Cold Showers
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Omolade Ayisat
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Chapter 1
JAYDA
Jayda Wright tried to hold back tears of joy as the board announced her name. Sheâd just been made partner at the most reputable law firm in the United States, Saunders and Co. At age twenty-nine, she was the youngest and also the first female to become a partner in the firm.
Sheâd been aiming for this position since the first time she interned as a paralegal here. Sheâd worked her ass off, given up everything relating to her social life, and put her all into her job. She deserved this.
It had taken a lot of hard work to get here, and there was more on the way. Being a partner came with even more responsibilities, but sheâd made it this far. Sheâd keep working hard, and sheâd survive.
The payoff was certainly worth it. A bigger salary, doubled benefits, and most importantly, her name on an engraved plate on the door of her new office. Her dreams had come true!
âJayda, congratulations. You deserve this honor,â said Mr. Tucker, the firmâs president, as he shook her hand.
Jayda smiled at the tall, dark-haired man in his early fifties. âThank you so much, Mr. Tucker, I promise not to disappoint you.â
âYou worked for it, Jayda. You hardly lose a case in court and no doubt your wins have contributed to the reputation of this law firm. I wish you all the best in this phase of your career. Donât disappoint us,â Mr. Tucker cautioned. âWe all look up to you now.â
âYou donât have to worry about anything. I will work harder than ever,â she promised.
The other partners and senior associates in the conference room congratulated her too. They made a toast and small talk. Everyone seemed happy for her.
As soon as Jayda was able to escape from the conference room, she went to her old office. It had seen many hours of dedication, but she wasnât going to miss it. Sheâd move into her new office on Monday. For now, she reached for her iPhone in her bag and dialed her best friend, Lilian.
âGuess what, Lily?â Jayda said excitedly as soon as Lilian picked up her call.
âYou just got laid?â Lilian teased.
Jayda rolled her eyes at her friendâs common joke. âWhat a mood spoiler! No, I didnât get laid. I got promoted!â
âYou made partner?â Lilian squealed with delight.
âYes! Jayda Wright is now a partner in Saunders and Co.â
âCongratulations, bestie. You work so hard,â Lilian said. âThis is truly deserved.â
âThank you.â Jayda giggled.
âYou should go out to celebrate! Iâd go with you, but Iâm busy tonight. I have to complete the designs for a few dresses. The fashion show is tomorrow.â Lilian sounded disappointed.
âDonât worry, we can still hang out tomorrow after your show. Iâll probably hang out with Zach tonight,â Jayda replied. âI havenât even told him the good news yet.â
âPlease do, and make sure you get laid tonight. No one knows when next youâll be free to hang out with us now that youâre a partner.â Lilian teased her some more.
Jayda chuckled. âYou have a dirty mind, Lilian. Iâll see you at my place tomorrow evening. Give Roman a kiss from me.â
Roman, Lilianâs boyfriend, was a medical doctor. The two of them had been dating seriously for some time.
âI will, babe. Congratulations again,â Lilian said before she ended the call.
Jayda swiped her phone screen to call her boyfriend. She couldnât wait to tell Zach all about her promotion and that she was on her way to his place. When he didnât answer, she tried again. He didnât pick up this time, either.
She spent the next thirty minutes offloading her drawers and other things she would need in her new office on Monday. After that, she reached for her handbag and laptop bag and went to her car.
Before she started the engine, she called a restaurant to order food and dessert. She and Zach were going to celebrate in style!
As soon as Jayda got to her apartment, she called her parents to give them the good news, then took a shower and started preparing to leave for her boyfriendâs place.
Jayda was used to dressing professionally, but tonight called for something special. Lilian would be so proud of her for finding the perfect red dress that showed off her curves, along with the matching heels. She took some time with her makeup too.
During the day she was a high-powered lawyer, a partner in her firm, but for tonight, she wanted to look a little wild and sexy.
At last, she was ready. Jayda grabbed her purse and a bottle of Zachâs favorite red wine. She could hardly wait to see him.
After making a stop at the restaurant to pick up the orders she placed, Jayda drove to Zachâs apartment. Sheâd been so busy with work that she hadnât been there for a while, and suddenly, she started to feel guilty. She hadnât been able to make as much time for him as she should have. But hadnât it been worth the sacrifices? After all, she was now a partner!
She couldnât stop herself from grinning widely as she pressed the doorbell and waited for Zach to open up.
âHeyâŠâ Jaydaâs smile slowly faded when Zach opened the door. His stern look showed he wasnât happy to see her, like he was busy and needed her to say what she was here for and then leave.
âWhy are you here? Donât you have some work to do?â he said in a mocking tone.
âLook, Iâm sorrââ she started, but he stopped her halfway.
âWhy are you here?â Zach demanded.
âI got promoted to partner at the firm!â Her excitement rang out in her voice, and she held up the bag of food sheâd brought. âI thought we could celebrate. I came with something for us to eat.â
Zachâs stern expression didnât change. âThatâs no surprise. I knew youâd be partner one day because your job is the most important thing in your life. Congratulations!â
âWhat do you mean?â This wasnât the reaction sheâd been hoping for. Her heart sank. He looked and sounded angry and disappointed, not happy for her.
âDo you know how many dinner dates Iâve planned and had to cancel because you had something that came up with work? Or when you eventually showed up, all you did was talk about work, the cases you dealt with, and some other random bullshit. You never even talked about us. You were supposed to be my girlfriend, but you never even acted like it.â
At the sound of his words, Jaydaâs heart twisted harder. âWhat do you mean, âwere?ââ
âI think itâs time we go our separate ways.â
She couldnât believe what she was hearing. Jayda blinked back burning tears. âPlease donât break up with me, Zach. I promise to change.â
âYou werenât even a partner, and you didnât have time for me. What do you think will happen now that you got this promotion?â Zach shook his head. âWeâre both workaholics, but even though I run a family business and a chain of hotels, I still create time for us to be together.â
âPlease,â she whispered, her voice hoarse. âGive me another chance?â
âI want to start a family, Jayda, and clearly, youâre not ready for that. Youâre not ready to settle down, and I am.â He gave her a cruel smile. âYour job comes first, you come second, your best friend comes third, and I have no place in your life.â
Jayda opened her mouth to say something but couldnât come up with any reasonable excuse because all that he said was true. Her job was important to her, but why shouldnât it be? Sheâd worked hard to get where she was. She didnât want children yet. She wasnât ready to be a mother or a wife.
âWe never worked, Jayda. I canât continue this way,â Zach said. âI wish you all the best in this new phase of your career.â
Jaydaâs mind whirled. Zach thought theyâd never worked? She knew she was to blame for neglecting him, but sheâd never thought things were that bad between them. She was about to plead with him again but stopped when a woman appeared beside him in the doorway.
Everything suddenly made sense. Jaydaâs stomach churned. âItâs because of her youâre breaking up with me?â
The other woman was a little bit taller than Jayda and, if possible, prettier. Jayda swallowed painfully in shame. While sheâd been working herself into the ground to succeed, Zach had been cheating on her!
Zach wrapped his arms around the womanâs waist. âAdriana has nothing to do with our relationship. Iâve been wanting to cut it off for a while, but I never got the chance to see you and have a proper conversation with you because of how busy you are.â
Jayda almost let the food bag fall to the ground. All her plans had been for nothing. Clearly, Zach hadnât been expecting her to come over. He hadnât even picked up her calls.
âHow long have you been together?â Jayda managed to ask.
Zach looked offended. âI respected you too much to cheat on you if thatâs what you want to know. I met Adriana a month ago and we are getting to know each other. We have a lot in common, and sheâs ready to start a family with me.â
âAfter only a month?â Jayda cried.
Zach frowned. âI wish you all the best in your career, Jayda. Iâve moved on, and I hope you do too.â
The hot tears sheâd been fighting spilled down her cheeks the second he shut the door in her face. She left the food and wine she brought by his entrance. There was no way sheâd be able to eat or drink any of it. As soon as she got in her car, her sobs burst out of her.
Zach was handsome, rich, successful, caring, and humbleâ but sheâd lost him. It wasnât fair that chasing her dreams could cost her this much. Lilian had warned her to spend more time with him or risk losing him, but Jayda had turned deaf ears. Now, it was over, and she only had herself to blame.
Heâd always been there for her more than sheâd been for him. Memories of all the dates sheâd canceled because of work rippled through her mind. Theyâd been together for a year and a half, but sometimes they went a month without seeing each other or doing more than texting.
How could she have thought that was a good relationship? Sheâd been so blinded by her ambitions that sheâd completely neglected him. No wonder heâd found someone else.
Her tears should have been a relief, but they didnât do much to make her feel better. She needed something more⊠something sheâd never done before.
Jayda wasnât a drinker or a club-goer. No matter how many times Lilian invited her to go out, Jayda had always found the perfect excuse not to go. Tonight would be different, she thought as she drove herself to a new, expensive bar sheâd heard about. All the highest class of people went there.
Without caring if she had stains of dried tears on her face, Jayda walked elegantly into the bar with her head high, her clutch in her hands, and the intention of getting drunk.
Why shouldnât she? She had more than enough cash in her purse to cover her own drinks. She deserved to celebrate her promotion and mourn her breakup. She made herself comfortable on a stool and gestured to the bartender.
âWhatâs your strongest drink?â
The bartender grinned. âShot of whiskey?â
The shot burned, and Jayda grimaced at the liquorâs harsh flavor. How did people get used to this? She was going to do her best to try.
