Chapter 16 - It's A Date
"I picked out your Armani suit and I wasn't sure whether you wanted to wear a bow tie or a normal tie, so I bought both," I informed Jasper once I'd gotten over the phone call with Melissa and made my way back to work.
"Tie."
"Tie it is."
Checking my watch, I had noticed there were two hours until the benefit started, I would have to get Jennifer to sort me out pretty soon if I wanted to look slightly good alongside Jasper's handsome self.
"Unless there is anything else you would like me to do, would you mind if I went to get myself ready?" I asked politely.
"Yes, that's fine, everyone will be leaving in about an hours' time anyway."
"Thank you." I smiled up at him. "What did you wish to discuss with me before I left?"
"We can talk about that later, you go and get ready."
"Okay."
I dashed out of his office, into the elevator and down to Jennifer's office.
"Scarlett?"
"Jenny, I was wondering whether you could do my hair for me before I leave to accompany Jasper to the benefit?"
"Ah," she smiled knowingly. "Get into your dress and I'll sort the rest out."
"Thanks, so much Jen, you're a life saver."
"I know!"
Rolling my eyes, I locked myself into a nearby cubicle and changed into my gown before making my way back into Jen's office.
"You look lovely already, Scarlett!" She beamed.
"Thanks," I laughed at her enthusiasm.
"Right, let's do this."
After an hour of straightening, curling and teasing my hair was finally done. Thanking Jennifer, I dashed back up to my office and re-applied my neutral makeup, only adding some eyeliner and a slick of baby pink lipstick.
Slipping into my heels I properly checked myself out and dare I say, I didn't look bad at all.
My hair was down in a fancy do with my bangs clipped elegantly to the side, with a few loose curls tumbling down my back. The dress looked pretty good too considering I hadn't worn it yet, it was actually a gift from Jasper after his arrival from Italy a few months ago.
"Ready to go?" He asked, coming in.
"Yes," I replied.
"You look beautiful, Scarlett," he said before he smirked. "Now - turn around."
"Jasper!" I hissed, narrowing my eyes at him as he laughed.
"The last of them are leaving, we'll leave in short while too. In the meantime, I have some things I would like to discuss with you."
My heart thumped loudly as I wondered what the hell I did.
"Are you seeing Vincent again?"
"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I asked-"
"I know what you asked Jasper, what I would like to know is why you'd think such a thing?" I snapped glaring at him.
"I saw him arrive at your home yesterday, do you seriously think you can lie to me?" He snapped back, becoming equally as furious as myself.
How he could go from being fun and flirty to angry and furious so quickly remained a mystery to me.
"Yes, he came yesterday." I sighed. "He asked me to invite him in and I turned him away - that was it."
"Why the hell was he there in the first place?" He enquired gruffly.
"Remember that day I was at your home and I received that text message?" I asked as he nodded slowly. "It was Vincent. He's been calling and texting constantly with the exception of yesterday when he physically turned up."
"What?" He growled violently, slamming the door shut behind him as I jumped a little from the noise.
"Calm down, it's my problem not yours."
"Not my problem? Wha-"
"I work for you, you are not my babysitter, Jasper, I can take care of myself," I said, looking up at him.
"Go wait in the car because I am going to do some real damage to something in a minute," he snapped as I rolled my eyes and walked out.
Arrogant prick thinks I belong to him!
We hardly ever argued this way until recently, especially since Jasper was adamant to know what was happening in my private life which was seriously beginning to piss me off.
"You look elated, Scarlett," Smith remarked as I got into the Maserati. "One can only guess the reason behind your scowl."
"Smith, he is such an ass, a control freak and... He drives me crazy!"
"Scarlett," he laughed as my scowl grew bigger.
This wasn't funny at all.
"Stop laughing!" I yelled just as Jasper opened the door and took a seat in silence.
"Drive." He ordered sternly, keeping his cold glare on me. "You're to stay with me at all times do you understand?"
In a pathetic attempt to remain professional, I nodded weakly as I stared out of the window.
I loathed these goddamn benefits; each and every time I was at one, some man would attempt to touch me or harass me to have sex with them, there were no blurred lines and they made it clear sex was their only intention.
I dared to take a glance at Jasper who was still glaring at me. Feeling like a naughty school child who had just got told off, I tried to avert my gaze when my phone blasted to life as I silently begged for it not to be Vincent.
Sliding my phone out of my clutch bag, I saw that the caller ID was unknown. Frowning, I answered it anyway.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Scarlett," Elena's voice greeted as my shoulders slumped in relief.
"Oh hey, is everything okay?"
"Yeah it is, God, you sound so worried!" She laughed. "No, I'm fine. I was just wondering whether you would like to come over for dinner tomorrow night?"
"Er..."
"My mom filled me in on my bastard of a brother's lack of manners so I apologise on his behalf as I can guarantee he hasn't," she said bitterly as I laughed.
"He is not that bad! And he did apologise."
"He did?" She asked ludicrously. "I know my brother like the back of my hand and I have never known him to apologise for anything. Christ, he really does like you!"
"No, he doesn't," I said rolling my eyes.
"Oh, he so does! So, will you come?" She asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid it wouldn't be professional-"
"If you're talking about Jasper, he would want more than to have you sat there - trust me!"
"Oh." I replied stupidly, feeling my cheeks warm desperately trying not to look over at the handsome devil himself.
"Please, please come!" She begged as I imagined her pleading with puppy eyes.
"Okay, I accept your invitation," I laughed as she squealed gleefully.
"I'll text you the address later. By the way, a little birdie told me you're attending a charity benefit tonight with Jay."
"Yeah, I love them(!)" I said unenthusiastically as Elena laughed.
"Don't enjoy yourself too much with him, will you?" She teased as my face reddened again. "See you tomorrow Scarlett!"
"It's a date," I joked, ending the call.
Yeah, a date with my boss's entire family.
"Who has put such a smile on your face?" Jasper enquired sarcastically as I decided to rattle his cage even more.
"None of your business."
"I asked you a question."
"And I answered it."
"We're here!" Smith called out, relief evident in his voice as we continued to glare at each other before I opened the door to let myself out where I was almost blinded by the flashing lights.
Slightly disoriented and panicked I grabbed Jaspers arm, his angered features softening slightly as we walked through the crowd before the bodyguards turned up.
"Jasper, baby is that you?" A sensual voice purred once we'd gone inside. I turned to see a tall and elegant woman I recognised as Natalia Vermont, a former flame of Jasper's. She was still as beautiful as she was when they were dating.
"And you are?" Jasper asked looking at her distastefully as she looked taken aback.
"It's me, Natalia, remember how we were once in love?" She asked slightly desperately.
"O,h yes, now I remember," Jasper said thoughtfully as Natalia smiled triumphantly. "You were the stripper from that club in Vegas, right?"
She looked like she had been slapped right across the face as I choked on my own saliva.
"You... You bastard!" She screeched storming off.
"Truth hurts." Jasper shrugged as we walked on ahead into the hall.
"Poor girl," I muttered, genuinely feeling sorry for her.
"Poor in the bed too," Jasper shuddered as I frowned at him.
"Ever wondered whether your performance was the bad one?"
"Trust me, I highly doubt it." he said arrogantly although he looked slightly offended.
"I don't," I muttered.
"How would you know, have you ever tried? How many times have you even had sex?" He asked as my face heated up.
"That is a very personal question to ask, I refuse to answer."
"Well there is no way you are a virgin, so how many times?"
"For God's sake!" I hissed quietly. "I am a virgin!"
"You are?" He spluttered in surprise. "How?"
"See, it's this really cool thing where I've managed to keep my legs closed to men like you," I snapped waiting for him to burst out laughing.
"You're an incredibly beautiful woman, how is that possible?"
"Have you seen me?" I asked in a deadpan tone, not particularly wanting to engage in a conversation regarding my - albeit non-existent - sex life with my boss.
"What do you mean?"
"I carry a lot of baggage for starters, not to mention the God-awful war wounds I have accumulated over the years," I said, rolling my eyes.
"You really have no idea, do you?" He asked, shaking his head before a man walked into the empty hall.
Gareth Johns.
The man who cannot keep his hands to himself.
"Hey, Jasper," he greeted, his eyes not leaving my body. Jaspers fingers dug into the side of my waist and I welcomed the gesture gratefully.
"Gareth." Jasper acknowledged before turning to me. "Come on, let's go inside, Scarlett."
"Thank God," I whispered as he led me into the banquet hall.
"Do not leave my side at any time, do you understand?"
"Yes." I replied, desperately wanting to go home.
For I knew this was going to be one long night if Gareth Johns was around.
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