Tuesday, February 7th
5:45 p.m.
Another day had come, and it felt just like the one before-utterly exhausting. The blonde looked down the hallway and, at the end, saw the elevator. She told herself she had nothing to lose by trying-after all, the worst that could happen was that Robinson would say no to her invitation.
She walked over and stepped into the metal box.
As the numbers lit up one by one, her nerves hit her hard. She clenched the edge of her uniform in her hands.
When the doors opened, she stepped out. She wiped her forehead, where the scar from the fall in Dominick's bathroom still lingered-it hadn't fully healed yet.
She reached the lobby and spotted him near the door, talking to a man she had never seen before.
Robinson was the kind of man every woman needed—attentive, sweet, kind-hearted, and above all, handsome. A genuinely good man, free of any malice.
He always smiled, even when the day was going terribly.
She walked over.
"Hi, Robinson," she greeted, interrupting the two men.
"Jade," Rob smiled at her, his eyes lighting up. "How are you?"
"I'm good. I wanted to talk to you," she said, glancing briefly at Robinson's companion.
"Jade, this is my friend Rick. He's going to be working here as a security guard, replacing John. Rick, this is Jade," he introduced them.
"The famous Jade!" Rick exclaimed with a grin. From his accent and his complexion, the blonde could tell he was Latino, he seemed like a very friendly guy. "I've heard so much about you, I feel like I already know you."
"Rick..." Robinson gave him a light smack. Jade smiled. "Don't listen to him. He just talks nonsense."
"Well, Rick, I hope we get along," Jade said, keeping her smile steady.
"I'm sure we will. I've gotta go now, I have a bit of training to get through," the man rolled his eyes. "See you later," he said, waving.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Robinson asked, his gaze fixed on her.
She took a breath.
"I wanted to know... if you'd like to..." she cleared her throat, "go out with me sometime. Maybe grab a drink or something? I don't know, whatever you want, it could be a café or a place with food. I mean, you don't have to say yes if you don't want to, but what do you think...?" she blurted it all out so quickly, Robinson could barely follow. She was breathing a bit fast.
"Jade, slow down," he said, smiling.
"Would you like to go out with me?" she asked again, more calmly.
"All that fuss just to ask me that?" Rob laughed, earning a death glare from the blonde.
"Don't make fun of me," she grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Oh, come on!" He tugged gently at her cheek. "If you want to ask me out, just do it. I'll always be available for you."
She blushed.
"Tonight, after our shift, does that sound good?" he asked.
"Perfect."
~•~
That was the beginning of their nightly outings. Jade and Robinson started getting to know each other more deeply, and he began to court her more openly. He brought her flowers and little gifts whenever he could. Things seemed to be going in a good direction...
The days began to pass. Jade felt at peace. She hadn't gone back home, but she had spoken with her father and sister several times over the phone.
She and Nerea had warned Lennon, who could no longer leave Gideon's mansion. The girl had told them she'd considered quitting, since Amelia seemed to hate her and some of the staff didn't treat her well... but in the end, she decided to stay.
Jade had started what could be called a friendship with Armand. He seemed like a very interesting man-smart, and not the type to talk much about himself. Still, she had to admit that his company during those few times they sat down to chat over coffee was truly pleasant.
Etienne, Armand's cousin, was an extremely fun guy, a shameless flirt, but he seemed like a good person. Jade had repeated their outing at the bar with them a few times. After hearing Armand's words, she came to understand that she couldn't sacrifice her life completely. She couldn't work herself to death without enjoying anything... at least a little.
Without even realizing it, ten days had passed, and during them, she had felt wonderful...
Friday, February 17th
5:57 p.m.
Jade was talking to Robinson, planning their next outing, when her phone started ringing. She picked it up.
"Hello?" she answered, but all she heard were sobs. Her alarm spiked. "Alicia? What happened?"
"It's Dad... Come to the hospital."
The call ended.
Jade feared the worst.
"Jade, what happened? Why are you so pale?" Robinson grabbed her by the shoulders, just as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
"I... I don't know. I have to—" she looked around frantically, "I have to get to the hospital. My dad, he..." Her green eyes welled up with tears. Her mind filled with horrible scenarios, and she silently begged that none of them were true.
"I'm going with you."
They left the hotel immediately. During the taxi ride, Jade couldn't stop crying. A crushing weight pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She couldn't lose her father. She refused to accept it. Despite his flaws-which mostly came down to letting Elías stay in the house and allowing Janeth's injustices, she loved him.
Lucas was her rock, her lighthouse. She didn't want to live in a world without him, and she would do whatever it took to keep him with her a little longer.
Lucas was, without a doubt, an exemplary father. He had always been there for her. And even though he was a man who had suffered a lot, he always wore a big smile for his daughters. He had never treated Allison badly either, even though she never missed a chance to remind him they didn't share the same blood and often showed him blatant contempt.
Jade asked herself, What happened? Lucas had been responding well to the medication. The progress was slow, yes, but it had been weeks since his last relapse.
"Everything will be alright," Robinson said gently, giving her a reassuring smile. He took her hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Whatever's going on, don't worry. Your father is strong, he'll get through this."
"Thank you for being here," she whispered. Rob pulled her against his chest and stroked her hair, whispering comforting words. Jade kept crying in silence, trying not to imagine the worst...
The taxi stopped, and Jade rushed out. Robinson stayed behind to pay.
She looked around frantically, searching for her sister or someone who could give her any news about her father. She walked up to the reception desk.
"Miss, do you know where Lucas Henderson is?" she asked, pulse racing.
"One moment," the young woman on the other side of the desk replied. She typed something on the computer while Jade counted every second. Robinson entered and stood beside her. "Lucas Henderson is in Room 235, 4th floor, in the cardiology unit."
"Thank you."
Without wasting a second, the two headed to the elevator. Jade pressed the button and impatiently waited for the numbers to rise.
As soon as the metal box opened, she bolted out with Rob right behind her. A short distance away, the blonde saw the doctor who always treated her father during his worst episodes.
"Doctor Newman, how's my father?" she asked, cutting into his conversation with a nurse.
He gave the nurse a few final instructions and turned to her.
"I'm not going to lie to you..." he began, making Jade's heart skip a beat. She knew that meant her father's condition had worsened. "Lucas had been doing very well with the treatment, but today he relapsed, and I'm afraid it's too late for that heart. He needs a transplant as soon as possible, or he might not make it through the month. I'm so sorry, Jade. I know how hard you've worked to keep him on that treatment."
Robinson had to hold her up, she nearly fainted. Everything spun around her, and she didn't want to believe the doctor's words.
"But... he was fine. He was responding to the treatment. What happened?" she asked, still supported by her friend.
"I told him to avoid, at all costs, strong emotions, arguments, stress... It seems something happened at home that triggered this relapse," he speculated, adjusting his glasses.
"Can I see him?" she asked, wiping her tears.
"He's sedated and under observation right now, but Alicia is with him. You can go in, but don't stay too long. After you leave, visits will be restricted..."
"It's serious," she murmured, putting her hands over her face.
"I'm so sorry, Jade." The doctor walked away.
"Go be with your dad. I'll wait for you... over there." Robinson pointed to some seats nearby.
She nodded and left. She found the room and opened the door slowly.
Alicia was sitting on a small couch, disheveled, her makeup smudged. Jade frowned at the sight but told herself she'd ask about it later.
She closed the door carefully and approached her sister, who stood up as soon as she saw her and hugged her tightly.
"It's my fault, Jade. All of this is my fault..." she sobbed softly, clinging to her.
Without understanding, Jade took her by the shoulders and gently pulled her back. She looked over Alicia's clothes and frowned.
"What are you wearing?" Jade asked, brushing her fingertips against Alicia's cheek and wiping off some smudged makeup. "And that makeup? What do you mean it's your fault something happened to Dad?"
Jade tried to calm herself, but her mind was already connecting the dots, and fury was beginning to surge through her bloodstream. If her suspicions were correct... She shook her head. First, she had to listen.
Alicia kept crying softly, her lip trembling as she looked everywhere but at her sister.
"Alicia, please talk. I'm starting to lose my patience, and I don't want to treat you badly," Jade snapped, fixing her younger sister with a stern glare.
The girl sat on the small couch, and Jade sat beside her.
"Allison invited me to a party..." the teenager began. Jade clenched her fists. "Mom gave me permission, but I forgot to ask Dad. When he saw the clothes and makeup I was going to wear, he said I wasn't stepping foot outside dressed like that."
Jade tried to breathe normally, but she couldn't. She felt sick with anger, like something might snap inside her. She closed her eyes to calm herself while her sister went on.
"I was going to leave anyway, but Allison came in and said he shouldn't forbid me from dressing how I wanted. They started arguing, Allison said some really awful things to him," she sobbed, collapsing into her sister's arms. Jade, still angry, didn't return the gesture. "Then Elías showed up, and he started arguing too, but Mom took him away. I think he stayed with Allison. When I came downstairs, he was already on the floor. I'm so sorry, Jade. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
Jade stood up abruptly.
"I've told you so many times you're just a kid! A kid, for God's sake! Dressing like that... Do you have any idea what kind of attention you might attract? Do you know how dangerous that is? Haven't we had this conversation before? Haven't I warned you that Allison is a bad influence?! Answer me when I'm talking to you, damn it!" She shook her.
Her breathing turned rapid and shallow. She wasn't feeling well.
"Jade? Are you okay?" Alicia asked, terrified by her sister's pale face.
"I..."
She didn't finish the sentence. She fainted.
Alicia ran out of the room calling for help.
[...]
Jade slowly opened her eyes. She felt disoriented, and her throat was dry.
"Jade, you scared me," Robinson said from her side, his face full of worry.
"What happened to me?" she asked. Her head was pounding.
"You fainted and hit the floor," he informed her gently.
Jade figured that must be why her head hurt so much, the fall must've been hard.
Just then, Dr. Newman entered the room.
"Oh, Jade," the man sighed, looking at her with disapproval. "You're not eating properly. You're anemic and you've lost weight. What's going on with you? You promised me you'd take care of yourself. Remember, your health comes first."
"I'm sorry," she murmured, trying to lift her hand, but it hurt because of the IV catheter.
"Sorry isn't enough. I hope you think seriously about your choices, because if this anemia worsens... it could end badly for you."