Chapter 108 - His Ploy

Jake hummed his way out of bed the next morning, it was another day to see his Jade. Last night was fun and he couldn't wait to have a repeat of that. The drive back to her house was quiet but he had enjoyed every bit of it. He enjoyed the silence between them because he was happy as long as she was there, sitting in his car, telling him where to take turns on their way back.

He had expected Jade to turndown his offer on dropping her off, but surprisingly she didn't. She had agreed easily and had tendered a long list of thank you to him. Jake couldn't believe he was intrigued by such mundane things.

Jake was estactic about seeing her. He couldn't believe he was enjoying the mere sight of her. He couldn't help it, everything about her felt right. The fact that Jade wasn't like the other girls who he had met was what intrigued him the most. His was curious to know who Jade Peterson truly was and his curiosity was growing day by day.

He strolled to his grandfather's room to check on him before leaving for work. He had scheduled a board meeting this morning. There were some discrepancies with the report he had gotten from each department yesterday and he wanted to tackle them as soon as possible.

"Good morning Grandfather" Jake greeted.

"Morning" Grandfather Beau greeted back without raising his gaze to Jake. He was struggling with the cuff of the sphygmomanometer as he tried checking his blood pressure. It was a routine for him.

"Let me help you" Jake said as he walked closer to the single seat his grandfather was sitting. Jake took the cuff from his hands and helped placed it around his arm before turning on the automated sphygmomanometer. They both waited in silence as the machine did it's work. Engaging grandfather in a discussion while the machine was on would interfere with the result of the sphygmomanometer.

Jake frowned when he saw the readings of his grandfather blood pressure.

"Grandfather you haven't been skipping your medications are you?" Jake asked causing Grandfather Beau to vigorously shake his head in denial.

"No" He firmly replied. Jake decided to do a re-check just to be sure. His grandfather's blood pressure was a bit too high and it was risky if it remained persistent.

"You're sure?" Jake asked when he got the other result, it was still the same.

"Yes. I don't play with my health boy" Grandfather Beau told him as he rolled down his sleeves. While Jake put away the sphygmomanometer.

"But your blood pressure is way too high. What have you been thinking about lately?" Jake asked. "Hope you've not been eating what you shouldn't eat?" Jake eyed him suspiciously. His grandfather can be naughty at times. Just for a few moments of pleasure he'll compromise his health.

"I have not. Now stop nagging me and tell me how's the company going?" Grandfather asked in a more serious tone.

"It's been good. Don't bother yourself about the company. I can handle the company well , just take good care of your health" Jake told him.

" Well I just want you to have enough time to yourself. You're still young a d you should enjoy your youth. You keep coming home late this days, even by weekends you're not at home anymore. You need time to yourself, to maybe find someone to date not the usual one night stands you do every now and then" Grandfather Beau said with seriousness.

"Maybe I should bring someone to help you, so you can relieve yourself from so much stress" Grandfather suggested. He knew how hectic and consuming the company can be. He had started it and had worked there for years so he knew what he Jake might be going through. He was grateful to his parents who had match made a wife for him, or else he wouldn't had the time to do so for himself. And luckily for Henry, Jake's father, Grandfather was still running the company when he got married. But unfortunate for Jake, there was no one to share his burden except his brother who was shying away from his responsibilities.

"Grandfather I'm okay. I'm not stressed, you're the one getting stressed over nothing" Jake assured his grandfather.

"I'll be heading out. Have a meeting in an hour" Jake said looking at the time.

"Hold on, have you seen or heard from Hillary lately?"

"No" Jake replied while his Grandfather nodded his head.

"Are you really not going to tell me what you and Hillary talked about?" His gaze hardened on his grandfather.

"Don't tell me it's nothing, because I know something is going on between you two. Something other than the reason why i hate her and want her gone" Jake added, silently telling his grandfather he dare not lie about it.

Grandfather Beau looked at him silently like he was contemplating something. "I promise to tell you when everything is settled" Grandfather Beau told him. Jake wanted to insist on be told the truth, but he also knew his grandfather was a stubborn man. He'll never get anything out of him if he doesn't want to tell.

"Grandfather, you have one week to settle whatever it is. And you'll tell me the truth at the end of one week" Jake said as he left the room.

He almost made a detour to Blake's room but he kicked out that thought. He wanted to know what state Blake was in especially after what happened last night. They probably meet after the meeting this morning.

Though Jake was busy all day, he only had one thing on his mind and that was seeing Jade. He remembered prior arrangement regarding tonight's meet weren't made. He didn't know when or where he'll pick her up.

He picked up his phone and searched out Jade's number. He nervously dialled her number. His heart was thumping as he waited for the call to be connected. He has noticed that he suddenly becomes nervous and his heart beat like crazy whenever Jade was involved.

After a few rings Jade finally picked up.

"Good evening Mr Beau" Jade greeted. Jake smiled when her voice came through the phone.

"Good evening miss Jade. Hope you're having a great day?" Jake asked still smiling to himself.

"Yes, thank you" There was a small pause before Jade's voice came again.

"What about you?" She asked with her soft voice.

"Me? If I'm having a great day?" Jake was surprised when she asked. He thought she'll probably say something else.

"Yes"

"Well I wasn't, but now I am" He said causually, but there were so many meanings buried in those words.

"Are you calling about tonight?" Jade asked. She was sure that was why he had called.

"Yes, sorry if I'm disturbing you at the moment" Jake apologized.

"No, you're not. It's lunch time" Jade quickly explained.

"Oh, that's true" Jake had completely forgot about having lunch. There were still so much to be done, that he barely had enough time to spare for lunch. "I didn't get to ask you when you'll be free tonight"

Jade fell quiet for a while, her face was scrunched up as she thought about it. Should she go home first? Or maybe meet him immediately after work that way she'll go home on time. She had returned home really late last night.

"I'll be ready after work" She said. It was best if she met him after work. Jake's smile widened when he got her reply.

"Okay. I'll pick you up"

"There will be no need for that. Just text me where I'll meet up" Jade hastily replied.

"Miss Jade, I'm sorry I can't let you do that. After all we don't have a fixed location in mind. How about I pick you up then you can pick our first stop" Jade didn't know what to say to refute him. He always has a way of making her do whatever he says. His words were irrebutable.

"Mr Be.."

"I'll see you later miss Jade. Remember not to eat too much. We have a lot to try out later" He said with smile and somehow Jade could tell he was smiling at the moment.

Jade removed the phone from her ear, and she stared at it. There was something about Jake that she didn't understand. The man was an enigma.

The person who all the blogs talked about and the person she had seen at the club and the person she has been spending a few hours of her time with were completely different. It was almost as if, he was a regular guy who you'll meet and would probably like. He didn't act like the playboy people painted him to be, but somehow looked like a someone who just wanted to be happy, and experience all the fun filled things life has to offer.

Not once has he made her uncomfortable by mentioning what had happened between them. And she has noticed that he no longer looked at her the way that made her uncomfortable. Not that she was beginning to feel relaxed around him, but she just felt things were beginning to feel different.

'Maybe he wasn't trying to sleep with her as she earlier thought.. But what if this were all his ploy to make her feel comfortable around him, and then he'd make a move of her?' Jade thought.