Chapter 37: Chapter 37

We rode the elevator to the 13th floor, where Jade's office was, a young woman with glasses stood behind the counter, she was so busy typing on the computer to notice us. "Hallie, is Mr Kale in?" Scott asked and she looked up, "hello Mr Mills, and…"

"UK" Scott said.

"oh, is she… the one… y'know, the woman that was supposed to help the company and all that stuff," she stuttered

"enough with this nonsense talk, just answer the damn question. Is Jade in his office or not?" I asked hitting my fist on the counter. (Another note to myself, I'll never let movies fool me, hitting my fist on a counter probably made of concrete hurts like hell) but it did what I wanted, she jumped and stuttered again, "umm… I don't know… I'm just back… back from the bathroom."

Just then we heard an ear shattering noise, it sounded like a glass object just crashed on the wall, "well… does that answer your question?" Hallie asked, adjusting her glasses.

I rushed to the door and knocked, "Jade? It's me, Ukpono, can I come in please?" There was no response, I knocked again this time harder than the first time, "Jade please open the door, you can't continue like this, we can find a way to fix the problem, you don't have to lock yourself up like this." still no response, I turned to Scott and he shrugged, "if you can't get in then I don't know who will," he said.

A stupid idea came to my mind but since there was nothing else for me to do, I decided to try it out. I searched my bag for a bobby pin, I found it, now how to open the door with it. I struggled with it for sometime, "let me" Scott said and I gave him the pin. In less than 10 seconds, I heard a soft click sound, "wow. I don't know how you did it but when all these crises is over, you'll teach me how to do it," I said and went in.

The office would have been very beautiful if broken glasses and papers weren't scattered everywhere, even on my shoes, I walked as carefully as possible. Jade stood near the window, watching the hustle and bustle of New York City.

"Jade?" I called, he didn't move an inch. "Jade it's me, Ukpono. I am very sorry for acting so childish, I had absolutely no idea what you were going through. I shouldn't have pushed you too much, I'm sorry that I made Juliet avoid you," I said walking slowly to him.

He turned to me, he looked so rough and untidy, his tie hung loosely around his neck, he had dark marks under his eyes. "UK," he croaked, his eyes welled with tears, I ran to him and was engulfed in a warm embrace, he buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply, God…. I missed him.

"Jade… I… can't… breath"

He didn't bulge, "Jade… too… much… squeezing" wait, was he crying? I wiggled my body and he left me, he turned and looked the other way but I held his arm. "Jade please talk to me," I begged, he shook his head

"I may have a small shoulder but if you need to cry on mine then go ahead, don't hold back the tears," I sat beside him on the couch and gently brought his head on my shoulder.

I've never seen Jade cry and I hope I never do.

He was shaking as he cried, hot tears soaked my clothes but that was the least of my problem. My heart was broken, how could I console him when I myself am about to cry. I thought of how I could make him feel better, with no idea, I rubbed his back. It took him a while to finally calm down, "sorry, you shouldn't see me like this," he said and was about to stand up but I held him back, "don't distance yourself from me anymore, I don't care how you look at the moment, I just want to help you. Please... Let me help you... Anyway I can," I told him.

"All I ever wanted was to be known for what I accomplished, not what was handed to me, that is why I gave all my father's businesses to my sisters and built mine, something way out of line from the family's business. I try my very best not to take short cuts or hurt innocent people as I climbed the ladder of success, why would anyone do this to me?" He cried.

I didn't know what to say, I couldn't say ‘’it's okay‘’ or ‘‘everything will be fine’’ because I didn't know if it will.

"Remember that thing I did when I was about to write my exams?" I asked

‘‘What thing?’’

"Prayer"

"Sorry I'm not the religious type," he answered sniffing

"Why not give it a try, He's always listening, all you need to do is ask and leave the rest to Him" I told him

‘‘Last time i prayed was when my father was dying. I begged Him to let my father live but He didn't listen, what makes you think He'll answer now?’’

"Faith,"

We sat in silence for a long time, then he turned to me, "I didn't need to pray because He brought you here. Thanking for coming into life UK, truth be told, I don't know what I would have done without you," Jade said.

"I'm happy that you feel a bit better now," I answered.

"So tell me, did you cry and sleep on my bed when I didn't come home last night?" He asked smiling, "no, I made something special for you and had to throw it away this morning," I replied."Really? Come closer and tell me what it was," he said

"Can't, no offense but you reek," I told him

"You didn't have a problem with that when you were hugging me," he replied. "And I would have kissed you but I fear I might get in contact with some deadly virus," I said smiling.

‘‘Will you kiss me if I freshen up?’’ he asked

"Maybe..." "Ok, I have a bathroom here, I'll go freshen up. You better keep your promise," he said and went into a room which I  guess is his office bathroom.

I turned to go meet Scott but Jade's head popped out, "thank you so much UK, for making me feel better," I smiled and went out to meet Scott.

"How's he doing?" Scott and Hallie asked in unison.

"He's doing great, Scott how fast can you get home and bring him some clean clothes?"

"Is 30 minutes too much?" He asked

"Make it 20 minutes or less and please get him something good to eat." I said, he nodded and went off.

"Hallie, can you please send the cleaning crew to tidy up Jade's office? I must say it's a big mess,"

"Right away ma’am," and she went behind the counter to make a call.

I may not have solved the company's problem but I brought Jade back to his old self, that's a great thing I've done. Don't you agree."UK, I thought you wanted to scrub my back," I heard Jade yell from the bathroom. "Jesus Jade you speak like my grandpapa and mind you, it is not a compliment, have you forgotten this is an office and people work here?" I told him

"how many offices did you see on this floor?" he asked popping a lather covered head out.

"mmmm... I don't remember seeing any door that may lead to an office," I replied

"exactly, only Hallie and I work on this floor. I needed a space to do whatever I want without my employees turning their heads. So relax, I could shout as much as I want and no one will hear, don't worry about Hallie, she's used to it." he said and continued showering.

"okay, well Scott is on his way with some clean clothes and food, can I see myself around? I promise I won't disrupt anybody's work," I asked

"why not wait for Scott to come show you around?" he asked

"nah, I'm good. I don't want to draw attention to myself," I replied

"if that's what you want then go ahead, try not to get lost," he said and I smiled, yep, my Jade is 100% back.

I met the cleaning crew as I walked out of the office, "well hello there, please try cleaning up as fast as possible, he'll be back in few minutes," I said to one of them. "well you heard the lady, let's move it," she ordered and others went in. I waved at Hallie and began my self tour.

I used the stairs to the 12th floor and greatly regretted it, these shoes were not meant for this, I composed myself, I won't take these shoes off until I'm back to the house.

I met a lot of people though we didn't say anything more than "hello" or "how do you do?" I also noticed that people weren't looking at me like the way they did earlier, in fact I think I blended in perfectly, someone even asked me if I knew "Mariana Dan's" office, which I just shook my head.

I walked past a particular office, the door was left ajar and it was pitch black inside, I couldn't shake off the feeling of deja Vu . These problem started when I walked into that dark room and saw Christy, something I guess I wasn't meant to see. You may say I'm stupid but I thought if I go into this dark room, I'd definitely see something I wasn't meant to see and maybe... this problem with Jade's company could be resolved.

I didn't wait to rethink about it, I went in as quietly as my shoes allowed and shut the door behind. I switched on my phone flashlight and the sight before me was something I never imagined, the previous dark room I went into, I saw the woman who tried to kill me, beaten up and tied with her hands and feet apart. This dark room was not a torture room but a photo studio. There were 3 different perfume bottles on a leather covered table, the bottles were black in color and the perfume name "Night Dream" was written in different colors on each bottle. The first bottle had white lettering, the second had yellow and the third had red lettering. This was the perfume Jade was releasing, oh God I wanted to perceive its fragrance. I'd just perceive it and run out of here, if someone saw me I'd be in big trouble that even Jade may not be able to help me.

I looked left and right out of instinct even if I knew no one was inside, (or so I thought) and picked the bottle with red lettering, uncapped it, sprayed it on the air and lifted my face up to in to inhale it

Truly the name of this perfume suited it, it smelled so wonderful, I couldn't point out a particular scent, it was like I was in a bush filled with thousands of sweet smelling flowers. I felt like I was in a dream.

My happy moment was ruined with a flash of a bright light, i turned to see exactly where the light came from but then the light in the room was switched on and I saw that I was in the midst of about 10 to 15 persons.

"Bravo, bravo mi amor, even in a natural state, you have given me the perfect depiction of this product. No need to worry, you've gotten the gig. Someone hurry up and call Mr Kale, we have found the perfect model to represent 'Night Dream' This model has saved the company."

"WHAT!!!"