A few hours later, the day was drawing to a close, and Jada said goodnight to everyone as they passed by her office. The last to leave was Matheson.
“How’s the filing going?” He still seemed delighted about her new task.
“It was a rough start, but it’s looking like I could actually be making a difference. I mean, it’s a small bit of progress, but who knows? It could grow into sustainable change for the future, and think how many people that would help. But I’m probably getting ahead of myself.”
“What?” Matheson said, confused by her string of non-sequiturs.
“Sorry. Just thinking out loud. Have a good night.”
“Yeah, you too.” He turned and wandered off to the regular elevator, shaking his head.
As she looked back at her email and scrolled through the remaining messages, Jada had to join in the head shaking. Who was she kidding? Sure, providing lunch had been a nice gesture, but people, especially people like Jackson, never really changed.
She could see it all now: as soon as the deal went through, Jackson wouldn’t need to be in her good graces anymore, and he’d pulled the lunch program right away. For now, it was a nice treat for some of the staff, and even a week or two without having to pay for lunch could make a big difference for a decent amount of them. It wasn’t paying their rent or medical bills, but it was something.
The remaining messages she looked over were just a few questions here and there that Jackson must have sent later in the day. Did she have any allergies? Was she lactose intolerant? Did she have a heart condition or chronic illness? It was strange, to say the least. Most people didn’t get to know someone through direct email questions. But he probably wasn’t using them to get to know her. He just needed some things on paper so he could arrange a decent-looking “marriage” and not kill his bride in the process.
Jada typed up all the answers and shot the email back with a click of the mouse. With that done, it was time to go home, and she took the elevator down to the parking garage. Inside, she sang along with the music, the song “Walking on Sunshine” echoing through the speakers, and bounced happily. It was odd to be in such a good mood when everything had been so weird at work, but guilting the boss into offering free lunch had put a spring in her step.
She exited the elevator and walked to her car. The thing chirped in response to the auto-unlock, and Jada fired up the pathetic excuse for an engine. Traffic going home at this time of night was always a bit better than earlier, and Jada looked forward to getting home, starting a bath, and drinking a big glass of red wine while she soaked in lavender-scented bubbles. All in all, it could have been a worse day, and tomorrow was flower time. With no clue where she was going to see their options, Jada preemptively decided to choose her favorite regardless. Irises were it for her, even if the place didn’t offer them. Jackson was loaded, and if she was going to waste a first marriage on a rich, muckety-muck, she was getting her favorite flowers. She was certain of that.
Chapter Eight
The next morning, Jada strolled into the office with determination setting her shoulders. A quick peek in the break room revealed the same table set-up as the previous day, and she smiled to herself. How much could she get Jackson to change around here? How much could she make sure was permanent? The CEO may not have planned to give her all this bonus stuff when they’d made their arrangement, but it was going to happen. She wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.
On her desk, Jada found a stack of papers that she had to go through for the marketing department's latest project, and she found herself correcting errors in the signage with a gentler tongue than normal. It was strange to be in such a good mood just because she had made the tiniest bit of an impression on her boss, but after trying for what felt like forever to get anyone at this company to wake up and step up, it was a welcome change.
Jada doled out suggestions to her team and had lengthy conversations about appealing to their customers’ humanity. Her team seemed to back the idea and were eager to get started. It felt like they were doing some of the best work they had in a while. Apparently, everyone was ready for a bit of a revamp.
By the time Jada had gotten her editorial work finished, the afternoon had snuck up on her, the clock revealing it was 3:30. She checked for messages from Jackson and was surprised to find her inbox empty. Not that she minded; it was nice not to have to answer a million questions for once. Jada allowed herself a free moment to check her phone, and her heart sank as soon as she did.
The text, from her mom, read: “Hey, honey. Dad’s been asleep for a while now. He can’t seem to stay awake. No word on a donor yet, but don’t worry. What about you, honey? Everything okay at work? We love you. Be safe.”
The reminder of the real reason she had agreed to this ridiculous “business arrangement” hit Jada hard in the chest. Her father needed her so much, and here she was in a great mood because she’d earned free lunch for a few employees. No, it wasn’t enough. She needed to get this money and be gone. There was no way she wanted to stick around in the marketing department after this was over.
Jada had never really liked her job. She had never really liked any job she’d had, if she was being honest. Jada had no clue what she wanted to do once she left, if indeed she could. She wasn’t sure how much the transplant was going to cost, nor how much her father’s insurance would cover.
Unable to help herself, Jada pulled up Google. In the search bar, she typed “average cost of kidney transplant.”
Three hundred thousand dollars. As she looked at what insurance typically covered, it was another slap to the face. Had her parents reached the maximum deductible? Would their provider cover the typical 80%? Their Medicare wasn’t going to help much. Did they even have a secondary provider?
The panic was crowding around her again, and the clear walls of the office offered no relief. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her team members funneling out of the office. Then Matheson passed by with a little wave. It was quitting time already. She’d completely lost track of time.
Jada knew she was expected in Jackson’s office at any moment, but she was in no mood to look at flowers now. Ugh, just go. You need to make sure this goes smoothly. Your dad’s counting on you.
By the time she reached Jackson’s private sanctum, Jada was having a difficult time hiding her foul mood. The CEO was signing papers at his desk, minus a tie, and when she came in, he smiled.
“Hey. Just a second. I need to finish up the contracts for this deal with—” He looked up and stopped. “You don’t really care, do you?”
“Not really.” Her tone was sharp.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a rough day. Sorry.”
“Okay.” He didn’t press any further, and it was both a relief and a disappointment. Jada needed to vent, but it wasn’t smart to drag her boss into her personal life, even if they were about to get fake married.
Jackson finished up with the paperwork and stood from his desk. If the head honcho could ever manage casual, this was it. He was actually wearing jeans—designer jeans, but still. His button-down was still tucked in, and Jada had a feeling the belt he was wearing had cost more than her education.
“Thank you for waiting. We’ll meet Jacques downstairs and head out.” He must have realized Jada wasn’t looking at him. “If that’s all right with you?”
Jada couldn’t believe her ears. Had Jackson actually asked her opinion about something?
“Yeah, of course. Let’s go.”
The drive was quick and, keeping with tradition, quiet. Jada couldn’t think about anything but her father, and Jackson was wrapped up in his own thoughts. After all, this was an important deal to him, and he was probably praying that Jada wasn’t going to screw it up.
Pretty hard to screw up standing there saying “I do,” but whatever, she thought.
As they pulled up to the florist’s, Jada saw that everything had been set up outside. The space was huge and contained rows upon rows o
f flower and plant stands, all reaching from the ground to nose level. The colors and smells were intense, and the selection was more than she’d seen anywhere. The tulips, daffodils, and happy faces of flowers she couldn’t name brought a small smile to her face.
Jackson got out of the limo and again reached back to help her out. Shaking her head, she accepted this time.
“Such a gentleman,” she said, “You know you don’t have to impress me, right?”
Jackson didn’t respond but instead gestured toward the little city of flowers. When they got to the main entrance, a woman greeted them.
“Hi there. Mr. Hays, correct?” Her voice was warm and deep.
“Yes. Thank you for setting this time aside for us.”
“Certainly. The space is closed off for you, and you can take your time pursuing the options. I’ll be right here if you have any questions.” She took her place at a small desk that was set up and patted her paperwork as she sat down.
The two of them started down the closest aisle, walking at a leisurely pace.
“We don’t have a personal flower guide? I’m so surprised.” The snarky tone in Jada’s voice was obvious.
“I thought you’d appreciate being able to wander freely,” Jackson smirked.
“I do.”
Jada picked up her pace and scampered off toward an enticing bunch of lilacs just waiting to be smelled. She shoved her nose into the flowers and smiled at the amazing fragrance.
They were both quiet as Jada wandered through the aisles ahead of Jackson, sniffing random flowers along the way. Every type of flower imaginable was there, displayed in full blooming glory. It took a moment, but Jada found a section of irises that were set directly in the middle of a row. Her love of them was impossible to disguise, and as she stroked the soft petals and marveled at the colors, Jackson let a smile break free.
“Irises, huh? I wouldn’t have guessed.”
“I love them. They’re like tiny thrones made for dazzling fairy queens.”
Jada let her fingers find a stalk that was free to be pulled out and took the flower in her hands. It was exquisite. The deep purple color burst into bright yellow near the center, and the ruffled edges clung delicately to a few droplets of water.
With her attention on the gorgeous flower in her hand, Jada almost missed the laugh that Jackson let out. She turned on her heel to catch him smiling widely and moving closer. It was a sight to see. When he smiled like that, when he let that deep, throaty laugh break free from his firm chest, he was breathtaking.
“What a description! Irises it is.” He bent down to her hand and inhaled the fragrance. “I think that was a pretty successful trip.”
Who was this? It certainly wasn’t Jackson Hays, billionaire CEO of JPH Tech. Where was the brash, money-hungry closer? He was acting so different; it was as if he were actually enjoying himself.
“Yeah, it was.” Jada smiled back, and as Jackson straightened, she set the flower back in its home.
“I didn’t have anything else planned for tonight. Would you like to take a walk?” The hopeful expression on his face confused her.
“You’re just gonna tell Jacques to wait?”
“Um, yes, I guess so.”
“Why don’t you send him home for the night, and when we’re done we can catch a cab?” Baby steps, sure, but it was something.
Jackson hesitated for a moment but then seemed to find something in Jada’s eyes. “All right. Let me go tell him. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I’ll let the woman know we chose irises.”
Again, Jackson’s do-everything-himself attitude was shaken by her actions, but Jada only thought that he had better get used to it. After a moment, he just smiled again and headed off toward the limo.
A few moments later, as Jada finished talking with the florist, Jackson came walking up.
“Everything set?”
“Yup. We’re good. She said they’ll be delivered the morning of the ceremony, if you can email the address to her.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.”
“Where is the ceremony, anyway?” Jada realized she had no clue.
“Oh, just this small place I found.”
That was evasive, but as Jackson turned toward the sidewalk, he gave the impression he didn’t want to talk about it. Jada was a bit annoyed, but she had other, more pressing matters to deal with.
Jackson led the way, and the two of them strolled along San Francisco’s downtown streets with ease. As they settled into a calm pace, Jackson began asking question after question about Jada. It seemed like the emails he’d sent reflected his intent on getting to know her as a person after all.
“So I know where your mother is from, but what about your father?”
“Arizona. It’s where I grew up. He met my mom in college.”
“Hmm. Why San Francisco, then?” Jackson was staring at his feet.
“Well, there’s an amazing art program out here, and I wanted to take it. I agreed to go to college first, and then I had to start working right away because I needed the money. What about you?”
Jackson seemed a little surprised by the return question, but he did answer. “I grew up here.”
“So do your parents live here too?”
“Umm…” There was a change in Jackson’s face that, however much he tried to bury it, let Jada know she had hit a nerve.
“What is it? Did I offend you?”
“No, no. Nothing like that.” Jackson attempted to shake the question off and move to a new subject. “So. Do you like the city?”
“Not so easy, bud. What’s up?”
Jackson huffed out a deep breath and shoved his hair out of his face. He looked up at the sky, which was purple and red in the late evening, and sighed. Jada didn’t push, but she let the silence draw out until Jackson had to say something.
“I don’t know them.”
“What?”
“I never met my parents. I grew up in an orphanage and then foster care.”
The admission seemed to actually pull a weight off his shoulders. Jada was taken aback. Here was the guy who had it all, and it turned out that was a rather recent development. He’d grown up alone. Jada couldn’t imagine not having her parents be a part of her life. The experience seemed so fundamental.
“Wow. That sucks. I’m sorry.”
Jackson let out a burst of air that was sort of an angry laugh and then shrugged. “It is what it is. I didn’t have much growing up, but when I was in school, my teachers saw I was on the smarter side, so I was able to get a scholarship for private school.”
“Well that’s good.”
“Yeah, mostly. I mean, I learned a lot and I was able to develop my skills, of course, but the children there weren’t overly friendly.”
“What do you mean?” Jada knew kids could bully, but everybody went through a bit of that, didn’t they?
“Most of the other students were rich, and I definitely wasn’t. They didn’t like to let me forget that.”
Jada pictured rich, snotty kids picking on a boy without parents for not having enough, and it turned her stomach. She’d always assumed Jackson had been fed baby food with a gilded spoon, but he’d come from nothing.
“So is that why being successful is so important to you? You want to show those kids that you could have it all too?”
Jackson stopped in his tracks. He stared down at her with wide eyes and brows that reached his hairline. Yet again, Jada had let her big mouth run away with her. She looked down at the pavement, embarrassed, and heard Jackson blow out a long breath.
“Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to my motives. I knew I wanted to be successful. I knew I didn’t want to live my life like I had in the children’s home. I would always tell myself, never again. I would never be poor again. Guess I succeeded there.”
“I’d say,” Jada murmured.
Across from them was a small park area, and a set of benches. Jackson nodded at them and asked her if she’d
like to sit. They went over to take a seat on the nearest bench. The air was getting cooler, and Jada hugged her jacket closer to her.
“We don’t have to sit here if you don’t want to.” Jackson looked genuinely concerned.
“No. I’m fine. Just a bit nippy. I’m liking the fresh air too much to leave now.”
Jackson said all right but then looked around the park area, searching for something.
“What?” Jada asked.
Apparently spotting what he was after, Jackson said, “Ah, perfect. Just wait here a moment.”
He walked over to a small shop on a nearby corner and went inside. Jada sat on the bench, watching people walk by and enjoying the sunset for a few minutes before Jackson returned. He was carrying two cups.
“Here.”
He handed her a paper cup of hot cocoa, and Jada graciously accepted. It was the perfect solution to the slight chill in the air.
“So this is a little off topic, but what does the P stand for?” Jada sipped at the steaming beverage.
“The P?”
“In JPH Tech. I assume it’s Jackson something Hays Tech.”
Jackson shook his head, swallowing a hot mouthful of chocolatey goodness before answering. “It’s just an initial, just P. At the children’s home, the staff used the names given to us by our birth families if available. I always hated mine. So when I was older, I changed my name.”
“You chose Jackson Hays?”
“Yes. Why?”
“It sounds like something a dude would pick is all.” Jada laughed at him and smiled playfully.
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Jada sipped again at the hot chocolate. “What was your name before?”
“I really don’t want to say. It’s embarrassing.”
“More embarrassing than Jackson?”
“You just can’t help it, can you?” He shook his head at her.
“I really can’t. It’s just so…I don’t know, but I feel like your last name should actually be Steel. Jackson Steel, billionaire CEO of Steel Industries.” Jada set off the name with elaborate hand gestures and almost spilled her drink. “It’d make a great Batman villain name.”
Buy Me, Bad Boy - A Bad Boy Buys A Girl Romance Page 38