Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

Traitor

Madeleine Clark sits in her office, on the last floor of the Institute. She has a meeting scheduled with Jade in the middle of the afternoon, and she's organizing her thoughts. All the Clark Industries responsibilities that her week still holds, the visit to the Congress to show the list of abilities that each employee and student have.

"Maybe I can have the vice president do that..." she says out loud.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of her cellphone. An income call from a media mogul.

"Yes?"

"Miss Clark, my team has a breaking story. One we want to publish right away... but since it concerns you... I'm giving you a heads-up."

"Enough with the chitchat. What is it?"

"Jade Harris and her family have a booked a flight at the end of this week. Destination? Kenya. Is it leisure or business? Our sources tell us business. Apparently Jade Haris will renounce your institute and move there. Her parents will be part of the board of the Kenyan institute, and she'll be their face. Any comments?"

Madeleine smiles briefly and shakes her head.

"Who else knows about this?" She says after a few seconds.

"No one knows yet, but everyone else will soon enough. It's a matter of who publishes it first!"

"You'll hold the publication and make sure everyone else does it, too. Are we understood?"

"Miss Clark, I'll do what I can-"

"You'll do as I say." She hangs up and puts her hands on her forehead.

Stupid girl.

Madeleine puts her palm in the drawer on her desk. It recognizes her fingertips and opens. Inside there are different passports, one handgun and a phone. She grabs it and calls the only number in it.

"I need the team to locate Jade Harris' parents." She says.

"What are the orders?" On the other side, a male voice asks.

"Locate them and wait for my follow up."

Madeleine hangs up and calls her security team at the Institute. Ten minutes later, the elevator rings. The security detail outside asks her if they should open the door. Madeleine tells them yes and Jade walks in.

"Madeleine, I thought our meeting was later today!" Jade tries to hide the surprise in her voice.

Madeleine gets up and closes the door, she goes back to her desk, sits, touches a button to activate the soundproof of the room and asks Jade to sit.

"Hey, girl! How are ya?!" Madeleine smiles widely. Her voice is chirpy as always.

Jade sighs with relief. The security guards were just to force me to meet her. She probably suspected that I'd miss our meeting later.

"Do you want something to drink? I'm sorry to ask you here already, but in the afternoon I have this boring meeting with some investors, so no can do. Tell me, Jade. What's up?"

"What's... up?"

"Jessica is going a bit mental that you haven't done the speech yet. I'm like 'it's okay', but do you think you could do it today, maybe?"

"No." Jade looks away.

"Because you aren't feeling well? I understand everything has been too much... Emily... the students... I'm here for you," Madeleine smiles.

"It's not that, it's the speech itself. I'm not saying it, Madeleine."

"Okay! Like, if there's something you're uncomfortable with, we can totally change it."