Chapter 3: jade house
Cameron Collett woke up to the soft beeping of his alarm clock. He rolled over and silenced it, then pushed himself out of the couch, his muscles protesting the early hour. He glanced at the other side of the bed, where Jade had curled up the previous night, her long dark hair splayed across the pillow like ink spilled on a canvas. The clock on the bedside table read 6:00 AM.
He padded over to the coffee maker and started a fresh pot, then went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and saw the battle scars that marred his chest and back, reminders of a past he wished to forget.
He pushed those thoughts aside and returned to the bedroom, where Jade was slowly stirring. He knocked softly on the door.
honey it time to wake up our flight leaves at 10 am this morning i made you some coffee
he said
Jade opened her eyes and stretched, then sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, then smiled as she saw Cameron standing in the doorway.
thank you, she said, as she got up and padded over to the coffee pot.
They sat at the breakfast nook, sipping their coffee in a comfortable silence. Jade's thoughts drifted to the upcoming trip, exhilaration mixing with a touch of apprehension
. She looked over at Cameron, wondering what the next few days would hold.
As they finished their coffee, Cameron spoke up.
"Well, we should get going. I want to stop by your place to pick up some stuff for the trip. I hope that's okay?"
Jade nodded, "Yeah, that's fine. I just need to grab a few things."
They drove to Jade's small house in Midlothian, Texas, which was nestled in a quiet neighborhood filled with modest homes and well-tended lawns.
Cameron pulled up in front of the house, and Jade led him inside.
The house was tidy but cluttered, with a lived-in feel that spoke of Jade's personality. The walls were painted a soft shade of blue, and the furniture was a mix of thrift-store finds and hand-me-downs from family members. Jade moved quickly through the space, gathering clothes and toiletries and stuffing them into a small suitcase.
As she moved through the house, Cameron took in the details of her home.
He noticed the photos that adorned the walls, most of them featuring Jade with a large, gruff-looking man he assumed was her father. In some, she looked happy and carefree, but in others, her smile seemed strained and her eyes dull.
Cameron felt a twinge of unease. He'd dealt with abusive fathers before, during his time in the military, and he knew all too well the damage they could cause. He made a mental note to keep an eye on Jade during their trip, to make sure she was safe and protected.
As she finished packing, he heard a raised voice coming from outside.
He peered out the window and saw a man standing on the front lawn, yelling at Jade. The man was large and burly, with a bushy beard and a menacing scowl on his face. Cameron recognized the type immediately: a man who thought he could intimidate others with his size and aggressive demeanor.
Jade moved quickly to the door, her eyes wide with fear. She opened it just a crack, trying to keep the man outside.
"Dad, what are you doing here? I'm leaving for a trip."
Cameron watched as the man, who was presumably Jade's father, grabbed Jade's arm and yanked her outside. He could hear the man's angry words, but he couldn't make out what he was saying.
Without hesitation, Cameron stepped outside and placed himself between Jade and her father. He stood tall and broad, trying to intimidate the man with his size.
"Sir, I'm Cameron Collett. Jade is coming with me on a business trip.
I tell Jade to get in the car. I then turn to her father and said, "Jade is coming with me. I wouldn't follow if you know what's best for you."
Cameron stood his ground, his eyes locked on Jade's father. He could see the anger and frustration in the man's face, but he didn't back down.
"You can't take my daughter," Jade's father spat. "She's not going anywhere with you."
Cameron kept his voice steady, calm, and firm. "Jade has agreed to come with me on a business trip. I will take good care of her. I promise you, she will be safe."
Jade's father took a step forward, his face red with anger. "You have no right to take her," he growled.
Cameron stepped forward as well, not breaking eye contact.
"Sir, I don't want any trouble. But I will not let you hurt Jade."
Jade's father swung his arm at Cameron, but Cameron was quick. He ducked under the arm and wrapped it around the man's neck, pulling him down to the ground in a sleeper hold.
"I have killed men before," Cameron whispered in his ear. "I will protect Jade from you, whatever it takes."
Jade's father struggled for a moment, but Cameron held on tight. After a few seconds, the man's movements slowed, and he went still
Cameron released the hold and stood up, rubbing his arm. He looked over at Jade, who was standing frozen in shock.
"It's okay, Jade," he said softly. "He won't hurt you anymore."
Jade nodded, still in shock. jades farther stumbles up and said fine go and dont come back
. jade nodded and turn around and walks towards the car. john follows her and said in a high voice "you're a whore and you'll regret this" jade's eyes well up but she hold her head up high and gets in the car. the cab driver started the engine and drove off. Jade didn't say anything for a while, her thoughts consumed by the confrontation with her father.
Cameron kept his eyes on the road, trying to give Jade the space she needed. He couldn't imagine what she was going through, but he knew it wasn't easy.
Jade had always been closed off when it came to her family, and he had respected her wishes to not pry. But now, the pieces were starting to come together, and he couldn't help but feel angry. Who did her father think he was, treating her like that? She was a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions.
As they drove to the airport, Cameron couldn't shake the feeling of protectiveness he felt towards Jade. He knew he wanted to make her feel safe, to show her that not all men were like her father.
He wanted to give her the world, to show her all the possibilities that lay beyond the confines of her small town.
As they arrived at the airport, Cameron parked the car and turned to Jade. "I'm sorry about what happened back there," he said, reaching over to take her hand. "I want you to know that I will always protect you, no matter what."
Jade looked at him, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. She squeezed his hand, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
They exited the car and walked hand in hand towards the terminal.
as they made there way to the termenel cameron looked like he made a detour to a privet jet and he ask the pilot are we ready for wheels up and the pilot said yes sir. who is this looking at jade?
She thought, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the luxurious private jet that awaited them. The sleek aircraft gleamed in the early morning light, and she could see the outline of a king-sized bed through the window. She'd never been on a private jet before, let alone one that looked like it belonged in a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Cameron gave her a sheepish grin, and her heart gave a little flutter. "I may have *ahem* upgraded our transportation for the trip," he said.
Jade's eyes widened even further as they boarded the jet and were greeted by a smiling flight attendant. The interior of the plane was just as luxurious as the exterior, with plush leather seats, elegant lighting, and a state-of-the-art sound system.
As they settled into their seats, Cameron took Jade's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I hope this is okay," he said. "I wanted you to have a comfortable and stress-free trip."
Jade couldn't help but feel touched by Cameron's thoughtfulness.
She had never been treated with such care and attention before, not even by her own family. Her father, John, had always been a strict and abusive man, never hesitating to lash out at her when she didn't meet his expectations. Jade had learned to keep her head down and stay out of his way, but even that hadn't been enough to protect her from his rage.
But Cameron was different. He was confident and assertive, yet gentle and caring at the same time. He made her feel safe and cherished, like she was the only person who mattered in the world.
And as the plane took off and they soared into the sky, Jade couldn't help but feel like she was leaving behind her old life and starting a new one.
As they ascended to cruising altitude, Cameron excused himself to make a phone call. Jade took the opportunity to freshen up in the lavatory and change into something more comfortable for the long flight. When she emerged, she found Cameron waiting for her with a glass of champagne.
They toasted to their adventure and settled into the plush leather seats. cameron looks at jade and said "when we land i have a little business to take care of at the office then we can head to my house
" jade nods and takes a sip of her champagne, her nerves still on edge from the confrontation with her father.
Cameron notices and puts his arm around her. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe now." He said. Jade leans into him, taking comfort in his strength. They don't say much for the rest of the flight, each lost in their own thoughts.
As they land and make their way to Cameron's office, Jade can't help but feel out of place among the suits and ties that fill the office building.