“Shall we go? I’m sorry, I don’t have much time for a long lunch break,” I tell her.
“Okay, well, it was nice meeting you, Jemima. Kaine raves about you. I don’t think he could do this all without you.”
Jemima’s eyes cut to me, a look of surprise in them.
“He’s a great boss. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your birthday trip yesterday.” All of the coldness melts away. It’s not the first time I’ve seen Jade’s warm effect on someone.
“It was amazing, thank you,” Jade smiles.
“I’m glad. When Kaine asked me to book our private plane last week without knowing where you were going to go, I was worried. It can be hard to plan ahead, since the weather’s been a bit crazy lately.”
“No, it was wonderful. Couldn’t have been better.”
“I’m glad,” my secretary beams.
I press on Jade’s back and we start to make our way to the elevator.
Suddenly, Jade stops and spins back in Jem’s direction.
“Wait. Did you say you booked the plane last week?”
“Sure did, he spent a lot of time wondering what to do for your birthday. I think he picked the right thing.”
Jade looks at me, her forehead steadily crinkling into a frown, her eyes darting back and forth, trying to put her thoughts together. I’m not sure what she’s confused about.
“But, but the other night when I told you it was my birthday, you acted like you didn’t know. How did you know it was my birthday? I never tell anyone.”
Shit.
HER
I ask him again. “When and how did you know it was my birthday, Kaine?”
He doesn’t say anything. I see his eyes narrow just a tiny bit, as if trying to process the thoughts running through his brain. I don’t know if it’s to try to understand my question, or to try to come up with an answer.
“Oh, are you sure? You must’ve brought it up in passing over the last few weeks,” he says.
But I know I haven’t. I never bring it up. And I make sure he knows that.
“I’m 100% positive that I did not tell you until the night before my birthday. I don’t ever tell anyone. The only people other than family who know are Harriet and anyone who has my personal records.”
He clears his throat, posturing a little, glancing over at Jemima, who looks down at some papers on her desk.
I ignore it all, staring at him. How did he find out about it?
“Kaine?”
He reaches around and scratches the back of his neck. I’ve never seen him like this, nervous, like he’s hiding something.
“Kaine? How did you know it was my birthday?”
“Jade. It’s not a big deal. I just knew, and I wanted to do something special for you.”
“That’s not an answer. And I’m not going to stop asking until I get one.”
“Jade.”
“Kaine? I’m serious. Tell me how you knew.”
It’s a standoff. He shoves his hands into his pockets and puffs out his chest, drawing himself up, making himself bigger.
But he forgets, I know just how tender he can be. And he’s forgotten how stubborn I can be. And I can stare him down until I get what I want.
“Xavier told me.”
“And how would Xavier know?”
“Jade, just let it go!” he pleads.
“What chance do you really think you have of that happening?”
“God! It was in the report we got about you, okay?”
“What report?”
“The report we got from… Dylan.”
“Your PI?”
“Yes.”
“Your fucking private investigator?”
He doesn’t answer, just cringes and tries to reach for me.
I step back and yank my hand away, my head shaking, trying to comprehend that the man I’ve been practically living with, sleeping with, sharing everything with, had me investigated. And then the betrayal cuts even deeper.
“You hypocritical asshole.” I hiss, the anger burning in my chest.
“Jemima, go.”
“Yes, Mr. Ashley,” she says, standing up and making for the elevator.
We both turn and watch her go, the fury building and building inside of me.
“I can NOT beli-…” I start.
“Wait,” he hisses, pressing a finger to his lips, gesturing his head toward Jemima, just as there’s a ding to announce the elevator’s arrival.
“No, I will not fucking wait. In fact, I’m not even going to fucking stay. Hold the elevator, Jemima,” I call out as I run to join her.
“No, don’t hold it, Jemima.” Kaine comes running after me, grabbing my hand just as I step into the elevator and pulls me back. “Go!”
Jemima reaches for the button to close the door and gives me an apologetic smile. The elevator leaves and we’re alone.
“I don’t want to talk to you, Kaine.” I say, refusing to look at him.
“Please, just listen!”
“What? What could you possibly have to say that would make this alright?”
“I just… I just had to know.”
“Know what?! If I was some sort of gold digger? After all your billions of dollars?”
“No, it’s just…”
“Just what? Or maybe… oh my God, or maybe I planned the whole mugging? I wanted to get stabbed in the stomach and have my throat almost slit?”
“Jade. Of course not, I didn’t think…”
“And that I loved having mobs of crazy New Yorkers camp out in front of my workplace?”
“You tried very hard to find me,” he says as an argument.
I gasp at the meaning behind the comment. He knows why I did that. And yet he’s bringing it up as an explanation.
“And I told you why. And I thought you understood.”
“I do.”
“You don’t.”
“I had to be sure, a man in my…”
“Position? I don’t give a crap about your position, Kaine. I didn’t know you from a homeless man when we first met, it’s not why I wanted to find you. You… you know, when you told me you’d been watching me on the security camera at your apartment, I didn’t like it, but fine, it’s your home. Then you stalk me, following me when I go to find Gabriel? Now I find out you had a fucking PI investigate me? Do you, do you even know what an invasion of privacy that is? I’m not one of your employees, Kaine! We’re… we’re supposed to… be something. Fuck, I don’t know what we are.” I throw my hands up in defeat.
He flinches. Like I’ve hurt him. As if I could.