The safe house felt quieter than usual, a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few weeks. Things were finally beginning to settle down, and Jade could feel the tension in the air start to dissipate. She was grateful for the reprieve, though a part of her felt slightly restless as life started returning to its usual rhythm.
Mia had packed her things earlier that morning, her stay at the safe house officially over. Jade watched from the porch as Mia loaded her bags into her car, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest.
“You sure you’re ready to go back?” Jade asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Mia gave her a reassuring smile. “I am. I can’t stay here forever, Jade. As much as I’ve loved hanging out with you, it’s time for me to get back to my life.”
Jade nodded, though she couldn’t help but feel a little sad to see her friend leave. “Well, you know where to find me if you need anything.”
Mia laughed, giving her a quick hug. “Same goes for you. Don’t let those guys boss you around too much, alright?”
Jade smirked. “I’ll try.”
Mia waved as she got into her car and drove off, leaving Jade standing on the porch. She let out a deep breath, turning to go back inside. The men were gathered in the kitchen, discussing their plans for the week.
“They’ve eased up on security, so we’re heading back to the office tomorrow,” Milan said, his tone calm but decisive. “Thiago and I have a few meetings lined up to repair some of the damage Vivienne caused.”
Enzo nodded, leaning against the counter. “Good. The shipments are back on track, and the teams are working overtime to ensure there aren’t any more delays.”
Jade entered the kitchen, catching the tail end of their conversation. “So, everything’s back to normal?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“As normal as it can be,” Thiago said with a smirk. “For now, at least.”
Jade poured herself a cup of coffee, leaning against the counter as she sipped it. “What about me? Do I just sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you all go back to your glamorous lives?”
Milan gave her a pointed look. “You’re not sitting here doing nothing, Jade. We’ve spoken to Clair, and she could use some extra hands at the office.”
“Helping Clair?” Jade repeated, tilting her head. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not completely off the hook,” Enzo said, his lips quirking into a faint smile. “Clair’s been managing our schedules and logistics single-handedly. She could use your help organizing things.”
“Think of it as a break from the chaos,” Milan added. “No traveling, no danger. Just… paperwork.”
Jade narrowed her eyes. “You’re making paperwork sound like an exciting opportunity.”
Thiago chuckled. “It’s not exciting, but it’s better than being stuck here all day.”
Jade sighed, setting her coffee cup down. “Fine. I’ll help Clair. But if she’s scary or overbearing, I’m holding all of you responsible.”
“Clair’s not scary,” Enzo said, amused. “She’s just… efficient.”
“That’s what scary people always are,” Jade muttered under her breath, earning a laugh from Thiago.