Chapter 34

JASPER

L eaning back, I watched the footage of the Petrov Brothers and their henchmen quickly leaving the underground facilities that my father had allowed them to use for their Sex Trafficking and Underground fights.

I watched as they loaded up girl after girl into vans. All of it was done at night and they even tried to tamper with the video surveillance, but Max is damn good at what he does and was able to recover the hours of erased footage. These guys were good but not good enough.

I sat back in my chair and ran a hand over my face. I had no idea what they were up to, but it didn't seem like they were the type of pussies to turn us into the authorities. Then again, they were partnering with my father, a man that killed his own wife to save his ass. I couldn't put anything past anyone.

I looked over at Max, who was sprawled out on the sofa, in the corner of my office, with his feet across the arm.

"Save this footage, we may need to use it to our advantage." I snapped at Max. giving him a look of disdain as I glared at his loafers on my expensive leather sofa. "Already did jackass," he retorted, hurling a flash drive across the room, aiming straight for my head. I caught it mid-air and gave him a smirk.

I can always count on him to know exactly what to do without being asked.

"So, what do you think about these sons-of-bitches?" We expected some retaliation from them since I refused to fall to their threats when they wanted me to sign over all my father's established territory in Atlanta. I somewhat anticipated they might send thugs to intimidate me, the idea that they would call the authorities and attempt to close the legitimate aspect of the business that we technically co-owned was beyond me. Maybe that was the idea.

"So, are you going to tell me what's going on with you and that fine piece of…" Before he could finish that question, he found himself getting clobbered by my stapler. I chucked it straight at his face. With his boxing background, he easily dodged it, but it made him think twice before finishing what he was saying.

"What's going on with you and Harper," he said with a half smirk. I glared at him with a warning before responding. "I've already told you,"

"Yes, you said she was afraid to be alone so she is here until her fine-ass roommate comes home. I'm paraphrasing but what I saw earlier seemed to be a bit more than what you described," he stated the obvious. He wasn't wrong, something was brewing between us, something I was having a hard time controlling, and from what I could tell she was feeling too if the fact that she no longer tenses at my touch says anything.

Only time would tell, and I seemed to be running out of that. Tomorrow was the engagement party for Max's little brother. Going to this exclusive event would gain her points with her boss, but if I'm being honest, I'd want her there with me anyway. She is supposed to be leaving Monday.

Monday she will go back to work, back to her apartment, and back to her regular life then whatever this has been between us will end.

Why does the thought of going back to my normal life feel so fucking awful if Harper won't be in it? Is that what she would want? I know we went on a date and shared what was the best fucking kiss of my life but was that all she wanted, to live in the moment and then go back to her life of isolation?

"Well, whatever it is. I'm happy for you. I haven't ever seen you look at any woman the way you look at her." He teased with a raised eyebrow, but I could tell he was sincere. I sighed, not wanting to delve into my situation with Harper, especially since I didn't fully grasp what was going on.

Max stood up and stretched as he stifled a yawn. "I'll keep an eye on the Petrov brothers for the next few days, I've got to go. I got a hot redhead I'm meeting after her shift," he said with a wink, walking towards the door.

"Are you talking about that bimbo from the casino?" I asked knowingly with a chuckle. "See you tomorrow, you Prick," he called over his shoulder disappearing through the open door.

I shook my head laughing to myself.

That man would fuck anything with a pulse one day his dick is going to fall off.

Just as I was about to shut down my computer, a ping notified me of an email. Chester had sent the final forms that would officially transfer all my father's properties to me, with all the hassles they would bring.

I pinched the bridge of my nose at the thought of all the sorting I had in my near future with the properties. Plus all the added shit with those douchebags; the douchebags being the Petrov brothers. Suddenly, a knock on the door pulled me away from my self-wallowing.

I turned and made eye contact with a gorgeous green-eyed goddess, standing in the doorway smiling at me. "Hey," she hesitated nervously. "Can I come in?"

"Of course, you can Doll." I waved her in and gestured to the seat opposite my desk. Something about her sauntering in and taking a seat placing one foot in the chair and holding her knee tightly against her chest made my cock twitch, I was thankful to be seated at a desk. "What's up, pretty girl?" She blushed before looking at her lap and fidgeting picking a piece of lint from her tight pants, pretty sure they were leggings, but either way, they were thin, tight, and showed off her perfect ass.

I sensed a strange vibe radiating from her. I raised one eyebrow at her and just before I could say anything she asked something I expected to have been mentioned before now.

"I wanted to talk to you about… well…about this morning."

"Okay, but under one condition," I stated. She slowly raised her eyes to meet mine.

"I want you to look at me while we talk." She gave me a puzzled expression and knitted her brows.

"Okay, I will," she whispered nervously. Rising from my desk, I walked around to its front. I sat at the end, ankles crossed, and arms folded, standing directly in front of her chair. Her head was forced backwards as she looked up into my eyes. She slowly started to drop her head when I reached down and lightly gripped her chin to raise her face back to mine. I felt a slight tremble, but something told me the nerves she was displaying weren't fearful.

"What is it you wanted to talk about doll?" I pushed for her to continue.

"Well, I wanted to say thank you for the dress and everything. But" she paused as she started to look away but my fingers on her chin stopped her. She cleared her throat and continued. "I need to know why you bought me all those things?" I stared into her eyes momentarily, dropping my hold on her chin and leaning back as I tried to figure out what she was getting at. While many women enjoy a shopping spree at high-end dress boutiques, she stands out with her unique preferences.

She sat there staring at me waiting for me to respond.

"I took you shopping because you needed a dress for tomorrow night," I said with certainty.

"I could have worn a dress from home. You spent so much money today." She spoke with a guilty tone in her voice.

"A woman as beautiful as you deserve to wear something expensive, something that makes you feel exceptional. Something that can hopefully come close to how special you are." She sucked her bottom lip into her teeth and her eyes softened.

"None of those dresses today could compete with your beauty, but I wanted you to feel as beautiful as I see you." I reached up and pulled her lip from her teeth gently, with the pad of my thumb. Her eyes were glossed, with unshed tears, as she looked away.

"And do you know why?" I continued. She looked back up at me; her face full of emotion. "I've never met a woman who is more beautiful on the inside than the astonishing beauty she wears on the outside. Women like you are rare, and deserve to be treasured." I hardly had time to take a breath before she was out of her seat, her arms were thrown over my neck, and her lips smashed into mine.