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Chapter Fifteen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Jade veered the car towards the keypad, coming to an abrupt stop in front of the iron gate. She punched in the four-digit code and waited to hear the familiar beep. The black steel rattled in front of her, the gate slowly opening, as she rolled her window back up. It was chilly out today; her pink hands trembled as she held them closer to the air vents and waited, wishing the heater in Marissa's car had worked better. She had cranked it at the highest volume, and still, it could barely keep up. There wasn't much choice in the matter if she wanted to be inconspicuous. If Jonathon were here, he wouldn't recognize this vehicle. Maybe it had been a good thing that she'd always tried to keep Jonathon and Marissa separated. Jade's eyes glanced up to the rearview mirror, discerning the b
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Jade greeted her, held the door open as she strolled inside, her mouth already parted open in awe. "This is... Wow! When you said apartment, I wasn't expecting this."Jade gave a bleak smile. She remembered being in awe the first time she'd seen it as well. It was beautiful, not like anything she'd ever lived in before— it had vaulted ceilings, hardwood flooring, chandeliers, chrome appliances, granite countertops with the complementary backsplash. The best part was the view from their bedroom. It overlooked the vibrant grassy knolls of the golf course behind them."Would you like a tour?" Jade asked, only realizing afterward that she'd used an insincere, almost artificial voice. The same one she used when she was speaking to Jonathon's colleagues or clients. It c
Rendezvous Chapter Seventeen
When she was younger, nobody had ever suspected a thing when it came to her home life. Jade was naturally a pleasant child. Each day she greeted her teachers with a plastered-on grin, and as long as she had brushed her hair and she made good grades, nobody ever questioned it. Her parents started as both loving and attentive; they were always doting over her. She was their miracle baby, as they both called her. They would hang every piece of artwork she created up onto the fridge, up until it became so thick with scraps of paper that the magnets couldn't hold. They were at every ballet recital, attended every school play, and you could hear them in the stands at every soccer game, cheering her on. She couldn't have asked for a better childhood.That lasted up until she was nearly eleven years old.In the early hours of February 21st, Jade's mother had been lectu
Rendezvous Chapter Eighteen
Jade squatted down on the front porch's wooden steps, laced up her sneakers, and then started up her playlist. "Happiness, hit her, like a train on a track. Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back."... She stretched her arms above her head, basking in the gorgeous day outside. It was somewhat chilly out, she could see the little puffs of her breath in the air, but it was also the perfect temperature for a good run.An older woman across the street was pouring mulch around her newest saplings. It was unusual that Jade saw any of the neighbors outside; it seemed they didn't enjoy the cold either. She gave the woman a quick wave as she walked up the driveway and headed east, soaking in the warm rays from the clear skies overhead.Her long ponytail swayed with every stride she took. Through her earbuds, she could hear the thudding as the rubber soles of her shoes bounced off the pavement. Her heart held a steady beat as she jogged, barely putting
Rendezvous Chapter Nineteen
"You mean youdon'talready know?" Jade chuckled, wondering how that was even possible."No, I even tried to ask my husband about it on the way home, but he said Jonathon didn't mention the breakup. Of course, they're men. I don't think they openly discuss those topics while they're out there playing golf. The only thing we all have to go off of is what his little girlfriend is putting on Facebook.""Wait, what do you mean?Are youfriends with her on Facebook or something?" She hadn't expected Jessica would even be allowed to discuss details of the breakup, seeing as how Jonathon would surely disapprove. Why did she not have to follow his rules?Maybe he didn't know.Andrea snorted, "Or something, we were snooping and came across some very public posts she had written. Do you wanna see them?" She went to reach for her handbag that was sitting on the table across from her.Jade shook her head, stoppin
Rendezvous Chapter Twenty
Jade's eyelashes fluttered open as she suddenly emerged into cognizance. It was as if an internal alarm were sounding at the forefront of her brain. The lack of rest she'd gotten the night before held no bearing as her thoughts assembled all at once, turning into a chaotic panic. An ocherous glow radiated throughout the bedroom, indicating that it was morning- more specifically, it was Sunday morning. She instantly sprang up, fully alert now.Had she slept through her alarm?Her eyes darted towards the clock on the nightstand, quickly discerning the green glowing numbers only a few feet away from her. It hadn't gone off yet because it was only seven a.m.She fell back onto the pillow, feeling the adrenaline instantly dissolve throughout her. With every blink, she could feel the slightest pull from the inflammation around her eyes, signifying just how exhausted she was. She contemplated going back to sleep for a few hours but knew there was no way her brain
Rendezvous Chapter Twenty-One
"Oh, Jade!" they marveled and stood to greet her, giving a peck on the cheek or a quick hug if they had on lipstick. It was only a few minutes before all the formalities were over, and Jade was seated in her usual position next to Andrea. She placed a linen napkin across her lap and then poured herself a glass of iced water from the crystal pitcher in the center of the table.Counterclockwise, she glanced over the familiar faces, happy to see each one.Andrea, of course, was sitting directly to her left. Coming from a lengthy history of politicians, confidence flowed through her veins- you could tell just by the way she carried herself; it practically radiated off of her. Most people typically mislabeled her as a know-it-all, but Jade didn't believe that to be true. Andrea had no problem admitting when she was wrong, but that rarely happened. Not because she knew everything, but because she never stepped into an argument that she knew she couldn't win. She wasn't afrai
Rendezvous Chapter Twenty-Two
With an unspoken understanding, the women shifted their attention back to their own discussion, disregarding the couple that had just arrived. Jade feigned interest, smiling and nodding her head on cue as she attempted to keep up with the conversation, but her focus was elsewhere.The couple, all too consumed by greetings and pleasantries, hadn't even glanced in her direction yet. They migrated across the room, shaking hands and conversing with fellow patrons. Even as Jessica looked around the dining area with apprehension, she didn't notice the woman sitting merely a few feet from her. Jonathon wrapped an arm around her petite waist and pulled her in towards him, never dropping eye contact with the man he was speaking with. To anyone else, it would appear to be a sign of affection, but Jade knew differently; he was warning his date to keep up appearances.A nearby waiter intruded into their friendly conversation. Even if Jade weren't able to hear him, she could distin
Rendezvous Chapter Twenty-Three
In the mirror, Jade straightened the collar of the tailored polo shirt and then pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, trying to comb out the bumps with her fingertips. Her lipstick had long faded, strengthening the appearance of her natural complexion. The snug uniform emphasized the years she'd dedicated to fitness, accentuating her curves and giving a broader view of her toned frame.She looked up at the reflection, seeing Andrea exit the stall directly behind her. Jade pleaded with her eyes as she tugged at the hem of the white pleated skirt, trying to add some length to it. It was way too revealing for her liking; it was supposed to be a tennis skirt, not a mini skirt! "Stop worrying, you look fabulous," Andrea reassured her with a pat on the back. Jade gave her a not-so-sure look and gathered her clothes, tossing them into a nearby locker. There was no way the women were going to let her get out of this; they needed an even-numbered body count to play in teams.
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Grace is the divine power that inspires virtue in humans and gives us the strength to endure difficult times. Grace Elizabeth Santos was born on June 29th at 3:17 pm. The first time Jade laid eyes on her, she believed her daughter was absolutely perfect in every sense. She never truly understood what love was until she laid her eyes on her daughter and cradled her tiny, pink body in her arms for the first time. It was the most magical moment she'd ever felt. Grace came out screaming, wide-eyed, and confused by the strange cold world, but the moment she heard the sound of her mother's voice, she froze and just blinked, listening for her. "I could lay here forever studying her features and adoring every little movement and noise she makes," Jade whispered as she softly hummed to Grace who was sleeping in her arms.&n
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"Time keeps slipping away from me," Jade thought to herself, sipping on a cup of morning tea as she gazed out the window. Her drink had already gone cold. Was her memory failing her? How many days had passed? Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, she tried to count them all, but it was difficult—fuzzy like static on the television. At this point, nothing made sense. One moment it was two in the morning, and she was lying in bed next to Miguel, and the next, she was here, sitting in this chair, having a cup of tea. She didn't know what was real or which memories she could believe.She was losing her mind, just as her mother had.Miguel had to have known that there was something wrong with her, although she attempted to conceal it. There had been no way to explain to him how she ended up in the ocean, drenched from head to toe and nearly frozen to death. She couldn't explain it. She couldn't
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The following day, Jade had been medically cleared to leave the hospital. After signing a mountain of paperwork and receiving follow-up care instructions, she began getting dressed. The clothes alone brought a comfort she had greatly missed. Miguel had run out earlier that morning to grab her something to change into for the flight home. She couldn't exactly leave there in nothing but a thin hospital gown, and the clothes she had been wearing were now somewhere in an evidence bag. "One pair of black leggings, slippers, and an oversized t-shirt," Miguel beamed as he placed the shopping bag on the hospital bed, proud of himself. Even if there wasn't currently an assistant around to fulfill the task, he was determined to get them both out of that hospital room. After she was officially discharged, a nurse wheeled her down the elevator to
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Their reunion had been long-awaited, but as Miguel sat diagonally from her in an armchair in the corner of the room, sorting through the emails on his cellphone, she couldn't help but feel like there was a rift between them. She turned the television on to watch the five o'clock news. Lieutenant Davidson had mentioned that he would be giving a statement to the press that evening, and he'd even stopped by to ask her if there was anything she would or wouldn't prefer him to mention. She'd decided to give him her own brief statement to read.The top of the screen read 'LIVE' in big, bold red letters. "Are they really outside right now?" Jade questioned, seeing the camera was angled at the front doors of the hospital. Her room was positioned somewhere in the north wing. She wondered how many people had driven all the way to Pittsburg just to film this.She turned the volume up as
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Five
Lieutenant Lyle Davidson leaned forward in his chair, rubbing over the scruff around his chin. He was heading into his second double shift, and the week had only started. He flipped the page, scanning over the investigative report one last time. It was unfathomable that this woman was good for it. Her demeanor definitely had him fooled. When one of his detectives had first sent over the file to him, he thought, for sure, the boyfriend had something to do with it. Shit, wasn't it always the boyfriend in cases like these? At the time, it had seemed cut and dry. Some arrogant rich guy gets a chick pregnant, and then she suddenly turns up missing? Babies born out of wedlock could bleed a man dry, and money was one hell of a motive. Hell, it wouldn't be the first time he'd had a case like this come across his desk.A smile crossed his face as he snapped the folder shut. Between the physical and forensic evidence collected at the crime scene and Jade Meadows' affidavit, he had
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Four
The sounds of the hospital were unmistakable, and Jade recognized them before she even came to. Machines continuously beeped around her, footsteps paraded in front of the doorway, and an elastic band that was tightly wrapped around her abdomen monitored the baby's heartbeat— swish, swish, swish.She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, glancing around the small room. The walls were painted a flat pale blue, and the miniblinds on the windows let in a beautiful stream of afternoon sunlight. The tables and windowsill were lined with dozens of flowers, cards, balloons, and teddy bears. They'd been pouring in, all sent to her from strangers.The doctors had transferred her from triage to a private suite earlier in the day. From the moment she'd uttered the word 'kidnapped,' it was like she'd set off an alarm throughout the building. It felt like a million p
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Three
Jade was startled awake by a thud. Lying on the tiny bathroom rug, she didn't dare move. She was frozen in fear, not exactly sure what or who was out there. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but it had been the first time in months she'd been without the lock around her ankle. It was so relieving to know that she free from her chains, even if she was stuck in the bathroom. She wondered if Marianna was there. The woman didn't usually come back for several weeks at a time, but Jade thought that perhaps she'd called Eduardo, and when he didn't answer, she'd rushed back.She listened carefully to the surrounding silence, only hearing the vibration of her trembling breath. The house was silent; there was nothing. No footsteps or voices. Just her and the ghost of Eduardo. "Hello?" She finally called out. If it were Marianna, perhaps she would open the door, and then Jade could overpower her.
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Two
Jade already knew that he'd allow her upstairs after Nadia had left. They always fell back into their old routine, and as predicted, after breakfast, he unchained her. It made her feel twenty pounds lighter. She'd nearly forgotten about the scissors wedged against her breast and had to stop herself from reaching up and touching them to make sure they were still there. She glanced back at the mattress as they walked towards the stairs, him in front of her. The scissors hadn't fallen out. She thought about pulling the scissors out right then and there and stabbing him but then decided against it. Knowing her luck, he'd probably fall backward on top of her and she'd die under his weight.That's not why she couldn't do it, though; it was because fear had a way of paralyzing you. She'd been here for months and never screamed out to his family for help, never attempted to escape. Why? Because females tended to l
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-One
Sometimes it was nice to be able to hear what's going on upstairs, and then there were days where Jade would rather shove sharpened pencils through her eardrums than listen to one more second of Nadia's neurotic voice. The lunatic had woken up bright and early that morning and had been raging ever since. Their voices carried through the walls depending on where they were standing, giving Jade little bits of their conversation. She surmised that Nadia doesn't like his cat. "Well, at least it's not me that she's going all schizo on."Their conversation waded in and out like a tide, "I'm not getting rid of her!" Eduardo declared as the keys jangled in the door. "Ahh! Breakfast, at last." Things never seemed to operate smoothly while Nadia was here. Jade liked that he had a routine. It made captivity easier, not having to question what was going to come next constantly.
