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Chapter Thirty
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2021-04-04 10:19:58Jade felt the steady pull of stop-and-go traffic as the Towncar snaked and crawled along the narrow streets of downtown. The stream of brake lights seemed to go on for blocks ahead. She knew it would be a while before they reached the entrance. She blew out a puff of air and tapped her fingernails against the leather seat.
Miguel looked up from his phone. "Everything okay?"
"Yes," she murmured, never turning towards him. She continued staring out the window, her knee now bouncing as well. She watched the street light turn from yellow to red.
"If you don't stop that, I'm going to tie you up."
Jade blinked and then looked over at him, almost laughing at the words. "What?"
"The fidgeting, it's driving me crazy." He glanced at her knee, which was still bobbing in anticipation.
"Sorry," she stopped, "I'm just a bit nervous."
His brow creased, "Nervous for the symphony?"
"No, for our first public outing toge
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Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-One
Jade stretched, relishing the soft sheets against her skin. Her fingers touched the smooth headboard, and she opened her eyes, looking up at it. It was morning, and she was still at Miguel's apartment. Her eyes darted towards the pillow beside her that was now empty. Peering over her feet, she could hear the shower running from behind the closed bathroom door.She sat up, keeping the duvet secure against her naked body. The room was spacious, filled with dark neutral colors and earthy textures. The charcoal-colored walls made the room feel masculine, while the stone-clad fireplace added a romantic ambiance. She smiled to herself, remembering the scene that took place in front of it just hours before.It was romantic, alright.Jade softly knocked on the door, listening for a reply. When she didn't hear one, she tried the handle. It was unlocked. The humid air enveloped her as she took slow, silent steps towards the glass pane, watching the muscular s
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Two
It was nearly noon when Jade and Miguel stepped off the elevator and into the parking garage. The air was cool and damp, which only turned her thoughts back to the upcoming trip. Everything seemed to become background noise as her mind drifted between itineraries, outfits, and which toiletries she should bring. She mindlessly followed Miguel to a nearby parked car. He opened the door for her, which made her pause. Focusing on the world around her again, she looked down at the red paint of the sports car, noticing it for the first time. "Wait, you're driving?" She asked in bewilderment."Yes," he replied, walking around to the driver's door.Jade slid onto the leather seat and gazed around at the interior. It looked and smelled new, permeating the scent of leather. "So you are human," she remarked as he closed his door and turned on the engine. "I didn't think you even knew how to drive."He chuckled and reversed the vehicle from the space, "If I couldn't drive,
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Three
Jade slid off her shoes and dropped her clutch on the entry table. She felt emotionally and physically drained. There were so many things about Miguel's life that she needed to process; it felt overwhelming at the moment. "I'm home," she called out, following the sounds coming from the kitchen. She could hear a female meteorologist discussing the weather forecast. Marissa was perched at the island, gazing at her phone with a full glass of wine in front of her. She was still in her pajamas and looked like she hadn't left the house in days. "Hey," she glanced up as Jade trudged into the room. "I was just making sure the weather wouldn't delay our trip."Jade groaned, "God, I can't wait to be there. I need a vacation." She slumped onto the stool next to Marissa and rested her head against the cool countertop. "How was your weekend?" She mumbled."Uneventful," Marissa murmured before taking a sip of her wine, "Mm," She stood up at once and bustled across the room, "I did r
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Four
Jade gazed out from the hotel balcony, taking in the view. The balmy sun glistened off the strip of white dunes as she closed her eyes, enjoying the tropical air. She listened as the coastal waters calmly lapped over the endless shoreline, and seagulls squawked in the distance.It was nearly noon, and through the open sliding glass door, she could hear Marissa greeting the waiter who was delivering their room service. They'd both just woken, agreeing that alarm clocks wouldn't manage them during their vacation. Jade appreciated the extra sleep.She felt refreshed and clearheaded. The only thing she needed now was a shower.As they enjoyed their meal, the two worked together to develop a schedule for the day. Before anything, they needed to get dressed. Not wanting to unpack all of her luggage just yet, Jade scoured the suitcase for a suitable outfit. Sundress, sunhat, sunglasses; all for the wonderful sunshine. She slipped on her sandals and glanced around the r
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Five
With more curiosity than courage, Jade turned into the Pharmacy parking lot. She'd allowed nearly another week to pass by, hoping this all was just a fluke. She needed to believe there could be another explanation.Stress, maybe?With each passing day, the prospect of that dwindled. It was now December, and she was finally beginning to come to terms with the situation.The first step was answering the most crucial question: Is she pregnant? Everything else would follow.The pharmacy had a plethora of pregnancy tests to choose from. Each looked identical: Rectangular boxes that only seemed to come in the shades pink or blue. Her eyes scanned over the selection, landing on one that read:'Clear results in just sixty seconds.'It sounded simple enough. She tucked it between her arm and marched towards the register, determination in her every step.The box's contents rattled out onto the bathroom countertop; two white plas
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Six
Jade stood under the portico and slipped off her soiled boots, not wanting to track sleet into the house. The last hour had been nothing more than a blur, a space in time that she could vaguely remember. Snowy bits dusted the porch as she removed her winter gloves, hat, and jacket as well. Her mind was so numb that it didn't even register the frigid air.Inside, a hush radiated throughout the house, indicating that she was alone. Jade placed her purse onto the entry table; the contents of it mirroring the doctor's diagnosis. She was pregnant.Eleven weeks, nearly three months!The very thought of it still shocked her. Jade didn't know how to be a mother; she wasn't even given a good example of how to be one. Sheventured past the entryway and gazed around, unsure of what to do with herself. Any other evening she would've happily poured herself a glass of wine after such a stressful day.There was a huge list of things she could no longer c
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jade pulled away from the curb and steered the car to the neighborhood entrance. The clock on her dashboard read that it was only 1:00 PM, much earlier than she had anticipated leaving the party. From here, she was supposed to drive straight to an art exhibition downtown, where she would then meet Miguel.Now, she thought,there would be time to stop at home and freshen up beforehand.As she passed the rows of lavish homes and manicured lawns, the tail end of a black sedan up ahead caught her eye. She was certain it was Andrea's car parked on the side of the road, steam billowing from the exhaust pipe. Jade slowed down and veered the car onto the crunchy grass a few feet away from its rear, concerned for her friend. It didn't look like the car had been in an accident.From behind the driver's window, she could see Andrea was visibly upset, with her light lashes soaked in the evidence of grief. Her eyes were closed as if, like a t
Last Updated : 2021-04-04Rendezvous Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jade slipped into something a bit more formal and then headed for the Art Expose. She wasn't sure the appropriate attire to wear to such an event but decided she couldn't go wrong with a conservative dress and heels. As she entered the gallery, she paused to glance around at the crowd, glad that she had time to change out of her jeans.The clicking of her heels echoed throughout the individual corridors that lead her to each new exhibit.She clutched her pocketbook in front of her and pretended she belonged. Every room was filled with different pieces, in different styles. Occasionally, she paused to observe the artwork hanging from the walls and then would search the unfamiliar faces. There were so many people; she wasn't sure where to even look for him."Ma'am?" She turned towards the deep voice, looking up at a tall waiter carrying a tray of crystal champagne flutes. Jade politely declined, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."From behind him, her gaze lande
Last Updated : 2021-04-04
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Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Nine
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
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Eight
"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
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Seven
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
Rendezvous Chapter Eighty-Six
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.
