wouldn’t see a need for her to even come back to this awful
place. “Who’s on his way?” she asked
him.
“Dr.
Golan,” Forbes answered her. “Your
father has requested a meeting with the psychiatrist in charge of your care.”
Jade’s
heart pounded against her chest. “But
why?”
Dutch
didn’t answer her. Realizing her error
again, she quickly changed the subject. “I’m just so anxious to be with my father and his family that I don’t
want anything to delay us,” she said to Forbes. “But I’ve waited this long to get out. I’m sure I can wait a little longer.”
Forbes
smiled. “That’s the spirit.” Then he offered seats. Have a seat everyone, please,” he said. And they all settled down on the sofa and
chairs in the room.
Dutch
sat beside Sam, and Jade sat beside Dutch.
Reyza
Golan’s heart was pounding when he finally walked into the waiting room. To see the former President of the United
States sitting there, along with the woman who pleasured him almost every day
over the last month, made him terrified of what this meeting was about. Had she told on him? Did she claim he initiated the behavior all
those times? Or was she claiming that he
manipulated her? Or, even worse, forced her? His heart could not stop hammering.
“You
wanted to see me, Dr. Forbes?”
“Yes,
Reyza,” Forbes said, rising to his feet, “come on in, please.”
Dutch
stood up also as Reyza walked over.
“You
know the president?” Forbes asked rhetorically.
“Yes,
of course,” Reyza said, extending his hand. “So nice to see you again, sir.”
Jade
knew they met every time Dutch visited her, but it was still jarring to hear
them acknowledge it.
“Have
a seat, Reyza.” Forbes offered his own
chair as Reyza sat down and Dutch followed suit.
“The
president would like to get a final report on his daughter’s progress,” Forbes
said, as he continued to stand, “before they leave for New Jersey.”
“A
report? Yes, of course,” Reyza said,
inwardly relieved. “Well, sir, I can
only give an excellent report actually.”
“Excellent?”
Dutch asked.
“Excellent,”
Reyza said to Jade’s delight. “She has
met all of her challenges head-on and, I dare say, she’s conquered them all.”
Reyza
continued talking and did as he knew he must and painted a superior picture of
Jade Redding-Harber. He went on and on. Dutch sat back and listened. Jade was “cured,” let the doctor tell it, as
he had not a false word to say about her. His presentation was flawless. Jade was described as the perfect young lady.
Too
perfect for Dutch.
Dutch
stood up. “Thank-you, Doctor, that’ll be
all,” he said abruptly.
Reyza,
shocked by the fact that the president had just cut him off, stood up too. “Sir?”
“That’ll
be all. Thank-you.”
Reyza
was obviously confused. “Yes, sir,” he
said and glanced at Forbes, who motioned for him to leave. And Reyza did, but not before glancing at
Jade. She was not pleased.
“Well,”
Forbes said, rubbing his hands together and attempting to remain upbeat. “Perhaps the doctor painted too rosy a
scenario for your daughter, but his point, I think, is that she’s ready to get
back on with her life.”
Dutch
remained standing. “Yes,” he said, as if
he was in deep thought. “That appears to
have been his point.”
Jade,
extremely nervous now, stood up too. Had
Reyza’s overdramatic endorsement just blown it for her? “What is it, Daddy?” she asked him.
Dutch
looked at Forbes. “May I see you
privately?” Although Dutch had politely asked the question, he was already
heading for the exit.
“Yes,
of course,” Forbes replied, and hurried behind him.
“Daddy,
where are you going?” Jade asked him anxiously.
Dutch
glanced back at Jade and Sam, although he didn’t break his stride. “Excuse us for a moment,” he said, and