Debate truly pissed me off...so I needed a bright spot. I hope you enjoy.~S.K.
Thirteen
They were both a little nervous, and a little tongue-tied, Jade realized, as they sat quietly, her stretched out on the couch with Chino on her stomach, and him on the love seat, his back to the window and his face thrown into the shadows by his hoodie. Well, neither of them were real conversationalists… but someone had to start things. "You.. have a place to stay?" She asked, quietly, nursing a tall glass of chocolate milk.
"Couple of em." Her father answered. "This place, that place.. you know." He regarded her in silence for a moment. "I do a few little things here and there.. they gave me this card.. " He pulled a small folder from his waist pocket and displayed an innocuous-looking silver plate that looked like a credit card. "I just put everything on that.. they take care of it."
Jade nodded slowly. "Because of mom?" She hazarded a guess, remembering the sometimes obscure, sometimes unfathomable ways of the government.
"Yeap." He tucked the folder away. "She's got my pension.. the benefits...that's how I want it. They take care of me." His voice seemed to end that line of questioning.
All right, round two. Ding ding. Jade nodded again, playing with one of Chino's soft ears. Then she looked up and studied his face, regarding the scars that twisted the flesh into an almost unrecognizable mask thoughtfully. "What happened?" She paused. "If you can say." Then she just waited.
He thought for a long time. "Just a gig that went bad." he finally said, almost emotionlessly. "We went in to check out some stuff we'd heard about a chemical weapon... it was a setup... three guys died, and I ended up wishing I'd been one of 'em."
Jade considered that. Talking about emotions and feelings was something they were both just plain bad at, and she knew it, but.. "I'm only going to say this one time." She stated, softly. "Mom wouldn't give a damn about what you look like."
He studied his hands in the silence. "I know that." He admitted, falling silent for a bit. "She didn't want me to go this time." He finally added quietly.
"I remember." Jade quietly exhaled. "But I thought... " They'd worked things out.. at least, that was how it had appeared to Jade… her mother was upset, yes, but supportive as always.
"Yeap, well... she told me if I went, she wouldn't be there when I got back," James replied, flatly. "Said that was my choice." He blinked a few times, his eyes moving restlessly in his scarred face.
Jade was truly shocked. "She wouldn't have left you."
Pained blue orbs lifted to hers. "Wasn't her leaving... it was me, the way she looked at it." He swallowed. 'She was right, rugrat.. it was my choice... and I chose to go." He took a breath. "Thought I could work things out when I got back. "
Jade absorbed it. "She was just trying to get you to stay." She finally said. "She was afraid for you.. she was afraid of losing you." She protested. "She would have been there when you got back, and you know it."
His eyes closed. "I like to think that." His voice was quiet and sad. "It's this little game I play with my head.. keeps me from going nuts and just taking a dive off a bridge somewhere." His voice was slightly ragged.
"Dad.. why don't you call her?" Jade leaned forward, willing him to listen. "You can go home… she'd understand… I know it."
A very tired sigh. "I can't." He answered softly. "Cause then I'd know... y'see? And if she didn't...if she meant that, or if she... " An agonizing pause. "I can't face it, Jade...I can't live with that.. you understand me?" He pleaded softly. "I can't face knowing that she doesn't.." He just stopped, his throat working audibly.
Jade let out her held breath in a pained trickle. "Oh, daddy." She murmured.
He sighed. "Doesn't make much sense to you, I reckon." He rubbed an impatient hand over his eyes. "Damn."
She gazed at him in bleak understanding. "Yes, it does."
James absorbed this for a long, pensive moment, then he looked up at his daughter. "Somebody hurt my little girl?" A hint of cool danger entered his voice. He waited a beat, watching her jaw clench and relax.
Jade shook her head in long-remembered pain. "Water under the bridge, daddy…let's just say I went after what you and mom had, and I thought I'd found it." She told him quietly. "And I was wrong." Her first time.. all bright-eyed, and bushy tailed.. and so sure she'd put her heart in the right place.
Her senior year in college, and everything had looked wonderful… good grades, good prospects in the company she'd been working for then for four years, and a delirious, exciting dive into love that had left her giddy, and sure she'd found her one and only.
Yeah.
Four months of happiness, followed by two of hell as it all unraveled, and her nightmares were filled with a mocking voice that told her just how inadequate she was. She had no real recollection of even graduating, though brute, raw talent, and intelligence had allowed her to maintain an honors grade level. "You're an uncultured, crude, mediocre person who'll spend their whole life as a middle manager dreaming about would have beens."
And a raw, newly exposed part of her had almost believed that.
A nightmare of depression, alcohol, and hopelessness had followed that, leading to a night under a bridge, a gun, and a moment of self-hatred so intense she could still feel it.
She still didn't know what had stopped her. Only that she'd woken up under the bridge the next morning, looked out onto a new day, and decided she wasn't quite finished with living yet.
There was revenge to be had.
It had taken a few years, but she'd felt oh, so very satisfied when all the pieces had fallen into place, and the company had acquired a prestigious consulting firm. And newly made regional manager Jade West had wielded the decision knife and neatly sliced off the design and research wing, calling it…
Mediocre.
Headed up by her former lover.
Jade had signed the termination papers personally, and she'd enjoyed it immensely. Just like she had the expression on Shari's face when she handed them over.
Along with her card.
Have a nice day. But she didn't stop there, did she? She supposed she ought to Thank Shari for her Billions… but screw her.
"I… kinda gave up on it after that." Jade dismissed her memories.
"Um." Her father grunted. "Till now." He glanced up shrewdly at her. "Cause I don't know how you feel about her, but that little brown eyed girl lost her mind, gone for you, rugrat."
Jade smiled, wistfully. "Until now." She acknowledged. "When I met Tori, I realized I finally really had found the real thing." Her eyes found her father's. "So I do understand, daddy."
He walked over and sat down next to her, and they regarded each other in comfortable silence. There was another question she had in her mind. Now that she knew he was here and he had been watching her for months. "At the Pier… Couple Days after Thanksgiving…"
"That was me." He answered.
Jade blinked. "Can you still do that?"
"Weren't nothing I wouldn't do to help you and Tori." He answered "I was fixing to come say Hello… and, That man had that gun pointed at Mah Kid's head. And that gal defending you with all her body. She became family to me that day."
"Thank you." Was all Jade could say.
The phone buzzed, for the thousandth time it seemed, and Tori looked up at it, as she rested her head on one hand. "No, no, I don't know, no, it's not ready yet, I have no idea, no, she didn't tell me, no, and no." She muttered, then pressed it. "Operations, Vega."
"Hi."
It was like a tongue full of ambrosia. Tori found a smile working its way onto her face before the syllables even faded and she let out a soft sigh. "You have no idea how good it feels to hear a friendly voice."
"Mm.. rough, huh?" Jade rumbled softly through the speaker. "How's it going?"
"Sucks." Tori rubbed her eyes. "I feel like I've been dragged behind a dump truck hauling chicken poop all day." She replied. "Alastair is here…he's been in meetings with Cat, and the others for a couple of hours." She paused. "How are you feeling?"
"Eh," Jade answered. "I slept late.. felt washed out all day. Dad and I talked for a while.. Then we had some lunch… Now we're watching Crocodile Hunter." She hesitated. "Thanks.. by the way.. for asking him to stick around."
Tori smiled and tapped a pencil against her upper lip. "Thought you might like the company." She replied quietly, then glanced up as her phone buzzed. "Hold on a minute. " She put Jade on hold and picked up her other line. "Operations."
"Ms. Vega." Alistair's Voice sounded quiet and rather grim.
"Yes, that's me," Tori answered, feeling her stomach drop. "What can I do for you?"
"We're having a meeting in the executive conference room.. could you come over, please?"
"Sure," Tori replied evenly. "Be right there." She hung up and then took a breath before she picked up the other line. 'Hi."
"Bad news?" Jade inquired.
"Don't know… that was Alastair… they want me up in the big conference room," Tori told her. "Look.. the worst they could do is fire me, Jade… and like… whoop, you know?" She shook her head a little. "After today, I'd probably thank him."
"Mm." Jade considered that. "Relax, be honest, don't let him rattle you." She instructed Tori gently. "Keep your head up.. you've only ever done good for the company, Tori."
She felt herself calm at the words. "All right... I think I can do that." She answered. "But if he or anyone else starts trashing you, they're toast."
A soft chuckle answered her. "That's my Tori."
The Latina grinned. "You bet your boots I am." She stood up and straightened her collar, then donned her jacket. "Wish me luck." She sighed. "I'll call you one way or the other when I get out of there."
"Good luck," Jade answered, obediently. "I'm with you."
Brown eyes twinkled gently in the afternoon sunlight. "I know." She replied. "Talk to you later." She hung up and ran a hand through her hair. "All right…let's go."
It was a short walk to the conference room, and she gathered her wits, along with the knowledge of Jade's confidence in her as she reached the door, and knocked lightly on it.
"Come." The voice inside sounded, and she pushed the handle down, pulling the door towards her and walking inside, to a room where the hostility was so thick, it was almost like a smoke pall. Jose, Elle, and Steve were there, as was Cat, and of course, Alastair. Tori lifted her chin a bit, then walked across the carpet to the end chair, directly across from the CEO, resting her hands on the back of it and regarding them coolly.
"Sit down, Ms. Vega," Alastair told her, courteously, his eyes regarding her with interest.
Tori took the end chair, the one Jade usually sat in, and settled into it, folding her hands on the table and cocking her head in a listening attitude.
She waited, patiently. Make them talk first, Jade had advised her. Let them lay their end on the line before you do.
"Well. We've got quite a mess here." Alastair cleared his throat and started.
"Yes, we do." Tori agreed mildly. "I've done pretty much all I can, considering the circumstances."
'That's bullshit!" Steve stood up. "You haven't done squat except for screw things.."
"Shut up." Tori snapped at him. "You clueless, spineless, useless piece of wannabee macho pissant." She caught Alastair's gray eyebrow rising across the table, and she stood up, feeling the blood pump through her. "I haven't seen a more useless collection of people in my life."
"Hey, you can't." Jose stood and challenged her.
"Sure I can," Tori responded hotly. "You people couldn't find your way out of a paper bag unless Jade wrote directions on the inside of it, and you've got the balls to be in here criticizing a situation that's your DAMN FAULT." Her voice rose to a yell, all the anger she'd been holding in for two days boiling out.
"We didn't ask her to quit!" Jose responded.
"Oh, but is that what you were after?" Tori countered, leaning forward on her hands. "Or else why hire someone with the specific intent to go against her?" She pointed at Steve, who was seething at his side. "Someone who had written instructions from YOU" She pointed at Jose. "To "find that bitch's weak spot and put a knife into it.".. wasn't that the quote?"
Silence.
"Well. You got what you wanted." Tori continued. "And now the problem is everyone knows the only thing that kept the damn company running was her. You sure can't." A long pause. "I can't… after one day, I can't imagine how in the hell she managed to put up with all this for so long."
Jose stared at Cat, who was chewing on a pencil. " You're going to let her get away with that?"
The Personnel VP shrugged. "EEOC, Jose.. I let Mr. Fabricini get away with saying worse about Jade to her face… I have no leg to stand on to stop Ms. Vega from speaking her mind."
"That's just because you and she are thick as thieves... " Elle stated hotly. "No wonder we can't get anything done…"
"Excuse me." Alastair barked.
Everyone looked at him in silence. "Thank you." He adjusted his tie. "I would like everyone to excuse themselves except for Ms. Vega." He paused. "Now."
In silence they filed out, avoiding Tori's gaze except for Cat, who patted her shoulder as she passed.
The sound of the door closing behind them sounded unbelievably loud to Tori, but she didn't react to it, sitting down instead and folding her hands on the table.
Alastair regarded her across the entire length of the conference table, then he stood up and walked around to where she was, perching on the edge of the wooden surface and crossing his arms over his chest. "That was gross insubordination, Ms. Vega." He remarked coolly.
"I know," Tori replied, looking up at him. "I hear that runs in my department."
Alastair Rosenthal had grayish-blue eyes, almost as striking as Jade's. Right now, they were regarding her with the faintest hint of… something. "Your former boss was not known for being a team player."
Former. Tori felt a little sad. "No... it's just that she refuses to play on a losing team." She replied.
He nodded a little. "I have her position to fill, Ms. Vega… you're smart, you're sharp... I think you'd do well in it."
Tori gazed at him. "Respectfully, sir… I wouldn't work for someone who allowed someone like her leave without just cause."
He cocked his head. "I believe that's the most politely put 'kiss my ass' I've ever heard, Ms. Vega," Alastair remarked. "So you don't want the job? It comes with a nice raise.. good perks.. a big advancement for someone your age and experience level."
The brown eyes glinted dangerously. "I guess I didn't explain myself." Tori cleared her throat. "Kiss my ass." She paused. "Sir."
The Chairman rubbed his jaw, then got up off the desk and pulled the chair next to her out, sitting down in it so they were knee to knee. "You know, Ms. Vega… when you first got brought on board, I thought Jade was nuts." He twiddled his fingers together. 'I had no idea what she was up to, but I let her go ahead with it because I trust her judgment." He paused reflectively. "She's earned that trust."
Tori remained quiet, merely watching his face intently.
"You think you can get me an audience with her?" Now the blue-gray eyes took on the faintest hint of a twinkle.
The brunette glanced down at the table, hiding a smile, then looked up. "Yes... I can do that." She answered softly. "She's at home."
Alastair smiled at her. "Good."
Tori took a breath. "That was a test, wasn't it?" She hazarded warily. "Offering me her job?"
The eyes twinkled visibly now.
"Did I pass?" She dared.
"Like a champ." He replied, with a chuckle. "You've proven a true disciple of Jade, Ms. Vega…You know who the real boss is, and the mistake is attempting to displace her. This company is her brainchild. I am only the chairman because she didn't want to leave Operations. But we can't run the company without her."
Tori exhaled. "Sorry... It's been a really long day." She admitted, as she got up and walked across to where a phone rested on a wall side credenza. "Hang on." She dialed a number, unsurprised when it was picked up before it even rang once. "Hi."
"Hey." Jade's voice was worried. "Everything okay?"
"I think so," Tori told her, in a low voice. "Alastair wants to come see you."
"Ah." Her lover mulled this over. "Yeah.. sure.. why not?" She replied. "If you can bring him over then run Dad back over to Castro…give us a few minutes to duke it out."
"Gotcha." Tori felt a quiet sense of relief flood over her. "See you in a few." She hung up and returned to the conference table. "I'll give you a ride over there if you want." She told the Chairman.
"Best offer I've had all day," Alastair replied, cheerfully. "Let's go."
Jade put the phone down and glanced at her father. "Well." She scrubbed her face. "I guess I'd better go take a shower and put some clothes on… One of my Board Members is coming over."
James put his hands behind his head and stretched out his body, stiff from a long afternoon of crocodile watching. "He all right?"
"More or less.. yeah." Jade hoisted herself to her feet and grabbed her crutches, moving towards her bedroom. "Be right back."
Her father scratched Chino's head and crossed his ankles. "Be careful, now, Gigi.. don't be slipping up in there."
The dark-haired woman stopped, unseen, at the doorway and gazed at him with quiet affection. Then she shook her head and moved into the bathroom, stripping off her pajamas and starting the water running. She waited for a moment as she removed the leg brace, then carefully moved into the stall shower. Her leg hurt a little, but nothing like it had the other day, and she was cautiously optimistic as she limped under the warm water.
It felt great. She gingerly scrubbed her body, avoiding the scratches from the trip, and carefully washed her hair around the still-tender bump above her ear. It seemed to have gone down, though, and she stood under the force of the water for several minutes, just letting the pressure ease some of the tension out of her.
Then she reluctantly shut the water off, and stepped out of the shower, grabbing one of the long, fluffy beach towels she kept in the bathroom for drying off. She wrapped it around her, then took a second and roughly dried her hair before she exited the bathroom and moved gingerly through the bedroom without her crutches.
Hmm. She tested the leg cautiously, pleased with the response. Not bad. She considered, then shrugged and pulled on a comfy Navy hoodie and a pair of jeans, cursory glance in the mirror. "Gonna have to do." She made a wry face at herself, running a brush through her hair quickly. Amazed at Tori's coming into her life had meant a gradual infusion of color. Maybe she'd go back to placing a few pieces of color in her hair like she used to when she was a kid. She smirks. "That would be something."
"Hey, Gigi?" Her father called from the other room.
"Yeah?" She limped to the door and went through it, finding him near the sliding glass doors. "What's up?"
He turned. "Hey.. where's them damn crutches?"
"In the room... it's okay. Leg feels a lot better." Jade remarked, putting a hand against the glass.
"Uh-huh." He sounded skeptical. "I'd believe you 'cept that if it were me saying that, I'd be lying a blue streak."
Jade glanced at him, then chuckled wryly, waggling her hand. "It hurts, but my back is killing me from using those damn things.. I need a break." She admitted. "I'm gonna go sit down anyway… did you want to show me something?"
James seemed nervous all of a sudden. "Naw.. well... " He cleared his throat. "You still go out there?" His head indicated the sea.
Jade nodded. "I stopped for a while." She admitted quietly. "But Tori loves it… she got certified and we go out almost every weekend."
"Good fer her." James stated.
A soft chuckle. "She's got me back involved in a lot of things..." The dark-haired woman sighed. "I was… " She hesitated. "Considering getting back into competition."
Her father's eyes lit up. "Were ya?" He studied her seriously. "Looks like you could." He poked her experimentally. "Better'n some of the pups they sent out with me the last time, I tell ya that."
Jade laughed, a touch embarrassed. "Yeah... I kept that up… " She murmured. "You're responsible for that…I always thought you'd be disappointed if I hadn't."
James remained silent for a moment, then he put a gentle hand on her arm. "Rugrat, I could never be disappointed with you." His voice was sincere. "Doesn't matter what you ended up doing… who you ended up being.. you're my kid, and ain't nothing's gonna ever change that."
Jade found herself unable to answer, and she swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Nuff of that mushy stuff." James cleared his throat. "You go back into that stuff, you let me know, hear?" He fumbled a white card from his pocket and handed it to her. "That'll get me."
"You got a cell?" Jade smiled at it, and tucked it into her shirt pocket. Then she limped over to her briefcase, resting on a chair nearby, and removed one of her own cards. She scribbled the home phone at the house on the back and handed it to him. "Fair's fair." She told him. "Give us a call sometimes."
He stared at the card, turning it over in his fingers. Then he tucked it away carefully without a word.
They both heard the sound of a car outside. "Guess that's them," Jade stated quietly. "Thanks for sticking around today."
"You can thank the kumquat for that… was her idea," James mumbled. "Well.. I'll go round back and wait for her… you take care of yourself, you hear, rugrat?"
Jade hugged him, feeling him tense for a moment, then relaxed and returned the hug. "I love you, daddy." She whispered. "I missed you."
He took a shaky breath and patted her side. "Same here." He broke off and cleared his throat. "Be good." He gave her arm another pat, then slipped out the back door and into the darkness...
Jade watched until his shadow blended into the foliage, not turning until she heard footsteps outside the front door.
Tori parked the Spyder Convertible next to Jade's Volvo and glanced at her passenger. Alastair had been looking around with great interest, and it gave her a chance to study him in return. He was in his sixties, of medium height and stocky, with gray hair and intelligent eyes. He had a round face with a snub nose and thick eyebrows, which moved her way as he turned to address her.
"Nice place." He'd chatted amiably about the area as they drove, avoiding any mention of work.
Tori nodded. "Okay… well, This is the house, so.. " She opened the door and got out, waiting for him to join her before she led the way down the walk and up the stairs. As she approached the door she hesitated, lifting her hand to knock, then made a quiet decision and let her fingers drop to the keypad instead, keying in her code and unlocking the door.
Alastair made no comment.
"After you." The brunette opened the door and held it, gesturing with the other hand. A quick peek inside showed her Jade leaning casually against the back of the loveseat, regarding them. There was no sign of James, but she hadn't expected there to be. "Hi."
Jade's eyes flicked to hers, and she gave her a tiny wink. "Hi." Then her attention turned to Alastair. "Hello, Alastair… c'mon in."
Tori lifted a hand and moved a step back. "Later."
Jade lifted a hand in response, and watched the door close behind her lover, then she turned her gaze on her chairman.
They regarded each other in silence for a moment, and then Jade exhaled and stood up. "Siddown.. you want a drink?"
"I think I need one," Alastair replied wryly, as he took the invitation and settled on the couch, leaning back and glancing around. "Nice place, Jade."
The dark-haired woman nodded. "Thanks." She limped over to the cabinet against the wall and took out a bottle, pulling the top off and pouring a portion of honey golden liquor into two glasses. Then she put the top back on and made her way back, handing Alastair his, and settling in the easy chair across from him.
"So." He took a sip, eyebrows raising at the taste. "Very nice." He added approvingly.
"Thought I remembered you liked scotch," Jade commented, taking a sip of her own glass. The smooth twenty-year-old alcohol burned warmly on the way down.
"That I do." Alastair agreed. "That I do." He looked around. "You know, Jade… not that I spent a whole lot of time thinking about it, but I never pictured you in a place like this." His eyes fell on the spacescape. "High-tech apartment in a high rise off Jones, sure.. but.."
Jade smiled briefly. "I like my privacy… A family member was vacating and moving back to the East Coast and sold it to me."
An awkward silence fell.
"So," Alastair said again. "Where do we go from here, Jade?" He sipped his scotch and watched her over the rim of his glass. "I think you probably realize I've got someone real hefty sitting on that resignation request of yours."
Jade considered that. "Flattering." She commented briefly.
"Let's not bullshit each other," Alastair advised her. "We both know I consider you an essential part of West Trek. Other than the fact that it is yours, you run operations better than any of us could. it would kill me to lose you at the helm." He paused. "Especially over something as ridiculous as this." He waited, but she didn't comment. "So what really happened here, Jade? I've heard Cat's side, and Jose's side, and I just don't get it. What made you up and decide to throw up your hands and walk out?"
Jade regarded him in silence for a moment, then she exhaled. "Good question." She paused and gave a little shake of her head. "It's gotten to the point in the last month where I've been attacked more by my own company than any of our competitors... and maybe I started to wonder what in the hell I was doing here."
Alastair thought about that, sipping his drink slowly. "You're a high profile kinda gal, Jade… you've always attracted slings and arrows, you know that." He ventured. "Was this guy really that much of a needle in your shorts?"
A shrug. "Maybe." Jade regarded the table. "Maybe because it was personal, not professional.. maybe because I knew a colleague had brought him in deliberately to attack me… " She shifted the glass in her hands. "But I think I could have dealt with that."
Alastair nodded twice. "But?"
"But he went after my people," Jade concluded. "And I'd just had enough." She looked up at Alastair. "I'd had enough of being the whore bitch from hell until you needed something."
Alastair leaned forward. "Jade, the fact that most of the operation is at a complete standstill, and I have over fifty empty desks should tell you not everyone feels that way." He replied, seriously. "And I think you know that I don't feel that way either, or I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I'd be home in New York, watching a ball game, considering who I was going to promote to VP Ops."
Jade cleared her throat a little. "I should have called you first." She admitted. "I owed you that."
A tiny smile crossed Alastair's face. "An apology from Jade West.. thank god I'm sitting down." He kidded her gently. "But I'm glad I came anyway… just to see things first hand." He leaned back."I think that's a first."
She studied her clasped hands "Probably," she agreed in a mild tone.
Alastair watched her for a minute. "For that matter, I think I owe you an apology," He said. "The next time I'll eat the cost and save myself a boatload of heartache."
Jade leaned back and relaxed a bit. "You know what the worst part was, Alastair?" He shook his head. "I've worked with you for years," Jade said. "And I didn't even get a phone call asking me what was happening before we were all packed up like little kids off to camp."
Alastair considered that in silence for a while, his bushy brows contracting. "Well…" he finally said. "Y'know I just didn't think it was that big a deal, to be honest." He answered searching her face. "Knee jerk actually. I think I would have called if I'd really put two cents into what he was pitching." It would have saved me a flight. I think."
Jade hesitated then she half shrugged. "Definitely."
"But I'm glad I came anyway, just to see things first hand." He leaned back. "The guard rails we placed on you to safeguard a company you only cared to pull the strings off and not run are long due for a restructure." He said looking at his true boss. "You have problems here, I'll grant you. And I wanted to meet this mysterious assistant of yours who seems to be causing problems far out of proportion to her size."
"She doesn't cause problems." Jade snapped. "She solves them."
Alastair chuckled softly. "I realize that… it's why I offered her your job."
It took all Jade's self-control to keep a look of mild interest on her face and to not tense up. "And?" She asked, forcing a lazy smile onto her face. "She'd be good at it."
The chairman watched her intently, then he nodded a little. "That's what I told her.. and I got told to kiss her ass." He remarked dryly. "Which seems to be a departmental tradition of yours."
The sense of relief almost choked her. Jade had to take a few breaths, masking it by sipping her drink, before she could answer. "Part of the orientation." She drawled. "She picked it up faster than most." Bless you, Tori…I followed my heart when it came to you, and you're the first person who didn't stab me in it. "So who's your second choice?"
Alastair exhaled, regarding his hands thoughtfully. "I have none... I was hoping I could convince you to stay." He paused. "I just wanted to see what Ms. Vega would say, and she basically said exactly what I expected her to." He paused again and looked up at her. "I knew you trusted her, and I wanted to see why."
Jade's expression softened a little. "And did you?"
He nodded. "Yes, I did." He waited for her to go on, but she remained silent. "So.. how about it, Jade? I'd offer you more money, but it's your company."
The dark-haired woman cleared her throat. "No… you're right... " She lifted a hand and let it fall. "I need two things."
Alastair leaned forward expectantly. His eyes sharpened, and he waited.
"My organizational structure stays intact." Jade enunciated carefully. "Completely intact."
The chairman pursed his lips. "Policy-wise, that's murder."
"I know," Jade responded. "But I need it that way."
He drummed his fingers. "We're going to have to redline out the reviews and all that." He murmured. "All right, it's a personnel nightmare, but I'll do it." He paused. "What else?"
"Jose gets a new assistant."
Alastair laughed. "Saw that coming." He leaned back, obviously relieved. "My problem is, I need a way to bounce him legitimately. " He told Jade. "Otherwise, the little bastard is going to sue for wrongful dismissal, and we don't want the publicity."
A slow, sexy smile crossed Jade's face. "I'll give that to you... Just give me the green light to ax him." Her eyes glinted dangerously. "Absolutely legit."
Alastair gazed at her, then let out a breath. "Does that mean you'll stay?" He countered. "I had a long talk with Cat…she feels a lot of this is her fault, that things went on she should have put a stop to."
Jade let him wait a minute, then she nodded. "All right… but I'll tell you right now, I'm not putting up with any more bullshit from anyone." She warned softly. "Not on my behalf, or anyone in my staff' in my company. This checks and balances crap was good when I was green but I'm a grown damn woman."
Alastair nibbled his lip. "It's going to be a rocky few weeks… there's a lot of hard feelings in there." He replied. "But I have a lot of confidence in you… I'm not worried." He finished off his scotch. "You free for dinner? I never get to see you anymore, Jade… it's been, what... two years?"
Jade's lips twitched. "Actually, I had plans.. but you're welcome to join us." She stated blandly. "There's a great little Italian place over on the other side of the island… and it's casual."
His eyes twinkled a little. "Well, I did enjoy my conversation with the enigmatic Ms. Vega… sure she won't mind?"
Jade was outraged to find herself blushing, and she was glad the fading twilight hid it. "I'm sure she'll be fine." She got up and limped towards the kitchen. "In fact, let me text her."
"She could have stayed." Alastair relaxed, extending his legs and crossing them at the ankles. "After all, she lives here… doesn't she?"
"Do you really want an answer to that?" Jade answered from the kitchen. "Ever hear of don't ask don't tell?"
He scoffed. "That does not apply to the owner of the company you know. Where else are you going to meet people if you are always at work?" Alastair studied the ceiling. "I've known you as long as my children. Did you really think I wouldn't catch the look in your eyes in those pictures?"
"It was just a roller coaster," Jade grumbled.
Alastair chuckled wryly. "If you looked at me like you were looking at her on that damn rollercoaster they'd actually be something to those hoary old rumors Jose used to spread about us."
Jade peered around the edge of the kitchen entrance. "What are you a sexologist now?"
"I just call 'em as I sees 'em." Her boss said. "Bea didn't know what the hell those pictures were and she asked me if that was your new girlfriend."
Jade pulled her head back behind the edge of the door as she felt a blush warm her skin. "Glad to know what the company's time and attendance dollars are paying for out there in New York."
"What'd you do to your leg?" He called after her.
"Popped the joint out when we were caught in the landslide," Jade replied, coming back with her phone in hand and sending a text. "You owe me big time for that little trip, Alastair."
He laughed. "I heard about you and the snake… after I had Beatrice call up the president of that half-assed company and threw the words negligent and lawsuit around."
Jade chuckled as she hit send on her text. "Where are you?"
Tori: Bayfront… just about to get out and go walking on the beach, why?
Tori: I just got here…I figured you guys would be a while.
Jade: Nope.
Jade: We're waiting on you for dinner.. so c'mon back over here.
Tori: Really?
Jade: Really?
A pause.
Tori: You going back?
Jade: Yep.
Tori: still my boss?"
Jade: Yep.
Jade's phone rang and it was Tori. "Hey," Jade answered with a smile.
"Awesome." Tori's voice was lightened immensely. "You are just awesome, Jade… you have no idea how glad I am to hear that." Sounds of scuffing. "I was sitting here in my car trying to think of who I wanted to apply to.. see if I could get any decent offers from around here."
"Well, they can't have you." Jade half turned and lowered her voice. "You're mine."
"Oo." Tori laughed in utter delight. "You just gave me chills."
Jade smiled, feeling her upset world start to settle back down around her. "Besides, I hear you turned down a good offer." She watched Alastair as he got up and roamed around the living room, stopping to examine the pictures on the shelves.
"What of… oh." Tori snorted. "That.. yeah right. As if." She cleared her throat a little, changing the subject. "Your father is such a sweetheart… he gave me a present for you. Said he was too embarrassed to give it to you directly."
"A present? For what?" Jade queried curiously.
"Um… your birthday?" Tori reminded her. "You remember.. that party we had?"
"Oh." The dark-haired woman "That." She paused, glancing at Alastair. "What is it?"
Tori giggled softly. "A box." She teased.
"Torrrriiii.." Jade growled softly.
"Well, it is!" Her lover retorted. "I don't have x-ray vision, you know."
The dark-haired woman sighed, "Just hurry up and get back here."
"Jesus, Jade.. I'm on the bridge, traffic sucks." Tori protested. "I could jump and swim it out." She paused, hearing the gentle sound of Jade's breathing against the receiver. "I love you." She murmured. "You don't have to answer that... I know Alastair is right there." She added.
"I love you too," Jade replied, not missing a beat. "See you in a few minutes." She hung up and sat back on the couch. "So…"
"So," Alastair repeated. "Aside from all that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" He watched Jade's face. "Long day?"
"Long Week," Jade admitted. "Crappy weekend." She propped her head up on her fist, leaning her elbow against the couch arm. The Chairman grunted. "Want to take a few days off?" He asked, eying her shrewdly. " Besides, it might be a good idea- give everyone a chance to really miss ya."
Jade nibbled the inside of her lip, then she shook her head with true regret. "I'd love to but I can't do that to Tori," she said. "Those idiots are driving her crazy."
Alastair snorted. "Are you kidding me? She told every damn one of them where to get off right in front of me. She's no hothouse flower, lady." He said. "Bea told me she hauled off and slugged Fabracini. That's what caused the whole damn thing to come to a head."
Jade nodded. "She did," Jade admitted. "She's got a lot of brass."
"She took you on. She has to have." Alastair chuckled wryly. "But you know, I thought you weren't going to go down that road again, Jade. Tough situation the last time."
Jade felt another blush warm her skin, even though she knew Alastair had known about Elana. "I wasn't," she muttered. "Road was paved right over me."
"Knocked you on your ass didn't it," Alastair said bluntly. "Take a few days off, Jade. I won't order it but please just this once, take my advice, huh?"
"I'll see," Jade replied stubbornly. "I'll think about it, okay?"
Alastair chuckled and shook his head.
Jade looked at her watch as they entered the condo. "Jesus... it's past midnight." She commented in surprise. "Didn't think it was that late."
"Uh-huh." Tori yawned, trudging inside and collapsing on the couch. "That was a nice dinner, though… he's sort of an interesting person." She picked up Chino, who had bolted out of the utility room when Jade opened the door. "Hey honey.. whoa..whoa.. don't chew up mommy's fingers, okay?"
Jade limped back in with two tall glasses of chocolate milk, one of which she set down on the table. "Here." She eased down on the couch next to her lover, and slid back, extending her legs out and groaning. "Ouch."
"I told you to use those crutches." Tori scolded, patting the taller woman's leg. "I saw you trying not to limp in front of Alastair."
"It's not that." Jade took a swallow of milk. "It's the rest of my body trying to compensate for it.. my back's killing me." She complained.
"Ah.. I get it." Tori slid a hand behind Jade's back and probed gently. "Wow.. you are all tensed up." She rested her cheek against Jade's upper arm. "How about a few minutes in the hot tub?"
Blue eyes turned to her and brightened. "Now that's a great idea." Jade complimented her. "It's a beautiful night out… c'mon." She allowed Tori to support her as they wandered into the bedroom and exchanged jeans for bathing suits.
"I like that one on you." Jade had snuck up behind Tori, and now slid both arms around her middle, hugging her gently. "It brings out the color of your eyes." Tori's suit, a shimmering, almost translucent gold glittered in the low light, accented her toned body.
Tori leaned back against her and folded her arms over Jade's. "Thanks." She turned, picking up a small box. "We almost forgot this.. from your dad." She handed it over.
"Oh.." Jade took it, examining it carefully as though she were afraid it would spring open. She slowly unwrapped the plain paper and revealed a closed, clamshell container, which she opened gently. "Whoa."
Inside, on the dark gray crushed velvet, nestled two black pearls, opalescent winking at her. They were the size of dried chickpeas and were a well-matched pair.
"Wow." Tori breathed, peering at them. "Those are gorgeous."
"Yeah." Jade breathed. "They sure are." She gently closed the box and held it, giving her head a little shake. 'His presents were always like that.. you never knew when one was coming, but when it did.. it was always… " She glanced at the box. "Always something special."
"You could have them made into earrings," Tori suggested. "They'd look awesome on you."
Jade put the box down on the dresser, and tapped it with one long finger. "Maybe." She agreed. "C'mon.. let's go soak for a little while."
They went outside, taking their glasses with them, and Tori held them both as Jade eased into the water.
"Ungh. " The dark haired woman stretched her arms out, and took the milk. "This feels great." She watched as Tori joined her, nestling up against her immediately. "I'll put these down." Jade advised her, setting them on the coping, then putting an arm around Tori's shoulders.
For a few minutes, they just sat there, absorbing the sensation of the water, a mist of warm, chlorinated water drifting across their faces. The ocean was at high tide, and beating against the seawall, and off in the distance, they could hear the buoy bells ringing on the inshore wind.
"It's beautiful out here," Tori murmured, tipping her head back and regarding the starry sky, scattered with the odd, occasionally puffy cloud.
Jade turned her head and regarded the moonlit profile next to her. "It sure is."
Tori caught the glance and smiled a little, blushing lightly. "So." She cleared her throat. "Everything worked out okay, huh?"
"Mmm." Jade wiggled her toes contentedly. "Alastair asked me to reconsider, I told him I had two conditions, and he met them, presto. That was it." She stifled a yawn. "You were one condition, Steve was the other."
Tori mulled that over. "So.. did he know about us, or.. " She left the thought hanging.
"He knew." Jade chuckled softly. "He said he knew when he saw those first sets of pictures.. from Orlando.. but he was content to let that fall in the background."
"Isn't that a problem?" Tori queried. "I mean.. we've been doing this cat and mouse thing for months because it was this big rule.. so..?"
Jade shrugged. "It comes down to.. what's more important? Company rules, or profits?" She advised her lover dryly. "He can make exceptions.. and yes, it's a problem, but it's not like it's never happened before, Tori.. and what the rule is for is mostly to protect the junior of the two employees."
"Protect?" Tori cocked her head. "Oh.. from harassment, that kind of thing?"
A nod. "Exactly... it's so bosses don't take advantage of their subordinates.. and it's a good rule." She reached over and brushed a droplet of water off Tori's cheek. "But I told him I needed you.. and he's satisfied you're not being pressured, or coerced in any way, so he's going to just work around it."
"Oh." Tori thought about that. "Awesome." She kissed Jade's shoulder. "So I can bring you lunch and not feel guilty, right?"
Pale blue eyes shifted her way. "So I can wander down the back corridor a couple of times a day and not feel conspicuous," Jade replied dryly. "I mean, it's just like anything else… we treat each other professionally at the office, we just don't have to worry about people finding out what we do outside of it."
"Hmm." Tori nodded a little. "So... Can I call the rest of the staff and tell them to come back tomorrow?" She asked, wistfully. "Because I don't think I can handle a few more days like today was."
Jade hesitated. "I.. um... I could call them in the morning." She ventured.
One honey-brown eyeball rotated and fixed on her. "You could if you were going to work, which you aren't." Tori blinked at her. "Are you?"
The dark-haired woman drummed her fingers on the coping. "My head feels a lot better." She stated. "Really… and so does the knee.. it'd be a lot more relaxing for me to get started on stuff than sit around here and worry about you." She pushed the damp hair off Tori's forehead. "Besides, I've got something to do there tomorrow."
Tori sighed. "I wish you'd stay home." She ran her fingers along Jade's scalp and brushed lightly over the bump. It was, she was forced to admit, almost gone. "But I can see that's not going to happen... So can we at least make it an early day?"
A slow smile. "I promise you… dinner.. at sunset.. out on the water." Jade offered, one eyebrow lifting in invitation. "You, me, the boat… a few seagulls.. how about it?" She leaned over and stole a kiss. "Hmm?"
Tori nibbled her way up Jade's neck. "All right." She agreed, breathing the words right into the woman's ear. "You're on."
"Good." Jade ducked her head again and found Tori's wandering lips, and she pulled her over onto her lap, sliding an arm around the brunette's waist securely. She felt Tori's hands glide down her shoulders, and her eyes closed in reflex as their bodies pressed against each other in knowing familiarity.
They'd deal with all that trouble tomorrow. That was another day. Right now, all that mattered was the rich, night breeze, the stars, and each other.