Chapter 26 - Pack Up Your Troubles
Scarlett's POV
As soon as Jasper had left, I quickly grabbed my phone and proceeded to call the number, 'Marcus' - the kidnapper from Italy - had left me.
"Hello, sweetheart," his rough voice greeted coldly.
"Marcus." I responded in a clipped tone. "Did you receive the money yesterday?"
"Oh, yes. The Boss was very pleased."
I sighed in relief. "Look, now that I've done this, will you please leave my boyfriend and I alone?"
"What?" He laughed wildly as my brows furrowed in confusion. "Sweetheart, that wasn't even the beginning of what's in store for you!"
"What?" I whispered, my heart sinking. "What have I ever done to you? Why are you doing this?"
"I'm only following orders, ma'am," he stated simply. "My boss gives me orders, I comply."
"Who is your boss?" I questioned running my fingers through my hair.
"You'll see one day," he chuckled darkly.
"Please, Marcus, don't do this," I begged, my eyes stinging from the tears I was desperately holding back.
"Aw, listen to you, you cutie," he mocked as if speaking to an infant. "There is no way out for your boyfriend, Scarlett. Well... There is one way, I suppose."
"What?" I asked in surprise.
"Yeah. You'd have to give yourself up to the Boss," he said casually.
"Does that mean Jasper would be left alone?"
"Pretty much, considering he isn't worth shÃt without you. You see, the Boss is only after your blood. Your little boyfriend is only supposed to be collateral damage, whether he lives or dies is in your hands. You're the one who's wanted." He explained, his tone a little bored.
"But, if that's the case, then why not just kidnap me from the start and take me to this Boss?" I questioned confusedly.
"You really are quite thick, aren't you?" He asked seriously. "Boss knows it as well as I what your weakness is and intends to make that weakness your demise. Doesn't matter who gets hurt in the process, you're the one who's never going to make it out alive."
My weakness. My weakness was Jasper.
"I-I want to meet your boss," I told him as he burst out laughing.
"Meet the Boss?" He questioned incredulously. "You don't just decide you want meet the Boss, the Boss will come to you. And when that happens, you'd better hope to whoever's up there, you're ready."
"I don't-"
The line suddenly went dead before I had the chance to ask any more questions.
What the hell was I going to do?
There was only one thing I could do, I thought determinedly.
Hey, Melissa, I won't be able to make it this evening but I'll hopefully see you when I can. Take care of yourself and baby. I love you.
S
My thumb hovered above the 'send' key as I wondered whether or not I should send the message to my best friend.
If I left to go and live with her, that would only make her and the baby targets of Marcus' sick, twisted Boss and I couldn't bear the thought of having my best friend's and her unborn child's blood on my hands.
Letting out a deep sigh, I pressed 'send' and waited for her reply.
What's going on, Scarlett? Is everything okay with you and Jasper? You sound really weird.
M
I groaned as I thought of something to say to her.
Everything's great, Melissa, stop worrying! I just can't make it tonight, but I will see you soon, okay?
I bit on my nail restlessly as I rocked back and forth on my chair. I was scared as hell and I couldn't afford Melissa becoming suspicious of anything.
Okay, fine, don't worry about it. But I expect you here next week â it's my baby shower, remember?
I smiled as I recalled how excited she was at throwing her first baby shower.
I switched the screen off and threw my phone into my bag, burying my face in my hands before my office door opened slowly.
"Scarlett?" Jasper called softly as I whipped my head up. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I said unconvincingly. "I just feel really sick all of a sudden."
"I think I should call a doctor. You look really pale," he said, panicking slightly.
"No, it's fine, Jasper, I just need to take some medicine and I'll be okay."
"I don't want you working in this condition," he rubbed my arms slowly as I bit back the urge to cry. "Go home and get plenty of rest."
"Okay," I whispered quietly as he grabbed my bag and coat, before escorting me to his Bentley where Smith was waiting on call.
"I'll see you at five o'clock, okay?" He murmured against my lips, his eyes full of concern.
"Bye, Jasper," I said, placing my hands on either side of his face, stroking his stubbled cheeks softly as I slowly bought my lips to his and kissed him gently.
"Bye, baby, see you in the evening," he smiled, closing the car door.
I looked to the floor, desperate to keep my tears from falling.
"Scarlett? You okay?" Smith asked concernedly.
"Yes. I'm just feeling a little under the weather," I lied, nodding my head.
"It's that time of the year again, isn't it?" He commented. "Too much pollen."
"Tell me about it," I forced a laugh as he chuckled.
"Right, well, here we are then," he announced parking up outside Jaspers place. "You okay to go in by yourself, or do you want some help?"
"No, I'm good, thanks," I smiled at him as I got out of the car. "Bye, Smith."
"Bye, Scarlett," he grinned as he drove away.
I unlocked the door and rushed up the stairs, pulling out my large suitcase from inside one of the spare rooms before bringing it back to Jasper's bedroom. I threw it onto the bed and flung it open as I grabbed some clothes and quickly placed them inside the suitcase.
As I opened one of my boxes, my eyes became glassy as I picked up a photo frame with a photo of Jasper and I on our first official date.
His hands were wrapped around my waist as he looked at me with a look which could only be described as the look of love. I was looking back at him, laughing genuinely as my hair blew back in the wind. I remember I had asked an elderly couple if they would take a photo of us on the beach.
"You are a very beautiful couple," the elderly lady commented as I blushed. "I hope you two will grow old gracefully together like my Henry and I."
"I hope so, too," Jasper murmured softly but the old lady had turned back to her husband.
But that didn't matter, because I heard it and I felt it.
I settled the photo frame on my lap, a few stray tears falling onto the glass.
Wiping my eyes dry, I placed it into my suitcase, throwing other small bits and pieces before picking up one of Jasper's T-Shirts and placing it carefully into the suitcase before zipping it shut.
I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and began to write a quick letter for Jasper. I knew I couldn't face him and I knew that writing a letter was the coward's way out, but that was what I was - a coward.
Dear Jasper,
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry to have done this to you, but there was no other way to do it. I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you the way you want me to. It will never work out and I don't want to stick around to get hurt by you. Besides, I know our relationship was only a temporary one anyway, especially when there are hundreds of more beautiful women who would give anything to be yours. You deserve a woman who can satisfy your every need and that woman was never going to be me. I'm sorry to have strung you along like this, this whole time, you didn't deserve it. You're an amazing man, Jasper Queen, who deserves to surround himself with amazing people.
I love you more than you will ever know, Jasper (finally, I said it!) and I hope you will always be happy in your life.
Yours,
Scarlett
P.S. Just know that me leaving is best for both of us. Please don't try and look for me. I love you.
With shaky hands, I folded the paper up and tucked it onto an envelope before scrawling his name on the front, leaving it on his bedside table.
With one last glance around his room, I dragged the suitcase down the stairs. I fished out my car keys and left them on top of Jasper's cabinet before opening the door. I stood at the street corner and signalled for a taxi as I removed the card from my cell, placing it into my pocket.
"Where we headed, Miss?" The taxi driver asked once I sat inside.
"The airport." I replied as he nodded, driving.
This is it, I thought, forcing myself not to look back.
I sat quietly in the taxi, just the sound of oncoming traffic, honking horns and the taxi drivers soft humming as my company.
At least Jasper was going to be safe.
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A/N:
Hey Guys!
What do you guys think?! She actually left Jasper! I was actually dying when I wrote this, I couldn't believe it myself!
Again, I'd like to thank all of you for sticking by me and my story - almost 4K reads in less than a month!!
Thank you all SO much for the votes, comments and general support, I love you all.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are anticipating the next (I know I am!) Chapter which should be written by Thursday 2nd April.
Love as always,
Ana