Spark, стр. 15

some of them are irritable, angry, and argumentative. This will pass.”

“I’m aware of the symptoms of depression, Sid. What I’m unaware of is how to

fix it in Jaden’s case.”

“Can’t we just put the chick on some more meds or something?” interrupted

Hank.

I instantly scowled at him, rage burning my eyes.

“That chick is my future wife and mother of my goddamn future children. Show

some fucking respect, Hank,” I seethed.

Hank bowed his head in submission. “My apologies, Mr. Davis,” he said quickly

backtracking.

“It’s not that easy,” Sid started with a deep sigh. “It’s not like Jaden has a

chemical imbalance that can be fixed with a few prescriptions. She’s just upset over

her current situation because she feels powerless. We just need to find a way to

motivate her again. Give her something to look forward to besides sleeping and

irritating her staff.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Hank chimed in, and I couldn’t help but glare at

him.

“Sleep is her way of coping. She prefers it to her reality because she doesn’t

have to deal with the pain of it,” explained Sid. “And when she is awake, irritating

you and Benito is her way of distracting herself from her own pain. Her only form of

real entertainment. We’ve got to give her a better reason to want to wake up in the

morning.”

“The only motivation she currently has is to fantasize about killing me,” I said

bluntly.

I knew Jaden still hated me and wanted me dead. I didn’t exactly blame her,

considering what I had done to her, but eventually, I would change her mind. I just

wanted something else entirely to motivate her to get out of bed.

Hank and Sid exchanged looks in response to my admission, but they shrugged

in a way of agreement. They could see it in Jaden’s eyes whenever she was plotting

something. Nothing ever came of it, but I knew when her eyes glazed over and her

jaw clenched, she was plotting. My little open book.

“Well, we just need to change her mind,” Sid said positively.

I chuckled. He acted like it was going to be easy, but Jaden would always have a

place in her heart that burned with hellfire for me no matter how good I was to her.

But it didn’t matter. This tiny disruption would not deter my plans.

As soon as Jaden fully healed, she’d kick up her own ashes and give blaze to the

buried embers still glowing beneath. This was just a minor setback for her, only

temporary, or as temporary as I would allow it. I had to create a way for that spark

to ignite those flames again, and it would start with her mental health first.

“So what do we do?” I asked with irritation.

“Well, I can tell, she is very lonely. We cou—”

“What the hell do you mean she’s lonely?” I cut in. “She’s surrounded by people

twenty-four-seven.”

“But no one who’s allowed to converse with her casually,” Sid responded

cautiously. He did have a point. I didn’t allow casual conversation with Jaden

because not only did I not trust her, but I didn’t trust my staff with her either.

“What about the damn nurse?” I ask Sid.

“Ginsby? No way. She’d bore Jaden to death.”

I groaned in frustration. This was not how I planned this conversation to go.

“So what do you suggest? I find her a temporary island BFF?”

Hank scoffed with amusement but quickly retracted his response when I glared

at him from across my desk.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Jaden could use a personal trainer to get her

going again. Maybe we could find one who’s friendly enough to get Jaden back into

shape. Maybe someone around her own age?”

I looked away from Sid, considering the idea. Maybe finding her a temporary

friend was a good idea. Jaden wouldn’t like it, and she’d refuse it all, but then again,

it wasn’t really her choice anymore. Maybe this “friend” could give her something

else to focus on, like herself. She’d have to have the right personality, someone

who could really encourage her to get better. She’d also have to have skin thicker

and tougher than a crocodile. Or possibly just someone almost annoying enough to

motivate Jaden to get rid of her, and to do that, she’d have to push herself to get

better.

“All right, fine,” I finally agreed. “Start looking for a personal trainer. Let me

know when you have it down to a final three, and I’ll make my decision. I’ll discuss

it with Jaden after we choose a trainer. And I want good credentials, Sid, the

absolute best. Until then, not a word of this to anyone,” I said, eyeing Sid and

Hank.

“You got it, boss,” Hank said with a nod.

“I’ll get started right away,” Sid said, getting up and heading for the door.

“Oh, and Sid,” I added as he stopped at the doorway. “Find someone