by Nia Arthurs
“Because I’ve known her longer.”
“At least play nice, would you, J?” Chelsea scolded from the backseat. Jada had no idea why she’d climbed into the front instead of joining her cousin in the back. It had felt natural to walk in as Adam opened the door for her before doing the same for Chelsea.
“I really do appreciate you coming all the way down here. What were you doing before Chelsea called?” she asked.
“I was working.”
“On a Saturday?”
“Yes.”
“Your boss must love you.”
He cleared his throat. “Well, I am the boss.”
“Really?” Chelsea asked, poking her head toward the front much as she had the night before.
“I own a software manufacturing company. I work mostly with codes, making sure the bugs are ironed out. It’s small, but it suits me.”
Jada froze. Obviously, if Adam was well-off enough to have his own on-call lawyer and hobnob with the wealthy, he had his own assets. The comment about his boss slipped out without thought and now she felt strangely uncomfortable.
“Then I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, Jada,” Adam said. “It’s fine.”
Chelsea smirked. “The mood is weird in here. Did something happen last night?”
“Something like what?” Adam asked.
“Don’t entertain her,” Jada said.
“You two have the weirdest vibe…”
As she had before, Jada pressed a hand to her cousin’s chest and shoved her into the backseat. She and Adam could be awkward on their own. They didn’t need Chelsea sniffing around and pressing the issue.
“That Ethan guy is cute,” Chelsea said. “How long have you known him, Adam?”
“It’s been a while. We went to college together.”
The two started to chat like old friends and Jada listened, marveling at the ease in which Adam interacted with them. As far as he knew, they were two gold diggers who had sold themselves to the highest bidder for the night.
Not once had she seen him treat her—or Chelsea—with disrespect or with judgment. She wondered what he really thought about them and once again, the thought that he was too good to be true paraded across her mind.
***
Adam could feel Jada watching him and when he turned his head just so, he caught her red-handed. Though she was aware that he had seen her, she confidently kept her eyes trained on him.
Shifting in discomfort, Adam fixed his expression. Whatever Jada was looking for, he wished she’d hurry up and find it. Beneath her focused regard, he felt the same stirring in his chest and this time, he couldn’t even hide behind the excuse of heartburn.
It was with great relief that he slowed down in front of Maruba’s a few minutes later. He heard Jada’s gasp from beside him and whipped his head around to look at her.
“What is it?” Chelsea asked.
“My car!” Jada groaned. She pressed her face to the glass in search of it. “Oh no! They must have towed my car! After everything that happened, I completely forgot about it yesterday.”
“It’s okay, J,” Chelsea tried to comfort her cousin, “we can get it back.”
“How?” Jada cried. “I have so many other things to take care of. How could I have been so irresponsible?”
“Actually…”
“I mean, what is wrong with me? Really?” Jada yelled.
“See what happened was…” Adam tried again and this time was interrupted by Chelsea.
“It’s my fault. You forgot it because you were worrying about me. How are we going to get around now?”
“It’s at the mechanic,” Adam said.
Both girls paused and looked over at him.
He squared his shoulders. “After I dropped you home last night, I made a few calls. I asked the mechanic to get in contact with you and leave my name out of it since I didn’t want you to think I was helping out for any untoward reasons.”
Jada ducked her head and he smiled. The accusations she’d hurled at him about having ‘expectations’ back at the precinct weren’t at all surprising. Though he’d only spent a couple hours in her company, he’d sensed her independent streak and confidence.
“Wow, you’re really looking out for us, aren’t you?” Chelsea said.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“I didn’t do it for recognition,” Adam admitted. “We should head out now. The valet’s been waiting for a spell.”
As the young valet opened Chelsea’s door, Adam trotted around the hood to get to Jada’s. He was happy that she’d stayed put until he came for her. Last night had been a different story.
“Took you guys forever!” Ethan enthused as they met up with him in the foyer. “Come on. I’m starving.”
The group settled down in the restaurant with Jada beside him and Chelsea on the other side of the table next to Ethan.
“What was Adam like in college?” Chelsea asked as soon as they’d given their orders. “Somehow, I can’t imagine him being very wild and rebellious.”
“Try the opposite of that,” Ethan said. “I’m a Belizean boy myself, despite my skin,” he pinched the pale skin of his arm, “but Adam was better-behaved than any of us scholarship students.”
“Come on, Ethan,” Adam moaned.
“What? It’s true.”
“Sounds boring,” Chelsea said, scrunching her nose.
“I think it’s very admirable,” Jada countered. “When someone has everything, it’s easy for them to take it for granted.”
“Well said, Ms. J.” Ethan grinned. “I have to tell yah, I was so surprised when this guy called me this afternoon. I wondered what kind of woman could tear him away from work.”
“Shut it, Ethan.”
His friend only laughed. “Adam is married to that company. If Brenda, that’s his secretary, if she wasn’t so much older than him, I’d think they were dating! She’s the only woman he keeps around.”
“That’s enough,” Adam grumbled and craned his neck to see into the kitchen. “Why is our food taking so long?”
“So,” Ethan winked at Jada, “how did you two meet?”
The woman beside him tensed and they exchanged quick glances before looking away. Chelsea snorted and laughed into her hand.
“Oh come on, now I really need to know.”
“We met like normal people meet,” Jada said. “Through a friend of a friend.”
Adam smiled softly. It wasn’t technically a lie. He still hadn’t informed Jada that the real ‘client’ she was supposed to have met was not his friend, but his father. The moment for that revelation had passed long ago and bringing it up now would brook no good.
“Why do you two look so guilty then?” Ethan wondered.
“Ah!” Adam noticed their waiter emerging from the kitchen. “There he is. It’s time to eat now, Ethan. Stop with the twenty questions.”
As the food came, his friend obliged and they enjoyed a cheerful meal where Adam was able to get better acquainted with both Chelsea and Jada. By far, he was most distracted by Jada. Not that it was a competition.
Passion and zeal infused every word she said and seemed to spark electricity from her eyes. He sensed a determination in her that obliterated any struggles she had admitted to in their brief acquaintance.
Still, her appeal went beyond her strength. There was a soft vulnerability in her eyes, probably part and package of her innocence. The contrast of sweet and strong, of fierce and wounded called to him, made him want to uncover just what it was that made her tick.
“Wow, look at the time,” Ethan said what felt like a few minutes later. “That was a good meal and good company.”
“It was great,” Chelsea agreed.
Jada leaned back and sighed in satisfaction. Adam thought the sound was the prettiest he’d ever heard. He was just about to suggest they linger for dessert when his eyes landed on someone entering the restaurant.
He stiffened and kept his eyes
trained on the newcomer until their gazes met. A slow, determined grin grew on the man’s face and he took giant strides toward their table.
“Adam? Adam?” Jada was calling his name, but all of his energy was focused elsewhere. He fisted his hands beneath the table, mentally preparing himself for their meeting.
When at last he drew near, Adam tilted his head. “What are you doing here, Winston?”
“Nice to see you too,” Winston narrowed his eyes, “Brother.”
Chapter Nine
Jada wondered at the heavy atmosphere that had blown in along with Adam’s brother. She had no siblings that she knew of, but all of her cousins were dear to her heart and as close as sisters and brothers. Jada couldn’t imagine greeting one of them with such coldness.
“It’s nice to see you have friends,” Winston said. “Hello! Hello, everybody.”
Normally Jada would respond in kind, but the way Adam stared his brother down spoke of his discomfort and displeasure.
“Let’s go talk outside,” Adam mumbled rising to his feet.
“No way!” Winston yelled. He drew a chair and pressed it close to Adam. The move caused Adam to scoot away until his broad shoulders knocked into hers. Instead of complaining, she settled in and watched the two men.
Adam’s brother was very handsome. His olive skin tone was smooth and his hair was cut and styled to perfection. Straight, gleaming white teeth beamed when he smiled and the silver watch on his hand was brilliant in the light. He was obviously someone that gave a lot of attention to his appearance.
Despite Winston’s flashier package, Jada much preferred the quiet, steady strength of Adam to the near gaudy, extravagant style of his brother.
“Isn’t this nice?” Winston said, slinging an arm over Adam’s shoulders. “Being here. Together. With you.”
“Winston,” Ethan said uncomfortably, “it’s nice to see you again.”
“Who are you?”
“Ethan Argus. We met at Adam’s graduation.”
“Oh, right. The scholarship kid,” Winston smiled. “How have you been, man?”
Clearly unhappy with being remembered as the ‘scholarship kid’, Ethan simply replied. “Good.”
“And who are these fine ladies?” Winston swung his head to stare at both Jada and Chelsea. “You know, the more I visit Belize, the more beautiful the women become. I was talking to Dad the other day and he told me he’d been considering hiring an escort here—”
Jada froze, but before she could say anything, Adam pushed his brother so he tumbled out of his seat. Winston caught himself before he actually made it to the floor, but his look of disdain when he glanced up at Adam was unmistakable.
“Let’s talk outside,” Adam said, his tone firm.
“Why? Scared your friends might find out how messed up our family is?”
“I’m afraid my brother will make an even bigger fool of himself than he already has. Outside. Now.”
Jada shivered at the authority in Adam’s words. For most of their acquaintance, she’d known him as the quiet, kind man that looked after her when he really had no responsibility to. This side of him was colder than she expected and to his family, no less!
“Alright,” Winston said and pulled at the lapels of his blazer, “let’s go outside, brother.”
“Excuse us,” Adam said to the table without really looking at any of them.
They moved off and left Jada, Chelsea and Ethan in squirming, uncomfortable silence.
“Whew,” Chelsea chuckled, “that wasn’t fun.”
“I’ve never seen Adam behave that way,” Jada admitted. “Granted, I’ve only known him for a short time.”
“You’re not wrong,” Ethan said. “The only people who can rile Adam up like that are his family.”
Afraid to gossip, but dying of curiosity, Jada prodded. “What happened between them?”
Ethan leaned in. “Adam is Winston’s half-brother. Their father remarried three times and had several children. Since Adam’s the oldest and he’s built his own platform without his father’s help, he’s been chosen to run the company when his father retires.”
“That’s great, right?” Chelsea tilted her head. “Then he’ll be even richer?”
“Company politics isn’t Adam’s interest,” Ethan said. “He’d reject it if he could, but his father is insisting and the brothers that want the power are ticked off about it. I was always afraid they’d try to kill him and pass it off as an accident. That’s why I was thrilled when he got away from them and moved to Belize.”
“How intriguing,” Chelsea moaned. “I feel like I’m in the middle of a drama.”
Jada was not so enthused. The thought that anyone would bring harm to a man as nice as Adam over something as trivial as money disturbed her.
Sure, Jada was interested in making money. As someone that had never had much of it, someday achieving a position of financial comfort appealed to her.
But these people were on a whole different level. They had grown up with much and instead of being thankful for it, they clamored for more. If Ethan was to be believed, they were willing to harm their own blood to achieve that end.
For once, Jada wondered if growing up so removed from wealth was a blessing instead of a curse.
Chelsea peered out the window and tapped the frosted glass with a manicured finger. “Oh! There they are.”
Jada focused on the point that Chelsea indicated and spotted the tall men standing closely together.
“I wonder what they’re talking about?” Ethan mused.
Jada spied Winston reaching out and pushing Adam’s shoulder. The man simply stood there, taking the abuse. Something about that lit a fire in Jada’s blood and she sprung to her feet. Ethan and Chelsea looked up in surprise.
“What are you doing?” Chelsea hissed.
“I’m going out there.”
“Not a good idea,” Ethan cried. “Adam will only be embarrassed. Just leave it. He’ll come back in and pretend nothing happened.”
“That doesn’t sound right to me,” Jada replied.
Ethan grabbed her hand to keep her seated. “This is way over your head, miss. Nothing you say or do can take away people’s greed.”
“Maybe not,” she said. “But I can’t sit here and watch anymore.”
“Jada,” Chelsea hissed, “this isn’t our place.” She licked her lips and darted her eyes to Ethan. “We barely know the guy. It was just a job.”
The warning gave her pause. It was true. She didn’t really know Adam. He could be a serial killer in disguise for all she knew. And that was the point. She didn’t know that.
What she did know was Adam had slipped her shoes on her feet last night, taken her to rescue Chelsea, and paid for her car to be fixed all without expecting a thing in return.
She couldn’t in good conscience sit on the sidelines while he was being torn down. Not even if it was his own family doing the bashing. Shaking Chelsea’s hold, she stood and stalked outside.
***
Adam had been expecting a visit from Winston. He just hadn’t expected to meet his brother in front of company.
Winston’s dark hair glinted in the sunlight and his eyes were sharp, filled with anger and bitterness. The words spewing from his lips were tainted in the same manner.
Looking at him now, Adam wished his father wasn’t so stubborn. Wished his family wasn’t so broken. Wished he could give the company to his brothers and wash his hands of it.
They were fractured enough and the money machine his father had built was chomping at the very fragments that were left.
“How dare you attend that meeting in Dad’s place,” Winston cried, pushing him in the shoulder. “You think I didn’t recognize that play? Getting the Prime Minister of Belize used to your face, introducing yourself to Dad’s allies as the next company head?”
“Dad asked me to go at the last minute, Win. I couldn’t say no.”
“That’s always your excuse, isn’t it? You never say n
o. Especially not to Dad.”
He said nothing. Winston had come all the way here to vent. Who was he to prevent him from letting it all out?
Adam understood his brother’s frustration. His father wasn’t even allowing his younger brothers a foot in the door. Complaining to Eldon Lockwood would just shut the doors even tighter. Adam was the nearest punching bag.
“Do you even see what’s going on here?” Winston hissed. “Everyone else thinks you’re just pretending to not want the company so that Dad will want to give it to you more, but I know you.”
A lump formed in his throat at the memories those words summoned. Running through the grassy fields of their summer home, dancing by the waves near their holiday villa in Nice, hiding in the antique cupboards of their mansion after a day at school—they felt like someone else’s experiences.
The brothers were so far removed from that time, it was laughable.
Winston gripped Adam’s forearm. “It’s not fair and we both know it.”
“Life isn’t fair,” a voice called. Both brothers turned to find Jada walking toward them.
In her grey shirt and light blue jeans, she seemed less like a college student and more like a high school student. Her curly hair was in a bouncy ponytail and it shook with every step she took.
Despite his vehemence just a moment before, a slow, appraising smile grew on Winston’s face. Adam felt a twinge of jealousy at his brother’s regard, but quickly shook the thought. Jada was very beautiful and admiration followed her wherever she went.
Still, he didn’t want her around for this.
“Go back inside, Jada. We’re almost done.”
“I just have a few things to say first.”
Winston rocked back on his heels, the earlier aggression gone from his countenance and replaced by loads of interest.
“Please, go ahead.”
“I don’t know what you two were discussing and, frankly, it’s none of my business.”
“Jada…” Adam began, looking toward the restaurant window where Chelsea and Ethan’s noses were pressed against the glass. His friend was a blabbermouth and he had no doubts that he’d given a dramatic rendition of the Lockwood family saga.
