Begrudgingly, Jade followed him out of the room. Yes, she had been sitting the whole journey, but that had also been stressful and anyone could agree. Yet here she was, headed for the kitchen. Once they entered, her eyes widened, as her gaze fell on someone she never thought she'd see.
"Mrs. Becker!" She exclaimed.
By now the guard had already left the room while Jade wiped her eyes to make sure this was not a dream. "What are you doing here?" she asked, inching toward the counter where the lady stood, just as shocked.
"I work for this organization." Ann replied softly. "I am the lead chef here. Although I do not often cook myself, we have a very important guest and I wanted no mistakes."
Jade looked around. Ann was alone in the kitchen and, judging by how the table looked, she had been busy. Her response was brief, followed by a warm smile before returning to what she was doing.
It looked normal, but to Jade this was strange. Van knew Ann Becker personally. She had cooked for him, which meant he probably knew her before she was kidnapped. He had been watching secretly, and was Ann aware that he had taken Jade? She could not help but want to ask, and she did, just not directly.
"I am sorry I just left without notice." Jade started with an apology while opening cabinets in search of something she knew would not be there. "I should have..."
"No need." Ann dismissed her with another sweet smile. "He left me a message the second he hired you as his personal chef. I was not upset because I know he likes to keep his things private, so I totally understand."
Jade muttered, "Hmm."
It all had to be connected somehow, but she could not quite figure it out just yet. And if she had to guess, Ann Becker was in on it too. That would be too hard to believe if it were true.
"So what are you making him today?" Ann asked when the room fell silent for far too long. "I heard he wanted something light. I offered to make it, but they told me you were coming and, well... here you are."
Although she sounded nice, Jade read through her smile, through her facade. There was something about Ann's current demeanor that translated differently, leaving Jade to wonder if she worked secretly for Van or if Ann was just trapped, just like her.
"Pancakes," Jade answered.
"Oh, then the mix is in the storeroom. It is over there." Ann pointed the way, and Jade uttered a quiet thanks before heading in to take what she needed.
She made the pancakes right next to Ann and neither of them said a word to each other. Jade could not help but notice how Ann often stared into the camera, and a thought popped into her head.
"What if she was being controlled?"
And knowing Jade, whenever she was curious she devised a creative way to get her answers, and this was no different.
"Is there another kind of tea?" she asked, ever so casually.
At this time Ann was plating the food she had already prepared. The aroma was so good and it really made Jade wonder how Van enjoyed her dish over this diva.
"In the storeroom. Check."
"I did," Jade argued. "But I did not see it on the shelf. Can you show me?"
Ann paused and looked at her. "Seriously, Jade?"
"I am serious," Jade continued, dropping the spatula on a plate. "I checked."
Ann did not say another word. She simply stormed into the storeroom as though she was offended, and Jade followed immediately. As soon as they were both inside, Jade slammed the door shut and turned the lock.
At the sound of that, Ann turned immediately. "What are you doing?"
"What is going on?" Jade asked back, her tone harsh. "Something is going on here and you are not telling me. I saw you staring at the camera and... and... you are not always like this, ma'am."
Jade stopped to observe Ann's expression, and it seemed to shift drastically from cold to guilt.
"I left the cafe for two days and I am sure no one could reach me. I know they would have all been worried over there. But then you saw me now and acted like it was a normal day at work. You welcomed me better even at work than you did today. Please tell me the truth."
While she was still speaking, Ann closed the distance between them, eyes full of tears. Without a word she embraced Jade, sobbing on her shoulder and, truth be told, Jade did not know how to react.
"I am so sorry, Jade," she apologized, her voice breaking. "I am truly very sorry… I had no choice. I could not argue with him and could not disobey him. I am so sorry. Please, sweetheart. You are my favorite, you know that, and I never wanted any of this to happen. Forgive me."
Jade placed her hand on Ann's shoulder and pulled her back gently. That was when she noticed just how many tears the lady had shed in less than a minute. It seemed like she had been holding it in until now.
"I do not understand," Jade said. "What did you do?"
Ann did not answer immediately. She looked into Jade's eyes and then looked away, ashamed of what she had done.
"Tell me. I know how Van is, he forced you to do something, did he not?"
"Van," Ann repeated. "That is what you call him?"
Jade nodded. "Yes. What do you call him?"
"I have never known his name," Ann replied. "But what I know is that he is not a good man, Jade. I am very worried about you and about how he would treat you. I have been worried sick for the past two days and even thought you might be dead. When I heard you were coming here, I thought I would see you in chains or looking miserable, Jade. It is all my fault. I am so sorry for all of this."
"I still do not understand. You..."
"He is an evil man, Jade," she interrupted. "He has so much power. He is so selfish and entitled, and he kills without thinking twice."
"That is not what I am asking," Jade cut her off. "I want to know how you got connected to all of this. To me being here."
Before she could finish speaking, they both heard a knock on the door and turned simultaneously.
"No." Ann's eyes immediately widened with fear. "It is the guards."