Chapter 14

JASPER

E ntering my penthouse, the quietness surrounded me. The silence had never been an issue for me. I preferred it. To come home after a long day, pour a glass of scotch, and sit down to reflect. Alone.

I let my driver off early for the night, I didn't plan on adding to this long day. Signing contracts for the Vasquez brothers went against everything I believed in. So a drink, and some quiet, was exactly what I needed. Despite the setbacks, seeing Harper was a positive moment in my day, even if she turned me down again.

I need to manage this infatuation. Perhaps I'll seek some female companionship soon to distract myself from her and my unexpected attraction to this girl I barely know, aside from the information Max was able to uncover.

Knowing her past like I did and watching her as she navigated her day. I saw the struggle in her eyes, but she still found her smile. It's fascinating, admirable even.

The door buzzer knocked me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the clock; it was already nine-thirty at night, who could be buzzing at this hour?

I got up and made my way to the intercom.

"Who is it?" I snapped.

"Uh, Jasper it's Chester, I have some urgent business to discuss with you. May I have a moment of your time?" I let out a breathy sigh before I pushed the release button to allow entrance to the building.

It wasn't long before the bell on the elevator went off and Chester fucking Wahlberg walked out. Chester was my father's lawyer, and a crooked piece of shit if you ask me. He's helped my father commit crimes and covered them up for him countless times, but when he helped cover up my mother's murder that was the final straw for me. His showing up here, at my home, at this time of night, could only mean one thing.

"Jasper! It's been a while old friend, how are you? How's life on this side of the law?" he chirped, walking towards me where I stood in the foyer.

This side of the law? Ha, bastard.

"I guess that's a valid question since that's something you know nothing about." I murmured as I walked ahead to a small table to the side of the living room. I sat down with my scotch still in hand, half expecting Chester to have followed me.

"Why are you here Chester?" I gritted. I didn't need to pretend like I liked the guy. I fucking hated him, and he knew it.

"I guess pleasantries have never been your strong suit. You could offer me a drink," he stated dryly, smirking.

"I only share my scotch with people I like."

He laughed before coming over to join me at the table. He opened his briefcase and removed a stack of paperwork.

"Well, I'm guessing you know why I am here,"

"Is he dead?" I asked knowingly.

"I'm afraid so son."

"Bout time." I snapped my voice full of anger. I didn't know where the sudden rage I was feeling was coming from, but I was seething. I was wound so tight, ready to take my rage out on anything and anyone who got in my way.

Luckily for Chester, I didn't make a habit of pummeling old fucking bastards, despite how I felt about him and his filthy dealings with my father.

It was too bad. Chester seemed like a decent person when he and my father first met. He was a family man. He had a lovely wife and three boys. He was a successful lawyer for a large firm, and about to make partner.

They lived in a nice house in the suburbs, the picture-perfect family. Until he linked up with my father who was desperate to make a name and start his empire in the criminal underworld, using everyone and everything to his advantage, no matter what damage he did or whose life was taken in the process.

When he killed my mother, that's when I decided I was never going to be anything like that man. My mother was a good woman, he didn't deserve her.

After years of abuse and torture from my father trying to will me to his ways so that I could one day join him in his empire, I finally came of age and left never looking back.

When he found out I was a lawyer he reached out, no doubt trying to get me mixed in with his dealings, but I wasn't interested.

He was pissed and sent some of his goons to strong-arm me, but what he didn't realize was that all the years of torture, or what he called training, made me a much stronger man, plus the training on my own.

I'm at a physical peak. After he saw what I did to his trusted flunkies he backed off. I may have morals but I'm not against protecting myself and those I love, and what's the harm in enjoying it?

"So, what do you want?" I asked ready to get this asshole out of my home.

"Well since you are Mickey's only child, his entire estate and all holdings now belong to you. I need signatures to file the paperwork, and everything will be transferred to you." Damn, I didn't think of that. My father was a fucking bastard from hell, but business was his strong suit, and he had a lot of them, and successful ones at that.

"Give me the paperwork I'll look over these myself. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you." I sneered, growing more irritated at his presence by the minute.

I glared at Chester with warning. If I found any crooked shit in these forms that show he had any shitty intentions he knew I'd come after him and everything he had.

"I figured as much," he said still wearing that condescending smirk.

He slid the stack of papers across the polished wooden tabletop, then snapped his briefcase shut, pausing momentarily.

"Papers need to be filed by the end of the month. Here's my card, my fax is on there." He pointed to a number before he got up to leave.

I follow behind right on his heels.

"Nice seeing you Jasper," he looked around my penthouse before getting into the elevator,

"Looks like you have done well for yourself, your mother would be proud."

"Fuck you," I said just as the elevator doors closed. He had no right to speak of her. He had the chance to get justice for her death and sided with the monster who took her away from me.

My mother wanted nothing more but to see me do well in life. She always told me, "Jasy, study hard and make something of yourself, make yourself proud, and don't worry about what others think. One day you will grow up and have a life much better than anything you can imagine now."

Those words were my mantra all through high school. I could still hear her whimsical voice in my head.

When I graduated with honors, and got accepted into an Ivy League college with a full scholarship, I knew she would be proud of me. My father did everything he could to keep me from my studies, but I refused to let him win. He never did, no amount of money or material things could buy my loyalty to a bloodthirsty murderer.

I'm glad he's gone.

I poured myself another glass of scotch and glanced at the paperwork on the table. My hand wrapped around my glass to the point of nearly shattering. I gulped down the contents and threw it against the wall. Cancer wasn't brutal enough for him, he deserved to suffer so much more than that.

Just as I became completely consumed in my anger, I heard an alert come from my laptop, I needed a distraction. I figured it was just another client message that I'd probably put off until tomorrow, but honestly, any distraction from the intense anger I was dealing with sounded good to me.

I opened the laptop entered the password and there in my inbox was a message from Harper. Just in time, as if she knew I needed to hear from her.

J.W,

I never said that I wasn't up to no good, that was merely your assumption. It's not my fault you came to such conclusions LOL. I'm doing fine, just a bit shaken up but it's nothing I can't handle. It could have been much worse if there wasn't a weirdo lurking in the shadows :) JK. To answer your question, no I don't tend to frequent bars or lounges often, crowded places aren't really my scene. I was out with a friend that night, despite my efforts in skipping out and staying home. How about you? Do you go to Afterglow often? It seemed like most of the men there were pretentious self-righteous dicks, or creepers lurking in dark alleyways waiting to save a damsel in distress, thanks again for that (insert winky face here.) Anyway, I've taken up enough of your time. I'm sure other damsels are waiting to be saved by a knight in shining armor. Goodbye :)

-Harper Williams

Wow, this ‘Harper' is far more daring than she appears in person. I'm drawn to it. If this is the side of her that I'd get to once I've broken down the barriers she's placed around her heart, then no matter the amount of time, I want to understand that ‘Harper'. I want to peer into her heart and soul. I need to know her—completely.

I quickly sent her a response. I tried not to overthink it. Afterward, I remembered the stack of books I bought from the bookstore where she worked. I peeked at my options. I grabbed the one I remembered she said was her all-time favorite. She said it was because the protagonist was a strong female who didn't take shit from anyone,

Her words, exactly .

When she said it, she reminded me of how she handled all those thirsty ass men at the lounge. I'm not much of a reader but if I were to run into her again, which I was sure I'd make happen at some point, I want to have something to talk about. I refilled my glass with a bit more scotch sat down on the sofa and started to read

‘Into The Water.' by Paula Hawkins.