“As soon as I heard the news, I caught the red eye and came here.”
Laying her head against his broad chest and drawing strength from him, she said gratefully. “Thank you.
“Will you stay with me?”
“I wouldn’t consider leaving you even for a moment.” She felt nothing but enormous empathy emanating from Brendan as he held her. It was a balm for her battered psyche.
Weary and distressed, she was half carried by Brendan stumbling up the front steps to the wide spacious porch. Standing there Jade had flashback of Holly walking up these very steps during those early days of her treatment. Her hair still long, glorious and golden. How it blew in the sea breeze like a silken flag glowing in the late afternoon sunlight.
For a moment she felt Holly’s presence so strongly she didn’t think she could go in but then Stacey stepped up beside her. Looking up at her with those beautiful warm sherry colored eyes, she chased the ghost of Holly away with her living vitality.
Stepping through the door, she was surprised at how little it had changed. Looking at the gleaming hardwood floors and white walls it felt familiar like she never had been gone. It was okay to be here. Coming in behind them Anthony set down their small overnight bags containing the bare essentials. He knew he’d have to head over to her Penthouse and pick up some clothes and a couple of outfits for Stacey from the LeCq line. Jade would need to be in tip top shape at least in appearance for her meeting with the board of directors. Emotionally she’d be a wreck.
Signaling for Brendan and the body guards to follow him out, he closed the door quietly leaving the two women inside. Reilly was still outside running around energized by the new smells and sounds he was hearing. Anthony whistled and Reilly promptly came.
He smiled down at the lop-eared happy dog who was the only one totally unaffected by recent events. “You’ll stay with Brendan in the guest house,” he said reaching down and scratching Reilly behind the ears. Reilly’s plumy tail beat the air in appreciation.
The security guards would be driving back to the city with him. Asking one of them to drive, he looked at his watch. Ten in the morning. He’d try to get some sleep on the way back into work. It was going to be a busy, draining, emotional couple of days ahead.
The day had come for Jade to face the Board of Directors and she was incredibly nervous, so unlike her. The day and night she had spent cuddled up with Stacey in bed. Stacey had soothed and caressed her with her touch and comforted her with her words. Even Reilly, now at the main house, had been allowed on the bed as his presence was immensely comforting with his doggy empathy for her.
Stacey was waiting in the lobby for her. Jade was seated at the far end of the table with all twenty pairs of eyes trained on her. Anthony had not been invited to this meeting.
They were quick and brutal with their assessment. Share prices had dropped fifteen percent since this fiasco started. She would give a press conference tomorrow to explain her actions. She was to step down as CEO and Anthony would take her place. She was to humbly and sincerely apologize for her severe lapse in moral judgment.
She had expected as much, as Anthony had already told her, but to be put so coldly and bluntly after all the blood, sweat and tears she had poured into her own company, she was devastated. Still it was in the best interest of the company that she step down if she didn’t want to completely lose her investment of time and energy.
She came out of the meeting walking to where Stacey was waiting for her. Her cheeks burned with unfamiliar embarrassment. She could sense the curious and judgmental stares of the employees on their former boss. Seeing Stacey rise to meet her she wondered bitterly how many unnecessary trips had been made into the lobby to take a look at the woman who had shattered the ice queen. “Let’s go,” she said grabbing her hand and heading for the elevators. Security drove the women to her penthouse condo where they would stay the night. Jade had to prepare for her press conference tomorrow. Anthony would be coming over later with Gavin Wilson, her lawyer, to help her figure out the correct words to say. Right now all she felt like doing was getting drunk and staying drunk until it was all over. But that would only be a short term solution and a long term problem.
****
Colin had the biggest pay day of his life and of course Sal, the slug, had his big pay day too. Still Colin felt dirty and used up by what he had done.
He had reviewed the pictures and video of Jade and Stacey a number of times. At first the erotic impact got him going. But as he reviewed it, he saw more and more clearly that there was something there between these two women more than simply sex. He could see it in the way they looked into each other’s eyes, the way their fingertips touched and especially in the way they kissed each other.
For the first time in his life, he had enough money to take some time off and write his novel. Now he didn’t want it. It felt too much like blood money. Laying his head in his hands he wondered why life was always so complicated.
****
Jade stood before an audience that consisted of a sea of reporters from every major, minor and in between television and radio station. Each positioned to catch every word that fell from her lips.
Looking out she could feel her tongue grow thick in her mouth with so many unsaid words and explanations. The majority of the night had been spent coming up with the correct things to say to ensure Jade Cosmetics and Tanner Enterprises were seen as completely blameless in this fiasco. At the end of it all, she could only apologize humbly and sincerely from her heart.
She spoke into the microphone. “As you know, I’m Jade Tanner of Jade Cosmetics and Tanner Industries. I’m here to apologize for my recent actions.” To her, the words sounded stilted and insincere.
Bowing her head for a moment and bracing her hands on the podium, she looked up again at all those surrounding her. Dimly aware of flashes going off and the bright lights of the television cameras blinding her eyes. She reached down deep inside herself to where the softness resided in her. The softness that Stacey had helped her discover.
“You’re all well aware that I hired an escort for a weekend in Las Vegas. What I did flies in the face of all the principles I believe in and what I’ve promoted. I’ll be the first one to say it —I’m a hypocrite. My wealth and power gave me a sense of entitlement that made me think I could hire her and get away with it.”
Jade paused for a long moment before continuing. “But something happened when I met her that I never expected to happen. I fell in love with her.” Jade started speaking from her heart.
“I was so empty inside. I’m sure many of you who are struggling financially to make ends meet have a hard time understanding this but wealth is no guarantee of happiness or a sense of fulfillment.”
She stammered a bit over the next part. “I saw Stacey, as Twylla Star, on a shock talk show and I was drawn to her in a way that I can’t explain even now. But one thing led to another. I booked a date with her and when I met her there was no turning back for me. In all my life I have never felt so deeply and instantly connected with a person the way I am with Stacey. I don’t want to lose her even if it means losing everything else. It’s a small price to pay for having her in my life.”
She paused before speaking the next sentence very slowly and distinctly, “I am in love with Stacey and I plan to make a life with her. I want to give everyone, especially my employees who’ve I’ve put in jeopardy because of my thoughtless actions, my sincerest and humblest apology. What I did booking Stacey for sex was wrong and nothing can justify my actions for doing that.
“Position and power are no excuse for poor behavior and judgment. If anything, I should be held to a higher standard because of all I do have. I hope you believe me when I say I am sincerely sorry for what I’ve done. I’m not sorry that I met Stacey but I am sorry for the way I went about it — using her in a way she didn’t need to be used and taking away her dignity as a person. She is a warm, wonderful human being and I know many of you might not believe that
but it’s true. What she did as her line of work in no way reflects who she is as a human being.
“Again the way I went about it was wrong, but my life is richer, better and happier for having her in my life and I intend to keep her in my life for as long as she’ll have me.”
She could hear Stacey standing off to the sidelines crying openly. The impact of Jade’s apology could be felt throughout the room. She hadn’t tried to sugar coat it or excuse herself for her actions. The tide was turning and everyone in the room felt it.
Thanking everyone for their time, she left the podium walking over to Stacey taking her hand. Together amid the questions being hurled at them, they walked out of the room as one.
Once through the door, she sagged against the wall in relief. Now they could head back to Gin Lane where Reilly waited. She could hear Anthony making the announcement that she was stepping down as CEO and that he would take her place.
Chapter Twenty-three
Over the next few weeks the stocks of Jade Cosmetics and Tanner Industries stabilized and then shot up to an all-time high. Jade smiled to herself when that happened. She had thought she was indispensable to the company and here it was running as smooth as silk without her.
The ghost of Holly no longer resided at Gin Lane, it was a home filled with warmth, laughter and love. She realized she had truly only been half alive until now.
Sex was sensational and had taken on a whole new dimension because Stacey felt so secure and safe in her love. It was blissful heaven when they did what they did to each other and all she could think was how could this be wrong? When two people truly loved each other and showed that love through the expression of sex what did it matter if they were a man and a woman, two women or two men? It didn’t she realized. All that mattered was the love.
Their home had been turned into a haven for dogs, cats and other sundry animals that came their way. Currently they had ten dogs on the premises and fifteen cats along with a motley assortment of hamsters, bunnies, guinea pigs and birds. Stacey was running this show with Jade as her helper.
They had two fulltime staff members helping them with their menagerie. Beauregard’s Foundation was still running strong and had more than enough money to help fund several other shelters that wanted to become no kill. She felt more of a sense of pride and accomplishment in this than she ever had with any of the beauty products she created.
Now here it was one year later and she had taken Stacey back to Kalispell for Christmas. She had a tough time convincing her. She was leery because of all that had happened there. She had insisted saying Tannis really wanted to see them both. Stacey voiced the opinion that Tannis should come to them. She had nixed that saying Christmas was a busy time of the year at the shelter and all hands were needed on deck.
Now it was Christmas Eve and they had had a wonderful time. Everyone had been so pleased to see them treating them like they were long lost relatives instead of the scandal ridden pair from one year ago.
After some fun festivities at the animal shelter which included a present exchange for humans and animals alike, Jade and Stacey had said their goodbyes for the time being. Jade told her she had something to show her.
As they travelled down the road, Stacey wondered where Jade was taking her. Turning into a driveway she parked in front of a gorgeous mansion. The mansion perched on a small hillside that drifted gently down into a wide open valley. On every side it had a perfect view of the majestic mountains surrounding it.
The driveway had been plowed as if they were expected but the house was dark as if no one was home.
Stacey let Jade help her out of the vehicle wondering what this was all about. Holding hands they walked up to the door. Taking a key out of her pocket, she handed it to Stacey. “Merry Christmas.”
All Stacey could do was gape in astonishment that she had bought this beautiful mansion for her.
“Well, aren’t you going to open the door?” she asked
“This is for me?” She gasped too shocked to really believe this was for her.
“Well for both of us. I hope you don’t mind that I did this on my own. Once you’re inside I’ll tell you why.”
Silently and with awe she opened the door and walked into the beautiful moon lit home. Windows spanned the whole front of the house bringing in as much light as possible day or night. A beautiful fountain stood off to the right of the huge entranceway. The flowing water sounding musical in the night.
“Do you like it?”
“Jade, it’s beautiful, simply beautiful.” She turned and looked at her joy etched in every inch of her face. “I love it.”
Stacey pulled her close kissing her. Opening her mouth so Jade could slip her tongue in she felt her hand grip the back of her head as she began kissing her in earnest.
Stacey felt the familiar response in her body but Jade pulled away from her. “There’s a bottle of champagne in the fridge to celebrate with. Do you mind getting it? There’s some plastic glasses on the counter as well.”
Bemused Stacey walked to the kitchen which was a masterpiece in itself. It would make any chef jealous. The plastic cups were on the counter as Jade promised. Opening the fridge door, she saw the bottle of Champagne. Something was looped around the neck and dangling down the other side of the bottle.
Curious, she drew it closer and pulled the loop around. A beautiful pink diamond ring was hanging there. Her heart almost stopped in her chest, her breath sucked out of her lungs. Could this be what she thought?
“Will you marry me Stacey?” Jade had entered the room behind her walking so quietly she hadn’t heard her.
She felt tears prick her eyes. A year ago she had felt so much despair in her life and then this woman, this beautiful, magical, sensual woman had come into her life and made it all better.
Choking back tears of happiness and joy, she turned and looked at her. Her face saying yes before she ever uttered a word. Tears caught in her throat. Smiling through them she simply said, “Yes.”
She saw tears glistening in Jade’s eyes as well. “I love you so much Stacey and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
She watched as Jade pulled the ring off the loop and held it out to her. She held out her left hand as Jade slipped it on her fourth finger. She reached up and entwined her arms around her neck and kissed her hard. “I love you Jade. You’re life itself to me.” Tears of happiness were running down both of their faces. They had gone through some really rough times and had made it. They were meant to be together.
Jade licked the tears off her cheeks. Stacey rested her head on her chest.
“Do you know why I bought this house?”
“No.” was her muffled reply against her.
“It’s our new sanctuary for lost and abandoned animals.”
She looked up at her surprised. “But what about Gin Lane?”
“It’ll still run as an animal sanctuary. Because it’s running as a nonprofit organization we can write the expenses off and we’ve already got the right people to run it. They can hire a couple of extra staff to help.
Enthusiasm shone on Jade’s face as she spoke. “But here once you see how big the grounds are and there’s a huge barn just down the way where we can take in dogs, cats, horses, cows — you name it — just about anything. And Tannis said she’ll help us run it.”
Stacey smiled up at her delighted. “You two must have been planning this behind my back for quite a while.”
She hung her head, a little sheepish. “It’s true we have been. I worried that you might be upset that you weren’t included in the planning. But I thought this would be the best present I could give you.”
Stacey smiled her eyes crinkling as she looked at Jade. “Well I’d say it’s the second best present you could have given me. You asking me to marry you tops the list.”
“So you’re not upset with me?”
She shook her head slowly looking deeply into Jade’s eyes as she did. “Why don’t you lie down here on the floor and
I’ll show you exactly how I feel about what you’ve done.”
Jade didn’t need to be asked twice.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From Skylar Wood:
I live in the very beautiful, lively and fun filled City of Edmonton, Alberta Canada. There is always something going on here summer or winter. It’s a great place to be.
I’m a reading fanatic and only wish I had more time to do it. Jade is my first venture into the writing arena. Writing is hard work but it’s a refreshing change from my nine to five job. It provides fantasy and escape. I truly enjoyed writing Jade, a lesbian romance novel. It was a neat sexual fantasy to explore through the pages of a book.
This has been one of the best experiences of my life and thoroughly enjoyable. I would truly feel remiss if I did not mention Dark Hollows Press and their fabulous team of talented individuals. Their hard work and dedication is what made this happen.
DARK HOLLOWS PRESS
Dark Hollows Press publishes all genres of erotic expression.
We believe our authors are artists and their talent shouldn't be censored, so our authors present high quality stories full of romance, desire, and sometimes graphic moments that are both entertaining and erotic. We have an exclusive group of talented writers and we publish stories that range from historical to fantasy, sci-fi to contemporary.
We invite you to visit us at www.darkhollowspress.com.
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