Chapter 9 - His Revelation
Jasper's POV
I parked up outside Scarlett's apartment; God, I hadn't been here since she bought the place.
"Would you like to come in and wait, Mr Queen?" She asked, getting out of the car.
"Of course," I smiled stepping out and following her inside.
"Would you like a drink?" She asked as she poured a glass of wine and handed it over. "I'll be down in a bit."
"Take your time Scarlett, don't rush."
I could hear her staggering up the stairs in haste â she never was one to listen, I smiled to myself.
She was always fantastic with interior decorating, I thought as I looked around. Thinking about it, I'd noticed she had a lot of lights around the house and they were always on. I wondered why she had so many lights.
I wonder if she has them in her bedroom.
I wonder what her bedroom is like.
I wonder what sort of sleepwear she sleeps in.
I wonder if she sleeps naked.
Rolling my eyes, I decided I had best not wonder about my secretary's bedtime habits, as I sat myself down again before she came downstairs.
"I'm ready," I heard her soft voice as she walked into the living room.
I couldn't keep my eyes from staring at every inch of her perfect body, the way the dress clung to her body, defining her curves. The neckline was low enough to give a hint of her full breasts but she still looked elegant and classy. I noticed she had clasped around her neck the necklace I had bought as she twirled it around with her delicate fingers. I cleared my throat as I noticed her looking a little uncomfortable
"You look lovely, Scarlett," I smiled at her as we left for the restaurant.
Lovely was the understatement of the year - she looked beyond beautiful.
"Thank you," she replied shyly as we left to make our way to the restaurant.
***
"Table for two under Queen?" I smiled at the restaurant receptionist.
"Of course, Jessica will have you seated," she replied, a little breathlessly as I smirked to myself.
"What a way to feed a handsome man's ego," Scarlett grinned rolling her eyes.
"You think I'm handsome?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Well, you're not exactly unattractive," she smirked before a waitress appeared in front of us.
"Mr Queen, if you would like to come this way with your..."
"Secretary. Miss Valentina."
"Right." She smiled thinly while she glared at Scarlett who smiled back sweetly as I tried not to laugh.
"Would you mind having us seated now?" I asked expectantly.
"Yes, of course right this way," she led us to the private table, swaying her non-existent backside in a pathetic attempt to get my attention.
"You can leave now." I stated in a deadpan voice as we sat down. "Let's order."
"You are so rude, Mr Queen," she smiled knowingly.
"She shouldn't be so desperate, then, should she?"
"Forget about that, what I would like to know is why you are convinced that Vincent is what you claim he is?"
"Scarlett please," I snorted. "I don't claim anything. I know what kind of bastard he really is."
"Go on."
"I haven't eaten yet," I smirked as I could practically feel her trying not to roll her eyes. I signalled for a waiter and I ordered for Scarlett and myself.
"Mr Queen?" Scarlett prodded as we began eating.
"Later. Enjoy the meal," I teased and I swear I heard her growl at me.
"That is not funny, Mr Queen."
"Fine, fine, let's finish up here and we'll go back to mine."
"What was the point in bringing me here then?" She questioned, exasperated, as I laughed.
Begrudgingly, she picked up her fork and ate very quickly. I watched her for a while, wondering whether I was doing the right thing - was I doing her a favour or myself a favour by telling her? Groaning inwardly, I resumed eating, deciding that there was no way she couldn't know the truth about Vincent.
After finishing up at the restaurant, I deliberately drove slowly back to my home, much to the frustration of Scarlett - when really, I knew I was trying to avoid telling her, I just didn't have a clue in hell how she was going to take it.
"Drink?" I asked to annoy her as she sat herself down on the sofa, folding her arms expectantly.
"Mr Queen!"
"Okay, okay!" I laughed at her unamused expression.
"Well?"
"Well... Vincent dated my sister Emily for around a year, but nobody knew that he was actually abusive towards her during that period of time."
"God," Scarlett gasped quietly, averting her gaze from mine.
"He'd almost killed her."
I paused as I recalled that god awful memory of my bruised and bloodied sister begging me to save her.
"Jasper! Jasper, please! He's going to kill me!" Emily screamed at me from the corner of the room, blood dripping down her forehead as Vincent towered over her shaking body.
Without even registering what the hell was happening, I grabbed Vincent by the shirt and threw him against the wall where I beat him repeatedly until Emily staggered up to stop me. I probably would have killed him if it wasn't for her.
"Jasper, leave him, he'll land you in prison. Please, I need you," she pleaded, a mixture of tears and blood streaming down her bruised face.
I remembered feeling so helpless and weak as all Vincent received were six months in prison and a restraining order warning him not to come anywhere near Emily.
"Mr Queen?" Scarlett's voice called out softly.
"Sorry. So, after Vincent went to prison, his family came to know what Emily had gone through and he was practically disowned by them. Apart from his mother - the woman is blinded by her love for Vincent - she begged her husband to at least leave him with a couple of million dollars to keep him 'financially stable'. So now you know he managed to get his flashy car and house from daddy's pocket and not from his severe lack of journalistic skills," I said sarcastically as I poured myself a glass of whiskey.
"Where is your sister now?" Scarlett asked quietly.
"She got married a few years ago to my brother-in-law, Heath and they have a daughter together." I smiled at the thought of my niece who really helped my sister to cope.
"I'm sorry, I should be going now," Scarlett apologised, standing up.
"Scarlett, sit down," I said softly as I sat down beside her. " I know I can be an asshole, but I didn't want you to be in the same situation as Emily was."
"The first time. This is the first time I have ever been trusting of a man only to find out that he was a lie as well," she whispered in disbelief.
"I am so sorry, Scarlett," I said as I held her in my arms, her tears soaking into my shoulder.
"Why does this keep on happening? What is wrong with me?"
"Hey, shh, there is nothing wrong with you Scarlett, believe me. You are perfect - hell, you put up with me - you have to be perfect!"
"What am I going to do, Mr Queen?" She asked as she moved away from me.
"Scarlett, I really would appreciate it if you would call me Jasper. Not Mr Queen, it makes me sound seventy," I muttered as I realised that that was inappropriately timed.
"Impeccable timing, Mr - Jasper." She corrected herself as she rolled her eyes.
That was better.
"Break up with him." I stated.
"No? Really? Break up with an abusive, deranged man? Why, I never thought to do such a thing!" She snapped sarcastically as I laughed at her sudden anger with me. "What was he doing in your office that day when I came in?"
"Spouting bullshit as usual. 'I'm a changed man', 'I've turned over a new leaf', 'give me my job back'; I wanted to strangle him for simply breathing," I said, as she rolled her eyes. "But in all seriousness, do you see why I wasn't happy when I found out you were dating him?"
"Yes. Yes, I did. You were so unhappy with my personal decision that you decided to prove your point by inviting woman after woman in that non-soundproof office of yours." She glared icily as I felt my face darken.
"Yes, well," I muttered. "I do apologise for that. Perhaps it wasn't the best of ways to vent."
Since when was I speechless around women? Since when did I ever apologise to anyone?
Every moment I spent with her I fell more in love with her beautiful personality, her passions, her words. She was indeed a temptress, not intentionally of course, which was probably another reason I developed such feelings for her; she wasn't desperate or attention-seeking.
She never threw herself at me and held a lot of dignity, she was intelligent and gentle - how I would love to make her mine.
I remember testing her at the start of her career, expecting her to slip up just as every other secretary of mine did, but she didn't.
Then it hit me.
I was falling for her.
And I wanted to know everything about her, not just professionally; I wanted to hear her dreams, her hopes, her fears â her past. It was completely obvious that she had a closet full of skeletons and a lot of pain; I wanted to be the one to break through and help her to find herself again.
The question was, would she ever let me in?
in-bh