“What happened?”
“You fainted. Here, try to take a sip of this soda.”
Jade pushed the can away as Marge put it to her lips.
“When was the last time you ate anything?” Bryce’s voice took on an edge of irritation she didn’t understand. Why would he be upset with her?
Nausea threatened to erupt at the mention of food. “I’m not hungry.”
“It’s okay,” Marge said. “The ambulance is on the way. They’ll know what to do.”
“Ambulance?” Jade shook her head and spread her arms, seeking something to pull herself up with. “No, I can’t be seen like this, it would—”
“Not look good.” Bryce put the soda can to her lips. “We’ll call them off if you drink this and let me take you to the hospital.”
“Yes.” Jade took a sip and her panic started to subside. She couldn’t let her employees see her like this. What would they think?
“Get the elevator ready, Marge.” Bryce pulled Jade up with him when he stood and kept a firm grip around her waist.
He got her into the elevator and punched the button for the lobby. Jade had never felt so tired. She numbly watched the floors pass by, waited while people got on and off. They’d nearly reached the first floor when her head started to spin again.
Bryce steadied her as they walked to the parking garage elevator. She leaned into his strong body, her knees threatening to buckle from under her. “Don’t let go,” she whispered.
He pulled her into his arms. “I’ve got you.”
Those three words she’d longed to hear… faded into darkness.
BRYCE SHOOK JADE… no response. His chest constricted as if a linebacker had sacked him. In the last moments before she’d passed out again, the color she’d gained from her embarrassment vanished. The vulnerability reflected in her eyes gave him an overwhelming need to protect her. That instinct came on so sudden and so strong it scared the crap out of him.
I should have let the ambulance take her.
He needed to hurry. By the time he got Jade belted into his passenger seat, she was out cold. Bryce ran around the car, jumped in, threw the car into first gear, and took off. He screeched out of the parking garage, barely missing a truck turning too wide into the garage entrance.
Idiot.
He headed northwest along Third Avenue, weaving through traffic, before turning right onto Pike Street. Pike was backed up from traffic heading under the I-5 freeway. He made it to the light just as it turned red.
Dammit.
Jade was still out. When the light changed, he stomped on the gas. The car lurched forward to catch up to the traffic in front of him. He banked hard right onto Broadway, relieved to see Swedish Hospital dead ahead.
“Jade, we’re here.” Bryce pulled in front of the ER. He shook her arm. “Jade?” Her face was still void of color, and her hand was icy. He felt for her pulse, and his heart stuttered. He couldn’t find one.
Bryce jumped out of the car and ran to the passenger door. Swiftly, he pulled her out of the front seat and into his arms. “I need help,” he shouted and charged into the ER.
A nurse ran to his side with a gurney.
“She passed out. She won’t wake up.” He laid her down gently.
“We’ll take care of her. Please stop at the front desk.” The nurse rushed Jade through two swinging doors.
She has to be okay. She has to be.
Bryce wiped sweat from his brow. As he approached the front desk, his heart was beating faster than a racehorse’s on its final lap. He explained the situation, then sat down to fill out the paperwork he was given.
He stared at the form, his eyes bouncing all over the page. He couldn’t do this. He’d known Jade a long time, but he knew little that was pertinent to the situation, not even her address. He called Marge, who proved to be quite helpful, and gripped the pen tight while he filled out what he could.
When he finished, he stared at the colorful fish in the tank next to him and rested his head against the wall. Gloria will haunt me for eternity if anything happens to Jade. He closed his eyes and tried to relax as his heart slowed.
“Bryce, how is she?”
He recognized Bill’s voice immediately. Marge must have called Jade’s parents as soon as he left for the hospital. Bryce stood to meet Jade’s father. “I haven’t heard anything from the doctor yet. She was unconscious when I brought her in. It looks like she hasn’t been eating.”
“I should have been paying attention,” Grace said to her husband, who squeezed her hand.
Now that her hair was graying, Grace looked so much like Gloria. She was petite and elegant, with slender hands, high cheekbones, and stunning green eyes. Jade was a reflection of her mother, with the exception of her dark brown hair and unnatural red tips.
“Gloria shouldn’t have put Jade in this position so early after her death.” Bryce gritted his teeth, regretting the outburst.
Grace’s eyes were filled with concern. “We pleaded with Mom to change her mind about making her CEO right away. She knew Jade wouldn’t accept the position if too much time went by.”
“That’s Gloria for you.” Bryce nodded. “Nothing we can do about it now, other than make sure Jade takes care of herself.”
Bill extended his hand. “We’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on her at the office.”
“Of course.” Bryce shook his hand.
Great. Now I’m really locked in as Jade’s babysitter.
Guilt punched him below the ribs as if Kenzie were there to do it for him. How could he be thinking such a thing when Jade’s fragile body had just been lying in his arms? She needed someone to look out for her, someone to care for her. She needed someone who cared, period. She needed someone like… him.
What the hell? Where was that coming from?
It was the same need he’d felt earlier, that need to protect her. He didn’t like it, not one bit. Yet… it was still there. Why?
Jade mattered for some reason. Maybe it was just that he needed to protect his investment. Synergy Technologies was everything to him.
Yeah, that made a whole lot more sense than some deep primal need to protect her.
CHAPTER 6
ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. Jade wished her parents would stop hovering. It wasn’t like she had brain cancer or anything. In fact, the doctor had said her CBC was normal, whatever that was. Other than severe dehydration and low blood sugar, she was fine.
After taking two days off work, Jade returned on Wednesday. Somehow, she’d avoided Bryce all morning. How could she face him after he’d carried her out of the office in his arms—strong muscular arms with biceps to die for? And his chest, she’d actually laid her cheek against his hard, sculpted chest.
Reality was much more potent than her fantasies when it came to Bryce. But he was not someone she should be thinking about right now—or ever. He was her employee.
Although she wasn’t hungry, it was noon already, and she had to take her doctor’s orders seriously so she wouldn’t end up back in the hospital. She finished her Gatorade, closed the contract, and headed out to lunch. There was a McDonalds two blocks south of the building.
I think I can stomach a vanilla shake and fries. Probably not what the doc had in mind when he prescribed high-caloric foods.
The last time she’d eaten at a McDonalds was with Dad after ballet class when she was eleven. Mom would not have approved. The first thing Jade noticed when she walked through the door were numerous eyes focused on her. Some she recognized from work.
Her stomach growled from the smell of fries permeating the restaurant. After getting her order, she found a table in the back corner, away from staring eyes. It didn’t surprise her when Roz, the receptionist and company snoop, sat down without an invitation. Jade had watched her for many years. At first, she’d found Roz’s social skills irritating. But her grandmother had made her realize that Roz paid attention and had a lot of useful information—not bad for someone only a few years older
than she was.
“Can’t eat, huh?” Roz popped a fry into her mouth.
Jade continued to suck on her straw. The thick, creamy vanilla shake soothed her stomach.
“Must be tough for you. I know you and your Gran were close.” Roz bit into another fry and continued to talk with her mouth full. “You gotta eat though, or you’ll fall ova. You lost a lotta weight. I mean, your clothes normally fit perfect. I always admired the way you dress. But now, well, you look kinda awful.”
“Thanks.” Jade couldn’t help but smile. Roz just said it like it was, and you had to respect someone like that.
“No one knows where you were though. Bryce and Marge have kept it on the QT.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Oh, me? I just put things together, you know. How you and Bryce left early on Friday, how Marge wouldn’t tell nobody where you were…” Roz put three fries into her mouth and continued talking. “How you looked better today than you did last week. I’m guessing you went to the hospital and they fixed you up.” She sipped her soda. “You did a pretty good job hiding it. Don’t think most people noticed. You were locked up in your office most of the time.” Roz shrugged. “Anyway, most people think Bryce runs things, and you just sit in your office and look pretty.”
“Really?” Jade sat up straighter.
“Yup, really.” Roz finished her fries, then un-wrapped her Quarter Pounder with cheese. “So, whatcha gonna do about it?”
“I’ll have to think about that.” Jade put down her shake, surprised by how famished she was. She reached for a fry. The salt on her tongue had her craving another. She popped two in her mouth, savored every bite, and swallowed. “First thing I think I’ll do is offer you a new job.” It would be better to have Roz finding out information and giving it to her, rather than being the topic of the gossip.
“Oh, yeah, doin’ what?”
“I’d like you to be my personal assistant.”
“You mean like sit at a desk outside your office and do stuff for you?” Roz bit off a piece of cheese hanging from the side of her burger.
“Yes, and stay on top of what’s going on and keep me informed.” Jade put another two fries in her mouth. Her appetite was increasing.
“Well, the pay attention part I’m good at. The other stuff? I dunno.”
“You’ll learn. My grandmother said you’re a fast learner.”
“She did? She said that about me?”
“There’s one catch though.” Jade’s voice became serious.
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“You’ll hear a lot sitting outside my office. You work for me, and you report to me. You do not, under any circumstances, relay any information you find out about me or what happens around me to anyone. Is that acceptable?” Crap, I sound like Gran.
Roz bit off another hunk of her burger, responding with a sloppy salute. “Aye, aye, cap-i-tan.”
“Good. You can move your stuff into the desk outside my office after lunch. I’ll let Marge know.” Jade stood to leave. She’d just made her first decision. She didn’t care if Gran would approve. Okay she cared, but that was beside the point.
Now she needed to get some things in order, and then, well, she’d have to tackle something tougher than this.
She’d have to talk to Bryce.
MARGE SENT THE URGENT EMAIL to Johansson Tek for Bryce.
“Hey Marge, where d’ya want me to put this stuff?” Roz peered over two full boxes in her arms.
“What stuff is that?” Marge stopped typing to look at Roz, whose face was barely visible between the clock radio and the phone stacked on top of a bunch of files.
“I thought you woulda packed by now. Want me to put this over heah?” Roz walked to the wall and set the boxes down with a loud thump.
“What do you mean packed up?
“Oh, sorry. I thought Jade woulda told you by now.”
“Told me what?” Marge stood, unsure she wanted to hear what was coming next.
“I’m Jade’s new assistant. She told me to pack up my things and move after lunch.”
“I see.” Marge grasped the side of her chair. “Put the rest of your belongings right over there.” She pointed to the wall and tried to keep her hand from shaking. “I’ll request boxes from Shipping and start packing my desk right away.”
“Thanks, Marge. Didn’t mean to be a botha.”
“No bother.” Marge held back the crack in her voice. She was not going to cry. She would walk out of the building with her head raised high. She would have appreciated it if Jade had fired her personally. After twenty-three years of service to this company, she deserved that much.
BRYCE CALLED OUT to Marge as she walked past his office. “Do you know where Jason is? I’ve been looking for him all morn—”
Marge’s eyes were bloodshot, her mouth tight in a grim line.
He pulled her into his office, shut the door behind him, and put both hands on her shoulders as she sank into a chair. “What is it? Is it Mattie?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” Marge waved her hand, hardly able to speak.
“What’s wrong, Marge?” Bryce knelt beside her.
Her eyes welled with tears. “I—I’ve been fired.”
“What?” Bryce almost laughed. Her stunned expression told him it was no joke. “There must be some kind of mistake. Who fired you? I haven’t heard anything about this.”
“Roz is moving into my desk right now.” Marge breathed deeply. “She’s Jade’s new assistant.”
That didn’t make any sense. “Don’t worry. I assure you, there’s been some kind of mistake. I’ll be right back. Don’t move, okay?” Bryce waited for her to nod before he left.
He stormed over to Jade’s office, noting that Roz was indeed moving her stuff in.
What the hell is she thinking firing Marge?
Jade was nowhere in sight. He clenched his teeth. Once again, Jade was sending him off the rails. Finally, he spotted her coming off the service elevator. “Jade, may I have a word with you?”
“In a few minutes. I need to finish up something first, and, oh, I need to speak with you about something too.”
Bryce grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty conference room.
Sara and Jason stopped, apparently eager to see what was going on.
“Get your hands off me.” Jade pulled her arm free and glared at Bryce. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Me?” He shoved the door closed, then whirled on her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, firing Marge without consulting me? Do you know how many years of service she’s put into this company? She’s indispensable. You have no right to let her go.”
Jade raised her voice to match his. “Let her go? Why do you think I let her go?”
“Because Roz is moving into her desk as we speak.” He pointed in the direction of Jade’s office. “Or are you going to deny that too?”
“No.” Jade put her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to deny that. I hired Roz as my personal assistant today.”
“So you did—”
“Yes I did.” She raised her hand to stop him. “I believe Marge is most helpful to you. I was just down in Storage asking them to bring a desk for her. I was trying to get back up to Marge to let her know before Roz surprised her. Clearly I didn’t make it back in time, and clearly I made a mistake.”
“Marge is in my office right now. You better fix this fast.”
“Fine.” Jade yanked open the door and headed to Bryce’s office.
Bryce caught Sara handing Jason five bucks. “Who’d you bet on?”
“You.” Jason gave him an appreciative male-to-male smile.
Bryce followed Jade.
Great, just great. Now the employees are betting against us.
JADE REGRETTED the pain she’d caused Marge the minute she walked into Bryce’s office. “Marge.” Jade sat down next to her. “I’m so sorry for giving you the wrong impression.”
A glint of h
ope sparkled in Marge’s eyes.
“Bryce really needs you, and I need someone like Roz to keep me informed. So I was planning to make you Bryce’s executive assistant and give you… let’s say a five-percent increase in your salary. Does that work for you?”
Marge straightened her shoulders. “Yes, that is an acceptable offer, Miss Buchanan.”
“Good. They’re setting up your new desk right now.”
Bryce winked at Marge. He stepped aside to let her out to the hallway to see her new desk and accessories being set up right outside his office.
Marge appeared happy with the new mahogany wrap-around desk, with two matching lateral filing cabinets and a bookshelf flanking either side. It was Gloria’s old set.
Bryce put his hand on Jade’s shoulder to stop her from leaving. “I apologize for earlier.”
Jade inclined her head, happy he apologized first. Warmth lingered on her arm where his hand had been.
“I really appreciate what you’ve done for Marge. I would have appreciated it more if you had talked to me about it ahead of time.” The anger in his voice gave way to a soothing tone.
It was easier being mad at Bryce when he was yelling at her. When he spoke to her this way and looked at her with appreciation in his eyes, she couldn’t stop from backing down. Even worse, she couldn’t stop the flutter in her belly.
“I made the decision with Roz twenty minutes ago. Next time I have a spontaneously great idea, I’ll consult with you before mentioning it to anyone else.”
Jade headed to her office. She could now cross off having the embarrassing conversation with Bryce from her list. She had to admit, she kind of liked pushing his buttons. The strong clench of his jawline, the deep honey of his eyes, and the wide stance of his legs made him über sexy.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him that way.
No, what she should be thinking about is the way she’d handled Marge’s change of assignment. As much as she’d wanted to surprise Marge with her new desk area setup, she should have asked Roz to give her time to speak to Marge first.
Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) Page 4