Michael
I watched as the beautiful woman disappeared behind the curtain, her earlier stumble still etched in my mind. Her confident yet erratic demeanor intrigued me. As I turned to leave, something caught my eye – a glinting pin on the floor. I picked it up, admiring the blue and green jewels sparkling in the light. It likely belonged to the beautiful woman, but returning it now was impossible. Our reunion would have to wait. I joined my mother, who looked impatient, her eyes scanning the room. "This is why you should have let me help with the organization," I teased, taking my seat beside her. She laughed, playfully punching my arm. "Fundraising doesn't work that way, Michael. People need to see the impact of their donations." "I know, I know. But sometimes I think you enjoy torturing me with these events." Her stern expression softened. "I appreciate your support, dear. It means a lot to me." As the auction began, I bid on a few items, my mind drifting back to Miss Two Left Feet. Her vibrant red hair and striking green eyes lingered in my thoughts. What was her story? The final item, a designer hat, caught my attention. My mother quickly bid on it, and I smiled, knowing it suited her. But then, disaster struck. The model stumbled, and her dress ripped along the back seam. I sighed, exasperated. "Is every model here incompetent?" I asked my mother, who clenched her teeth. "A little kindness, Michael," she reminded me, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Accidents happen." I watched as Miss Two Left Feet rushed to the girl's side, hiding her from view. Her dress hugged every curve, and I couldn't help but imagine it on my floor, with her beside me. As the assistant escorted the model offstage, I remained fixated on Miss Two Left Feet. She carefully returned to her booth, holding her dress up. For a fleeting moment, panic crossed her face, and she scanned the area, likely searching for the lost pin. Her eyes met mine, and I sensed a spark. I smiled to myself, intrigued by her quirks. Who was this woman, and what brought her to this event? The auctioneer's voice brought me back to reality. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special surprise. Our final item is a unique experience – a weekend getaway to a luxurious villa." I raised an eyebrow, interested. This could be worth bidding on. As the bidding began, I glanced at Miss Two Left Feet, wondering if she'd make it through the rest of the event without another mishap. To my surprise, she seemed composed, her smile radiant. But I detected a hint of vulnerability beneath her poised exterior. I leaned forward, my eyes locked on hers. She felt my gaze and looked up, our eyes meeting once more. In that moment, I knew I had to find out more about her. As I watched Jade walk away, I couldn't resist winking at her. She bit her lip, fighting a smile, and I felt a surge of excitement. Her earlier stumble still lingered in my mind, but now, I saw a more confident side of her. The auction concluded, and my mother beamed with satisfaction. "That went splendidly, didn't it?" "Well, aside from that one mishap..." I teased, grinning. My mother chuckled. "I should have sold you too." "Then you'd just miss me and buy me back," I playfully retorted. We shared a laugh, and I kissed her cheek. "Go mingle with your friends. I'll see you back at the hotel." As I walked away, I retrieved the pin from my pocket, my thoughts consumed by Jade. What was her story? Why did she seem so nervous on stage? Backstage, I found her chatting with another model. Her radiant smile captivated me. She seemed carefree now, unlike the anxious woman I'd met earlier. When she noticed me, I gave a casual two-finger salute, making her laugh. "Hi again," she said, approaching me with a small wave. "Someone looks happy," I observed, drawn to her sparkling eyes. "Glad to have survived," she replied, confirming my suspicion. "And lost the stilts?" I teased, glancing at her feet. She laughed, glancing down. "Definitely those first. It's a unique torture." "The designer would be thrilled to hear that," I said with a smirk. Jade blushed, looking around nervously. "The clothes are beautiful... I guess we all have our tastes." "What are yours?" I asked, intrigued. "Probably boring," she admitted. "Why can't beauty be fun, not painful?" I shrugged, never having cared about beauty trends. My mother wore designer labels effortlessly, but Jade's perspective was refreshing. "This belong to you?" I asked, holding out the pin. Her eyes widened as she took it, cradling it like a treasure. "Careful, or I'll develop a hero complex," I joked. "Suits you," she said, searching my face. "Really? And my superpower?" "Saving redheads?" she teased. "Only redheads?" I winked. "It might just be me," she laughed. We bantered, our connection growing. I found myself wanting to know more about her. "I'm grateful for this," she said, holding the pin. "It's been in my family for generations." "Let me make it up to you. Dinner?" I suggested. She agreed, and we exchanged names. "More like Emerald," I said, studying her eyes. "Jade's fine," she chuckled. We parted ways, and I counted down the minutes until our dinner. As I waited, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Jade was different. Her quirks and vulnerability drew me in. Fifteen minutes passed, and Jade reappeared, looking stunning in a simple black dress. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and I fought the urge to run my fingers through it. "You look breathtaking," I said, offering my arm. Jade smiled, taking it. "You clean up well yourself." We walked to the hotel restaurant, our conversation flowing effortlessly. I learned about her passion for art and her love for old movies. As we dined, I discovered more about Jade – her laughter, her smile, and her infectious enthusiasm. The evening flew by, and I found myself reluctant to let her go. "Would you like to join me for breakfast tomorrow?" I asked, walking her back to her room. Jade smiled mischievously. "I'll think about it." "I'll make it worth your while," I whispered, my lips inches from hers. Her eyes sparkled, and I knew I had her. "Goodnight, Emerald," I said, releasing her. "Goodnight, Blue Eyes," she replied, disappearing into her room. I smiled, already counting down the hours until tomorrow.JadeI rushed to change, my mind racing with thoughts of Michael. As I entered the main hall, I spotted him waiting, his gaze locked onto me. My heart skipped a beat.He flashed that devastating smile, and I smiled back, feeling a flutter."That was more than fifteen minutes," he said, standing up."You were counting?" I teased.Michael's smirk hinted that he wasn't the type to wait for anyone, making me feel flattered."Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.We walked to the parking lot, where a sleek black Mercedes awaited, complete with a driver.As we settled in, Michael patted the space between us. "I don't bite."You're not the problem, I thought. I needed space to keep my head clear."I'm pretty sure I could take you," Michael said, his eyes scanning me.I suppressed a shiver. This intense attraction was uncharted territory."What makes you sure that I don't?" I asked.Michael's reply sent a spark through me: "I'm pretty sure you'd let me."The driver's presence was a timely re
Michael I woke up feeling refreshed, a rare sensation in my hectic life. My mother often joked that I was twenty-eight going on sixty. But last night had been different. Jade was witty and charming, and our connection was undeniable. I hadn't planned on skipping dessert, but I couldn't resist her. And now, she'd invaded my dreams. I smiled, expecting to see her beside me. Instead, I found an empty bed. I frowned, scanning the suite. The silence confirmed my fears. No note, no explanation. I cursed myself for not getting her number. "Damn it!" I muttered. I'd never been on the receiving end of a disappearing act. Who did Jade think she was? I replayed our night, searching for signs of miscommunication. But Jade had enjoyed it as much as I had. She'd left a mark, and I hated that. Why hadn't she said goodbye? Was that too much to ask? I thought about our conversation, trying to recall any hints. But Jade had seemed just as invested. I grabbed my phone and dialed
JadeI closed my eyes and let Ed Sheeran's voice soothe my soul, knowing fully well that I was moping but didn't care. I promised myself just a few more days, and then I would stop thinking about Michael. It was proving to be extremely difficult to forget about the man when I dreamt of him every time I closed my eyes. We'd had the perfect night together, and my mind couldn't stop replaying it, which was both satisfying and torturous. I heard my bedroom door open, and I opened my eyes to see Tammie narrowing her eyes at me."You know that listening to heartbreak songs makes you feel like crap, right?"I sat up and paused the song playing on my phone. "Joke's on you. That was actually a love song."Tammie rolled her eyes. "You need to get out more, and I mean just getting out into the sun. Have you seen how pale you look?""I had that stomach bug all weekend, remember?""Yeah, but I thought you were feeling better now?""I am. Maybe my complexion is just taking time to catch up."Stayin
While Tammie waited for me, I grabbed a jacket and put on my shoes in silence. We bought a test within thirty minutes and were back in my room. My heart threatened to jump out of my chest, and I felt like throwing up again, only this time because of nerves. I paced the room as we waited for the minutes to be up, and when Tammie's alarm went off, I felt my heart stop. My hands shook with anxiety."I can't look," I said tearfully to Tammie, and she nodded.She checked the test I had placed on a chair on top of some toilet paper, and her face told me all I needed to know. I checked for myself, picking up the stick and seeing the two lines sealing my fate."I must have done something wrong," I said, shaking my head."Jade-""I've heard these things sometimes give you a false positive."The test had to be wrong, I told myself. There was still a chance that we would laugh about this tomorrow; this was just some fluke.Tammie gave me a sad look but nodded. "It's okay. Let's get a different b
The following fortnight was filled with work and finalizing my application. The morning sickness seemed like an all-day sickness sometimes, and I quickly realized that this child had a strong aversion to dairy products. It felt strange realizing that the things I used to like to eat didn't matter anymore. As much as I wanted to hide and pretend that this wasn't happening, my body was changing quickly, and the tiny person inside my belly would not be ignored. The only thing I could do was take one day at a time, and I invested most of my time in researching more about giving up my baby for adoption.Today was one of the slower days at work, and I was counting down the minutes until my shift was over. I was meeting Tammie for lunch first; then, we were going for my first ultrasound appointment later. As soon as my alarm went off, I quickly got ready to leave. I was so rushed that I almost bumped into a lady at a corner, pushing her baby in a stroller."Oh, I'm so sorry," I apologized pr
Michael"Sometimes, I think you forget whose name is on your paycheck every month!"My assistant, Daisy, raised a brow at me, and I reigned in my anger. I took a deep breath and faced the windows, taking in the beautiful view. I listened to the man on the other end of the line apologizing, but I was not interested in apologies. Never, in the history of my family legacy, had the Fletcher fortune been enhanced by apologies. And what people didn't realize was that it wasn't my vanity that fueled my passion for succeeding but the responsibilities that I had. To most, I was just a thirty-four-year-old man who had been born with a platinum spoon in his mouth. In truth, I was just a couple of millions shy of becoming a billionaire, but that wealth supported many people.I had thousands of employees and charities that needed me to be the best I could be. There were scholarships in my family name that sent hundreds of kids to school each year, not to mention the medical donations that saved th
JadeToday was one of those days when everything was not going my way. I had spent the entire afternoon shopping with Robin for some new shoes and school supplies, and it seemed we had both reached our breaking point. He had asked for everything he saw, and I was now tired and broke. If only there were a way to explain to a stubborn six-year-old that mommy didn't have money to buy everything he wanted. Especially things he didn't need. I thought that after six years of doing this, I would be a pro by now, but there was no manual for motherhood, and on days like these, one just had to be extra patient."I want ice cream, Mommy," came another request.There were a few fancy restaurants as we walked by, and just ahead of us was a gelato place. I must admit that the large banner with different gelato cones looked appetizing, but I had just bought Robin some yogurt an hour before."We are going home, Robin, and you left ice cream in the freezer, remember?"There was a small tub of vanilla
MichaelI had to give it to Jade. She was one damn good actress. She stood there, pretending she had no idea what I was talking about and looked at me like I had lost my mind. This acting only angered me even more. It was one thing to lie and another to stick to that lie as if it were the truth.She was almost the same as I remembered her, only a little older now. Her face was free of makeup, but she looked so gorgeous it was almost painful. I wondered if she had continued with her modeling; she certainly had the face for it. And that hair was sure to land her many shampoo commercials. But then again, her beauty and my attraction to her had never been the problem. It was her integrity."Mommy?"The little voice brought me back to reality, and I looked at the little boy next to Jade. When I had left the restaurant, I had seen her bend over to talk to the child, but funny how I hadn't paid him any mind once I finally came face to face with her. It was like the world around us had disapp