Hell’s Kitchen
Into the fire from the frying pan
Jessie adjusted her oxygen mask’s strap that was pulling on her hair.
Once she had it adjusted, she looked out the Gulfstream’s window into the darkness.
Her thoughts drifted to Simo, and she angrily pushed them away, thinking that part of her life was now over.
Hopefully, Simo would trust Booker’s story and he would think she was dead and gone.
A part of her felt vindicated at that potentially hurting him, but that feeling was short-lived.
She knew Booker wasn’t the most reliable promise keeper.
At least she had time to get away… would he come after her?
Most likely not, she decided. He wouldn’t have to glare at her to keep her away anymore.
The thought of Lilly coming back into his life gave her a spike of pain…
but Simo should be happy, she decided, and forced that spike out of her heart.
She felt the flight attendant watching her and met her gaze. “Ma’am, may I get you something?”
She nodded. Jessie pulled up her mask and followed it with, “Bottled water and whatever packaged snacks you have.”
The woman nodded and in moments had her tray out and her snacks in order.
“Thank you.” With a dismissing nod, Jessie opened her water, moved her oxygen mask away, and took a long sip. Looking out of her window was nothing but darkness. She looked up at the screen on the bulkhead and saw she was three hours from landing in New York.
Tatianna promised to pick her up and take her to a friend’s apartment who was away in Paris so she could get some downtime.
Jessie watched her fingers tapping on the armrest and balled up her fist. She tried to slow her heart rate down, but it wasn’t having any of that, which in turn frustrated her.
She tried to start her deep breathing regimen, and her chest felt tight and it felt all wrong.
She had to consciously unclench her fists and grumbled to herself as she slipped the mask back over her mouth and nose.
She mumbled, “Suka,” to herself as she did her best to deal with her body not obeying and the weird rhythm with her breathing.
The Gulfstream descended through the 3:00 AM haze, landed smoothly, and came to a stop off the tarmac at Teterboro Airport.
Through the window, Jessie could see Tatianna leaning against a black SUV, her hands anxiously rubbing each other.
The seatbelt sign went off, and Jessie pulled off the oxygen mask, then quickly stood up, and everything started going dark.
She steadied herself, slammed the mask back on, and took some deep breaths, the darkness fading into the cabin’s lights.
“Suka,” she mumbled.
She noticed the flight attendant watching her, the look on her face was perplexed, as if she didn’t know if she should offer help.
Jessie motioned she was fine. Rather than leave the oxygen tank behind, reluctantly she rolled it out into the aisle.
With a nod at the flight attendant, the woman grabbed her bag and gestured to the door.
With a nod, Jessie followed behind her down the stairs, wheeling the tank as she descended.
She saw the immediate concern on Tatianna’s face as she rushed forward, taking Jessie’s bag from the flight attendant.
Jessie briefly touched the flight attendant’s hand and said, “Thank you.” She turned to Tatianna and pulled up her mask, who then quickly hugged her, rocking Jessie back and forth in a long embrace.
Jessie couldn’t help herself and hugged her back with a fury, fighting back tears threatening to unleash. With a silent sniff, she let go of Tatianna.
“You said you were just a little off?” Tatianna pointed at the tank. “This is not little, da?”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you for coming.”
Tatianna let out a sigh, “For you, Ana… I mean, Jessie, anything I can do, I will.” Tatianna pointed to a baggage handler rolling a large case behind him.
Jessie turned. “My gear.”
With a nod, Tatianna pointed to the back, and the man quickly had the case and Jessie’s bag loaded in the back. Jessie tipped the man and followed Tatianna into the SUV.
“We go to Manhattan. Is nice apartment, very nice.” Tatianna smiled.
“Spasibo,” she said, adjusting her mask.
Jessie looked up at the six-story building in SoHo, New York, as Tatianna pulled up to the uniformed doorman waiting.
The man smiled when Jessie nodded, and he opened the door for her.
Tatianna was out and around next to the doorman; she whispered into his ear and handed him some cash along with the keys.
With a tap to his cap, the man moved to the rear and began unloading.
He went up to the door with Jessie’s things and opened it, waiting for Jessie and Tatianna.
Jessie went through, rolling her oxygen canister behind her.
The doorman followed them to the highly polished brass elevator door, and he hit the top floor, number six.
The ride up was quiet, and the doorman stepped out and immediately unlocked the only door.
Jessie noted there was no other exit or other doors.
With a gesture to enter, Tatianna went in first and then Jessie.
The doorman left Jessie’s things, nodded to Tatianna, and left, leaving a key on the table by the door.
“Uh… who the hell lives here?” Jessie gasped, seeing the view of the apartment that took up the entire floor.
“Ah… Alina Orlova.”
Jessie spun to Tatianna. “Her? The model?”
“Da.” She laughed.
“Old friend?”
“Very.”
Jessie’s eyebrow rose.
“Yes, she was almost like me, she got out. Now, she is superstar now. She is happy to help us…”
“How much does she know?”
“Little bit. She will help if she can.”
Jessie managed a small smile under her clear mask. That was when Tatianna pointed to the tank. “Why this?”
Jessie hung her head for a moment. “Small embolism in my lung. It’ll get better soon… if I stay on oxygen. Do you think the concierge can get me a few more tanks in the afternoon?”
Tatianna let out the cutest snort. “Is New York, anything is possible.”
“Thank you.” Jessie reached into her black combat pants pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. Tatianna began backing away, waving her off. “No,” Jessie replied. “This is my op. I won’t have you spending your money or Victor’s on this. Just take enough for the things I need, khorosho?”
Tatianna relented under Jessie’s stare and took the money. “I will have tanks brought and leave by door, da?”
“Perfect.”
Tatianna gestured to Jessie to follow her. “Guest bedroom. Really nice view.”
“Expensive is what it looks like.” Jessie laughed, looking across the street; rows of historic buildings rose above designer boutiques and restaurants. The lights of Manhattan were visible in the distance.
“Kitchen is stocked for you. Alina say to stay as long as needed. She won’t be back until end of summer. Much modeling in Paris and Milan this season.”
Jessie sat down on the bed and tapped the mattress for Tatianna to sit. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Very good. Victor and I go to much therapy together. I go alone, too. Is helpful… sometimes I can sleep all night.” She let out a satisfied sigh.
She saw Jessie was waiting for more. She bobbed her head back and forth.
“Victor… he loves me maybe too much. Not bad, he always too concern for me.”
“Ah.” Jessie nodded. “That is a very good thing to have. I know you must not be used to that…”
“Da.” “Feels… off, just a little. American men is different from Russian.” Tatianna smiled, trying to segue out.
Jessie gently grasped Tatianna’s hand. “Do you want to leave him?”
“Nyet!” She squeezed Jessie’s hand hard, shaking her head.
“Ah… embarrassed still?” Immediately, Tatianna hung her head. “We Russians don’t handle embarrassment well, do we?”
Tatianna only shook her head.
“He say he love me all the time… I think he deserve better…”
“He deserves you and you him. It’s why I put you two together.”
Tatianna nodded and squeezed Jessie’s hand. “What if people find out about… me, my past? He is up for election, his numbers are highest.”
Jessie let out a cold chuckle and gave Tatianna a wicked look. “Like that stopped anyone before… besides, if that happens… I’ll take care of it. Da?”
Tatianna let out a relieved laugh, covered her mouth, and nodded. They hugged again, and when Tatianna pulled back, she met Jessie’s eyes. “The big man you go to work with?”
“I am dead to him. End of story.”
Tatianna just nodded, watching her. Then, after a time, she patted Jessie’s leg. “Your new phone is in a box over there.” She pointed. “I will come back in afternoon, da?”
Jessie nodded. “Thank you for all your help.”
Noon the next day, Jessie woke to an empty oxygen tank.
She pulled off the mask, took in a deep breath, started coughing, and the frustration started all over again.
With a groan, she slipped on her socks and made her way to the front door, where two oxygen tanks waited for her.
Shaking her head, she transferred the line to the new tank.
Wheeling it to the kitchen, she made herself a quick breakfast, then she was at her laptop.
She flipped it open, and her fingers hovered over the keyboard, waiting to descend.
Her mask fogging and clearing with every breath, she stared at the screen.
She was looking at Chen’s login prompt to his multi-million-dollar app.
She had seen his twenty-six-character login credentials once, and she was ready to let her fingers do the talking.
She felt frozen, her fingers still hovering over the keys.
She knew Chen would know it was her logging in; who else would it be?