'll try not to do anything that gets me talked about either."

"Fair enough," Jade replied quietly, glancing up as the waiter removed their plates and set down a warm platter with tiny Thai doughnuts and sweet dipping sauce in the center of the table. "We didn't…"

"No, it comes with your dinner," the man explained with an accented voice and a bow. They exchanged amused glances, and Jade shrugged. "Thanks," she chuckled a little and picked one up, dipping it in the sauce and tasting it. "Mmm… these are good," she informed the watching Tori.

"I was afraid you were going to say that," Tori sampled one. "The one downside to working for you is that it's dangerous for my waistline… you and all your cookies and things."

Jade stopped and licked her fingers. "What waistline?" The black-clad woman said with a chuckle. "I had to make sure you weren't going to blow away if a sharp wind blew by. My concern is valid and justifiable… if you don't mind me saying so."

Tori was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Uh oh," Jade realized she'd just stepped on a landmine. She almost slapped herself, realizing she knew better than to assume that her view of someone and their view would match.

"Never mind…" she said waving her hand, refusing to voice her opinion that she thought Tori was dangerously thin, since Tori herself didn't have the same opinion.

Tori's brows furrowed. "I don't 'never mind' very well," she stared at her boss, wondering if maybe she had formed her opinion of the woman too soon. "Now I'm curious," she leaned forward a little. "What?"

Jade cursed herself silently, disgusted that she'd backed herself into this particular corner and now she was going to have to talk herself out of it because she really didn't want to hurt Tori's feelings. "Uh…" she took a breath. "Listen, it's just my opinion and it doesn't count, but I think

you should maybe consider not starving yourself quite so much," she reached over and took Tori's hand, turning it over and putting a thumb against the prominent bones in her wrist. "It's probably why you're so cold all the time."

It took Tori several seconds before she could sort through the little speech, mostly because Jade was touching her and damn she wanted to wrap herself in the comfort that other woman was giving her. She looked up and met Jade's pale eyes.

"Your opinion counts," she said softly. "And you're probably right. I just get a lot of flack from my folks about my weight, and it's easier not to have to put up with that."

Jade released Tori's hand, instinct telling her there was more to the story about realizing it invaded personal boundaries and she had no right to cross. "Well… It's just a thought," she tried to ease the tension that formed. "And maybe I can come up with some healthier snacks upstairs- broccoli brownies or something."

Tori let out a surprised chuckle. "I bet you hate broccoli."

Her eyes twinkled.

A hint of a mischievous look danced across Jade's face. "I quit eating them when I found out that we were trying to preserve trees as a kid. I'm doing my part to thwart deforestation." She shrugged. "So I just never touch the stuff."

The Latina relaxed, glad the conversation had led to different areas. "Were your parents hippies or something?"

Jade shrugged. "I guess you could say my mom is… but she's a little too young for that; she's in her late fifties," Jade, for her part, finished off the doughnuts as she smiled inwardly. My opinion counts, huh? If you knew where my thoughts went, I don't think you'd like me so much, lady. And your parents are in Connecticut, why do they have so much control over what you do? Live your life. "Hey, thanks for indulging my whims and coming here. This place is one of my favorites."

Tori sat back with her wine glass and finished it off thoughtfully. "Yeah… it really is good. I think I can mark it down as a new favorite."

Jade considered for a moment, then interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. "Well, anytime you can't find somebody else to come, cover her with, give me a call."

A quiet smile crossed the Latina's face. "That's a deal."


Tori mused quietly about her evening as she changed out of her work clothes and into a red cami and shorts. She glanced up and sighed as a soft knock sounded. "Come in."

Andre bounded in and put his hands on his hips. "Where have you been, young lady! I saw you and the gorgon leave The Life Sim building hours ago. Don't tell me she has you working late already. I'm telling you, Tor, you can't let her rope you into those kinds of hours." The dread-headed man shook a finger at her playfully.

"Not exactly," Tori chuckled, pulling down her bike. "I mean… we went to the Thai place off the 101. I asked you to come with me and you had declined. She likes Thai food, and I wasn't about to say no."

"They sauté cats, y'know," Andre stated, plopping down on the couch.

"Don't be hateful, I would hate to cancel you for being such an asshole," Tori stated.

Andre laughed. "Okay okay… yeah, I take it back."

"I had the best curry I've ever tasted," Tori continued, and some crab-stuffed shrimp, and a cool dessert of doughnuts. So you know we're going a little further this time."

"Hm… so… should I be jealous? Sounds to me like you got a new best friend at work. Or are you using Jade as an excuse to see a new boytoy. What's his name?" Andre teased. "How'd you con him into trying Thai food?"

Tori stopped and rested her hands on her knee before looking up. "Uh.. It's her… and it's Jade, and she didn't need any conning. She's a foodie."

Andre's jaw dropped. "You mean you were serious about having dinner with your boss again? If I didn't know you better I'd be thinking you were doing some major ass-kissing."

"Ha! You're just mad because I found someone who'll finally eat great food with me," Tori said, standing up and walking her bike out of the apartment. "Besides… she's kinda fun."

The dark-skinned man slapped his hand to his temple. "I didn't hear that." He plugged both ears. "I'm not listening to you tell me that the fire-breathing dragon is 'fun', Tori. This is the bitch who was going to scrap Buzz Media two weeks ago, remember?"

"Don't call her that," Tori bristled unexpectedly. "She didn't know how to absorb the costs of the purchase. She figured it out."

"I can't believe you are sitting there defending her."

"It's different now, Dre. I understand a lot more about what was going on behind the decisions she was making. She's not a bad person. I mean, you work for her too… why don't you leave West Trek?"

"Because I joined the Life Sim team from being a modder out here and playing that game until she freaking absorbed it. I am not leaving my game for her to ruin," Andre stated.

"Has there ever been any directive coming from operations as to how any game is created?" Tori asked, standing her bike up next to her on the sidewalk and facing her friend with her arms folded in front of her.

"Well, no… but you never know when she might change her mind," he said. "And you are telling me that it's okay for her to fire everyone now."

"What? That never came out of my mouth!" Tori stated. "Understanding what she is doing is not the same thing as agreeing with that aggressive form of assimilation. It's just that I can take what she does separately from who she is."

Andre shook his head. "You are confusing the shit out of me," he stated.

"Then grab your bike and come on, man," Tori said as he walked over to get his bike and she mounted hers. "Look, it's simple. I don't like what she does. That's why I decided to try and join her department- maybe I can get her to change her mind on things. But I do like who she is. I like her as a person- regardless of what she does at work. Do you understand?"

Her friend mounted his bike. "I understand she has charmed the hell out of you, that's for sure," he said, shaking his head. "Just…. Tor, be careful okay? I don't want to see you throw yourself into this job only to have it backfire on you and have her screw you over."

She wouldn't do that. The words came naturally to her lips without thought, but Tori clamped her jaw shut on them, realizing it wasn't something she could easily explain knowing. "I'll be careful. I know sometimes things can get ugly, especially at the level she is at. Thanks for being concerned about me."

"Hmph," Andre grumbled. "Someone's got to be." He followed Tori down the hill. "So… how's she treating you up there, anyway?"

The Latina pedaled into an easy rhythm, heading down the paved street. "Pretty good, really… She keeps sabotaging me with cookies. She thinks I don't weigh enough." She gave Andre a wry look. "We share a lot of the same tastes in goodies." Tori figured Andre would at least approve of that.

"Okay, she gets a point then," he paused. "But only one. I've been telling you that for months."

"Yeah, yeah," the Latina said rolling her eyes. "Come on, I'll race you up this next hill," then took off like a shot.