Nonplused by this newer, softer, much more sensitive version of Jade, all Anthony could think of to say was “thank you.”
She smiled at him. “No, thank you, Anthony.” Patting his shoulder she turned and walked away to find Stacey. It was time to head home where there was sure to be a houseful of people working away as well.
Prep time for the kitchen crew would be at four o’clock in the morning. Both women had volunteered for this but would show up around five o’clock in the morning. It was going to be a day that necessitated being jacked up on caffeine. Jade wished she still smoked but she had given up the habit when Holly had gotten ill.
Still she was looking forward to the few short hours she would share with Stacey in their bed with her warm nubile body curled up against her. She quickened her pace to the pet tent where Stacey was bound to be.
Upon realizing the drawings Jade had shown him were produced by Stacey, Anthony had been suitably impressed. He insisted Stacey draw one of him and Reilly and was so pleased with the results he went out immediately to get proper supplies for her.
Now in the pet tent drawings of each animal would be on top of each pen for purchase. Some of the dogs and cats had already been adopted as pictures of them were on the Kalispell Animal Shelter website. Stacey was almost done but still had a couple more to complete. She had also finally agreed to draw pictures of people with their pets for a donation.
Reaching the pet tent entrance, she stood there for a moment looking at Stacey with her head bent over her work drawing intently. Not wanting to interrupt, she quietly waited. Stacey, feeling eyes upon her, looked up and smiled when she saw her.
“I can wait until you’re finished.”
“That’s okay. I’m starting to get really tired. I’ll probably do better with a fresh start in the morning for Molly.” Molly was an older, placid Rottweiler whose owner had passed away and so she had ended up at the shelter.
Both women had fallen in love with her and had wanted her as a companion for Reilly. But much to their delight and dismay, she had been adopted quickly by a very wealthy business owner living in Boston. She was set to be flown out after the charity event. The picture Stacey was drawing of her was to be sent as a “thank you” gift for his adoption of Molly.
Jade had found she was quite taken with a cat called Todd. Such a charming fellow with so much personality that she found herself bursting out laughing at his antics. At times it felt like he was being deliberately funny to make her laugh.
Todd was so charismatic she had no doubts he would be adopted before the evening was out.
Stacey, having finished packing up her art supplies, caught her shaking her head.
“What are you shaking your head about?”
“I’m thinking about how much I’ve changed since I’ve met you. I think you’ve bewitched me Stacey Jackson.”
She smiled. “Well I think that’s a good thing. You were pretty uptight when I met you and now you’re much more relaxed.”
“Let’s go home and get to bed.”
Stifling a big yawn, she nodded in agreement. It had been a long day for both women and tomorrow promised to be an even longer one.
The two security guards watching the entrance nodded at the two beautiful women as they passed. They had heard rumors that they were together as a couple but if they were they were taking great pains to hide it. They wished they would kiss as that would give them something to think and dream about during the long watch of the night.
It usually always took Jade longer to fall asleep than Stacey. She suspected it was because she wanted to listen to her soft breathing and gaze down at her enjoying her peacefulness as she slept.
Tonight she was draped around Stacey with her hand cupping her right breast as she lay against her. Feeling the soft weight and warmth of it lying in her hand, knowing she could touch it anytime made her sigh with happiness. Just the simple carnal pleasure of Stacey’s warm body pressed up against her made her realized she never wanted to sleep alone again. It truly was lonesome to sleep in a bed all by yourself.
Gazing at the back of her head with its beautiful cascading chestnut hair, she felt herself slowly drift off to sleep where she dreamed of waterfalls softly lit by blue lights and the scent of spring flowers in the air.
When Anthony got to bed he wondered why he was even bothering because he’d have to get up in three hours’ time. Still he figured it was better than nothing.
The barn was turning out to be perfection itself. Much laughter and fun had been had by everyone there. He had made a couple of friends he would be keeping in touch with. The flowers were looking phenomenal. It truly was like walking into a park during a warm April evening. He was a little taken back when Jade thanked him for his efforts. Somehow he felt like he should be thanking her instead of the other way around. In the rarefied air of their industry it was so easy to get out of touch with the reality of life. The people he had been working with tonight were down to earth, easy to talk to and didn’t take themselves too seriously. It had truly been a fun night. It felt more like play than work.
After rinsing off in a quick shower, he hopped into bed and lay looking at the ceiling. He realized that for the first time in a long time he felt truly happy.
Chapter Eighteen
Colin sat in his hotel room reviewing the footage. The pictures were a bit blurry taken without his tripod but the tech guys should be able to enhance them but the video was excellent. He felt a twinge of conscious at the expression on Jade’s face as she looked up at Stacey. She was in love with the little ho but that still wouldn’t be enough to get her off the hook. Stacey, alias, Twylla Star, was a porn star and an escort. No matter how fresh faced and nice she appeared now, her former life is what would titillate the public.
Once this story was out in the public more stories would surface about Jade as everyone would want to cash in on it. None of them would probably be true but the accusations would add further damage to her reputation.
After this, he could maybe take a few months off and concentrate on his novel. Picking up the phone he dialed his editor.
Without even so much as a hello, he said, “Look in your In Box and see the secure file I sent.” With that he hung up rubbing his hands in anticipation. Matt was going to have a heart attack. Jade Tanner over the years had made it known she was a staunch supporter of women’s right. The porn industry was not included in that.
Matt called back. “You working on the by-line?”
“As we speak.
“Did you know that Jade is funding a big charity event up here right now for a local animal shelter? A lot of big wigs are in town.”
Matt was silent for a moment. “We won’t publish your story until this event is done. We don’t want the other journalists there horning in on it once it breaks. Give them a chance to clear out, let her shine in the limelight for a while before we turn a different kind of light on her.
“It’ll make the fall that much harder.” With that final terse pronouncement, he hung up.
Going back to his laptop, Colin continued working on his article. With a story this juicy there was no need to embellish.
******
The alarm clock rang way too early at four-thirty in the morning. Anthony blearily opened his eyes and groaned.
He smelled fresh coffee as soon as he opened the door. He blessed whoever it was that made it. Jade was standing at the kitchen counter the picture of domesticity as she cut fresh fruit and cheese for the tray along with buns to take to the barn.
Turning toward him she smiled at him and he could see she, like him, was tired.
“Need a hand?”
She nodded gratefully moving over at the counter to make some room for him. She handed him a knife.
“Coffee first?”
She laughed. “Absolutely. That should have been the first thing I offered you.”
Standing beside his beautiful, green eyed boss they laughed and chatted. For the first time in the twelve ye
ars that Anthony knew Jade she opened up to him about her strange upbringing, and her extremely high I.Q. He knew she was smart but didn’t realize how smart until now. Then she dropped the bombshell. She said it so softly and so quietly he almost missed it. “Stacey’s an escort that I paid to have sex with.”
Laying his knife carefully on the counter, Anthony placed both hands on the edge to steady himself. “What?”
Jade biting her lip nervously said, “You heard me.”
So many questions rose to his lips that none made it out. For a few moments Anthony stood mutely looking at her. Spluttering, he said, “Jade, how, why?”
The story came out and he listened carefully. All those months back he had sensed something in her that had alarmed him but had said nothing, done nothing to help her.
He felt dread grip his heart. If this ever came out it would have real implications for Jade and the company. But especially for her as her view on women’s rights were well-documented in many lectures and newspaper articles.
Now here she stood with her head down slicing pineapple after dropping the equivalent of a nuclear bomb on him.
“Jade, if this ever gets out you must know how serious the repercussions will be don’t you?” He was trying to keep his voice calm, but the anger was growing inside that she would put herself and the company in this position.
“You’re angry. I can hear it in your voice, I thought about not telling you at all. Then I thought about telling you after the event but for some reason that I can’t explain, I’m telling you now.” She looked up at him. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I don’t know why I did what I did.
“I do know that I never intended to fall in love with Stacey but I did.” He could hear the plea for understanding in her voice. “I thought I could have one glorious weekend of uninhibited sex with her and, you know, the closeness of another human body next to me to hold and touch.” She stumbled over her words. “I wanted to be close to someone. I felt so lost and lonely, disconnected which is crazy because all I had to do was pick up the phone and I could have had any number of people to be with.”
He understood. When you got to be as powerful and as rich as Jade, you lost track of your authentic self. People were your friends because of who you were and what you could do for them but not because they genuinely liked you.
“What makes Stacey different from anyone else?”
She looked at him full in the face. “Our hearts connect. It’s the deepest, most intense feeling I’ve ever had with anyone.” Pausing for a moment, she said softly. “Even you and I consider you my best friend.”
Anthony sighed. “But not best enough to consider sharing this with me before it happened.”
She hung her head. “It was like my own little world that I could escape too. I was in too deep to turn back.
“I was getting away from who I was and all the pressures that go along with it.” She shrugged helplessly. “I am so sorry for loading you down with this right now because the timing’s not great.”
“The timing would never be great.
“Jade, were you careful?”
“Very careful.”
Anthony looked at her thinking to himself, But if this gets out it’s a death sentence for you. You’re with a porn star and escort that you PAID TO BE WITH. There was no fallback position. Anthony realized she must have read his doubts in his face because she said, “I was careful. Really I was.”
She seemed so anxious to have his approval and for him to believe that she had been careful, he felt sorry for her. Here was his Jade, called the Ice Queen by many and a bitch by a lot more, who had made it in a man’s world. She seemed almost super human, a legend if you will, but in reality she was as human as anyone else needing closeness and connection. And sometimes in the human quest to get it, the quick fix of sex seemed to provide a resolution – for a while at least.
They both heard the door open and realized Stacey was up. Softly Anthony said to Jade, “We’ll talk about this later.”
He was very worried. Jade’s lack of public persona would hurt her if this came out. It came across as elitist and not as someone who is intensely private.
Just as Holly before, she had made him the public face of Jade Cosmetics and Tanner Industries. If she had made herself readily accessible to the press and public they may be more forgiving and sympathetic toward her. Now they’d crucify her.
It had to be put on the back burner. He had a charity event that would begin shortly and a mass of volunteers waiting for him. Wrapping up his fruit plate he headed toward the shower to get ready for the grueling day ahead.
When Stacey had walked into the kitchen the vibes between Anthony and Jade were intense. Jade had smiled and kissed her warmly but there had been something else in that kiss. Worry maybe? She couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she looked at Jade. “Is there anything I can help you with?” Stacey watched as Jade covered the tray with plastic wrap.
“Everything’s under control here.” She turned and looked at her. Her face softened. “Have a quick shower and we’ll be off.”
Now thinking about the day ahead, she felt unaccountably nervous. She was sitting across from Jade at the head table. Wondering if any of the men would recognize her when she was dressed up with her makeup on. Without it she didn’t really look like her alter ego but worried with it on she may be recognized as Twylla Star. She’d use a really light hand and wear her hair up. It was always down in her nudes and movies. Having it up would hopefully make a difference. No one in town appeared to recognize her. Stacey had taken pains to hide her voluptuous figure and with no makeup she looked very young and fresh faced.
Sighing to herself, she wondered if she could ever put the distance she needed between herself and her past.
She was looking forward to the event being over. Then they could head back to New York and start their life together. And during the past week, time together had been at a premium.
Outside of her dad, she couldn’t recall feeling this loved or happy in her life. The flip side was that if something came to take it away, she didn’t think she could handle it. She couldn’t go back, ever.
******
Colin finished sending his story to Matt via secure email when George called.
“I got one of the neighbors to talk who lives beside the house that Jade rented.
Colin could hardly believe his ears. This was getting better and better.
“She’s one of those nosy neighbors. She saw a young woman she thought was a prostitute being dropped off.
“Of course she didn’t really know. But then Jade and her little whore decided to take it into the Jacuzzi in the backyard and make love under the heavens. You’ll never guess what.”
“What?” He was breathless
“Our nosy little neighbor took pictures of the two lovebirds doing very naughty, dirty things to each other.”
“I’m glad she did but why would she unless she knew who Jade was?”
“I don’t think she realized who was in the Jacuzzi with Stacey. Ostensibly she says it was to show the owners of the rental property what goes on there but these are pictures from someone who’s done this before. The quality is good. I think she gets off on them when she’s feeling a little horny.
“I guess what was so unusual is that it was girl on girl. No lights or cameras so she knew it wasn’t a porno being shot as I guess the house has been used for that before. Figured it was pro and her date.”
“Jesus, how long did she watch for?”
George reiterated again. “Long enough to get some great pictures of the cool, cold Jade Tanner having a hell of a good time”
Colin thought back to his footage and felt slightly aroused.
“Thanks Georgie, again I owe you big time.”
“Hang on! I am not done yet. I got someone at the escort agency to talk. The weekend date booked with Twylla Star was with a Jayden Taylor. ‘He’ paid in cash via P
ayPal. Don’t you think Jayden Taylor sounds an awful lot like Jade Tanner? I bet Jayden Taylor is the screen name Jade used for her on-line chats with Twylla. Remember Vanessa, the ho I talked too, said Stacey had been chatting online with someone for several weeks who took the plunge and booked a date? This Jayden has got to be our Jade. I bet for her on-line chats she used a credit card and if it is our Jade Tanner, we’ll find something on her statements.”
“Can you get that information?”
“I’ve got a friend who can get it for us. And Colin?”
“Yes George?”
“This is going to cost you a lot of money.”
He laughed. “Yah but this time I can afford to pay it.” Disconnecting, he put the phone on his desk. Rich people always thought they covered their tracks but there was always something that tripped them up.
Like a shark sensing blood, he was going in for the kill.
Chapter Nineteen
Back at the red barn, the spring fantasy was taking shape under the skillful direction of Anthony and the professional florists.
Tables had been set to perfection awaiting their guests. The fragrant spring flowers produced a scent that no perfume could ever recreate. Cascades of flowers in urns and stone flowerpots with lush greenery trailing through lattices with pussy willows and water reeds were interspersed between the springtime bouquets.
The four waterfalls placed strategically in the barn were lit by midnight blue lights. The water looked like rich indigo silk cascading over the artificial rocks into the pools below. Myriads of lights strung across the high ceiling twinkled like stars in the heavens giving off a soft lunar glow. The whole effect was magical. Late in the afternoon the line crew, chef and waiters had arrived to discuss their plan of action for the meal. Everything was to be plated and served fresh. With two hundred very elite guests to be served and his reputation on the line, the chef made it very clear there were to be no mistakes tonight.
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