Saving Jay, page 11
part #3 of Breaking Free Series
“Yeah. Celeste, this is Jade. Jade, Celeste.”
“Everyone calls me Cee Cee,” she said as she approached me with her hand out.
I shook it. “Wow. You’re so grown-up. I haven’t seen you since you were, like, nine. Dustin tells me you might be interested in working here.”
Her eyes widened. “Uh, I’d die. This is, like, my dream job. Are you kidding?” She waved her arms, gesturing at the room around her, her silver bangles clanking together. She definitely had personality.
“Okay. Well, why don’t we go into my office to talk about it?”
“Sure.” She gave me a bright smile before walking back over to the couch to grab her bag.
Cee Cee followed me to my office where I pulled a chair from the corner and put it next to mine. My desk was against the wall, so I turned my chair to face hers. She looked around my office, her eyes lingering on the pictures on my walls, and then she took the empty seat in front of me.
“You’re nineteen, right?”
She nodded. “I’ll be twenty next month.”
“How good are you at organization? Do you know how to use Excel?”
She nodded again. “I’m super organized and a perfectionist. I hate when things aren’t in order. And I’ve been a secretary at a local cleaning supply company for the past year and a half. We use Excel all the time.”
I smiled. “Good. And what kind of hours can you work?”
“Whatever hours you need. I don’t have anything else going on. As soon as Dustin told me you were hiring someone, I put in my notice at my job. They know I might be leaving soon.”
My eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Confident. I like it.”
She blushed and tucked her pink hair behind her ear.
“So, why do you want to work here?”
“Because I want to be an artist like you one day.”
I smiled at her determination. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age. “When can you start?”
Cee Cee’s eyes grew wide, and she covered her mouth with her hands. “Are you serious?” she mumbled behind her fingers.
“I’m serious.”
She jumped up from her chair and began bouncing around in her boots. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she squealed as she gave me a hug.
She opened the door and yelled down the hall, “Dustin, I love you!” Then, she took off running toward her brother.
I laughed. I had a feeling Cee Cee would fit in perfectly at the shop, and I was relieved that we’d have more help.
After I went over her wage and exactly what I wanted her to do, Dustin started training her while I prepared for my next appointment.
Around eight o’clock, I was finishing up my last tattoo of the day. My client had wanted a grim reaper on his ribs, but he was having a hard time with sitting still. He’d booked a three-hour appointment, but after an hour and a half, he began getting restless. He said he wanted to cut the appointment short, which was fine with me. It wasn’t easy, trying to tattoo someone who couldn’t sit well. After cleaning and wrapping his tattoo, I sent him out to Cee Cee to get his aftercare instructions and make another appointment.
A few seconds later, I walked out and noticed Trix was sitting on the couch, staring at Cee Cee. Jackson was cleaning up his station, and Dustin had already gone home.
“Make sure you only charge him for an hour and a half, Cee Cee.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said, smiling at me, before she continued talking to my client.
I went to sit next to Trix, and he tore his eyes away from her long enough to glance at me.
“I still can’t believe that’s Dustin’s sister. She’s way hotter than Dustin.”
I laughed as I leaned back against the couch. “You’d better be careful, Trix. She’s only nineteen, she works with you, and she’s your friend’s sister. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Trix peered at me over his shoulder. “I like to live on the edge,” he said with a mischievous grin.
I shook my head and put my hand on his knee to help maneuver myself off the couch. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I muttered before going back to clean up my station.
I was eager to get out of here. I had a sexy man to see, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting.
Jay
I got a text from Jade at eight forty-five, telling me she had finished with her last client. Giving her directions to my apartment, I went out onto my balcony as I waited for her to arrive. The reflection of the city lights created a soft glow in the skyline as the sounds of life echoed from the streets below. After taking off my jacket and tie, I tossed them onto an empty lounge chair, and I unbuttoned the collar of my shirt. Leaning on the cold metal railing, I held my glass in my hands, watching the clear liquid coat the edges as I swirled it.
I couldn’t help from feeling anxious about Jade coming over. My hunger for her had only grown over the past few days, and I knew I had to respect her wishes and take things slow, but it was difficult. I could see in her eyes and feel on her lips how much she wanted me, too. It was only a matter of time before we would both give in.
My connection with Jade lacked the confusion and conflict I’d had with Asia. When Asia and I had been together, I had been too deep in my own guilt and obligation to see the mistakes I was making. Since then, I’d moved past that part of my life. I’d learned that I couldn’t pretend to be someone I wasn’t just to please anyone, including my father. With Asia, I’d held back, and I didn’t want to make that same mistake with Jade. I just hoped I wouldn’t do or say anything to scare her off.
About twenty minutes later, I heard a knock at my front door. I walked inside and set my glass down on the coffee table in my living room before going to answer the door. My heart rate picked up as I made my way into my foyer. I could already feel Jade’s energy, and I hadn’t even seen her yet.
When I opened the door, Jade was standing in the middle of the hall with her hands wrapped around the strap of her bag as she looked up at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a loose peach-colored sweater that hung off one shoulder with a pair of Chuck Taylors on her feet. She gave me a bright smile when her eyes met mine, and I could feel it in my chest.
My lips instantly lifted, and so did my mood. “Hi.”
Jade’s eyes swept over my body before she replied, “Hi.”
“Come in,” I said, taking a step back to give her some room.
She came toward me, her wide eyes examining the inside of my apartment.
“Whoa. This is incredible,” she half-whispered as she slowly walked past.
I closed the door behind her and watched as she took everything in.
She made her way toward my windows and looked out at the view. “Wow.”
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
Jade looked at me and grinned. “Sure. I’ll take some wine, if you have any.”
“White or red?”
“White, please.”
Only a long bar separated my kitchen from the rest of the apartment, so I could still see Jade as I made her drink. I glanced at her as I got a glass from the cabinet and noticed she was looking at the art on my walls. I began pouring her wine and saw her stop in front of the large canvas covered in black, blue, and gray. It was one of Asia’s paintings that I’d bought from her local exhibit. I’d been drawn to it and had to have it.
I walked out of the kitchen with Jade’s wine in my hand and made my way over to her.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling, as I handed it to her.
She turned back around, and I walked the few feet to get my drink.
“I love this. Where did you get it?”
“A friend of mine painted it.”
Jade peered at me from over her shoulder with an eyebrow raised. “A friend?”
I grinned and glanced down at my feet before meeting her gaze again. “Well, we were a little more than friends at one time, but now, we’re just friends.”
Jade smirked when she realized her suspicions were right, and she turned back around to inspect the painting some more. Reaching out, she lightly glided her fingers along a dark blue line. “This color matches your eyes.”
I moved in closer, so I was standing beside Jade. I could feel her heat seeping into my skin.
“Did you guys date for a long time?”
“No, not long.”
Jade’s eyes continued examining the painting, but my relationship with Asia wasn’t something I wanted to talk about just yet.
“Why don’t we go into my office and discuss my ideas for the shop?” I said, placing my hand on her lower back.
She finally tore her eyes from Asia’s painting and gave me a small grin. “Okay.”
I lifted my chin toward the hall leading to my office and gym. “Right this way, Ms. Holliday.”
Jade
Jay mentioning his ex-girlfriend bothered me way more than it should have. The thought of him being close to another woman, someone else knowing his secrets, brought out a jealousy and insecurity I hadn’t expected.
As Jay led me back to his office, I took a deep breath to try to calm myself. I didn’t want Jay to see the craziness going on in my head.
Chill out, girl. You both have pasts. You both have exes.
Jealousy was not something I was used to feeling, but I seemed to be plagued with it now that I’d met Jay.
He opened the door to the right of us, and I lost my train of thought when I looked inside his office. A huge wooden desk faced the door with floor-to-ceiling windows behind it, just like the others in his apartment. There was a Persian rug, big leather chairs, a small bar, and a grandfather clock, and three flat screen televisions were mounted on the right wall. I hadn’t realized my mouth was gaping open until Jay walked farther inside and snapped me out of my daze.
“Please take a seat,” he said, gesturing toward one of the leather chairs closest to us.
“This is unreal,” I murmured to myself as I let my hand glide against the smooth Italian leather.
“What was that?” Jay asked as he made his way toward the bar to refresh his drink.
“Your apartment. It’s unreal. Seriously, it’s like something you see in the movies.”
Jay chuckled as he came back. He adjusted the chair next to mine, so they were facing each other. “Well, thank you.”
He gestured for me to sit, and waited until I did before he took his seat. I watched Jay as he leaned back and drank from his glass. I began to relax as I realized he was still the same man I’d been falling for. Seeing Jay in this apartment with all these expensive things was odd. I had known he was rich, but he always acted so down-to-earth and seemed to be comfortable in any environment. Being with him in his own apartment was like finding that last puzzle piece I’d felt was missing from the picture. This was Jay. Despite his wealth and power, he was a fallible beautiful man just like any other.
“So, what ideas do you have for me, Mr. Clarke?” I asked, giving him a sexy smirk.
Jay smiled, and it made my body tingle.
“I spoke to my accountant. He said his firm would be happy to help get your finances organized. And if you’d like to hire an accountant to work for you full-time, that is also an option.”
“How much would all that cost?”
“They’re going to get your books in order for free. As far as taking an accountant on full-time, you’ll have to discuss that with them.”
I was just about to take a sip from my wine, and my hand paused in the air. “What do you mean, free? No one works for free.”
Jay shrugged. “Perhaps they feel they owe it to me.”
I suspiciously looked at Jay before drinking some of my wine, which was fantastic. “This wine is delicious, by the way. Thank you.”
Jay smiled again, and the reappearance of his dimples had those butterflies flapping around in my stomach.
“You’re welcome.”
“So, what else?” I asked as I placed my glass down on his polished desk.
“I also talked to my assistant, Kristine. She’s a lifesaver when it comes to organizing and planning. She’ll be coming by the shop on Monday to make sure you have the latest software. Then, she’ll train Dustin on how to use it. She’ll also go over all your inventory, appointments, scheduling, and anything else you might need.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t expected him to send his employees to my shop to work. I had thought he’d give me some pointers and maybe a few numbers to call but not all this.
“Are you serious? Jay, you don’t have to make your employees work for me. I just wanted direction, maybe some business advice. This is too much.”
Jay’s mouth lifted into a lopsided grin. “It’s not like they’re working for free. Kristine will be getting paid, and honestly, she’ll probably enjoy it. My accountants have made more than their fair share of money off of me, so they owe me the favor. It’s not a big deal.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Jay’s deep blue eyes locked on mine, and I knew I didn’t have it in me to argue.
“Okay. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
Jay got up and walked around his desk to open a drawer. Reaching inside, he pulled out a large envelope and handed it to me. “Here’s some information you might need. I’ve got contact info in there for web designers, advertising executives, local printing companies, and lawyers. Kristine also printed out information on different programs you might want to use.”
“Wow.” I couldn’t believe how much thought he’d put into helping me. “I had no idea you would do so much to help me. Thank you. This is awesome,” I said as I peeked inside the envelope.
“It’s nothing, really.”
I peered up at him. “It’s more than most people would do, and it means a lot to me. You’ve…” I paused, feeling anxious about what I wanted to say. “You’ve helped me in more ways than you realize.” I put the envelope in my bag, so I wouldn’t have to look at him. I didn’t want him to see how vulnerable I felt.
I saw him walk back around his desk before I finally lifted my gaze toward his. He was watching me, his eyes intense and curious.
“Will you tell me about him?” he asked, taking his seat across from me. He rested his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers loosely together as he searched my face.
“Who?”
“Whoever hurt you. Whoever made you scared to trust me.”
I chewed on my bottom lip and looked away as tears began stinging my nose. I hadn’t expected him to ask me something like this, and I was even more surprised by my strong reaction to his words. It seemed like every time I’d thought I’d moved on, I would be reminded just how fresh my wounds still were.
“My ex…” I murmured as my eyes made their way back to his.
Jay didn’t say anything. He just waited.
“He’s an addict. When we first met, I’d just lost my mom and needed someone to help me forget. We were young and crazy. We’d drink and get high together, and it was fun for me…but for him, it was more than that. He used the drugs to numb himself. But I thought he loved me, so I stuck around. I tried to get him help, but it never worked.” I lifted my shoulders and let them drop, trying to seem nonchalant. I reached for my wine glass and took another sip.
Jay’s eyebrows rose, and I knew he could see right through my façade.
“So, what made you leave?”
I swallowed another gulp of wine, trying to prolong the inevitable. “I found him in our bed with someone else.”
Jay’s eyebrows furrowed, and his back straightened. He looked surprised. “He cheated on you?”
I nodded.
“With another woman?”
I laughed a little before answering, “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. I hope I don’t offend you when I say, your ex was a fucking idiot.”
I nodded. “I can agree with that.”
“I mean, Jesus Christ, look at you. If you were mine…” Jay paused to rub the back of his head with his hand as his eyes moved down my body.
I suddenly felt myself blush.
“Let me just say, there would be no doubt in your mind who I wanted.”
My cheeks felt hot as I took another sip and drained the last of the wine from my glass.
“Would you like some more?” Jay asked, thankfully changing the subject.
“No, I probably shouldn’t.”
Jay’s eyes searched mine for a few seconds, and I fought the urge to look away.
I swear, sometimes, I feel like a timid little girl around him.
“In the past, I’ve made the mistake of holding back and not letting my guard down. I’ve only been in one relationship where I saw a future with someone and I fucked it up. I tried to keep her away from the parts of me I was ashamed of. I don’t want that to happen with you. I want you to know you can trust me.”
My heart was beating frantically in my chest as I listened to Jay. I was ecstatic and frightened at the same time. Had any other man said those words to me, I would’ve run away as fast as I could, but there was something different about Jay. There was a connection between us when we looked into each other’s eyes, a heavy vibration in the air when I was near him. It was hard to explain or understand, but I knew it meant something.
“I do trust you,” I murmured, watching as my fingers played with a piece of thread hanging off my old jeans.
“Jade,” Jay said my name and I felt it down to my toes.
I lifted my eyes to his, and I could see the sincerity in them. “I know what it’s like to be broken. I’ve been that way for most of my life. It’s not easy, but sometimes, we have to let ourselves believe that we’re worth saving.”
Gathering my strength, I held his gaze, and admitted, “I tried to save someone once, but my love wasn’t enough.”
Jay and I stared at each other, and I noticed a tic in the muscle of his jaw as he thought about what I’d said.
“No matter how much you love a person, you can’t save anyone, if he or she doesn’t want to be saved.”
“What do you want?” I whispered.
Jay’s eyes stayed on mine, and for the first time since I’d met him, he looked nervous. He took a deep breath and reached out for one of my hands. Tilting his head down, he watched as he traced his thumbs along the inside of my palm. “I want you,” he said as he peered up at me.
