Page 17 of Beautiful Chaos

I’m at a physical peak. After he saw what I did to his trusted flunkies he backed off. I may have morals but I’m not against protecting myself and those I love, and what’s the harm in enjoying it?

“So, what do you want?” I asked ready to get this asshole out of my home.

“Well since you are Mickey’s only child, his entire estate and all holdings now belong to you. I need signatures to file the paperwork, and everything will be transferred to you.” Damn, I didn’t think of that. My father was a fucking bastard from hell, but business was his strong suit, and he had a lot of them, and successful ones at that.

“Give me the paperwork I’ll look over these myself. I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.” I sneered, growing more irritated at his presence by the minute.

I glared at Chester with warning. If I found any crooked shit in these forms that show he had any shitty intentions he knew I’d come after him and everything he had.

“I figured as much,” he said still wearing that condescending smirk.

He slid the stack of papers across the polished wooden tabletop, then snapped his briefcase shut, pausing momentarily.

“Papers need to be filed by the end of the month. Here’s my card, my fax is on there.” He pointed to a number before he got up to leave.

I follow behind right on his heels.

“Nice seeing you Jasper,” he looked around my penthouse before getting into the elevator,

“Looks like you have done well for yourself, your mother would be proud.”

“Fuck you,” I said just as the elevator doors closed. He had no right to speak of her. He had the chance to get justice for her death and sided with the monster who took her away from me.

My mother wanted nothing more but to see me do well in life. She always told me, “Jasy, study hard and make something of yourself, make yourself proud, and don’t worry about what others think. One day you will grow up and have a life much better than anything you can imagine now.”

Those words were my mantra all through high school. I could still hear her whimsical voice in my head.

When I graduated with honors, and got accepted into an Ivy League college with a full scholarship, I knew she would be proud of me. My father did everything he could to keep me from my studies, but I refused to let him win. He never did, no amount of money or material things could buy my loyalty to a bloodthirsty murderer.

I’m glad he’s gone.

I poured myself another glass of scotch and glanced at the paperwork on the table. My hand wrapped around my glass to the point of nearly shattering. I gulped down the contents and threw it against the wall. Cancer wasn’t brutal enough for him, he deserved to suffer so much more than that.

Just as I became completely consumed in my anger, I heard an alert come from my laptop, I needed a distraction. I figured it was just another client message that I’d probably put off until tomorrow, but honestly, any distraction from the intense anger I was dealing with sounded good to me.

I opened the laptop entered the password and there in my inbox was a message from Harper. Just in time, as if she knew I needed to hear from her.

J.W,

I never said that I wasn’t up to no good, that was merely your assumption. It’s not my fault you came to such conclusions LOL. I’m doing fine, just a bit shaken up but it’s nothing I can’t handle. It could have been much worse if there wasn’t a weirdo lurking in the shadows :) JK. To answer your question, no I don’t tend to frequent bars or lounges often, crowded places aren’t really my scene. I was out with a friend that night, despite my efforts in skipping out and staying home. How about you? Do you go to Afterglow often? It seemed like most of the men there were pretentious self-righteous dicks, or creepers lurking in dark alleyways waiting to save a damsel in distress, thanks again for that (insert winky face here.) Anyway, I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m sure other damsels are waiting to be saved by a knight in shining armor. Goodbye :)

-Harper Williams

Wow, this ‘Harper’ is far more daring than she appears in person. I’m drawn to it. If this is the side of her that I’d get to once I’ve broken down the barriers she’s placed around her heart, then no matter the amount of time, I want to understand that ‘Harper’. I want to peer into her heart and soul. I need to know her—completely.

I quickly sent her a response. I tried not to overthink it. Afterward, I remembered the stack of books I bought from the bookstore where she worked. I peeked at my options. I grabbed the one I remembered she said was her all-time favorite. She said it was because the protagonist was a strong female who didn’t take shit from anyone,

Her words, exactly.

When she said it, she reminded me of how she handled all those thirsty ass men at the lounge. I’m not much of a reader but if I were to run into her again, which I was sure I’d make happen at some point, I want to have something to talk about. I refilled my glass with a bit more scotch sat down on the sofa and started to read

‘Into The Water.’ by Paula Hawkins.

Chapter 15

HARPER

“Aster, you’ve been at his house every night this week,” I said as I laid on my stomach across her bed with my feet in the air, aimlessly scrolling through my phone.

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