Jasper took a quick drink of his coffee. “I have a proposal for you if you’re willing to consider.”
“What kind of proposal?”
“In exchange for everything—that includes my protection of you, a roof over your head and the billionaire lifestyle—you agree to be my companion for social gatherings and other charity functions. You see, I need a presentable woman beside me at all times, and you’re a beautiful woman who also happens to be my friend. So, it’s safe to assume that you wouldn’t be quite troubled by the offer.”
I sat back and tried to process the information. He specifically used the word “companion” and threw in words like “social gatherings” and “charity functions,” but why did I have a feeling that Jasper was sugar-coating his proposal to make it seem rather acceptable?
“I’m probably misunderstanding this. You want me to get dolled up and attend functions in exchange for me living in your house?” I asked.
Jasper nodded. “Since you were eager to be of help, I think it would be a fair trade.”
“Am I going to be your mistress?” I decided to stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.
Jasper laughed, the sound a deep rumble. “That’s a very old-fashioned word. Companion is better suited for this arrangement.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. He couldn’t possibly be suggesting what I thought he was suggesting, right?
“That includes sex as well?” I asked frankly. My heart started beating faster as he prolonged his answer, slowly sipping his coffee again.
“Not if you don’t want to, but I’d like that as well,” he admitted boldly. “Trust me, once you have me in your bed, you’d want to keep me there.”
His overconfidence made me blush. I might as well hallucinate about Jasper putting a ring on my finger. Perhaps, this could be a dream. Next thing I know, I would wake up in one of those dirty motels I’d lived in during the last few days and realize that this had all been a figment of my imagination.
I loved him.
Unconditionally and irrevocably. Jasper had done so much for me without asking for anything in return, and now he was giving me a chance to return the favor. My mind was preoccupied with a dozen questions. Was the arrangement really alright? Or was I finally losing the last bit of self-respect that I had by agreeing to be his mistress? Oh no, scratch that, his companion? Did that mean I would be his one and only?
Think about it, Kiara.
I’d get to live in a mansion where I wouldn’t even have to lift a finger for anything; material things I’d always wished for. I’d get a taste of a life I’d never even thought of in my wildest dreams, but the most important of all was the fact that I was going to do it all for Jasper. He was asking me to do this. Surely he wouldn’t ask if he didn’t like me even a little bit, right?
“Kiara.” His soft voice almost startled me. “You’re thinking too much again. We’re both adults who happen to be single, and are great friends. We’re perhaps a perfect match. I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better, if nothing else.”
“What if the police recognize me in one of your parties and ask you about me?”
“As I said, I’ll pose as an alibi and tell them you were with me when it happened. That’s not something for you to worry about. I have the necessary people and the means to get that done. Rest assured.”
“I’d like to ask something else if it’s alright.”
“Ask away, love,”
“If I agree to it, Jasper, will you remain faithful to me as a partner?”
“Of course. I don’t really enjoy playing doubles,” he said, but I couldn’t read his expressions. “And I’d expect the same loyalty from you.”
“May I have a little time to think please?”
“Yes, you may. Although I’d like it if you hurry up because I have a few events lined up, and I’d be more than glad to have you on my arm by then.” He passed me that dazzling smile.
“I’ll tell you my answer by tomorrow,” I said, taking a bite of the lemon tart.
“Tomorrow is fine.” He agreed.
The conversation stirred to another topic, and I wondered if Jasper had done that on purpose to ease my tension about his proposal. I knew it had worked because I was smiling and laughing by the end of breakfast.
“May I have your phone, Kiara?” Jasper asked me, raising his hand towards me, palm up.
“Sure.”
He took the device, flipped it, and removed the battery and the sim card. I passed him a questioning look. “Why did you do that?”
“We will get you a new phone. In case you’re questioned by the police, you can say you misplaced your old phone. You don’t need your colleagues and friends calling you and asking you questions and complicating things further. We will wait until the investigation simmers down.”
He then passed the contents to Morgan. “Get rid of it.”
Jasper wanted to take proper measures in ensuring my safety, and that explained why I had to stop using my phone. It was possible that the police could track me down with it and that would cause unnecessary hassle.
“I’m going to Hong Kong for a business conference for three days. I suppose that would be enough time for you to think about my proposal.”
Three days were more than enough, and I’d already made my decision, but I gave him a nod. If I agreed to his proposal now, I was afraid I’d sound very eager. He gave me his heart-melting smile, kissed the top of my forehead, and in his seductive voice, he whispered, “I’ll be waiting for your answer.”
With that, Jasper sauntered out of the dining room in confident strides.
Chapter Eleven
For three days straight, I almost had nothing to do. The Lockhart mansion was part of a large estate with acres and acres of land. When I walked outside into the courtyard, I could hear the soft lapping of the lake waters. It was soothing and peaceful. There was a small cabin on the other side of the lake amid the pine trees with a barn and a stable. I wondered if the cabin belonged to Jasper, and made a mental note to ask him to let me see it someday.
I changed into a lemon-colored loose blouse over faded jeans and white sneakers, something casual for a walk in the woods. I spent thirty minutes just enjoying nature and the whooshing of trees. The cool summer breeze blew on my face and whipped my hair. The sun was setting, leaving the sky an orange hue, shielding itself behind the mountains. It was like a beautiful painting in vivid colors.
I basked in the beauty of nature, walking deeper into the woods, dodging the branches of trees that were jutting out and hopping off fallen tree trunks. I checked the time and realized I still had about an hour before dinner. My thoughts shifted to Jasper and wondered how nice it would be to take a walk here with him. It would be downright romantic. He was supposed to be here yesterday, but it seemed like work had held him up again. I couldn’t blame him. Jasper was a busy man, after all.
As I walked further, my sneaker hit a twig or something, and I toppled over and fell flat on the muddy ground. Dirt caked my top and my jeans. I groaned as I climbed to my feet, brushing off the leaves and the matted soil. I kicked what I thought was a twig, and something shiny went flying from the ground.
I quickly kneeled on the ground and picked up the shimmering object. Sure enough, it was a silver ring, embedded with a red stone of some kind. I wondered if the ring was real or the fake kind that you find in thrift stores. It looked quite real.
I didn’t know if it was instinct when I clawed my fingers into the dirt and like a dog trying to hide his bone, continued to dig the soft dirt further. I dug deeper, and it kind of reminded me of how I used to dig in the sand when I played at the beach when I was eight. There was nothing else I could find.
Absolutely nothing.
What had I expected? I’d watched too much CSI and crime documentaries to think I could find a human body. Silly me.
I pushed the ring into my denim pockets and decided to ask Jasper about it myself.
***
I was bored around the house with nothing to do on my hands, so I helped the head chef, Lola, prepare breakfast in the morning. We were baking banana bread. Lola mentioned that it was Jasper’s favorite. My thoughts drifted to my mother, and I wondered if she was doing alright. Before leaving for his trip, Jasper assured me that he’d spoken to Mom and told her how I had to maintain a low profile until things simmered down a little. I just missed her so much; I wanted to talk to her at least once.
The thoughts were clouding my mind when suddenly, I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes. The familiar scent of the cologne assaulted my nose. I touched the hand. “Jasper, you’re back!” I said gleefully, my heart filled with warmth.
I was still giggling, and my hand was still in his firm grasp as I spun around to face him.
I froze.
Leaning against the granite counter, dressed in blue denim and a white Ralph Lauren t-shirt, was a man a few inches taller than Jasper. I recognized the man as the doctor who treated me that fateful day I was almost raped.
Dr. Vincent grinned. “Wrong answer.”
I smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m doing quite well, Kiara. Thanks for asking.”
I laughed again. “I’m sorry. I was just surprised is all.”
He snagged an apple from the fruit bowl and took a large bite. “To answer your first question, I’m here because this is my house. I suppose I could ask you the same?”
His house? Jasper never mentioned of anyone else living with him.
And how was I supposed to answer his question without giving away too much information?
“I moved in here with Jasper,” I said, keeping the words simple and my tone discreet.
Vincent’s brows twitched upward. “So you and Jasper are together?”
I gave a nod, and I thought I saw disappointment cross his features.
“Well, didn’t think my brother was really relationship material, but I guess people change.” He winked.
Jasper’s brother?
I examined him closely. Vincent’s hair was light brown, bordering to blond. The sunlight that streamed from the kitchen windows made him look almost like Goldilocks’ long lost cousin. While Jasper always looked like he’d walked off the Paris fashion week runway, Vincent had a simple boyish charm. He had brown eyes that looked almost topaz in the sunlight, kind of like whiskey. If you looked closer, their face structure was almost similar. It was clear they were brothers. I wondered how I wasn’t able to make the connection then.
I shook my head. “Jasper never told me he has a brother.”
Vincent chuckled. “Trust me, there are a lot of things that Jasper hasn’t told you.”
I tried to think if there was any hidden meaning behind those words. Vincent hopped down from the barstool. “Oh, how rude of me, my lady. I haven’t made proper introductions. Vincent Lockhart, Lord of the Manor, although calling me Vince would suffice.” He took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. “How do you do?”
I had this image of a historical fiction romance, the Lord of the manor meeting the beautiful girl. I laughed.
I decided to play along. I did a little curtsy. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Vincent. I’m Kiara Reeves.”
He offered me his arm. “Would you like to take a walk with me in the courtyard, Lady Kiara?”
“That would be wonderful, kind sir.” I locked my arm in his as we walked out of the mansion towards the courtyard.
By the time we reached the gardens, I was laughing hysterically. Vincent was hilarious, and I kind of wished I’d met him under different circumstances; one that did not include me needing a doctor for sexual assault.
We settled by the fountain, watching as the water spilled out of the cupid’s arrow. The gushing sound of the water was almost musical to the ears.
“Does that mean you would be living here too?” I asked.
Vincent shook his head. “Not really. I live just outside of the town, and sometimes I like to drop by to keep an eye out on my brother,” he explained.
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around since he’s your older brother?” I teased him.
Vincent shrugged. “Well, he is the older one, but we seemed to have reversed roles since childhood. Jasper’s always been the troublemaker while I was the perfect example of a boy scout.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
“Enough about Jasper,” Vincent said. “I’d like to know more about you and how exactly did your meeting with him transpire into something like this.”
“Something like what?”
“A relationship,” he said in a matter of fact way. “Tell me how. I need the juicy details.”
I smiled. That’s the story I loved to recite. “Well, as you’re already aware, we met under very unusual circumstances. A few days later, he came to see me in the restaurant that I worked at. He was nice, funny, and I liked him then.” I sighed, recalling the painful events that followed after that. “Jasper’s helped me in my most difficult times. He stood by me when no one else did, and I seriously owe him a great deal.”
Vincent’s scrutinizing stare was locked on me. “Is that why you are with him? Because you think you owe him?”
“No! Of course not. I’m with him because I want to be. I’ve never met someone like him. Jasper makes me feel so special, and he treats me right. He’s…well, he’s too perfect for words.”
His eyes narrowed at me, and I couldn’t read his expressions. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?” I asked shyly.
Vincent chuckled. “As clear as day, my lady.”
Time easily passed with Vincent. I realized the brothers were so distinct from each other. Jasper was more like a puzzle; the broody, mysterious type while Vincent was an open book. While I usually melted under Jasper’s gaze, Vincent’s approach was friendlier. They were different in their own way. We walked back into the mansion at brunch. It was funny how easily we’d become friends in such a short time.
“Do you seek the darkness, Kiara?” Vincent asked me.
“I’m sorry, what?” I threw him a look.
Vincent laughed nervously. “Never mind.” He took my hand in his again and kissed the knuckles. “Until next time, my lady. I look forward to our next secret rendezvous.”
I laughed. “Likewise.”
With Vincent long gone, his words continued to haunt me.
Do you seek the darkness, Kiara?
Chapter Twelve
Jasper
The last thing I expected when I drove through the mansion gates was to see Vincent’s black chrome G-wagon parked in its designated area. Automatically, my blood started to boil.
What did he want now?
The plan was to be back in three days, but then I’d received a call from my secretary who informed me I needed to attend to some business urgently. Three days turned to five, and now that I was finally home and wanted some answers from Kiara, my younger brother had decided to make an appearance. I touched my forehead to the steering wheel and took deep, calming breaths. My fingers wound around the wheel tightly until they were white. I was four years senior to Vincent, and yet he seemed to act like my older brother.
Vincent had always been Dad’s favorite. No matter how better I did academically, how many trophies I got, or how I continued to show them that I was better, they never accepted me. Vincent had always been the best, but I surpassed him over the years. Vincent wasn’t business-minded, and that gave me an upper-hand. Father had no choice but to hand it all over to me.
The gift box lay on the passenger seat. I picked it up, composed myself, and started walking into the house. What would Vince do anyway? Try to ward me off from making advances at Kiara? Would he tell me to fuck off like he usually did? He had the tendency to stick his condescending little nose where it didn’t belong. If he so much as tried to meddle in my matters, I’d tell him where to put it.
I walked through the foyer and heard
the sound of laughter coming from the music room on the right. I crept slowly to the door and stood behind to watch. Kiara was seated at the piano, one that I played during my bad days, and Vince was settled right beside her. Their backs were facing me, but I could tell by the way she laughed that he’d joked about something. He was teaching her Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 11, which he usually played, and that’s the only one he knew because the rest of his days were spent buried inside medical books. I was pretty sure the idiot played it just to impress girls, the way he was doing with Kiara.
The golden specks in his hair glowed under the sunlight, and he had the usual amused expression on his face. She said something, and he responded, taking her hand in his and showing her which keys to press. People hardly recognized us as brothers because we looked different.
And we were different in every sense.
I leaned against the doorframe with my hands folded across my chest. I watched as Vincent brought his hand to Kiara’s face and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, a casual brush of his fingers but deliberate nevertheless.
He had the goddamn nerve to touch my girl and flirt with her.
I had this sudden urge to push him down under an aisle of stairs or perhaps a speeding car. The piece stopped playing, and I brought my palms together in a slow clap. “Marvelous!”
Both of them spun around to face me. Kiara’s face lit up like Christmas lights. Vincent’s face blanched, pale as the fucking white shirt he was wearing. I approached the piano and ran my fingers on the keys. “You’ve outdone yourself playing it, Vince,” I said, trying hard to keep myself from saying things that were actually on my mind. “You aren’t perfect yet, but you can play well. I’m proud of you.” I ground my teeth.
“Thanks,” Vincent replied, avoiding eye contact. He knew how great I was at bullshitting.
Kiara was still mesmerized. “Do you play the piano as well, Jasper?”
I nodded. “Yes, I do. I took lessons when I was ten, and I continued to play it during my leisure hours even now. In fact, I was the one who taught Vincent that piece. Didn’t I, lil’ brother?”
Psycho Billionaire: A Dark Romance Page 7