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“Is everything okay?” I ask, feigning interest and concern.
“He threatened to take the condo away. I’m going to lose everything and be out on the street!” she cries, starting to sob again.
Shit. Things must have gotten heated for him to threaten to take the condo away. He usually doesn’t go that far.
“Wow! What happened to make him say something like that?”
“That’s just it,” she says. “Nothing happened. One minute everything was fine and the next he was trying to pick a fight with me for no reason. I think he wants to put me out just so he can move another woman in here. I’m not sure if I told you, but I found lipstick on his collar a few days ago.”
Here we go again. Of course, you found lipstick on his collar. You would probably find lipstick on all his collars if he brought you around more often.
“I’m sure it’s not that,” I say, trying to soften the blow. “He wouldn’t take away the only home Jacob has ever known. He was probably just upset and saying things out of anger.”
Magdalene wails into the phone, becoming incoherent again.
“You don’t understand,” she says. “I think this is it. I think he’s looking for a way to end things with me. I can’t lose Heath, he’s all I have left, and I can’t make it without him. Jade, what am I going to do?”
I am the wrong person to ask about this kind of thing, but how can I tell my boss I’m useless?
“Um,” I consider instead. “Well, first things first, I think you should calm down. Next, you should talk to Heath and try to get some clarification about what happened. If I don’t know anything else, I know Heath loves Jacob and wouldn’t have him in an unstable situation.”
Magdalene sniffles for a few seconds before responding. “You’re right. I’m going to get dressed and go over there.”
That is NOT what I said.
“Okay, well, we’re still at the zoo, but we’ll be home shortly,” I say.
“That sounds fine,” she says. “Give Jacob my love.”
We end the call and I’m left staring at my phone in disbelief. Watching Magdalene go through hell is what makes me regularly second guess my relationship with Asher. I feel bad for her. Actually, I feel bad that her self-esteem is so low that she thinks she deserves to be treated this way. I’m confident she’s not all that concerned about losing the relationship, and is instead more upset at the possibility of losing her lifestyle.
Heath’s money offers a level of comfort that most men won’t be able to match, but maybe she’ll finally be able to find somebody who truly likes her. I know that Heath usually means what he says, and he probably will end up taking the condo away if she’s not careful.
I’m going to end up on the streets and without a job all because those two are completely dysfunctional. I wouldn’t be surprised if Heath gives her an eviction notice and sends over a moving truck.
If he does put Magdalene out and ends up firing me, I’ll just use this as the push I need to go to culinary school. I guess that’s the upside to all the madness.
Jacob coos loudly, banging on the tray in front him. He’s the real victim in this whole situation. Stuck in the middle of two parents and the chaos that comes along with them. He’s an innocent baby held hostage by their immaturity.
“Poor kid,” I whisper to myself.
I sigh and begin walking to the exit trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever the ultimate outcome is. I stretch my arms wide, loosening my muscles before taking another deep breath. Magdalene popping up on Heath, especially when he didn’t send for her, never ends well. In fact, that may be what tips him over the edge enough to make good on his threat.
Working for these people is stressing me out.
What I need is a good release, and nothing does that better than an evening with Asher. Hopefully we can get together soon, because I need to vent, and then afterwards he can work his magic and take my mind off things.
I pull out my phone so I can call the driver to return us home.
Magdalene is going to get her heart smashed into tiny pieces and I’ll be there to soothe her with grilled sandwiches, chocolate and lots and lots of wine.
Maybe I should dust off my resume… just in case.
Chapter 20
ASHER
Standing in front of the large window in my high-rise office, I stare out at the city, focusing on nothing in particular. There are a million things I should be doing right now, taking calls, reading emails or reviewing the proposals sitting on my desk. In all honesty, I can’t bring myself to focus on anything. Jade is dominating my thoughts, rendering me useless as far as making sound business decisions is concerned.
