Jade
Seb dropped the letter, dashed out the door, and went down the hall to the conference room. It was empty except for Evelyn. “Where is she?” he demanded.
“She left. Everyone liked the plan, by the way—”
“Later,” he said, racing out of the room. There was something more important he had to do.
Chapter 23
Jade sat in her rental car, which ended up being another little Nissan that she enjoyed driving. She blew out a breath and stared atThe Timesbuilding in front of her, once again letting the air-conditioning cool her face. But she wasn’t just hot from the warm summer air. Seeing Sebastian again had only confirmed how big of an idiot she was. From the moment she’d had her idea for Clementonians to own the paper, she couldn’t stop thinking about him and her regrets. She hadn’t expected him to welcome her with open arms, but seeing his hard expression when she walked in, then his quick exit from their meeting pierced her heart.
She had to push her personal feelings aside and explain the proposal, and was thrilled with how it was received. Evelyn had told her they would be in touch with Rachel Lewis, the specialist that had helped Jade put together the proposal, and Jade quickly hurried by Sebastian’s office, not looking to see if he was reading the documents. Her job was done, and while it made her feel a little better that the staff was so receptive, she also felt awful knowing that was truly the last time she’d ever see him.
There was nothing else for her to do than head to Little Rock. She was going to spend a week with Logan and Lydia... Mom. Then she’d reevaluate her options, as few as they were. Her family was surprised she’d come back so soon. They were happy too, and so was she. Being with them would be a balm to her broken heart. Not a complete one, but she’d take it.
She looked over her shoulder to back out of the parking space when she heard a knock on her window. Turning, she saw a familiar pair of khaki trousers, right at the beltline. Her heartbeat pulsed, but she tempered it. Sebastian was probably here to throw her proposal in her face, although she couldn’t see him doing something so melodramatic. She could see him telling her never to come back. No worries there.
He motioned for her to open the door.
Jade drew in a deep breath and did as he asked, although they kept their distance as she stepped out and closed the car door behind her. “I’m sorry,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. “I’m so stupid—”
“You’re not. The plan is brilliant. I think you savedThe Times.”
Her heart soared.
“What about Harrington?” he asked. “I never heard from him.”
“I told him you wouldn’t sell. Later he told me you were shopping it around. Why?”
“I’m not a businessman, Jade. I never was. I tried my best to keep things going, but I couldn’t keep doing it.”
“It’s not your fault the newspaper business is in turmoil.”
“Maybe not, but I should have done things differently. Talked with a financial adviser. Developed a strategy with Flora. I... I don’t know what else, but I’m sure there’re other things I couldhave done. I felt beholden to Buford’s legacy. He trusted me to keepThe Timesthe way it was. I still believe in his vision. I’m just not the one to see it through.”
At the defeat in his eyes, she couldn’t keep from moving closer. “The mark of a good businessman is to know when to make a change. To put the business above himself. You, Sebastian Hudson, are an excellent businessman.”
He smiled, closing the space between them. “And you, Jade Smith, are—”
The sound of a growling engine broke them apart, and a familiar pickup truck pulled into the space next to her, straight as an arrow.
“Great timing, Kalista,” Sebastian muttered.
The young woman got out of the truck, pretty as ever with her hair in a pink scrunchy and dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and carrying a small white paper sack. “Oh, hey, Mr. H.... Jade?”
Jade gave her a little wave. “Hi.”
Kalista halted. Tilted her head.
“Is there a reason you’re here on your day off?” Sebastian asked, sounding more than a little perturbed at the interruption.
“I’m bringing Tyler some of Viv’s blueberry muffins.” She held up the bag. Then she wiggled her fingers at them. “Carry on,” she said, and sprinted to the building.
Sebastian turned to Jade. “Where were we?”
She smiled, her toes curling. His bedroom eyes were back. “I know where I want to be.”
His brow arched. “And where is that?”
