The elevator doors open with a ding and he steps forward, his hands on my waist, leading me inside,
“What do you mean?” I demand.
He just grins and lets go of me, stepping to the side and leaning against the rail.
“Kaine! What do you mean?” I ask again, punching him gently on the chest with my fist.
“Nothing. Shhh. There are other people getting on the elevator,” he says, infuriating me.
The elevator comes to a slow stop and the doors open. An elderly couple nods and smiles at us, as they step inside.
“Mr. Humphrey,” Kaine nods to the man, who offers his hand.
“Hello, Kaine. How have you been?” His voice is pleasant and kind.
“Good, sir, thank you.”
“Everything going well with the launch? I hear… some rumblings. Anything I can help you with?”
I watch him closely, not used to seeing him talk about his work with anyone else.
He just smiles politely and nods, “Everything’s going very well, I sincerely hope to see you and Mrs. Humphrey at the launch next month. You were always such supporters of ours.”
“Of course we will be there, Kaine. Neil wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
We reach the lobby faster than I expect, probably due to the distraction of the conversation. We hang back as the other couple leaves, with a wave goodbye, before we step out into the lobby.
Kaine’s hand never leaves the small of my back as we make our way outside. Everyone we pass greets Kaine by name; he never says much in reply, just a quick polite nod to acknowledge them, never taking his focus off me.
“Does everyone here know you?” I whisper and he just chuckles.
Henry is waiting for us in the valet bay when we get outside.
The gods have divined a beautiful day for my birthday. The sky is blue without a hint of cloud and the cool breeze washes over my cheeks, making me gurgle with happiness.
“What’s up gigglepot?” Kaine asks, opening the car door for me. I slide into the car and sigh.
“Nothing, just happy I guess.”
“Well, what do men do when they’re happy? I can’t very well giggle,” he asks once as he slides in next to me.
“Sure, you can.”
“I’d rather not.”
“How ’bout you chortle?”
“That sounds like something a drunken uncle called Wilfred would do at Thanksgiving.”
“So, Wilfred you’ll be for the rest of the day!”
“Ready, Mr. Ashley?” Henry asks through the screen.
“Ready, Henry.”
It’s an exchange that seems different compared to the other mornings and I look at Kaine out of the corner of my eye.
“Yes, my sweet?” he asks, glancing down at his phone, avoiding my eye contact.
“What’s going on?”
“Why do you think something is going on?”
“You… and him…” I jab my finger in Henry’s direction. “Something’s off.”
“Maybe Henry had a good night. Hey, Henry!”
“Yes, sir?”
“Did you have a good night last night?”
“Not particularly, sir, no.”
“What about this morning? Did something good happen?”
“No more than usual, sir. Just happy to be at work.”
“There! THAT!” I say, jumping up in my seat and pointing at Henry again. I can see him glancing at me through the rear-view mirror.
“That what?” Kaine asks, raising his eyebrows high.
“That thing he said. No one is HAPPY to be at work. Something’s going on.”
“I’m sure Henry is the one exception. Isn’t that right, Henry?”
“It is my goal in life to work for you forever, Mr. Ashley,” Henry replies, loyal to the end.
“See?” Kaine grins at me.
“Men!” I scoff at them both and settle back in the seat. Kaine grins, and reaches under the seat for a paper bag.
“Here you go, birthday girl,” he hands it to me. And the grease stain spreading on the bottom of the bag gets me excited.
“What is this? Oh my God, it smells delicious.”
“It’s… well what do you think it is?”
“My favorite!” I reach into the bag and pull out the piping hot hash brown. “Hmmmm, birfdaysaredabest,” I mumble, my mouth already full.
“Whatever you say, sweetness.”
I munch on my food, moaning as the greasy potato coats my fingers and I lick them one by one.
“Jade.”
I’m too engrossed in my breakfast to reply.
“Jade!”
“Hmmm?” I answer through my moans.
“Can you please stop making that sound?”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to start having fantasies every time I drive past a McDonalds! You eating drive-thru hash browns is not the image I want getting me hard… but you’re not helping.”
“Can’t help it. Best fast food ever.”
“You know, I can afford to give you absolutely anything you want for breakfast.”
“Fine. Build me my own McDonalds hash brown dispensing machine next to the bed please.”
“Done!”
I go back to my breakfast, trying to come up with a way to make Henry and Kaine give up the secret they’re hiding before we get to my workplace.
“Hey, why are we turning down here?” I say when Henry passes my intersection.
“Isn’t this the way to Teterboro airport?” Henry replies.
“Wha? Why are we going there?”
“Well, that’s where planes take off from, don’t they?” Kaine joins in cryptically.
“What’s going on?” I whine.
“I don’t know, I’m not the one driving.”
“Henry! What’s going on?”
“I just work here, miss. I don’t make the plans.”
“What’s going on?!” I scream again, the excitement sending me into a state.
“Shhh, don’t get too excited, or else we’ll be seeing that hash brown again,” he makes a disgusted face. “How long is it to Teterboro, Henry?”
“Traffic’s not too bad today, Mr. Ashley, I’m guessing another 40 minutes.”
“Perfect, just in time for my conference call. Sorry, babe, you’re going to have to be quiet for the next 40 minutes.”
“But, I…” I start, just as there’s a ding on his telephone.
“Yes, gentleman, sorry I’m late. I had to attend to some business. Nothing serious, just a special day for someone. Now, where are we on the contract with Petenham Industries?” He grins at me and I mouth “evil bastard” at him, making him cover his mouth as he bites back a laugh, his eyes dancing with mischief.
I sit back and look out the window, and I wonder if it’s fair that someone could be this happy.
***