by Anna Adams
“I’ll tell him. But will he believe me?” Maude asked, as a gnawing feeling in her stomach grew.
Chapter 19
“CYNTHIA, COME INTO my office, will you?”
Cynthia arranged the files on her desk and went into Mrs. Mendez’ office.
When she entered, she noticed she wasn’t alone. An attractive woman in an ivory business suit sat primly facing Mrs. Mendez.
“This is Mrs. Stanton from Bosphorus Enterprise. You will be working with her these next couple months. She needs advice regarding tax law for her company. And maybe some of her own taxes as well. You’ll work your magic, won’t you?”
Cynthia narrowed her eyes.
“Mrs. Stanton? I can’t.”
“Of course you can.”
“May I speak with you privately?”
“There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Mrs. Stanton. She knows you took a look at the case against Bosphorus.”
Cynthia’s jaw dropped.
“How did you know? I didn’t tell you the company’s name.”
“I did a little detective work. It wasn’t all that hard to figure out. There aren’t that many class action lawsuits involving pesticides.”
“Yes, isn’t it unfortunate?” Mrs. Stanton said, unabashed. “Those poor kids.”
“Poor kids? You knew what your pesticide was doing to babies in the womb.”
“I can assure you that was not the case.”
“Despite the number of studies that warned you that fetuses exposed to the pesticide later developed neurological problems?”
“Imagine for an instant that I did know.” Mrs. Stanton crossed her legs. “There was no certainty. It could be the product but it could be many other things. Perhaps pollution or smoking. Some of the mothers smoked while they were pregnant.”
“Not all of them.”
“Cynthia, Mrs. Stanton isn’t on trial here.”
“She will be and there’s a conflict of interest. I can’t work on her taxes.”
“You can and you will. You’ll be abandoning the other case and no one will ever know that you worked on it. Besides, you were only unofficially involved.”
“I won’t give Mrs. Stanton new ways to evade the law.”
Overcome with emotion, tears sprung into Cynthia’s brown eyes. She brushed them away.
“Stop that crying right now,” Mrs. Mendez said sternly. “Women should never cry in a man’s world. You’ll appear weak. You are working under me. And I can assure you that you will work on Mrs. Stanton’s taxes.”
“I’m no longer working for you. I’m done,” Cynthia said resolutely.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I quit. I’ve had it. I’ve had it! I can’t stand working here any longer. This was not how I envisioned my law career. I wanted to help people. Not firms who don’t even need help but get it anyway because they can pay for it. I’m done.”
Cynthia turned heel and left the room. She marched to her cubicle and put her personal items in her bag. Not much was hers. Only a photo of Daniel and a tea-cup.
She marched to the elevator. Once inside, she waited for the doors to close. But before they did, Mrs. Mendez put her hand in and stepped inside.
“You won’t change my mind.” Cynthia jabbed the button to close the doors.
“I won’t dare try. I’m glad you’re leaving the firm.”
“Not as much as I am.”
“I didn’t think you’d last this long.”
“I needed the money.” Cynthia watched the elevator close, blocking her cubicle from her view.
“You don’t anymore?”
“Not at this price.”
“I’m glad. Don’t ever work for anyone like me again.”
“What?”
Mrs. Mendez took a deep breath and turned to Cynthia.
“The world needs people like you. I love money too much. I can no longer live without it. I’ve changed my views to support my lifestyle. But you’re young. You’re not yet tainted by this world. You need to do the things you set out to do.”
“Is that why you hired me? To make me miserable.”
“I hired you to open your eyes. You won’t start changing the world in ten years when you have kids and a mortgage. You need to do it now.”
“I thought you said I was crazy for wanting this.”
“You are. But crazy people are those who make this world a better place because they envision a world that the rest of us don’t see until it’s handed to us. I grew up dirt poor and I’m never going back to that. But there were people on my path. People like you, who helped me become the woman I am today. Not people like Mrs. Stanton. Don’t give up. I feel like I’ve now played my part on this hero’s journey.”
The elevator reached ground floor. Cynthia looked at Mrs. Mendez. She smiled through her tears.
“You have. Thank you, I’ll always be grateful for your help and for opening my eyes. But I hope one day I can convince you to join me. The world needs more than words. People need action.”
Cynthia stepped out of the elevator and left the building intent on never looking back.
“YOU QUIT?” DANIEL BLURTED out, astounded.
“I don’t regret it.” Cynthia shook her head staunchly.
“I have a confession to make. I quit, too.” Daniel waited for Cynthia’s reaction, which came soon enough.
“Are you telling me this just to see how I react when, in fact, you didn’t quit your job?” Cynthia asked, dubious.
“Is that what you want to hear me say?” Daniel shuffled his feet.
“I want you to tell me you quit your job.” Cynthia took Daniel’s face between her hands and looked at him with hopeful eyes.
“I’m done.”
“Good,” Cynthia said, relieved.
“For real? Even though there’s no way we’re going to find our own place?”
“What if we don’t look for a new place?”
“You want to stay here? With my father coming over every evening telling us we’re leeches.”
“Let’s leave New York. Let’s do what we said we would. Travel and help people.”
“But I thought you wanted us to start our lives here?”
“What about our dreams? Neither you nor I have been happy since we came back. Nine to five isn’t for us.”
“It’s more like nine to midnight, but hey, who’s counting?”
“I’m counting. And I want us to have a life together, but not here. Not like this.”
“I got news from our friend at Amnesty International a month ago. They’re looking for people like us. He’s going to write again soon with more information. I didn’t know how to tell you but, since you quit your job, I feel like this is an amazing opportunity.”
“What is?”
“Nigeria. Working with victims of corruption.”
“Like Maude’s mother and father did. My uncle, Aaron.”
“I thought it might be too difficult for you, with your family history and your uncle getting killed over there.”
“I want to do it.”
“You sure? It means no apartment on Park Avenue, little money or comfort.”
“It means I get to visit a family I haven’t seen in a while. It means walking in my uncle’s footsteps. It means traveling again and leaving our comfort zone. As long as we’re together, doing what we love, we’ll be happy.”
Cynthia kissed Daniel and they planned their departure with excitement and a renewed sense of purpose.
MATT WAS IN THE CREATION Room and, for a moment, as Maude crossed the threshold, it felt like time had thrust her back into the past. Sitting at the piano, he got up when Maude walked in.
“Matt, you’ve got to listen to me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I’m going to tell you a little story. A French girl arrived in New York and she met two guys. One that she instantly disliked while the other one she got along with just fine. And yes, she was attracted to the second on
e for a while. But once she got to know the first one she liked him so much that the second one paled in comparison.”
“It’s like I always thought,” Matt sighed. “You liked Thomas until you found out he was a thief.” He looked miserable and Maude’s heart ached. She took a step closer to him.
“That’s not true. I’m sorry for not saying it earlier. I did like Thomas, but I stopped being attracted to him before he stole my song. After the day you and I spent together visiting New York, believe me, Matt, Thomas was far from my mind. And when I went on a date with him, all I thought of was you. I’ve never regretted going out with you.”
“You haven’t?”
“I love what we have. Past, present, and future, hopefully. If you still want me.”
“If you’re sure.”
“A hundred per cent positive. Just like I’m sure that Thomas doesn’t love me.
“You ruined everything by saying that.”
“I promise,” Maude insisted. “He realized it after that disgusting kiss. He loves Lindsey and they’re happily together now.”
“Don’t expect me to double date with them ever again.”
“I won’t. Besides, I think we need some more alone time, don’t you?”
“I’ll never say no to that.”
JAZMINE COULD NOT BELIEVE her eyes.
Eighteen thousand new subscribers.
She scrolled down to the comments under her video.
Courtney00: Who’s here because of Greg D?
Cobainforever: Greg D’s recommendation is dope. These chicks rock!
JaggerFrequence4: Clicked on Greg D’s link and wow! Blown away! Can’t wait for Blaze to post more videos. That Haze can sing.
“Who’s Greg D?” Jazmine asked aloud to her empty bedroom.
She typed his name in the Google search bar and gasped as the picture of a YouTuber with long hair and a neck tattoo shaped like a guitar appeared on her screen.
The doorbell rang.
“Ben! Door!”
She remembered she was alone in the house and rushed downstairs.
“What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting this evening!” she exclaimed as Dev entered her home. “Not that I’m complaining. It’s perfect timing really. Guess what? Blaze has eighteen thousand new subscribers! Eighteen thousand! Can you believe it?” She hugged him enthusiastically, unaffected by the fact that he did not respond warmly to her gesture. “This famous YouTuber, Greg D, did some heavy promotion for our videos. He’s got over three million subscribers. He’s the guy I spoke to at the party while you flirted with Orga Sö, I mean, Marnie.”
“I wasn’t flirting,” Dev said. His eyes shifted from her to the floor, and then back to her again.
“I know. I was joking. Are you okay?”
“I’m happy for you, Jaz. I’m proud the videos we made helped. Seriously, congrats.”
“But?”
“I have some news myself.”
“Tell me!”
“I received funding for my thesis project. I’m leaving for South Korea in two weeks.”
Jazmine swallowed painfully.
“For how long?”
“A year.” He took her hands and squeezed them. “I want us to go together.”
“B-But Blaze?”
“If you leave for a year, you can still compose and work on your music.”
Jazmine’s heart plunged into her stomach.
“Dev, I love you, and I love you even more for including me. But I can’t leave. Blaze is just taking off. This will open many doors for us. Possible tours, concerts, and producers. We have a platform. It’s what I’ve been fighting for. I can’t leave now. When I come back, it’ll all be gone, especially if there aren’t regular updates.”
Dev looked at her with sadness. “What now?”
“You go to South Korea,” Jazmine’s voice trembled with emotion. “You go and discover the country you’ve always wanted to see.”
“I can’t believe I won’t see you every day, hear your laugh, listen to you sing and play the bass. Jazmine, this can’t be over. I love you. Please reconsider.”
“I love you, too. But we’re on different paths. Please, please leave now or I might change my mind.” Her lower lip trembled as she opened the front door.
Dev hesitated on the threshold. He walked out, turned around, and took her in his arms.
“I’ll be back sooner than you think.”
“You can’t promise that,” Jazmine shook her head sadly. “It’s over, Dev.”
She moved away from him as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Please, just go. I don’t want you to see me cry.”
He gave her one last kiss, one she would remember for a long time.
Then he was gone.
Jazmine shut the door and crumbled to the floor. Broken and in despair, she cried until she’d exhausted her eyes, her heart and her soul, and only weary emptiness remained.
Chapter 20
MAUDE’S BROADWAY DEBUT had finally arrived and she faced it with thrilled excitement.
Grace, however, was an entirely different story.
“So much makeup!” Grace cried, horrified as she stared at her face in the dressing room of the Wolholen Theater.
“You’ll get used to it.” Maude pulled Grace’s hand from her face. “Don’t touch it or you’ll have to start all over again.
“Maude, I’m terrified.”
“Feeling otherwise would be abnormal.”
“You look calm.”
“I’m not frightened, but I’m excited. You should’ve seen me before my very first performance though. I couldn’t stay still. And I messed up big time. That won’t happen to you,” she added quickly.
“Gee, Maude, got any other words of encouragement?”
“Have fun. That’s the most important thing.”
A light knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
“Come in!” Maude called out, checking her afro was perfectly round.
Mrs. Heaton walked in, clutching her bag nervously.
Grace’s jaw dropped. “Maude, did you ...”
“I did no such thing. I’ll leave you two to talk.”
“No, stay.” Grace held Maude’s arm like one would a lifejacket in stormy waters.
“I’ll stay.” Maude brushed Grace’s pale hand with tenderness and protectiveness.
“I won’t stay long,” Mrs. Heaton gripped her bag tighter. “You look beautiful, Grace. I-I’m real proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“Your dad doesn’t know what he’s missing. I don’t think I did either.” She inhaled, exhaled, and looked at her daughter with a great sorrow in her eyes. “I blamed so much on you. But the truth is, we were having problems, many problems, before he had the heart attack. The heart attack was a wakeup call and he said he wouldn’t waste another minute on a marriage that was broken. I never told you. I was so ashamed. I preferred to burden you with the guilt you didn’t deserve. It was easier on me. I’m not one to be brave through hardship. Grace, I’m so sorry. Do you think you could ever forgive me? Would you consider moving back in?”
Tears welled up in Grace’s eyes.
“Oh, mommy! I won’t ever leave you again!” She jumped off her seat and rushed to her mother. Her touch left a warmth on Maude’s arm and she looked at the reunited family with happiness, but also a hint of nostalgia.
Her work with Grace had ended and the girl’s departure would leave a void.
With a heavy heart, Maude quietly exited the dressing room and fetched the makeup artist.
“Grace will be needing a touch-up.”
“How bad is it?” she asked warily.
“Let’s just say, there are lots of tears involved.”
The makeup artist grumbled, and entered the room with resignation.
Before the performance began, Grace joined Maude.
“I know you’re about to go onstage, but I had to tell you. Thank you. I’m dedicating this perfor
mance to you.”
She kissed Maude on the cheek and disappeared behind the scenes just as the curtain lifted.
As Maude faced the crowd, like she’d done numerous times, she found peace.
And that’s when the fun began.
Soon, she was caught in a whirlwind of songs, color, and dance. Violet’s arrival in New York, her newfound employment as a French nanny, her growing attraction for Lorenzo.
Maude lived each moment through the lenses of her own experiences. When she sang Je T’aime Means I Love You, she did not see Thomas.
Her eyes instead rested on the young man with gray eyes sitting in the front row.
She sang the first verse with heartfelt emotion.
An intense feeling,
That I cannot hide.
A painful passion,
I can’t keep inside.
Should I repress?
Should I let you guess?
Should I confess?
As she looked at him, she realized how much she wished to leave the past behind and build a future with Matt. With these feelings in mind, she sang the chorus and professed her feelings in the language of love that they both spoke.
Je t’aime means I love you.
Do you feel that you love me too?
Will ‘I’ become a ‘we’?
Will you say non or oui ?
She continued with the French verse and found she enjoyed singing in French before an American audience. The meaning was the same as the former verse, but she sang it with a renewed passion.
Un sentiment que
Je ne peux plus taire.
Un trouble amer,
Que dois-je faire ?
Le renier ?
Te faire deviner ?
Tout confesser ?
Je t’aime means I love you.
Do you feel that you love me too?
Will ‘I’ become a ‘we’?
Will you say non or oui?
As she ended the song, Matt blew her a kiss. She caught it silently, with her heart.
Her duets with Thomas were fun, light, and devoid of the tension their scenes had previously provoked.
Grace shone in all her scenes. The beauty of her voice and the ease with which she sang seemed effortless, though Maude knew just how much work Grace had put into her singing.