Badass in Disguise Chapter 189

Jade's POV:

The dinner plates had been cleared, leaving behind only the lingering scent of saffron and herb-roasted lamb in Lawrence's opulent dining room. I traced my fingers along the edge of the crystal water glass, focusing on the cool, smooth texture to ground myself in this endless darkness.

"I'm afraid I have some disappointing news," Lawrence said, his voice coming from across the table. "Those materials you requested proved remarkably difficult to source. I've only managed to find two of the special compounds and the injection solution in Spain. Would it be possible to wait? I can have people transport additional materials from overseas."

"Don't bother with all that trouble," I replied, reaching for the new phone I'd been given. My old one had been damaged beyond repair during the fight, and I'd only managed to salvage the SIM card. "Help me make a call. I've only got the SIM transferred, not my contacts."

Lawrence reached over—I could sense his movement through the subtle shift in air currents—and took the phone. "What's the number?"

I recited Ethan's number from memory, feeling Lawrence's curious gaze as he dialed and handed the phone back to me.

"I'll give you some privacy," he said, footsteps retreating across the hardwood floor.

After two rings, Ethan picked up. "Hello?"

"It's me. I need your help," I said without preamble.

"Jade?" His voice sharpened with concern. "Where are you? What happened?"

I explained what I needed—specific compounds that Walter Morrison would have access to. Ethan's voice grew serious as he took notes, promising to bring everything as quickly as possible.

After hanging up, I stood carefully from the table, immediately feeling a warm presence against my leg. Zach, the Doberman serving as my guide dog, pressed gently against me, guiding me through the unfamiliar space.

Despite having heightened senses, navigating blind through Lawrence's mansion remained challenging. The place was a maze of expensive furniture, unexpected steps, and delicate objects that seemed perfectly positioned to trip the visually impaired. Frustration simmered beneath my calm exterior—I hated being vulnerable, even temporarily.

"Good boy," I murmured to Zach, letting my fingertips brush over his sleek head. The dog responded with a soft sound, continuing to guide me through the vast living space.

The following morning, I sat in the breakfast nook, the scent of fresh coffee and buttered toast filling the air. Zach lay dutifully at my feet, occasionally shifting when Lawrence moved around the kitchen.

"You know," Lawrence began conversationally, "that purple amethyst you stored at Crystal Vault was quite remarkable. Did you gift it to someone?"

"Yes," I answered simply.

"You previously mentioned being too busy and returned Crystal Vault's management to me," he continued, the subtle clink of his coffee cup against the saucer punctuating his words. "Are you less busy now? Would you like Crystal Vault back?"

I shook my head. "I don't take back gifts. Besides, I hate managing those kinds of operations. Taking a percentage of shares and collecting dividends is much simpler."

"Why do I sense that last part was a hint?" Lawrence's voice carried a smile. "It makes your first statement seem rather insincere."

I laughed softly. "Does it?" No sense leaving money and power on the table.

"I'm happy to continue managing Crystal Vault for you," Lawrence offered. "You can simply collect the profits."

"That arrangement sounds perfect."

I heard the scrape of his chair as he stood. "I need to step out for a while. I'll try to return before your friend arrives."

Before I could protest, something warm and heavy landed in my lap—his cat. "Would you mind watching over her while I'm gone?"

The cat weighed a ton, and I was already blind and struggling to navigate. "She can follow us on her own," I suggested, gently setting the cat on the floor.

With the Doberman's guidance, I made my way to Zachie's room." The dog proved invaluable, subtly nudging my leg whenever we approached obstacles, helping me adjust my path. I had Zach perform simple tricks to entertain Zachie, finding unexpected peace in the quiet companionship of the two animals.

Late afternoon sunlight warmed my skin through the windows when I heard the front door open. The footsteps that followed were hurried—not the usual measured stride I associated with this person, but quick and urgent even against the plush carpeting. Still, I recognized them immediately.

"Ethan?" I called out.

The footsteps slowed, then approached. I felt him crouch before me, his breathing controlled but quick. "How did you know it was me?" he asked softly, his voice tight with concern.

"Where are the materials?" I asked instead of answering.

Another set of footsteps approached—Connor's—and I heard him set down a bag beside me.

"God, I hope this works," Connor said anxiously. "I can't imagine what would happen if my idol lost her eyesight permanently. A top-tier hacker going blind is like a soldier losing his gun or a chef losing his pots—it's career-ending."

I reached for the bag, carefully opening it and inhaling deeply. The distinctive scents of the compounds confirmed they were exactly what I needed—Walter Morrison had come through.

"Is anything missing?" Ethan asked, his voice closer now.

My lips curved into a slight smile. "We'll need to test the formula's effectiveness on a human subject."

"I'll do it," Ethan volunteered immediately.

Connor gasped. "Wait, what? Human testing?"

I turned toward Connor's voice. "We need someone to verify these drugs work correctly. You seem like the perfect volunteer."

"Me?" His voice jumped an octave. "I don't—I mean, I've never—what exactly will it do?"

"Don't worry," I said reassuringly. "It probably won't kill you. Probably."

I could practically hear Connor's face draining of color as his breathing quickened with panic. Ethan remained silent—he'd caught on to my game.

The moment was interrupted by the front door opening again. Lawrence's confident footsteps clicked against the marble entryway.

"I see your friends have arrived," Lawrence observed as he entered the room.

A tense silence followed—the weighted quiet of two men sizing each other up—before I heard them exchange handshakes.

"Lawrence Linden."

"Ethan Haxton."

Lawrence approached, and I sensed him reaching toward my lap—where the cat had apparently returned without my noticing.

I handed the cat back to Lawrence. "No boundaries," I remarked dryly.

I could hear the amusement in Lawrence's voice as he took the cat. "Have the materials arrived? How long until we see those eyes working again? I'm quite looking forward to it."

"The poison isn't difficult to neutralize," I answered. "But it will take time."

"Not difficult?" Connor's voice brightened with hope. "You know how to fix it? Wait—what happened to the human experiment you mentioned?"

I smiled in his direction. "You all sounded so stressed after your journey. Just a little joke to help you relax."

"A... joke?" Connor's voice cracked with disbelief. I heard him take several quick steps, followed by what sounded like hands slapping against his face. "To help us relax?!"

There was a thud—probably Connor dramatically dropping into a chair.

"I was writing my will in my head!" he exclaimed. "I was literally deciding who gets my gaming PC and who has to delete my browser history!"

Ethan's low, rich chuckle filled the room, followed by Connor's reluctant snort that gradually evolved into genuine laughter.

"Fine," Connor conceded, his voice still carrying traces of indignation despite his amusement. "I guess if I'm going to die for someone's amusement, it might as well be the legendary X's."