Page 46 of Off the Rim
This thing with Ashton is complex. I'm not sure that it's wrong, per say. But I definitely can't be honest about it. Not until I figure out what happened between our dads. Only then will I be able to decide if it has any bearings on our friendship or anything else. If this is going to go any further, I don't want to have to hide it from my family like I have been.
Mom: There are some home-cooked plates in the fridge, and some goodies to take on the plane with you. Tell your coach and teammates I said good luck.
It would break her heart to know the kind of looks I'd get if I started passing around home-baked cookies to the team. Admittedly, they've all been a lot friendlier since Ashton stopped trying to hide our friendship. So, who knows, maybe they wouldn't toss them on the floor or look down their noses at them. I've been wrong before.
Not often though.
I find what I'm looking for in a small storage room in the loft, stacked amongst the various holiday decorations and overflow from our old house. I know the only reason mom hasn't gotten rid of a lot of this stuff is nostalgia, and she's probably keeping most of my dad's stuff for me. Not that I'd ever fit into any of hisold t-shirts, considering I'm about twice his size in bulk. I pick one up and hold it to my face, imagining that I can still smell him the way I could for months after he died. All I can smell now is Ashton's body wash all over me. Would my dad be disappointed in me?
The black fabric file box has seen better days after being half smashed inside a larger plastic tote, but everything inside is intact. I comb through the pictures first, immediately recognizing the face I once thought of as curiously familiar. The boy next to my dad in the photos looks so much like Ashton, I can't believe I didn't see it before. I didn't know him well back then, I’d only had a few interactions with him by the time I found these. Why wouldn't my father have told me we were so closely connected with the James family? Why didn't he tell me Mr. James was his stepbrother?
The file folder pulses between my fingers with the hard thuds of my heartbeat. I open it, and there on top is the letterhead I remember.
Notice Of Cease And Desist
Dear Mr. Vell,
We are writing on behalf of AJames Enterprises regarding your recent public statements and actions directed towards the surviving family of the late Ashton James, including his son Ashton James II and his bereaved widow Matilda Vanderbilt-James. It has come to our attention that you have made defamatory statements and engaged in harassment against the James family, particularly concerning the inheritance matters following Mr. Ashton James' passing.
Your statements regarding Mr. Ashton James' estate and alleged entitlement to inheritance are wholly unfounded andwithout merit. It has been proven without a reasonable doubt that Mr. James did not leave a valid will designating you as a beneficiary in any capacity. Therefore, any claims or assertions made by you or your representatives regarding inheritance rights are baseless and misleading. Any continued action regarding this matter constitutes defamation and harassment and are causing significant distress to the James family and harm to the reputation of Mr. James' legacy. Such behavior is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated.
We hereby demand that you and any representative of your interests immediately cease and desist making further defamatory statements or allegations against the James family, including Mr. Ashton James II and Matilda Vanderbilt-James. Engaging in any further form of harassment, including but not limited to contacting members of the James family, AJames Enterprises, or the press regarding the last will and testament of Ashton James.
Failure to comply with these demands will result in immediate legal action against you, including seeking damages for defamation, harassment, and any other applicable claims of harm to the James family or AJames Enterprises.
In an effort to resolve the matter amicably, we are prepared to offer you a one-time payment of $25,000 in exchange for your immediate cessation of all activities related to the aforementioned defamatory statements and harassment. This offer is contingent upon your compliance with the terms outlined in this letter and your agreement to cease all communication and actions against the James family and AJames Enterprises.
Please confirm your acceptance of this offer and your written commitment to cease all activities outlined above by the end of the month. Should we not receive your writtenconfirmation of acceptance by this deadline, we will have no choice but to pursue legal action.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Richards
Richards and Langley Law Firm
Representatives of AJames Enterprises
Behind the letter is a signed and notarized agreement between my father and Matilda Vanderbilt-James, witnessed by Kenneth Richards. I recognize Kenneth Richards' name and signature as the same man that headed the legal team representing Kent Richards' assault charges against me in high school. I'm pretty sure Kent is his grandson. It makes sense that Kent would show up with an entire team of lawyers to intimidate me when he had the legal team of one of the most powerful companies in the country behind him. I never realized the connection, but he was Ashton's best friend.
There are some more papers in the file, including a legal pad with hand-written notes. My dad's handwriting was so bad, I'd be concerned that these notes could be the ramblings of a serial killer if I didn't know better. Bank statements in the files show the name Roman Vell listed as the beneficiary on his mother's personal accounts when they were opened, but then later there's documentation that says his name was removed from the accounts at some point before the accounts were drained and closed, all within days of her death. I see Kenneth Richards’ name mentioned several times in the notes, naming him as being on the board of trustees for the bank. Phrases like "wire transfers" and "offshore accounts" are circled. In the margins of one page, my father wrote notes of times and dates that he tried to contact Junior. Based on everything I see written, he believed that Matilda and the legal team for AJames Enterprises workedtogether to overhaul the estate and hide Ashton James senior's true last will and testament. Despite my dad having been so unorganized, all of these claims seem credible. And that they paid him off seems suspicious to me as well.
So now I know why our parents hated each other, and why it felt like AJames Enterprises had a personal vendetta against my father all these years. Now I just have to decide if this is something I should share with Ashton or keep to myself and hope he isn't like the rest of his family.
CHAPTER 24
ASHTON
The flight to Las Vegas was a little awkward. Marcus and I haven't spoken since what happened in the locker room showers, and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act. I'm trying to play it cool and be friendly towards Marcus without paying him too much attention in case I pop a boner around the rest of the team. He's been withdrawn, though, and I wonder if he regrets it.
The spot on my cheek where he kissed me, just to the left of my mouth, still tingles like he left a physical mark there. I felt that more than the actual bruise he left on my shoulder blade where he bit me, or the orgasm he rubbed out of me with his soapy cock between my thighs. Jesus, Ashton, stop thinking about it or you're going to have a real problem!
My phone buzzes as I'm walking towards the ice machine at the hotel.
Doucheface Anderson: Where you at?
Doucheface Anderson: We're all down in the lobby bar making plans for after tomorrow night's game. You coming or what?
I'm debating whether I should even answer when I nearly smack into Marcus leaving the vending area.
