THIRTY-FOUR
Jade
As much as I hated to admit it, Laura had given me decent advice. Even though my father wasn’t a freaking spy, he was my superhero and might have an answer to my dilemma.
He appeared surprised yet happy when I appeared at his doorstep. I threw my arms around him and hugged tightly. No matter the situation, he always made me feel better.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Come inside.”
I stepped in the apartment.
“How do you always know when something’s wrong?”
“How long have I been your father?”
“Don’t remind me,” I said. “I’ve got a problem, and I thought you might be able to help me solve it.”
“What’s that, dear?”
“I need to sneak into a building unrecognized.”
He tilted his head to the side as he studied me.
“You sure everything is okay? You can talk to me.”
“I know, Dad. Everything’s fine. It’s just… for my job.”
I hated lying to him, but he didn’t need to know the FBI was after me. Some things were better left unsaid.
“Well, you need a good disguise.”
“Like a mask or something? Maybe a wig?”
He laughed.
“If you want to look conspicuous, that will work, but if you want to blend in, you’ll need to work on it more. Lucky for you, I can help.”
It was my turn for me to tilt my head in curiosity.
“When did you become such an expert at disguise?”
“It’s been helpful in my career.”
“As a traveling salesman?”
“Yes, dear, as a traveling salesman.”
We made eye contact for a few seconds. I looked away first, not ready to push him about his past. I needed to get to Cooper and convince him to agree to being in my story on the smuggling operation.
A few minutes later, he had me sitting on the toilet seat as he straightened a blonde-haired wig on my head. I struggled like a schoolkid.
“Hold on,” he said. “Let’s accentuate your eyebrows and make you look foreign.”
“No!” I said.
He stepped back and peered at me down his long, thin nose.
“No?”
“I mean, it’s fine. As long as I look different.”
“That’s better,” he said, going back to work.
“How did you learn this?” I asked to change the subject.
“Oh, don’t worry about it right now, dear. Let’s finish your make-up.”
Forty-two minutes later, I looked like an entirely different person. When I saw my reflection in the mirror, I didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me.
“Well?” Dad asked.
I smiled.
“This will work.”
“Go get your story,” he said. “Don’t be like me. I failed your mother, and…”
“Stop it, Dad!” I interrupted. “Seriously. You’re the best man I know, the only one I know who could pull off both roles for me growing up.”
He frowned. I put my hand on his arm, rubbing it gently.
“Dad, I’m serious. I love you.”
“I love you too, dear. Now go before you get emotional and smear your mascara.”
“Makeup tips from my salesman father. Gotta love it.”
He smiled meekly then walked away. I heard the garage door slam and knew he’d snuck off to have a cigarette. I mean, Laura was overreacting in thinking he was a spy. Not my dad.
* * *
Lucky me, I thought as I nodded my head at the doorman, not saying a word. He winked but said nothing. Did he know? Would he let me go upstairs then rat me out to the feds?
Calm down, I told myself. How could he even know they’re looking into you? When I made it to the elevator, I hit the button, pacing back and forth impatiently while waiting for it.
The second it arrived, I dashed inside and pressed the button for his penthouse suite. I remembered the federal agents busting us right after fucking, but I didn’t care. With his help, I would be able to run my story and at least make our story public. If I pulled that off, it would receive immeasurable attention and we’d finally have more protection.
At the top floor, I got out and knocked on the door in the private foyer. He answered, eyes opening wide as soon as he saw me.
“What are you doing here? Come inside.”
“I couldn’t wait to talk to you. I’ve found out some stuff on Jeffries you need to hear. My story is almost done.”
“Are you crazy?” he asked, killing my mood.
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t run this story. It’s too dangerous.”
“Think about it,” I said, putting my hand on his thick arm. “If we go public, they can’t disappear us. At least not as easily.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t like it.”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t really need your information or to even source you in the story,” I fought back, not believing how quickly he was shutting down my idea.
“Other journalists will look into it and see I was at FOB Cobra during the same time period. Are you willing to ruin my life like that?”
“Ruin your life? What about me? Are you not interested in a life for both of us?”
He took a deep breath, taking a few steps away before stopping and turning. “No.”
“No, what?” I asked, following him.
“I’m not helping you with this. I’ll go to the feds and tell them it was all me.”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“Name calling? Really? Are you twelve or something?”
“You can be such an asshole sometimes. You know that?”
“And you can be a…”
He grimaced, not finishing the thought.
“Fuck you, Cooper. I came all the way over here to share the good news with you, and you’re not interested in anything other than controlling what I do.”
“Come on, Jade. I’m trying to protect us the best way I know how. Don’t be like that.”
“Like what? Someone who stands up for myself? Maybe I should hook you up with Laura.”
“I love you,” he said, putting a strong hand on my waist.
We made eye contact.
“Prove it.”
He sighed, removed his hand, and looked away.
“You should go,” he said. “We don’t want them to catch you here. They probably followed you.”
“I don’t have my phone on me, and I took some evasive measures.”
“Yeah, I noticed the wig.”
I pouted.
“Why do we have to do this to ourselves?”
“I don’t know,” he said then repeated, “You should go.”
“Fine. I’ll talk to you when I talk to you, I guess.”
As I rode the elevator downstairs, anger boiled up inside me, ready to burst. The poor doorman must have thought I was such a bitch as I left the building in a rage.
Fuck men, and especially fuck Cooper.
He might have been fuckable, but he wasn’t worth the trouble.