Jade was sliding behind the wheel of her car when her phone buzzed. Without hesitation, she answered before the second ring. "Eliana," she said, her tone crisp.
"Boss," Eliana's voice came through, light but efficient. "Just a heads-up. Your final client here. The one rescheduled for the afternoon?"
Jade intuitively checked the time at the mention of the said appointment. 3:17 p.m. Earlier than she had expected, but not a problem.
"At Westridge?" Jade asked, already calculating traffic patterns and the alternate routes in mind.
"Yes. He is in the private lounge now. He said he doesn't mind waiting. Per calculations, you've got about an hour, give or take."
"Good," Jade said calmly, starting the engine with a clean flick of her wrist without any sign of anxiety. "Offer him something. Not coffee. Just keep him relaxed."
"Already done," Eliana replied, always reliable. There was a brief pause, "Do you need anything from me before you get here?" She asked afterwards.
Jade shifted into drive, her focus slicing through the small swell of afternoon traffic like a blade as she pulled into the road.
"No," she said simply. "Keep the environment neutral. Professional. Just make him comfortable. I'll be there in no less than fifteen minutes."
"Got it," Eliana confirmed. "Also...." She hesitated, not sure if she should go ahead and ask. "Are you sure you can handle this today?" Her genuine concern was evident in his face, catching Jade off-guard.
"I'm fine, Eli." She assured. "Just keep him relaxed. I'll be there shortly.
"Sure," Eliana's voice softened. "See you soon."
Jade ended the call afterwards, tossing the phone onto the seat beside her. Her fingers tightened briefly around the steering wheel. Not from stress— no. Jade Sinclair doesn't rattle.
Whatever tension lingered from her encounter earlier the Cross, wasn't enough to shake her center. If anything, it honed her focus sharper. She knew exactly who she was.
What she was here for.
And it wasn't to play games with entitled billionaires or their power-hungry fathers. She was here to do her job.
Her way.
With precision they could never touch. As always, in her field of work, it had never been any far from a hustle. Facing each and every client with their own kind of challenge. And this was no different.
As Jade eased the car onto the freeway toward Westridge Wellness Center, a branch under her company; her mind was already clearing, slicing through the noise of the day.
The streets pulsed with the familiar, restless energy of the late afternoon. Sunlight sliced between the skyscrapers, stretching long golden fingers across the cracked pavement.
While buses grumbled past, their sides plastered with ads. Cyclists on the other hand, weaved dangerously through gridlocked lanes, defying car horns and curses alike.
Jade just drove through it all with the kind of focus that carved its own space. Her car, the usual sleek blue Audi, moved fluidly between the chaos. One hand rested easily on the wheel, her posture relaxed but alert, like a lioness at ease—until provoked.
The faint buzz of her phone vibrated once, it's screen flicking to life. At the next stoplight, she glanced down, picking it up.
[Sienna]: "Drinks tonight. Pub near Sycamore Ave. 7 PM. No bailouts, Jade. You promised. And no work excuses. I mean it."
[Sienna]: "Also, nachos. You still owe me. No arguments."
A smile spread across Jade's lips. The first crack in her otherwise polished calm. Swiftly, she flicked her thumb across the screen, typing back quick and sharp:
[Jade]: "Stop Whining. I'll be there. You should wear something decent for once."
The light switched to green. She slid the phone back down without a second thought. Smoothly, she accelerated through the intersection.
Just about fifteen minutes ahead, stood the polished glass facade of the company— her domain.
A five gleaming stories. Sleek and modern. The kind of place built to soothe nerves with polished floors and designer furniture.
The building caught the late sun and threw it back in dazzling flashes, blinding and unapologetic.
Jade turned into the private underground parking, the security gate lifting at her plate number. Her space, clearly marked as she drove into the reserved slot— Dr. J. Sinclair, Behavioral Health Director.
Slowly, the engine died off. The door still shut.
She sat for a breath, briefly absorbing the feel of the evening rolling in. The sharp scent of rain teasing the air, and the muted echo of city noise beyond the concrete walls.
Then she stepped out, heels clicking elegantly across the smooth floor. Her presence sharp as a blade, polished as armor.
Soon, the elevator doors chimed open, releasing a soft sigh of conditioned air into the pristine lobby of Everest Integrative Center.
Everything gleamed — tiled floors, brushed steel accents, sleek modern art hung just so. The kind of place designed to impress without trying too hard.
Jade stepped in, her heels silent on the polished surface.
As usual, a few heads turned — they always did. But she was used to that. She wasn't just another face in the building. She owned her space without needing to announce it.
"Dr. Sinclair!" The familiar voice came from the front desk.
Eliana, her assistant as well as secretary, practically bounced out from behind the reception counter. Immaculately dressed in a powder-blue blazer, tablet in hand, and a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"You've got about..." she glanced theatrically at her watch, "fifty minutes before your final appointment walks in. Just in time," she added, with a subtle raise of her eyebrows, like they both knew what that usually meant. "Mr. Ainsworth. Mid-level exec. Minor PR scandal. Tried to flirt with the last therapist. You're welcome." She said, without trying to be scarcastic.
Jade allowed herself a small exhale — amusement, not exhaustion. "Fantastic," she said dryly. "I was worried the day would be too easy."
Eliana grinned, falling into step beside her as they made their way toward the elevators leading to Jade's private floor.
"Oh, and Miss Sienna texted me too," Eliana added, flashing her tablet. "Said if you bail on the pub tonight, she's invoking some kind of friendship clause."
Jade's mouth twitched into a real, if rare, smile. "I'm already booked," she said smoothly. "Tell her to chill. I'll be there."
Eliana saluted with two fingers, stepping back as the elevator dinged open. "Go get 'em, boss. Knock his ego down a few inches." She smiled.
Jade stepped inside, the doors sliding shut between them.
As she ascended to her floor, she slipped back into her armor of calm, threading focus through every breath.
Fifty minutes.
One more client.
Then, maybe — a night where she could let the fire inside her burn without restraint.