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Chapter Thirty-Six
Jade stood under the portico and slipped off her soiled boots, not wanting to track sleet into the house. The last hour had been nothing more than a blur, a space in time that she could vaguely remember. Snowy bits dusted the porch as she removed her winter gloves, hat, and jacket as well. Her mind was so numb that it didn't even register the frigid air.
Inside, a hush radiated throughout the house, indicating that she was alone. Jade placed her purse onto the entry table; the contents of it mirroring the doctor's diagnosis. She was pregnant. Eleven weeks, nearly three months! The very thought of it still shocked her. Jade didn't know how to be a mother; she wasn't even given a good example of how to be one. She ventured past the entryway and gazed around, unsure of what to do with herself. Any other evening she would've happily poured herself a glass of wine after such a stressful day.
There was a huge list of things she could no longer c
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Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jade pulled away from the curb and steered the car to the neighborhood entrance. The clock on her dashboard read that it was only 1:00 PM, much earlier than she had anticipated leaving the party. From here, she was supposed to drive straight to an art exhibition downtown, where she would then meet Miguel.Now, she thought,there would be time to stop at home and freshen up beforehand.As she passed the rows of lavish homes and manicured lawns, the tail end of a black sedan up ahead caught her eye. She was certain it was Andrea's car parked on the side of the road, steam billowing from the exhaust pipe. Jade slowed down and veered the car onto the crunchy grass a few feet away from its rear, concerned for her friend. It didn't look like the car had been in an accident.From behind the driver's window, she could see Andrea was visibly upset, with her light lashes soaked in the evidence of grief. Her eyes were closed as if, like a t
Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jade slipped into something a bit more formal and then headed for the Art Expose. She wasn't sure the appropriate attire to wear to such an event but decided she couldn't go wrong with a conservative dress and heels. As she entered the gallery, she paused to glance around at the crowd, glad that she had time to change out of her jeans.The clicking of her heels echoed throughout the individual corridors that lead her to each new exhibit.She clutched her pocketbook in front of her and pretended she belonged. Every room was filled with different pieces, in different styles. Occasionally, she paused to observe the artwork hanging from the walls and then would search the unfamiliar faces. There were so many people; she wasn't sure where to even look for him."Ma'am?" She turned towards the deep voice, looking up at a tall waiter carrying a tray of crystal champagne flutes. Jade politely declined, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."From behind him, her gaze lande
Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Nine
"So you do recognize me." The woman's voice was thick, foreign. Jade did, although her looks were inconsistent with the online photo she'd seen. She appeared sickly now, emaciated. Her collar and hip bones protruded from underneath the thin fabric of her dress, and her face was gaunt, the contour of her cheekbones too sunken. With all her makeup, Jade thought she resembled aDay of The Deadsculpture.She said nothing as the tall woman stepped towards the sink beside her, swaying her hips as if she were on the runway. "I recognized you as well." She leaned over the bowl and wiped lipgloss from the corners of her mouth, her slenderness revealing every bump of her spine. Nadia turned on the faucet beside her, and through the mirror, continued to speak, "Although, I've yet to learn your name."Jade rolled the lipstick back into the tube. "That's because it's none of your concern," she shot back in a snarky voice.The woman laughed, ad
Rendezvous Chapter Forty
The further out they drove, the more rural the scenery became. Highrises and expansive freeways merged into suburban communities and shopping centers. Past the county line, they reached widespread farmland and tall groves that stretched out further than the eye could see. The plowed snow continuously thickened along the narrow roadway as Jade listened to the hum of the tires beneath them. Occasionally, she would peer through a break in the forest and catch a glimpse of ridged mountaintops in the distance. It was now miles between driveways, each defended by rod iron gates and fences.A road-marker indicated that they were nearing Gladwyne. She glanced over at Miguel, who was still occupied by his tablet. She had occasionally caught a glimpse of the screen: twelve boxes of real-time, black and white surveillance footage of his apartment, always appearing unchanged.What was he looking for?She could only think of one thing,Nadia.The shor
Rendezvous Chapter Forty-One
Astonished, she stared at him as her mind began to turn. She sensed their tour had just come to an abrupt end.Reading her face, he continued, "You lookalmostas shocked as I was when my ex-wife called me earlier. It seems you left a tad-bit of information out of your story, the part where you threw it in her face that you were pregnant."Jade contemplated her words. She never thought Nadia would have the chance to tell Miguel before she did. She wasn't even sure why she threw it in her face, other than to retaliate. Her words had bruised Jade's ego, even if she knew they were false. It was a rash decision that had obviously not ended in her favor. "I never told her I was pregnant.""So your not?" He asked flatly.Jade felt her knees grow weak and leaned on the windowsill for support. The edges of it cut into her thighs. She frowned at him and then at the floor. This isn't what she had planned; it wasn't supposed to be like this. She c
Rendezvous Chapter Forty-Two
Jade fumbled backward, feeling like the wind had just been knocked out of her. "What?" she demanded, "You didn't thinkthatwas something worth mentioning before you left me alone in a hotel room?" She was now angry, could feel the heat sweep across her face as she glared at him, "You could have prevented this!"His arms went up in defense, "I didn't think that you would get pregnant, Nadia and me...""What you thought because she didn't get pregnant, neither would I?" She yelled, taking a step forward with every word, "You could have told me, I could have taken the morning after pill! Do you know how much my life is going to change? My body!" she gasped and pushed him, yet he barely budged. "I'm going to have to push a baby out of my vagina! How can you be the CEO of a company and yet still be so stupid?" She pushed him again and again, rocking his shoulders. Her small fists swung, not caring where they landed. She wanted him to hurt, just as much a
Rendezvous Chapter Forty-Three
Jade woke to the bedroom door being opened. The sudden shift of air and noises from behind it had stirred her awake. Just outside the doorway were unfamiliar voices, and further down the hall, she could hear a vacuum running. The door closed again with a faint click, and the room once again became silent. She was impressed by how well it blocked out the sound. Between that and the comfortable bed, she'd gotten a great night's sleep.Light footsteps crossed the carpeted floor as she slowly opened her eyes. She stretched and then peered up, searching beyond the posts of the bed. The blinds were now closed, allowing just enough sunlight for her eyes to adjust. Although she was alone in the bedroom, a thin slit of light shone underneath the bathroom doorway. Jade sat up, keeping herself covered with the blanket. Underneath it, she was still naked, her dress now torn and unwearable from the night before.
Rendezvous Chapter Forty-Four
What Jade had assumed was only a closet was an entirely new room. Sure, it held all the same components: built-in chests, cupboards and shelving, cases to hold jewelry, and both clothing and shoe racks. It also contained a seating area, a wide vanity, a pedestal surrounded by a three-way mirror, a rotating bag holder, and a coffee bar.Jade was astounded by her surroundings. "You've got to be kidding me," she gawked at the space. She couldn't imagine it ever being hers. Of course, it would never be hers. Even if she were to move in here, Miguel wouldn't expect them to stay in separate bedrooms. Would he?"Ms. Meadows, would you please take a seat." It hadn't been phrased as a question.Jade turned her attention away from the
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