by Nia Arthurs
“Huh?”
“They’re cousins. Beautiful, aren’t they?” Gus closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “Like fine wine just waiting to be tasted.”
Adam shifted.
“That other girl is prettier than mine, though she has too much pride. I warned your father about that, but my Chelsea insisted she was desperate for the money.”
Adam’s eyes pinned Gus down. “Why?”
“Something about medical bills for an old family member. I just look interested, but the words come through one ear and fall right out.”
Adam internalized the revelation, running it over and over in his mind. From Gus’s speech and all that he’d heard and observed of her so far, he gathered that this was, indeed, Jada’s first jaunt into the murky depths of the ‘mutually beneficial’ service industry.
The thought that a family emergency had led her here, making her vulnerable to the likes of Gus Grant bothered him. For once, he was grateful that his father had shoved this task into his lap.
“Where are they?” Gus glanced around, searching for the girls. “They’re taking a while in the bathroom.” The old man nudged him with his elbow. “Guess they’re trying to look prettier for us!”
Gus cackled as if he’d delivered a heart-stopping joke. Adam did not laugh along, but he too grew concerned with the length of time that the women were taking. The thought crossed his mind that Jada had run away with her friend, but he brushed it aside.
He had done nothing to invalidate their agreement. At least he thought not. Perhaps there was an issue with her friend or with her? Rising to his feet, he turned to Gus.
“I’ll go check on them.”
Gus raised his glass in response and Adam turned away, walking toward the restrooms.
Chapter Four
Chelsea wrenched her arm away from Jada as soon as they rounded the bend and were out of sight. Jada glared at her cousin, her hand trembling from anger and her eyes flashing like daggers of lightning.
“What’s going on? Why’d you drag me away like that?” Chelsea demanded.
“Not here,” Jada said through gritted teeth, eyeing the servers that were passing them by. “Let’s go to the bathroom.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes, but followed her cousin into the ladies room. Instead of immediately discussing the matter, Jada went to the stalls and knocked them open. Only when she was satisfied that they were alone did she turn to Chelsea.
“I saw him.”
“What are you talking about?” Chelsea mumbled, her eyes diving to the ground.
“I saw him touching your leg.” She rolled up the sleeves of her dress. “How do you want us to do this? Should we just sneak out or should we address it? Whatever you want to do, I’ll follow your lead.”
“Really?” Chelsea looked up with hope in her eyes. “You promise?”
“Of course,” Jada said firmly. “You’re my cousin and I love you. Seeing that despicable man with his hands over you…” she shivered. “So what is it? What’s the play?”
Chelsea lifted her chin. “We march right back in there and pretend nothing ever happened.”
Jada stepped back, struck dumb by her cousin’s words. When she’d seen Gus’s hand inching up Chelsea’s thigh, she’d been furious. Only the fear of creating a scene amongst such distinguished dignitaries and embarrassing Chelsea allowed her to hold it together.
“You can’t be serious. That guy—”
“Is paying us a lot of money to sit there and eat great food. To rub elbows with the leaders of this country. To peek into a world our little village girl eyes have never seen before.”
“He’s groping you!”
“He’s harmless.”
“Chelsea!”
“You promised,” her cousin hissed.
“I can’t do it.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Chelsea said, drawing near and putting a hand on Jada’s shoulder. “I can handle myself.” When Jada continued to glower, Chelsea smiled. “At least the guy you got was younger! How awesome is that?”
“I’m not playing this game with you.”
“Just for tonight,” Chelsea pleaded. “After tonight, I’ll never accept Gus’s invitations again, but if you mess this up for me, we’ll lose the deposit and the apartment.”
Jada hissed. “What are you talking about? I gave you rent money last week.”
Chelsea bowed her head. “I used it to buy the clothes and shoes for tonight.”
“But… but you told me you borrowed these.”
“Really?” Chelsea glanced up. “You’re a little too naïve for your own good, Jada.”
“What are we going to do?” Jada moaned.
“You see what’s at stake here? For the both of us? That’s why I need you to hold it in. Just for a few more hours. Please.”
“Alright,” Jada said. The words tasted bitter against her tongue. In her mind, she imagined grabbing Chelsea’s hand and tearing it for the exit, leaving this fancy world and the men and women who lived in it far behind.
Neither of them belonged here and trying to claw their way into the fold by exchanging their self-respect and dignity for a ‘peek’ didn’t sit well.
“J,” Chelsea croaked, her gaze pleading, “work with me here.”
“I said alright.”
Chelsea held desperately to Jada’s hand. “The man you’re with seems nice. There’s kindness in his eyes. Focus on that and you’ll get through this.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I’ll uphold my promise.”
“Awesome.”
Jada glared at Chelsea. “But if I catch him touching you again, I may forget everything.”
“I won’t let you see then.”
The phrase did little to comfort Jada, but Chelsea grinned wide and headed for the hallway. Jada followed closely on her heels, discomfort unsettling her stomach.
“Oh,” she heard Chelsea squeak, “you’re here?”
Jada looked up to find Adam standing sheepishly in front of the ladies room. His hands were in his pockets and his pasty face was reddening the longer they stared at him. She felt a twinge of amusement at his squeamish expression.
“Is everything okay?” Jada said.
Adam shrugged. “I was about to ask you both the same thing.”
“We’re fine,” Chelsea said and gave Jada a meaningful look. “Let me hurry back to Gus. I don’t want him to think I’ve run off.”
Jada opened her mouth to call her cousin back, but stopped herself at the last minute and fisted her hands.
Adam rubbed the back of his neck and approached her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah,” she said distractedly. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
He shook his head. “Ready to jump back in?”
“Alright.”
Jada followed him into the main hall where the speaker on the pulpit encouraged the guests to mill about and show off their moves on the dance floor. While Adam led her around the room and greeted his colleagues, she kept her eyes on Gus and Chelsea, determined to buck the promise if she spotted one inappropriate gesture.
They’d find some other way to pay the rent and Papi’s hospital bills.
“Jada?” she heard the call and drew her attention back to her own ‘date’.
“Huh?”
Adam sent her a little smile and jerked his chin toward the woman standing across from them. Jada glanced over and her eyes nearly bugged. Investigative Reporter Tina Lang chuckled at her expression and Jada thought she would die.
“Hello, Ms. Jada,” the reporter said.
“Y-you’re… Tina Lang,” Jada mumbled. “Wow! It is such an honor.”
The woman had been her idol since Jada was old enough to appreciate current events. She’d grown up listening to the cadence of Tina Lang’s voice during the seven o’clock news and admired her enthusiasm for uncovering the truth.
When her parents died and Jada went to live with her grandfather, she drew comfort from Tina’s strength
and courage. Tina Lang, though a stranger, was a fixture in her life and one she’d clung to, especially when the grief over her parents nearly broke her.
“Thank you for saying that.” Tina offered her hand and Jada took it, shaking it reverently.
“You’re actually the reason I’m studying to be a journalist.”
“Oh? Where are you studying?”
“At the University of Belize,” Jada said, still staring in awe. “Have any tips?”
Tina flung her bangs away from her eyes and looked up into the air. “If you’re asking for advice on investigative reporting, I’d say don’t be afraid to be annoying. Persistence is key when trying to uncover something people would rather remain buried.”
Jada clutched her chest as Tina’s words fell on her like a gentle rain. She wished someone could record this moment so that she could replay it over and over again.
“But,” Tina was saying, “if you’re asking for some life advice, I’m afraid I’m not in any position to offer that. I’ve been divorced twice and have loads of debt, so take what you will.”
Jada blinked, stunned to learn such intimate details from a Belizean icon. She figured that Tina Lang’s straightforward personality was probably what had gotten her the level of success in her career.
Adam laughed. “Tina, you’re being far too hard on yourself.”
“That’s Adam,” Tina said, winking at Jada. “He’s Mr. Nice Guy. Always trying to make people feel better.”
Jada beamed over at Adam, her voice failing and her heart thumping. The circumstances surrounding this meeting were questionable, but for the first time, Jada was extremely glad to be here.
***
Adam’s smirk of satisfaction grew when he noticed Jada’s expression. She fairly came alive when Tina Lang spoke, and he could feel her excitement like a physical meter bursting through the roof.
It didn’t take much to guess that she was a fan.
“Would it be presumptuous of me to suggest an assistant for the summer, Tina?” Adam said, tilting his head toward Jada.
“Oh, that would be a dream come true,” Jada said, leaning forward so far he feared she’d topple over. “I wouldn’t even ask for pay.” The words registered and she ducked her head. “Actually, I can’t do that.”
Tina laughed. “Of course I would pay you to tote around with me. It would be good experience.”
“I mean… you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Jada said.
“With this guy asking, I can’t very well say ‘no’.”
Jada looked up at him with a gleeful expression and Adam felt an unfamiliar stirring in his chest. Surprised by the reaction, he cleared his throat and looked away.
Tina continued speaking. “Why don’t you give me your number and I’ll get in contact with you before summer?”
“Alright.”
Jada pulled out her phone and the women exchanged information as Adam looked on. He couldn’t deny that his gaze was drawn to his companion more than his friend.
Jada’s brown eyes sparkled with unrestrained pleasure and every so often, she bumped into him as if to make sure he, and by extension this moment, was real.
The stirring in his chest grew stronger and he wondered briefly if he was suffering from heartburn.
“Great. I’ll see you, Jada. Adam, let’s meet for lunch on Friday if you have the time.”
“Alright,” he said and watched as Tina walked off.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Jada smacked his arm. It was both the most surprising and the most natural thing in the world. Still… it hurt. Adam massaged his hand as she squealed.
“You know Tina Lang?”
“Yes, of course. She has a few questions about my father’s company.”
Jada scrunched her nose. “You do know she exposes crime and corruption, right?”
“I do.” He winked. “Is there anyone else you’d like to meet? These people are more acquainted with my father than with me, but I can coast on the company name.”
“No,” Jada shook her head and bit her bottom lip, “I think I could die tonight and be quite satisfied.”
“Really?”
“Not… necessarily. If I could, I’d postpone my death until after this summer.”
Adam chuckled. Before meeting Jada, he’d had many misgivings about how this night would go. Given his father’s track record with women, he’d been prepared to meet a whiny, superficial girl with her eyes firmly on his bank account.
Jada was anything but, and despite his understanding that they would probably never meet again after tonight, he was glad to be in her company.
Turning to speak to her, Adam stopped when he saw her eyes roving the crowd. He looked in the direction that she was searching, wondering what she could be looking for.
“Have you changed your mind about an introduction?” he asked.
“No,” she shook her head, “I’m looking for my cousin.”
“The young lady you were with before?”
She nodded. “I don’t see her or the man she was with.”
“Maybe they stepped out for a bit,” Adam suggested, joining Jada in her scan of the room.
“Maybe…” she fished her phone from the purse slung over her shoulder and clicked on the screen. Immediately, her expression changed and her shoulders tensed.
“Is something the matter?”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Do you need me for much longer? I really have to go.”
“Now?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, already beginning to scurry for the doors. “You can take it out of the cheque if you like.”
“Wait,” he hurried after her, “do you need me to take you home?”
“I really appreciate that, but I have my own car.”
“Let me at least walk you down.”
She seemed interested only in reaching the elevators, and Adam wasn’t even sure that she had heard him. He followed along anyway, sensing that she was in distress and that he may be of use when she eventually noticed he was there.
And also, a tiny part of him didn’t want the night to end just yet. But that was something he barely admitted to himself.
Chapter Five
Jada pressed the button in the elevator and tapped her foot until the doors closed. She felt Adam beside her, but her mind was too occupied to give him the attention he had paid for. It wasn’t intentional. She simply could not waste any more time here.
Chelsea was in danger.
She glanced at her phone and read the vague message her cousin had sent, explaining that she had gone for a ‘night cap’ with Gus. Jada was an innocent village girl and the term ‘night cap’ was one she’d only seen in books and heard in movies, but the connotations were universal.
The idea of her defenseless cousin going anywhere alone with that dirty, old man frightened her. If Gus was comfortable enough to touch Chelsea in a public place with the Prime Minister of Belize a few tables down, what would he do to her in private?
The doors opened and she rushed out of the elevator, cursing the heels that were already beginning to shout their displeasure at her pace. Before she was half-way to the door, Jada started limping.
“Here,” she heard a voice and found Adam stooping so that his shoulder was near the height of her chin.
“What are you doing?”
“Lean on me. Take them off.”
She glanced at him before understanding dawned. Touched by his offer, Jada pressed her hand to Adam’s shoulder and quickly shucked her heels. Carrying them in one hand, she fast-walked through the upscale foyer until she made it outside.
There she stopped, completely clueless. Sinky was no longer in the booth where the valets rested between parking cars. Unfamiliar with the valet system and unsure of what she should do to get her car, she hesitated.
Without saying a word to Adam, he seemed to understand her dilemma. Dipping close to her, he said. “Do you have your ticket?”
“I do.” She scrambl
ed in her purse and produced the slip of paper. Adam took it and walked confidently to the valet. Their exchange was quick and in less than five minutes, her car was brought around.
“I tipped him already, so you don’t have to worry about that,” Adam said.
“Wow… thank you so much. Again, I apologize for rushing off.”
“It’s no problem.”
She smiled, looking up into his green eyes. Though Jada would likely never dip her toes into this world again, she was grateful that she’d been given an opportunity to do so in the company of a kind man like Adam Lockwood.
“Well… goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Jada.”
She nodded and got into her car. The ignition was still running so all she had to do was put it into drive. After doing so, Jada stepped on the gas and the car crept along as it usually did.
If this were a normal day, she would have been embarrassed as her car acted up in front of a swanky hotel like Maruba, but urgency banished all shallow thoughts from her mind.
She kept one hand on the steering wheel while the other dialed Chelsea’s number into her phone. So engrossed was she in her task, that the tap on her lowered window scared her half to death.
When Jada glanced over and found Adam’s face floating in front of the glass, she briefly wondered if he had superhuman speed and was running alongside her car. Only when he knocked again did she realize that she was not moving.
“Is something wrong?” Adam asked when she lowered the window. “Your car stopped all of a sudden.”
“Everything’s fine,” she said as she turned the ignition. The car sputtered and coughed to life before giving up. “No, no,” Jada moaned. “I can’t deal with this right now. Start!”
The car disobeyed and Jada covered her face with her hands. Chelsea wasn’t picking up which could mean that she was perfectly fine or… she was not. Since her cousin had kept the first half of the deposit, Jada had no cash on her to catch a taxi and no address to give the taxi man either.
“Should I call a mechanic?” Adam asked, breaking her from her thoughts.
A flash of annoyance that he was standing here witnessing her distress burned in her heart, but at his gentle tone and sincerely earnest gaze, she brushed it away. Taking out her anger on someone who had been nothing but gracious to her wasn’t the right move.
