HIM

It’s late by the time we’re home.

She leans on me in the elevator, her handbag hanging off her arm and her heels in one hand, the other hand grasping the Tupperware container with her grandmother’s cake. She doesn’t move when the elevator doors open to my apartment, so I nudge her and she makes a grumpy sound. I take the items from her hands and put them on the side table by the elevator door and then carry her in my arms to the bedroom.

“MMmMmm,” she murmurs, her mouth against my chest.

“What’s that?”

“I said, thank you.”

“For what, sweet?”

“For saving my life.”

“Are we still on that? Anyone would’ve done the same.”

“No. I mean today. For giving it meaning again.”

I lay her gently on her side of the bed and roll her onto her side, sliding the zipper of her red dress down her back. She lets me help her out of her clothes then lays naked on the sheets as I kick my shoes off and slide in next to her. Pulling the blanket over us, she scoots back, letting me spoon her. My shins against her calves, her ass against my hips, my lips against the back of her neck.

Two jagged halves of a broken whole.

I stare out the window. From way up here, it looks like even the city that never sleeps is taking a night off. It’s quiet. Serene. And I’m more at peace than I have been in a long time.

I run my fingertips up and down the length of her arm and she sighs.

“I had a really wonderful day,” she mumbles, slowly letting the sleep take over her.

“Me too, baby, me too. Thank you for letting me be a part of your family. It’s... it’s been awhile.”

She inhales long and deep.

Then she turns, facing me. I can just make out her features, the bridge of her nose, the curve of her cheeks, the pout of her full, luscious lips.

“Where is your family, Kaine?” she asks me, her voice low and sweet.

And I say nothing.

I say nothing until her eyes stop searching mine.

I say nothing until her breath comes steady and slow.

I say nothing until I reach over, stroking the hair from her face and she doesn’t respond, already deep in the throes of sleep.

I say nothing because there’s nothing to say.

There is no answer.

Because they are nowhere.

***

“Mr. Ashley, you have a very busy day. I’ve had to push some of the lower priority tasks to next week, but there are a lot of decisions that need to be finalized today for the launch.”

“I know, I’m sorry, Jem, thanks for everything you did to help me out with yesterday though.”

She waves her notepad, “Yeah, yeah. Enough thanks, more work!”

“Yes, drill sergeant!” I tease her, my good mood apparent.

She looks at me strangely and looks like she’s trying to hold back on asking me something.

“What? Out with it!”

“Are you okay?” she peers at me over her notepad.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem... forgive me. But you seem, not in a bad mood.”

“I’m not in a bad mood. Is that so strange?”

“A little... especially, lately.”

“Well, then... enjoy!”

She laughs and goes back to her desk. The phone’s already ringing before she gets there.

“Mr. Kent on the phone for you.”

“Hey.”

“Hellooo to you. How are you?”

There’s a silence on the line for a moment before he speaks again.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“You seem, um...”

“Let me guess... not in a bad mood.”

“That’s...  exactly how I was going to put it...not at all ‘like someone made you eat a mound of shit.’”

“Poetic.”

“I try.”

“What’s up?”

“Just checking in, I didn’t hear from you yesterday.”

“I wasn’t around.”

“I know.”

“How do you know,”

“I know because... you didn’t call to harass me yesterday.”

“Maybe that’s why I’m in a good mood.”

“Nice.”

“I try.”

“Anyway, I’m checking in with Dylan today to see if he’s found out anything more about ‘J.’ I know he spent the last few days going through all the security footage, but hasn’t come up with anything.”

“Shit. It’s coming close. How can no one not know anything? You’ve checked in with the guys at our production factory?”

“Nothing. I’m pretty sure they’re clean. This is... this is going through some other channels. I don’t know who.”

“Find out.”

***

The morning goes by so fast, the next time I reach for my coffee cup three hours later, it’s still full and cold.

“Jemima, I’m going downstairs for a coffee.”

“Okay,” she calls out to me, too busy with her own work to care.

“Can you I get you something?”

“A raise,” comes the instant reply.

“How about a double latte?”

“Fine.”

The elevator dings and before I can step onto it, Jade jumps out, a picnic basket in her hands.

“Surprise!”

“Jade! What are you doing here?”

“I just told you, ‘surprise!’” She giggles and drops the basket on the floor, stretching up on tip toes to give me a kiss. I instantly slide my arm around her and pull her in close, inhaling her scent. Already the stress of the morning is forgotten.

“I was packing my lunch for this morning, when I saw just how much cake Grammy packed for me, and I’d much rather share it with you, then anyone else.”

“Well, what else do you have in that basket?”

“Hmm a warm chicken salad and a teeny tiny tub of ice cream from Alejandro’s.”

“And what are you going to eat?”

She giggles and gives me a wink. I take a breath and remind myself we’re at my work place and will my cock to behave.

“Anyway, I thought you could show off this rooftop garden you’ve been telling me all about.”

“Let me go grab my phone and I’ll be right back,” I call over my shoulder running to my desk.

When I come out, Jade has wandered over to Jemima’s desk, and is introducing herself.

Jemima eyes her up and down, and there’s a strange flicker of something in her eyes. Jemima is attractive and intimidating; part of the reason I employed her was to stop as much drama from reaching me as possible. But her usual cold demeanour doesn’t seem to be having any effect on Jade who is still smiling, and asking Jemima about her shoes.

I find myself pressing a hand against Jade’s back, almost protectively.

“Shall we go? I’m sorry, I don’t have much time for a long lunch break,” I tell her.

“Okay, well, it was nice meeting you, Jemima. Kaine raves about you. I don’t think he could do this all without you.”

Jemima’s eyes cut to me, a look of surprise in them.

“He’s a great boss. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your birthday trip yesterday.” All of the coldness melts away. It’s not the first time I’ve seen Jade’s warm effect on someone.

“It was amazing, thank you,” Jade smiles.

“I’m glad. When Kaine asked me to book our private plane last week without knowing where you were going to go, I was worried. It can be hard to plan ahead, since the weather’s been a bit crazy lately.”

“No, it was wonderful. Couldn’t have been better.”

“I’m glad,” my secretary beams.

I press on Jade’s back and we start to make our way to the elevator.

Suddenly, Jade stops and spins back in Jem’s direction.

“Wait. Did you say you booked the plane last week?”

“Sure did, he spent a lot of time wondering what to do for your birthday. I think he picked the right thing.”

Jade looks at me, her forehead steadily crinkling into a frown, her eyes darting back and forth, trying to put her thoughts together. I’m not sure what she’s confused about.

“But, but the other night when I told you it was my birthday, you acted like you didn’t know. How did you know it was my birthday? I never tell anyone.”

Shit.