Behind Closed Doors

A short-story about a woman named Jade who is living a double life...CEO of her own company by day and queen of a major illegal organization by night....story in progress

Jade tapped the button on her office phone releasing the caller that was on hold and spoke, “Chase Productions, how may I help you? “It’s ready for pick up” the voice on the other line replied. A second later the call dropped. Jade’s facial expression tensed as she got her jacket and purse. She headed out of her office, down the long corridor leading to the lobby, and out the double doors to the street. Even though the caller hadn’t disclosed any information, Jade knew what it was about. This was a routine she had gotten used to in the last few years. She waited, slightly impatient, for the valet to bring her 2013 Mercedes coupe around front. After getting situated she drove off into the jam packed streets of the city, short cutting uptown she headed towards Brooklyn. Forty five minutes later she pulled in front of a newly renovated brownstone. Jade parallel parked on the street then entered the building, and instantly the smell of laundry soap came smacking her in the face. Two tall, ruggedly dressed, men stood inside the hallway leading to the door. Jade approached in her pant suit, a pair of Jimmy-Choo heels, hair freshly flat ironed with no make-up and a little NYC lip stain. She glowed with confidence. She was beautiful and she definitely caught people’s attention, in part because of her looks and in part due to her success. The two men recognized her and moved aside with great reverence. “How you doing boys”, she greeted. “We good, ma’am”, one of them replied, most likely the more senior one. “OK, boys keep up the good work.”  Jade let herself in the apartment. Inside the apartment was nicely decorated living room furniture with a sixty inch flat screen posted high on the wall. There was a desk fully furnished with books of all sorts and a new HP flat screen computer. Everything was top of the line, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, and marble floors in the kitchen, hardwood in the living and dining room as well as beautiful plush carpet in the bedrooms. After inspecting the apartment, she walked to the back room where she opened up her walk-in closet. Inside was a 5 ft safe. Jade inhaled and exhaled deeply before disarming the safe. Once it was opened she stared at the contents inside. Before her eyes were three briefcases tightly fastened and inside each case were 100,000 dollars.

Jade breathed a sigh of relief as she placed the suitcases back in the safe. She closed the door to the safe and re-armed it. The day had been dragging but the moment she had been waiting for had arrived. Gathering her purse and a few documents from the nightstand she headed towards the kitchen. As she closed in on the kitchen she was met by figure in the hallway. Completely taken by shock she zoned in on the face of the figure and quickly realized who it was. Chad. Memories flashed across her mind of them weeks ago in his apartment. She had been seeing him for a few months and the last time she had seen him was that particular evening at his apartment. Chad’s perfect skin glistened with perspiration. His jawline was tensed. Jade gave him a once over and focused in on his muscular arms protruding through his button up. “What are you doing here Chad?” she asked. Her mind continued. How did he get here? What does he know? Had he seen the safe? Her thoughts were interrupted moments later by Chad answering. “I’ve been calling you for weeks. Do you remember what I told you the last time we were together?” Yes, Jade had heard him she thought. He wanted her to commit to him. Of course, Chad was wonderful to her but who was she fooling, she was a high profile CEO with her own company and he was a construction worker. That automatically meant he wasn’t relationship material in her mind.  She met him after he was hired to work on one of her business properties. She couldn’t deny he was gorgeous, and treated her generously with his time and energy. She also admired his flare and charming sense of humor. Even though he wasn’t formerly educated he kept well on current events, politics, and was a great at holding a conversation. She adored Chad, but quietly she accepted he wasn’t the one for her. In her eyes it was a temporary fling and sadly it lacked the lavish things she was accustomed to getting during her flings. So she had back burnered him for the time being.

“I’ve been busy, work is insane right now. I had three clients this week alone”, Jade offered. She had hoped this excuse would suffice. Chad moved in closer, his look intensifying. “Well, have you at least thought about what I said?” Chad never broke eye contact. He stared at her desperately waiting for a response.

“Chad, like I said I’ve been busy.” Jade dropped her head to the break his awkward gaze. “But how did you get here and how did you know I would be here”, Jade reiterated.

“I know a lot of things Jade.” Chad said still holding eye contact. “I’ve been following you for weeks. I know all about your little endeavors…what exactly do you think you doing? Conducting some kind of drug ring.” Chad patronized. Jade laughed. Her eyes darted and her heart pounded in her chest, but she couldn’t let him see her sweat. “You are really crazy and now you are following me. I’m an executive CEO you fool, why would I be involved in anything illegal. Do you know what that could do to my reputation? Chad, you really need help.”

“I’m not crazy”, Chad shot back. “I have evidence. Why didn’t you just tell me Jade? I could’ve helped you. Now Chad’s face became crazed and she saw that he must have had a few drinks. “Help me? Help me do what? Jade chuckled. “Look I don’t know what you think you know but"Chad cut her off.

“I will go to the police Jade. I have pictures of deals, I saw you open the safe. I want a cut of the money. Plain and simple, I want in on this or I swear I’ll talk,” Chad said through frantic breathing. Jade was done playing nice. She threw her hands up as if to surrender. “O.K., O.K.….I’ll give you a cut, whatever you want. Just let me open the safe. Chad’s eyes finally eased. “I knew you would come around.  It’s really the best thing for both of us.” They both turned and walked to the back of the apartment. Jade had a 9 millimeter in her purse that she discreetly pulled out. As they approached the safe she turned and cocked her gun. “You think you’re cute don’t you?” Jade taunted. “How dare you try back me into a corner!”

“I’m sorry”, Chad tried to plead. “I never meant to put you in this position I just"“Shut up!” screamed Jade, “It’s too late. You know about me. The last thing I need is a case of blackmail. Turn around and get on your knees”, Jade ordered as she circled the index finger on her free hand, signaling for him to turn around. “You’re not seriously going to kill me are you? What about us? I thought we had a connection.”

“So did I Chad, yet that didn’t seem to stop you. Look I didn’t ask for it to come

to this and you have put me in quite a predicament.” Before Chad could plead 

for a second time, Jade cocked her hand back and smashed the butt of her gun 

into the back of Chad’s head, knocking him out cold. Jade reached into her 

purse, got out her cell phone and speed dialed Chino, one of her best 

employees. “Hey boss”, he answered enthused. “I got a problem Chino, and I 

need you to make it disappear. ASAP. Within seconds Chino answered, “Sure 

thing boss. I’m on it”

Author's Note

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