Page 14 of Desire
She nodded swiftly. “I understand, sir. But, um, also, some of the assistants wanted to know if Christmas bonuses were going to be distributed this year.”
Jasper turned his head slightly. “You haven’t gotten them yet?”
“No, sir.”
He raised a hand, showing her his palm. “Don’t call me that. Refer to me as Jasper or Mr. Christmas, but not sir.”
He’d always hated the rule that all the assistants, who were female, were required to call their bosses, all male, “sir.” Jasper tried to convince Randolph of the legal ramifications of such a decree, but his father had been dogmatic about keeping it. Each time Jasper had tried to convince his father to change the way they operated around the office, his father’s darkness had glared at him, warninghim to not fuck with his plaything or else. So he had left the Lower Manhattan office completely in his father’s hands. For Jasper, it was out of sight, out of mind. But now he was in charge, and that meant the fucking madhouse was about to turn into what he’d personally termed a “sane asylum.”
“Yes, I will call you Jasper,” Jacqueline said timidly.
“That’s fine. And let the assistantsknow they’ll have their bonuses with interest. I would also like to meet with all of you after I wrap up with the executives and board.” He twisted his wrist to check the time on his watch. “Set the assistants’ meeting for two p.m.”
“Yes, Jasper. Is that all?”
He liked how she said his name as though she were trying out her new freedom. He cracked a smile. “Yes, that will be all.”
Jacqueline briskly nodded once then rushed back to her desk.
Jasper put on his suit jacket, walked out of his office, and stopped to observe the area. Jacqueline was typing feverishly on her keyboard. He could hear her excitement in the tapping of keys. She had a delicate grin on her face, and he knew it was because he’d given her the power to tell Brett to go to hell.
“Jasper,is there anything I can help you with?” Jacqueline asked.
He smiled at her. “No, I’m fine,” he said and started briskly toward the conference room.
The meeting would be another battle before winning the war. Step one of fighting back against Arthur Valentine was Jasper convincing the old man that Jasper was a coldhearted bastard who could never love or be faithful to any woman, includingArthur’s daughter. Of course that wouldn’t put Valentine off. He couldn’t give a damn about Julia. The man didn’t hope for true love and good will for his daughter’s future. She was a pawn to him, just as Jasper had been for Randolph. Jasper’s manipulation seemed to work, but he now knew Valentine had kept eyes on Holly to make sure Jasper had told him the truth. In turn, Jasper had watcherswatching Valentine’s men.
Regardless, Jasper had been able to persuade Valentine that the best course of action was to postpone the wedding. He initially tried to convince Valentine that it wasn’t smart to get married so soon after his father died. Valentine disagreed.
“It’s the best time,” he said, spinning a story about how Jasper’s tortured soul had to marry Julia right away afterlosing his father, his hero.
It took all he had not to laugh in Valentine’s face, but he quickly took another approach and convinced Valentine that he and Julia needed to create some buzz around their relationship. The public had to see them together for an appropriate period of time. A future president and first lady couldn’t be viewed as impulsive and undisciplined. Valentine was anxiousabout making the wrong moves on his quest to get Jasper elected as president of the United States. So he’d agreed to Jasper’s plan but reminded him that he held a secret that would make the Christmases penniless. If Jasper crossed him, Valentine would take their family down.
Jasper stopped in front of the door to the conference room. The rumble of male voices vibrated against the wood.He grabbed the door handle. It was time to begin step two, which would ultimately be part of his plan to take Valentine down before the old man could see his demise coming.
