Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Jade

“ T hank you,” I say, leaning over to tip my cabbie since my big brother forgot to pick me up.

Well, to arrange a driver since Ciarán would never fetch me himself.

I’m not even sure he would recognize me, to be honest. It’s been years since he’s seen me in person. I sigh as I pull my suitcase behind me. I’m tired from the long flight and would love nothing but to rest to work off the jet lag.

“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Kilroy,” I say approaching the reception desk.

“Do you have an appointment?” I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“Does his sister need one?” She huffs out an apology and picks up a phone.

“Ms. Jade?” I turn around and see a man dressed in a suit and bowtie coming towards me.

“Jeffrey?” He nods, and I smile, knowing this is my brother’s assistant.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” I shake his hand and he reachs for my suitcase .

“You’re a day early.” I frown.

“No,” I shake my head and he nods.

“Your itinerary said you were arriving Saturday evening.” Oh no.

Here I was bad-mouthing my brother, and it was my fuck up.

“Fucking time zones.” Jeffrey smothers a laugh.

“No worries. However, we are in the middle of a small crisis, and I’m not sure Mr. Kilroy can step away.” I get it’s my fault, but I just want to go home and rest.

“Listen, just tell him I’m here, and if he’s too busy, I’ll get a cab home.” His eyes bug out as he shakes his head vigorously.

“Wait here, and I’ll inform him.” I sigh but stay where I’m told.

I lean up against the wall, and by the time my head falls twice due to fatigue, I decide I’m done.

“Fuck this,” I slam my palm on the door and walk into complete and total mayhem.

The studio is dark, and yelling fills the air around me. I glance over the crowd and finally see Ciarán standing, looking my way. I smile and start to raise my hand in a wave when he stomps over to me.

“You’re fucking late!” He yells at me, and the smile on my face falls.

Before I can say what the fuck his problem is, he’s got a death grip on my arm and is basically dragging me across the studio to a door-marked dressing room. He flings it open and pushes me inside.

“Get your ass in the chair so hair and makeup can get to work. You’ll only have twenty minutes for wardrobe at this point.” What in the world is he talking about?

The door slams shut, and we all just blink at it.

“Does anyone know what’s going on?” I ask out loud, but no one says a word.

“Is he always a raving lunatic?” That breaks the tension some.

“Careful, miss, he’ll fire you for talking like that.” I chuckle.

“I’d like to see him try.” He can’t fire me from being family.

“You heard him. Let’s get to it.” I’m led to a chair, and against all my protests to stop that they had the wrong person, I’m transformed into a fucking runway model.

My clothes are stripped off and replaced with a frilly satin number as soft as a cloud.

By the time I’m placed in line and told to wait for my que, I decide to just go with it. Clearly, someone has made a great error, and that somebody is my brother.

He doesn’t have a clue who I am.

“Guess all the teasing and practical jokes you pulled on me are finally catching up to you, Ciarán,” I mumble under my breath as the door opens, and I step out into a dark room.

The stage looks like a cloud with twinkling stars.

I look around me in shock.

What the hell am I doing? I can’t ruin this for him. I turn around, but one of the other models grabs me and twirls me into the arms of another man who dips me, making me blush.

They dressed like angels in loincloths.

Another man lifts me up, and I gasp as he drapes me over the laps of two other men, and I turn my face away so it’s not in his groin. Closing my eyes against the bright light now shining down, I hear who must be the director yell.

“CUT!” Everyone moves at once, and I stumble to keep my balance.

I make a run for the dressing room.

I’m back in my own clothes before the team comes in happy and congratulating themselves. I make my escape and hail a cab before anyone comes to find me.

“Mom,” I press the phone to my ear once we’re on our way.

“Are you all packed honey?” I grind my teeth at my own error.

“I’m already here. I missed up the time zones.” Silence fills my ears as I let my head hit the seat behind me.

“Jade, of all the things to get wrong.” She sounds amused, but under that tone, I hear what she’s really saying.

You’re an adult now and need to get your life together .

“I’m in a cab now. I’ll see you soon.” Before she can say another word, I hang up.

I open my text app and send a quick one to Ciarán.

Sorry for mixing up the dates and time zones. You were busy, so I caught a cab home. See you at dinner tonight.

When he doesn’t answer right away, I close my eyes and hope I didn’t cause him millions by not insisting that someone listen to me. My guilt fills my chest, and anxiety replaces fatigue the closer we get to home and the more time passes without him responding.

Glad you got here safely. You should have waited for me. I might not make dinner tonight. Let Da and Ma know.

FUCK.

He’s cleaning up my mess, and the worst part is he doesn’t even know it.

Great adult I’m turning out to be.