my job insists on adding days to my week... so... yeah We will see if we get any updates beyond this week. I have been king a system that seems to be working, so hopefully, it continues. Right now I am working on the next CW chapter along with this. Just as I worked on my one Swan Queen story the last time. This week is that Jori story, and next week I will be back on Swan Queen... but all along working on Fogbow. Got the title for the next sequel for this I think it will be Delta Breezes. but That is to say, I have reached the halfway mark on this story. so it will be a little while before we even get to Delta Breezes anyway.

Sixteen

"Here you go, Jade." Mariela bustled in, handing over a folder. "I have you both booked on the plane, and your hotel room is okay." The secretary gave her an impish smile. "They have only rooms with… how you say, a jaguar in them."

Jade stopped what she was doing, and looked up, startled. "What?" She glanced at the tickets. "A jaguar?"

"Si… with the bubbles.." Mariela made a circling motion with her hand. "In the water."

"Oh..oh.. a jacuzzi." Jade chuckled and gave her a stern look. "It's strictly business, Mari."

"Si.. si.. but you know how important it is to stay very clean, Jade," Mariela replied, virtuously. "You know, it is bad if you come back with the germs."

Slowly, pale blue eyes lifted and regarded her, a mischievous grin tugging at Jade's lips. "Mariela.. if I didn't know better, I'd say you were encouraging me to do something against company policy with my very talented assistant."

Mariela blinked at her. "Oh, si." She nodded seriously. "I will see you Monday, Jade… have a good time." She trotted out, leaving a very bemused, and somewhat taken aback boss sitting behind her desk. "A jaguar, huh?" She tucked the folder inside her jacket and glanced at her watch. "And speaking of my lovely and talented assistant… " She picked up the phone and dialed Tori's number.

It took four rings before there was an answer, and the voice sounded a little dazed. "Oh shit."

Jade regarded the phone with some amusement. "And a good afternoon to you, too, Victoria." She drawled. "What's up?"

"Shit, shit shit… " Tori sighed. "I'm sorry, Jade… I got things packed, then sat down and played with Chino for a minute and I fell asleep." Sounds of rustling came from the phone. "I'm on my way back… I don't know what in the heck came over me." She sounded disgusted. "God…"

"Hey.. take it easy." Jade laughed. "We got up early, we didn't get too much sleep last night, and if you're tired, it makes sense to take a damn nap.. you didn't miss anything. " She reached over and took a sip of coffee from her cup. "The center's still down, they still need our help, I've got our plane waiting, and Mariela booked us in a hotel room complete with a Jacuzzi."

Momentary silence. "Oh really?" Tori had closed the car door, and the sound of the engine starting up was heard. "A Jacuzzi, huh? She's subtle." A pause. "Sounds good, though… Andre was tempting me with visions of you, me, a fire, and some marshmallows."

"Oo." Jade purred. "I could go for that…I love marshmallows." She stood up and started packing up her laptop. "I'll be waiting downstairs… The chef on the plane has got a delicious meal prepared."

"Okay." Tori stifled a yawn. "See you in a few minutes."

Jade shut the door to her inner office behind her just as the outer door opened and three figures barged inside and headed in her direction. "What the hell do you want?" She snapped.

"What do we want?" Jose spluttered. "Half the company is down, what the hell are you doing about it?" He said. "That's what we want!" He indicated Steven and Elle, who were behind him. "you're not going to blow us off again."

"Sure I am." Jade headed for the door, which they were standing in front of. "I'd advise you to move your asses out of my way."

"Hold on, Jade," Elle said holding a hand up as a sign of peace. she was tired of the bullshit too, jade could respect that. "Come on now. you owe us some sort of explanation as to what's happening. We have customers to answer to."

Addressed reasonably, Jade paused and regarded her. "Boulder data center is down," She said "They have no access to the building. I'm going out there to find out what I can do to restore service."

Steven perked up and used the opportunity to perpetuate the animosity. "So you have no backup for those customers?"

"We have no backup for those customers," Jade replied evenly.

"Joint budgetary decision." She flexed her hands on her crutches. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a plane to catch."

"And if you can't do anything?" Steven stood in her way. Then what? Maybe your chairman Buddy won't be able to protect you from the board anymore?" He stared steadily at her. "Trust me. I'll use that. You should have stayed gone."

"And you should have been aborted at birth… guess the world's just full of disappointment like that," Jade replied. "Now get out of my way or I'll call security and have you thrown out."

Jose had the grace to look uncomfortable. "Hey come on," he said. "Let's not be animals to each other. This is a serious thing."

"I'm serious," Jade said. "You want something done? Fine. I'm doing something. Now get out of the way or do it yourself." She started for the door. "I'm not standing here arguing with you."

For a moment, she thought she was going to have to fight her way out of her office. It was stupid and insane, and Jade was suddenly very tired thinking about it. But they moved aside and let her go by, and she headed down the hallway with them trailing after her.

She wondered if they realized how much she wished she'd stayed gone now too, The hostility beating at her back brought her to question again whether staying in-house, going through this again and again and again was a good decision for any of them.

Maybe she could convince Tori that they should go somewhere else, after they got the current problem sorted out. Fix this one last thing, and then give the company the finger? Jade keyed the elevator.

Having Alastair fly out had been a good ego-stroking, but in the long run, what was the point? She turned and regarded the three sales and marketing executives fuming silently behind her and wondered aloud.

"What the hell do you want from me?"

"What do we want?" Elle blurted. "What does that mean? We want the company to run right, and to make money. What do you want?"

"To screw her little staff whore," Steven Said, and Jose glared at him. "How does it feel to pay for it? What else is in your department budget the stockholders don't know about?"

Jade could hear her heartbeat thunder in her ears suddenly, and she was forcibly reminded of the temper she'd inherited along with her height and looks from her father as her body tensed and she felt the blood rush to her skin.

When she thought about having him restored in her life. And what priority that should have, and about the lessons he'd taught her while she was growing up a scrappy, wild kid.

Never hit somebody 'cause you're mad, Jade. Jame's voice echoed softly as they waited in silence for her response. Hit them because hurting them's gonna get you something back. "My budget's public knowledge with the rest of the filing." She said in a voice that was strangely calm even to her own ears. "But we'll discuss it when I get back."

"Jade," Elle now looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Fuck you." The door opened and Jade entered the elevator pressing the close button and keying her badge at the same time to force them shut before the rest of them could react. Leaving her in silence for the ride down to the bottom floor.

The plane was luxury itself, Jade had decided that she would buy it. It was one of the fuel-efficient jets, which helped lessen her carbon footprint, but not only that, there was a sleeping Cabin, which she was now occupying, after a meal cooked in its own kitchen near the cockpit. Jade took the opportunity to relax in the king-sized bed, as Tori sat in the other living area with a glass of white wine balanced on the console between herself and Jade's vacated seat. The brunette woman was curled up half on her side, a soft, blue blanket tucked around her as she idly logged into the network and watched the happenings. "We'll have to go out to the office as soon as we get there," Jade commented, stretching the full length of her body on that incredibly comfortable bed. This was no corporate Jet, this was personal and she didn't care. "It's going to be a long night so come join me."

"Okay," Tori mumbled, Standing and making her way further back to where Jade lay sprawled on the bed. She slid in and curled herself around Jade. "As long as I can spend it with you, I don't care how long it is." She closed her eyes and exhaled.

Jade gazed at her quietly, absorbing the unexpected compliment. "Thanks." She finally said, softly. A honey-brown orb appeared and studied her. "That was a really sweet thing to say."

Tori blushed gently, and closed her eye again, giving the body she held against hers a little squeeze. "You bring out the poet in me." She admitted softly. "It's the weirdest thing."

"Oh really?" Jade rolled over to face the other woman. "Got any handy?"

Alarmed brown eyeball. "Any what handy?"

"Poems." Her lover replied, a wicked twinkle in her eyes. "You said I brought that out in you... I know you're writing them... I'd love to hear one."

"B.." Tori's brain ran around in circles for a minute. "I.. b…"

"Well, that sort of rhymes, yeah." Jade mused. "Doesn't have much emotional impact, though." She lay back so her back was flat again in the bed. "Is that one of those haiku things?"

Tori burst out giggling coming to sit next to Jade in the bed. "Jade!" She chastised her boss. "I.. um… you know I…that kind of thing sort of embarrasses me." She looked up to see a look of veiled disappointment on Jade's face. "Okay… but Jade, you know most of my poems are so corny."

Lips very gently brushed against hers, and she tasted their sweetness.

"they're not corny," Jade rumbled into her ear. "I think they are incredible." She kissed Tori again, glad of the entire bedroom set up on this plane. Now it stands to what the environmental impact of this perfect love nest in the air is having. She insisted on having alternative fuel, or electric.

"Mm…" Tori moaned as she pulled Jade's thoughts back to what they were doing. The brunette's hands moved irresistibly around the warm body now astride her. "Now which one of us is the poet?" She whispered in Jade's ear.

The paler woman laughed and proceeded to allow her hands to roam he lover's body. They moved closer, their bodies entwining in a dance as old as time. Soft whispers of love and longing filled the air as they explored each other, their hands roaming over soft skin and curves.

Their lips met in a passionate kiss, tongues dancing together as they lost themselves in the moment. The connection between them was electric, sparks flying as they moved together in a rhythm that was all their own.

As they made love, they were transported to a world of their own, where nothing else mattered but the two of them. The gentle hum of the jet engines and the knowledge that they were alone in the sky added to the intensity of their lovemaking.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, basking in the afterglow of their love. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, promising to always be there for one another, no matter what.

Eventually, they reluctantly pulled themselves away from each other and began to get dressed. They had a job to do, and they couldn't let their personal lives interfere.

As they exited the plane in Boulder, they were greeted by the seller, who was eager to hear their decision. Jade looked at Tori and smiled, then turned back to the seller. 'I'll take it,' she said, her voice filled with confidence. 'We'll be needing the captain to return to San Francisco in four days.'

The seller's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure and shook Jade's hand, congratulating her on her purchase. Jade and Tori walked away, hand in hand.