“Jade. My home is your home.”
“Not tonight, it isn’t.” I tell him, almost too tired to stand.
“Don’t do this.”
“Look, we both need some sleep, the launch is tomorrow. We’ll talk after. Just… just let me go.”
“At least take the car.”
“It’s New York City, I can get a cab.”
I raise my hand and a car comes screeching to halt by the curb next to me. I look at him once last time, trying to forget what I’ve just seen. And remember a time when I hadn’t.
“Good night, Kaine.” I say, climbing into the cab. I don’t know if he stays and watches me drive away.
***
“God. You look like hell.” Harriet greets me, her mouth filter-less.
“Thanks, I feel like it,’ I admit, collapsing into my desk chair.
“Long hot night with the mystery man?”
“Ugh, no. I slept at my place last night.”
“Wow, trouble in paradise. What happened.”
“Nothing. If you call him making out with his secretary nothing,” I hiss. Talking about it is bringing it all back to the surface.
“Ah, the bitch in blue?”
“Shush, don’t tell him I called her that. But yeah, except now she’s the UBER bitch in blue with her grubby hands on my what’s mine.”
“Woah, I like this new fiery Jade. Maybe you got some sense knocked into you when those muggers attacked.”
I throw her a look of horror.
“Oops, too soon?” Harriet grins.
“Yes, too soon, you insensitive wench!”
“See? You are more fiery, once you’d have totally let me get away with it.”
“Today’s not that day, trust me. I don’t know how I’m going to get through today. But I will. His launch isn’t going to go to hell because of me,” I vow.
Harriet gives me a squeeze on the shoulder, and I remind myself, I have more family than I realize.
I pull myself to my feet, and try to force the thoughts out of my head.
Whatever’s happened, Kaine’s dream is so much bigger than us. And I will do whatever I can to make my contribution.
“Okay, first things first, let’s get these tables pushed back for the product displays, then we can move onto the rest,” I click into work mode and start to delegate.
“What time’s the launch?” Harriet asks.
“12:30 p. m. In exactly three hours.”
HIM
I don’t sleep overnight.
Of course, I don’t. She wasn’t here with me.
And now Jemima hasn’t come in to work yet either.
Today of all days.
I sit at my desk, running down the list of things that need to be done, reading the same line over and over again.
Dylan texted to let me know Jade got to work okay, so at least I have that off my mind.
The phone won’t stop ringing, pulling me from my focus, but everybody’s anxious about the launch, and my role is to be their beacon of calm. Even if it’s the last thing I feel.
There’s the ding of the elevator and Jemima steps off it. She walks straight into my office and hands me a white envelope, her face as pale as a ghost.
“The… the mail room just gave me this.” It’s like she hasn’t breathed since it’s been in her hand.
I take it from her, flipping it over in my hand. I stare at it for a moment, wishing it weren’t there. But before I deal with it, I have another issue at hand.
“Jem,” I start.
“Don’t. I’ll… I’ll start looking for another job, just, just let me be a part of today. I’ve worked just as hard as anyone on this project.”
“I know. Of course. Get ready, we have to leave in half an hour.”
“Thanks… Kaine. For understanding. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. I… I really thought I could be good for you. I just hope we don’t regret it,” she says and gives me a sad smile before going to her desk.
HER
The main hall of the library is starting to fill with guests. There are already about 30 or 40 ASH Industries employees here who worked on the new product, including Amy, a cute and savvy PR executive who I have been liaising with in order to get the launch organized.
The choice of the library for the launch turns out to be inspired. The inside of the library is so grandiose with its high ceiling and carved wooden stacks. It lends a gravitas to the event that I’m so proud of. It’s a melding of the old and new; using the new FireFree technology to keep an old institution like the library safe is poetic symbolism. The decor Amy has added is simple but complements both the product and the library itself. The way she’s hung the banners and set up the product displays doesn’t take away from the library; instead, it just looks like an incredibly classy showroom.
The long trestle tables have now been laid out with light refreshments and drinks, and everyone’s buzzing with anticipation, whispering about what to expect. More guests are starting to file in, and Harriet and Harold watch from their closed office doors with fascination.
“You can come into the hall you know. You’ve been invited,” I tell them from the other side of the glass. They just shake their heads and wave their hands, telling me to stop obstructing their view.
I scoff and wander off to find Amy, to make sure there’s nothing else she needs.
I check my watch.
12:09 p. m. Kaine should be here soon.
HIM
I toss up the idea of not opening the white envelope.
Isn’t it better just to leave well enough alone and get through the day?
After the launch we can deal with it, I tell myself. No. Open it. You never know what’s inside.
I look out and see Jemima get up, she gestures that she’s going to the bathroom and that she’ll be right back and we can leave to go to the launch. I nod and she hurries off.
I slide my finger under the envelope slip.
It’s another embossed invitation.
I flip it to one side.
There’s an address.
I know the address.
It’s the New York Genealogy Library.
I flip the invitation over.
Guess we’ll find out once and for all if your fancy contraption works. No fire related deaths by 2020? Too bad that won’t start from today, it says.
Oh my God.
Jade.