Recharged

by Lulu Pratt

  “Bradley went to bat for you, and he never does that for anyone, so you must have really impressed him. I’ve known him over twenty years and you’re the first person he has ever recommended… ever. He explained that you’re transitioning from your last job as a nanny and that I’d be a fool to pass you up, and I’m no fool. There’s a lot you should be worried about, like how to keep your chef coat stain free, because I require a pristine coat to enter my kitchen. Your tuition is the last thing that should be on your mind. Just don’t make me regret my decision.”

  “Can you… do that? Just waive the tuition?” I ask nervously. Once again, I don’t want to get my hopes up just for him to come back later and say he made a mistake.

  Ray laughs and nods his head. “It’s my school. I can do what I want, when I want. Just think of it this way, you’re on a scholarship, and you must maintain high marks to keep it. It’s not often I do something like this, so I’m telling you now, I expect great things from you. I’m welcoming you into my school without knowing your skill level, or even tasting your food, because I trust Bradley.”

  I’m trembling and don’t even bother to fight back the tears forming in my eyes. “I won’t let either of you down, I swear,” I say. “I’m going to work harder than anyone you’ve ever seen.”

  “I believe you,” he says with a smile. “Now dry those tears, and go celebrate. This is a special moment for you, and you deserve to go have some fun with it.”

  I gather all the paperwork and get to my feet. “I’ll be here bright and early every day once classes start,” I say. “You can definitely count on me.”

  “Good,” says Ray. “Get those info sheets back to me as soon as you can so I can get you set up in the system and order your supplies.”

  We shake hands again and he politely walks me to my car. I slide in before patiently waiting for him to go back inside before I start screaming.

  I can’t believe this just happened. I just got in one of the most prestigious culinary schools in this country… for free! I’m stunned he let me in right there on the spot, without even asking me to cook something to showcase my skills. I’m not sure what Bradley said to him to make Ray have so much faith in me and my abilities, but I’m eternally grateful.

  No matter what, I can’t jeopardize Bradley’s reputation by letting him down, and I certainly can’t risk embarrassing myself.

  I drive back to the hotel in a complete daze. Despite how crappy things have been lately, this bit of good news almost makes everything worth it. Ray is right, I deserve to celebrate.

  I park the car and practically skip over to the bar inside the lobby to order some well-deserved room service. My meal’s price is a hefty one, but I don’t care about any of that right now. This is my moment and I’m going to enjoy it no matter the cost. The folder is clutched in my hands and I can’t wait to get upstairs and start going through it.

  I kick the door to the room closed behind me, slipping off my shoes as I plop down on the bed just as the hotel phone starts to ring.

  That was fast. Room service must be calling to let me know my order will be up soon or that there is a problem with my order.

  “Hello?”

  Chapter 30

  ASHER

  I check my phone for the hundredth time, but there’s still no word from Nathan. Even though my world is falling apart all around me, I still mustered up the strength to go to work, sitting through one boring meeting after the next. Contracts and business deals used to consume every waking moment of my life, but right now I want nothing more than to be out looking for Jade. I can’t even pretend to care about the proposals being presented.

  Nathan said he would find her, and I should just trust that he will. He’s never let me down before. I stare off into space, oblivious to the fact that my name is being called and all my colleagues are staring at me.

  “Huh, what?”

  “The projections,” says Joe, waving a thick stack of papers at me. “We’re still waiting on you to sign off on everything so we can move forward. Have you had a chance to go over the documents yet? We were hoping to get this squared away today.”

  I flip through the huge stack of papers in front of me and my mind draws a blank. Usually, I have things highlighted, with several pages of my own notes to go over, but this is the first time I’ve laid eyes on these documents, and there’s no telling what kind of deal has been contracted.

  Is it a front-loaded deal, or will there be installments? Have the inspections been completed for us to get the necessary permits? The honest answer is, I have no clue, therefore I don’t know where to start with my line of questioning.

  “Um,” I begin. “I haven’t looked at these just yet, but I will. Things have been a little hectic lately, but I’ll be back on top of everything soon.”

  Joe looks around the room, and I see the nervous glances being exchanged between everyone.

  They’re starting to doubt me, and to be honest, I would too.

  “I’m more than happy to hand this off to someone else if they want it,” I say. “It’s not mandatory that I be the one to review it.”

  Let them run the numbers and panic over the possibility of failure. Right now, I’d be perfectly okay taking that chance if it takes some of the responsibility off me.

  Several people cough, and others suddenly become very interested in the glasses of water in front of them.

  “Um,” says Joe, interrupting the silence. “No worries, we’ll extend this project another week or so to allow you the opportunity to review everything. We value your input, and I think I speak for everyone when I say, we wouldn’t feel comfortable moving forward on a project you haven’t signed off on. Now, on to the next order of business. The McGillys have contacted us about a liquidation acquisition. The CEO, and head of their family, recently died and neither heir has a desire to continue running the company. Personally, I don’t think this will be a worthwhile move on our part, but the McGillys have been longtime associates of ours, and they really want us to be the one to broker a deal for them.”

  My phone suddenly goes off, causing everyone to look around the room angrily. Under normal circumstances, phones are forbidden in our meetings, but these aren’t normal circumstances, and there’s no way in hell I was leaving my phone in the office.

  What’s the use in being the boss if I can’t occasionally bend the rules a little?

  I check the caller ID and realize this is the call I’ve been waiting for, so I jump up from the table, leaving my stunned business associates behind.

  “Yes, hello, Nathan? Did you find her?” I ask, already making a beeline for the elevator.

  “Yes, sir, I found her. She’s in a hotel, and I’m texting you the information now,” he says. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the room number yet, but I figured you would want what I have as soon as possible.”

  “What you have is fine, I’ll figure out the room number myself even if I have to knock on every door until I find her.”

  I jog the rest of the distance to the elevator and hit the button several times.

  “Asher, wait!” Joe calls after me. “What’s going on? Is someone hurt? Do you want us to finish the meeting or wait for you to come back?”

  Right now, I don’t give a shit what they do.

  “Honestly, I don’t care.”

  I’m a man on a mission and I have somewhere to be. I step inside the elevator and push the button to close the doors just as Joe makes it to me. I hate to run out on everybody like this, but Jade is far too important to me and I can’t sit here waiting for the meeting to end.

  I have to get to her and see for myself that she’s okay.

  “Thanks, Nathan, you’ve been a lifesaver,” I say into the phone. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “Any time, boss,” he says. “I’m just here to help.”

  I haven’t slept well since Jade disappeared and I know Nathan hasn’t either. He’s been working around the clock to find her and I
know he hasn’t billed me for all the hours he’s invested.

  “Make sure you update your timesheet so I can get you squared away,” I say. “I know you’ve logged a lot of hours on this, and I’m eternally grateful.”

  “Boss, don’t worry about me, worry about getting to Ms. Sinclair. You and I both know you can’t put a price tag on what the heart wants. I wanted to find her just as much as you, and now I can rest easy knowing I’ve done my job.”

  “Thanks again, Nathan,” I say.

  “No problem,” he says, “and good luck.”

  I end the call just as the elevator reaches the lobby, and I sprint to my parked car. For days now, I’ve kept Ed on notice to stay right out front just in case I need to make a quick getaway.

  Luckily, most of the reporters who’ve been camped outside the building have somewhat dissipated, leaving only a handful of stragglers behind.

  “Mr. Jordan, where are you going? Where’s the mystery blonde?”

  “Give us a smile for the cover story!”

  I brush through the small crowd, ignoring the questions they’re firing at me.

  “Do you have a lead on you know who?” asks Ed in a hushed voice. He flicks his cigarette butt on the ground, and crushes it with his foot.

  “I sure do, Ed,” I say, sliding into the car. “Let’s go get her, but I want you to shake these reporters off. The last thing I need is them interrupting what’s bound to be an awkward reunion.”

  I give him the address and hold on to the armrest to keep from falling over as he speeds off into traffic. He cuts this corner and the next, making last-minute turns to help keep the press at bay.

  While I know he’s driving as quickly as he can, I still count the passing seconds as they grow to long agonizing minutes. We get closer to the hotel with each passing moment, and I find myself transforming into a ball of nerves. Part of me wants Ed to stop the car for a little time to rein in my frazzled nerves, but I know that’s not possible.

  What if she won’t see me? What if she starts yelling and screaming that she hates me and never wants to see me again?

  I can’t allow such thoughts to invade my mind, not right now, because Jade should see me, she has to. Once I fully explain what happened and get everything off my chest I’ll force myself to accept whatever decision she makes.

  Damn it, I should have gotten flowers.

  I glance down at my watch, but there’s no time to make any stops. I don’t want to risk missing my last chance with Jade.

  We pull up to the hotel at the same time a car resembling Jade’s pulls in.

  It is Jade, and she looks just as stunning as the first day I ever laid eyes on her.

  “Do you want me to pull up next to her?” asks Ed. “Or should I stay out of sight?”

  “Let’s definitely stay out of sight. I don’t want her to see me and drive off. Just give me a second to pull myself together,” I say reluctantly. My palms are sweaty and my stomach is doing a series of backflips. I wasn’t this nervous when I closed my first million-dollar deal, but now I’m sitting in the back of my car sweating bullets.

  I watch Jade step out of her car as she practically skips inside the hotel with a thick folder tucked under her arm with a wide grin spread across her face.

  She looks so… happy. For a split-second I consider just leaving her alone. Maybe she’s better off without me?

  The thought is fleeting, because deep down I’m selfish, and I know I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t at least try. I always proclaim not to give up easily, and I’m not about to start doing it now.

  If nothing else, she deserves to know the truth, and the chips can fall where they may.

  I take a deep breath and prepare myself to exit the car. She needs to know everything, and she needs to hear it from me firsthand. It’s the least I can do considering the hell I’ve put her through.

  “Good luck, sir,” says Ed. “I hope you get her back. Ms. Sinclair is a very special woman.”

  I nod and pull my lips into a tight line, praying luck is on my side. I close my eyes, exhale again and stroll into the lobby like I own the place. Confidence is key when you need someone to do you a favor.

  “Hello there, Mr. Jordan, I don’t believe we have a reservation on file for you,” says Barbara, the concierge behind the desk. She searches for my name and checks the clipboard in front of her. “If you’ll give me a few moments, I’ll get you booked into the penthouse suite in no time. I hope one of our newer employees didn’t goof on your reservation, if so, please accept my apologies.”

  “No,” I say. “That won’t be necessary, I’m actually here to surprise someone and I’m hoping you’ll be a doll and give me the room number for a Ms. Jade Sinclair.”

  “Oh, Mr. Jordan, that’s against hotel policy. I can lose my job if I give that information out, it’s private.”

  I lean over the counter and flash Barbara my widest smile. I hate to do it, but I’m not above flirting just a little to get what I want. She obviously knows me well from my previous reservations, and while I’d typically never ask such a favor, I’m sure she can fulfill the request.

  “I’d never want you to lose your job, but my heart is on the line, and I certainly won’t tell if you don’t. I’d never wish to go against hotel policy, but I’d certainly appreciate a favor just this once. Besides, I conduct a lot of business with this hotel, so I’d never do anything to harm that relationship on purpose. I swear to be on my best behavior if you can find it in your heart to do this for me.”

  Barbara sighs and looks around nervously. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jordan, I can’t tell you anything about the guests here in the hotel, but if you look around, you may stumble across something useful.”

  Her finger taps the notepad in front of her where she has scribbled a room number in red ink.

  “Thank you,” I say with a wink. “You’ve helped me out tremendously.”

  Barbara smiles and promptly discards the tiny slip of paper into the paper shredder.

  It pays to be well known and connected sometimes.

  I pull out my phone and call Jade’s room, hoping she’ll pick up. The only problem is, I’m not exactly sure what I’ll say if she does.

  Do I immediately apologize? Ask her to meet me in the lobby?

  My heart pounds in my chest and suddenly I feel my tie is cutting off my air supply. No other woman has ever made me want to jump through such hoops to win her back. Normally, I write them off as a lost cause if I’m no longer satisfied with their company, but I can’t do that with Jade. She not the type of woman you let go without a fight, and I’m willing to risk it all and go down with the ship, all for her. The phone rings once, twice and then finally on the third ring, she answers.

  “Hello?”

  “Jade, it’s me, please don’t hang up.”

  Chapter 31

  JADE

  Asher.

  The sound of his voice on the other end of the phone takes my breath away, and suddenly the cloud nine I’m riding on comes crashing to the ground. My emotions collide into each other, and I’m not sure which one is right. Part of me is relieved to hear a familiar voice on the phone and the other part of me remembers everything Magdalene revealed.

  Both the first and last person I want to talk to is on the phone right now, and I’m not sure what I should say. If he wasn’t the cause of my heartache, he would’ve undoubtedly been the first person I called to help comfort me, but unfortunately, he is the cause. He is the sole contributor to this disaster and he had the power to stop it at any time, but he didn’t. Asher made his bed, and he needs to deal with the consequences of his actions. He doesn’t deserve my time or my attention.

  “How did you get this number? And why in the hell are you calling me?” I ask angrily.

  Suddenly it’s very hard to breathe, and every breath I take feels like a labored exercise as I force myself to confront Asher yet again. My lungs are burning, but I know I’ll lose my nerve if I don’t get everything off m
y chest and out in the open while I still have the chance. I’ve got one shot to say what I need, because my heart won’t let me go through this again.

  “You know what, don’t answer that because it doesn’t matter. We have nothing to talk about at this point. Magdalene told me everything. Believe me when I say she went through great lengths to describe how you are just using me to get back at her, and how Jacob is your son. I have no idea how Heath fits into all of this, but it’s no longer my problem. What kind of low life does such a thing to another person? You basically targeted and manipulated me into your sick little game, and I didn’t deserve this. If you wanted to play cat and mouse with Magdalene, you could have left me out of it.”

  “Jade, if you’ll let me explain, you’ll see it’s nothing like you think it is,” he says. “Please just give me a chance.”

  I angrily run my fingers through my hair, resisting the urge to pull it out.

  Maybe the pain of that will hurt less than what my heart is feeling right now.

  “You don’t have to explain anything to me,” I argue, but even I can hear the lie in my voice. I try to choke back the tears, but a strangled sob manages to escape my lips.

  “I gave myself to you, Asher. I let you into my heart and my body. All you did was use me! Honestly, there’s nothing for us to discuss. What you did was cruel and completely unforgivable.”

  “You have every right to be upset,” he says. “I should have told you about Magdalene the second I found out you worked for her.”

  “So, it is true? You’ve been lying to me all this time. I thought you were distant because of Heath or something dealing with your business, but I never imagined it would be because of Magdalene. Hell, I would have accepted you ignoring me once you found out I was a nanny, but this takes the cake,” I say, pacing the room. “Not to mention you’ve allowed me to care for your son, and you didn’t even say a word about that either. I cared for Jacob like he was my own.”

  The thought of Jacob is like a hard punch to the stomach. I’ll never see those big green eyes again, or run my fingers through his soft dark curls. Who’s going to make sure he has his elephant and not his giraffe during nap time, or pretend to bite his toes when he first wakes up?