Chapter 11 - Explosions
The next morning, I woke up slightly frazzled as I momentarily forgot I'd spent the night at Jasper's. Looking around, I realised he was gone but he'd left a note on the pillow next to mine.
Scarlett,
I hope you were well rested last night (I for one couldn't get enough of those legs). You are not to be coming into work today, you need to rest - my orders. If you need anything, ask Martha or ring me.
I shall see you this afternoon.
J
Rolling my eyes, I glanced at the clock and saw that it was eleven-thirty, he was due back in an hour!
Goddammit, I've never slept in like this, I feel so disorganized.
I made my way to the bathroom and grabbed a new toothbrush from the cabinet beside the huge bath.
After freshening up, I went back into the guest room and found that a pink summer dress was left on the chair beside the window. Smiling to myself, I slipped it on before applying only a small amount of make-up as I wanted to keep it looking as natural as possible.
Doing my hair up in a chignon bun, I stepped into my heels and went downstairs.
"Good morning, Miss Valentina!" Martha, Jasper's housekeeper greeted cheerily.
"Martha! My name is Scarlett!" I scolded her jokingly as we embraced in a hug. "How was Greece?"
"Oh, it was wonderful dear! Alfred and I had such a lovely time!"
Martha had been on holiday for a few months with her husband to visit their son Alex and his family.
As far as my understanding was, Jasper's parents had hired Martha while he was still in college, and given the number of trips he had to take, she was perfect to keep things running smoothly.
"I wanted to return as soon as I'd heard the news of Jasper in Paris but he kept telling me I should wait! But Scarlett, you've done an excellent job of looking after him," she winked, giggling slightly.
"He is my boss, Martha," I said flatly.
"Scarlett, never have I seen him so concerned for a woman like he is for you, nor have I seen him listen to others like he does to you!"
"Martha, he's like that with all women, not just myself," I laughed as I heard the gate open outside. "You don't see that side of him as often as I do."
"Jasper's back!" Martha sang in a high-pitched tone as I heard him park his Rolls Royce outside the porch before the front door opened.
"Good afternoon, ladies," his sexy voice called out as he walked in before turning to me, his eyes exploring my entire body. "How are you?"
"I'm fine thank you, you?"
Martha looked a little confused as she didn't know what was with the awkward questioning.
"I'm great, thanks. I hope you slept well... I know I did," he winked before engulfing Martha in a hug.
"Jasper, how about you take Scarlett out to lunch, the poor girl hasn't had a bite to eat!"
"No, it's fine," I glared at Martha who grinned innocently at me.
"You make it sound like it's my fault, Martha! I'll be waiting outside, Miss Valentina," he smiled at me, walking out.
"Martha, I hate you!" I snapped once Jasper was out of earshot. "What were you thinking?"
"You'll soon see, my dear. Now, run along!" She shooed me away from the dining hall and out the front door where Jasper was waiting in the car. With one last glare directed at Martha, I slid into the passenger seat and fastened my belt.
"You look very beautiful, Scarlett," Jasper complimented as I blushed profusely under his piercing gaze.
"Thank you," I smiled at him.
"About Vincent -"
"Don't worry about that, it's okay," I smiled reassuringly as I tried to block out the voices in my head which said otherwise. I really didn't need to dump anymore of my baggage on him and remind him of a past he had obviously tried to forget.
An awkward silence settled between us as I tried not to let any thoughts of Vincent ruin my afternoon. It seemed as though luck was not on my side however, as my phone blasted to life with Vincent's name flashing on the screen.
"Hello?" I answered trying to sound normal.
"Where the hell are you, Scarlett?" He growled into the phone menacingly.
"Vincent, you need to stop this! What has gotten into you?" I snapped back, unable to keep the anger out of my voice.
"Where are you? We need to speak."
"I'll get a lift off Jasper, just -"
"No, you will not!" He roared just as Jasper snatched the phone off of me.
"Don't you fucking speak to her like that!" Jasper spat at him venomously as they began to have a cussing match with each other before I grabbed the phone off of Jasper and inhaled sharply.
"Vincent, I'm coming over right now and we'll talk okay?" I said softly trying to get him to calm down.
"No, you listen to me -"
I ended the call and rolled my eyes.
Asshole.
"No." Jasper stated simply as I looked up at him in confusion.
"Pardon?"
"You're not going there Scarlett, I won't let you." He stated simply.
"That is not your decision to make," I snapped.
"You haven't broken up with him, have you?"
"I was at yours last night - sleeping for the most part! Please tell me when I could have possibly broken up with him?"
"So, you are going to break up with him then?"
"Yes. Yes, I am." I said running my hands through my hair.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett. It's just, it kills me every time I see you with him, it reminds me of the shit my sister had to go through and I don't want that for you," he said sincerely.
"It's fine. I understand," I smiled as relief swept across his face.
After half an hour, he parked up outside Vincent's place.
"I'm going to wait outside for you, Scarlett."
"That won't be necessary. I'll be fine." I gave him one last smile and proceeded towards the door where Vincent conveniently opened it before I knocked.
"Vincent," I greeted stoically as his eyes became emblazoned with anger.
"Get inside," he said through gritted teeth as he pulled me in and slammed the door shut behind him.
"What the hell has gotten into you Vincent?" I snapped shaking him off of me.
"I am tired of you always being around fucking Jasper! You are mine!"
"Listen here, you asshole, I don't belong to anyone," I seethed. "Jasper is my boss, of course I am going to be around him all the time!"
"Please, any old fool can see you're in love with the bastard!" He snapped. "And you don't know what I'm capable of, Scarlett."
"Save the bullshit Vincent. A man like you is only capable of raising a hand on a woman! What does that prove of your capability?"
"Oh," he laughed darkly. "I see he's told you about his whore of a sister."
"You mean the whore you almost beat to death? And you claimed to have changed to the man whose sister you probably would have killed? You are nothing but an abusive little mommy's boy."
In almost a flash, he grabbed me forcefully by my chin and glared at me distastefully.
"You little bitch," he hissed. "How dare-"
"Get off me!" I snapped throwing his hand off my face. "To think I almost had a future with you, I can't believe it!"
Well, that was a bad move on my part because the next thing I was met with was a fist colliding into my stomach as he gripped onto my arms so tightly I knew I would bruise.
"I am going to hurt you so badly, so badly that - oof!" He doubled up on the ground clutching at his southern region as he writhed in pain.
"Go to hell." I said in a deadpan tone as I walked out of his apartment.
As soon as I closed the door, I noticed Jasper's car was still here. He practically jumped out of the car and ran towards me once he'd seen me.
"Scarlett, are you okay?" He asked placing his arm around my waist, his hand pressing slightly into the newly formed bruise on my stomach, making me wince in pain.
"I'm fine, I -"
"Scarlett," he said in a dangerously low tone. "I am going to kill him! I shouldn't have let you go in on your own!"
"Can we go, please?" I asked, whilst on the verge of sobbing.
He guided me towards the car and sat me inside before taking a seat beside me. As he started ignition, I looked up at him, his features all tensed up and his hands gripped the steering wheel what looked to be a little too firm.
I was too much in shock to say anything so I kept quiet as did he, until he finally spoke.
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
"I don't want to go to the hospital!" I snapped angrily. "I'm fine, could you just take me home? Please?"
"Scarlett -"
"Please," I whispered, too tired to fight. In silence, he drove his way to my house as I closed my eyes and sighed quietly. I knew this wasn't the last I'd seen of Vincent, I knew he would be plotting his revenge sooner or later and I knew I wouldn't be getting off lightly.
"We're here." Jasper announced softly as I proceeded to take off my seatbelt.
"Thank you."
"I'm coming in with you, I need to make sure you're okay."
Too tired to argue back, I just nodded and opened the door. Walking into the kitchen, I stood over the sink trying to get my breath back as Jasper stood in the doorway.
"Go upstairs and change into something comfortable, I'll bring you some ice." He commanded lowly. I watched as he grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, staring at me expectantly. "Go on."
"Why are you doing this? I am not a charity case nor do I need your pity," I glowered at him.
"You're hurt, I'm making sure you're okay, what's the problem?"
"The problem is, you are my boss and I am your secretary, I spent the night in your home with you â hell, I even slept with you, in your bed! And then I didn't turn up for work and then you come along taking me out fo -" I stopped abruptly as I noticed his eyes darken with what I could only describe as unbridled desire.
"Fuck." he said breathlessly as I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"What are -"
I was cut off promptly as Jasper's lips crashed onto mine, and this time there were fireworks.
Explosions.
It was absolutely captivating that I couldn't pull away, his tongue was demanding entrance, our lips moving naturally in sync. He pulled me closer by my waist while I wrapped my hands around his neck pulling him impossibly closer as I moaned quietly. Slowly, he smiled against my lips, our noses touching, his eyes burning with lust and desire.
Oh, God, what the hell did I just do?
I knew what was coming next.
"What's wrong, Scarlett?" He enquired softly using his finger to tilt my face upwards.
"Don't you dare patronize me," I snapped through gritted teeth as he stared at me confusedly. "Don't play games with me Jasper, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
"And what might that be, Scarlett?" He asked sarcastically his eyes narrowing in anger. "Because I don't have a clue what you are talking about."
"Please, don't make this harder for me," I pleaded. "Please leave."
"Give me a reason and I'll go."
"You got what you wanted, didn't you?" I spat icily. "Just leave, please."
"Fine." He said quietly after what felt like a never-ending pause. He picked up his keys and left as I broke down in tears accepting that I could never experience love or happiness the same way everyone else could.
I just did what every single previous secretary of his did; I was so going to get fired.
My relationship with my boss was now barely hanging by a thread and I hadn't a clue in hell what to do about it.