Page 114 of Kaine

“Good night, Kaine.” I say, climbing into the cab. I don’t know if he stays and watches me drive away.

***

“God. You look likehell.” Harriet greets me, her mouth filter-less.

“Thanks, I feel like it,’ I admit, collapsing into my desk chair.

“Long hot night with the mystery man?”

“Ugh, no. I slept at my place last night.”

“Wow, trouble in paradise. What happened.”

“Nothing. If you call him making out with his secretary nothing,” I hiss. Talking about it is bringing it all back to the surface.

“Ah, the bitch in blue?”

“Shush, don’t tell him I called her that. But yeah, except now she’s the UBER bitch in blue with her grubby hands on my what’s mine.”

“Woah, I like this new fiery Jade. Maybe you got some sense knocked into you when those muggers attacked.”

I throw her a look of horror.

“Oops, too soon?” Harriet grins.

“Yes, too soon, you insensitive wench!”

“See? You are more fiery, once you’d have totally let me get away with it.”

“Today’s not that day, trust me. I don’t know how I’m going to get through today. But I will. His launch isn’t going to go to hell because of me,” I vow.

Harriet gives me a squeeze on the shoulder, and I remind myself, I have more family than I realize.

I pull myself to my feet, and try to force the thoughts out of my head.

Whatever’s happened, Kaine’s dream is so much bigger than us. And I will do whatever I can to make my contribution.

“Okay, first things first, let’s get these tables pushed back for the product displays, then we can move onto the rest,” I click into work mode and start to delegate.

“What time’s the launch?” Harriet asks.

“12:30 p.m. In exactly three hours.”