Courtney turned around. “Just thinking.”
“It has been a pretty dramatic week,” Kayla said.
“It has been.” Courtney nodded. She hadn’t felt much like coming into work after what had gone down with Jasper and his father, but she did have a job to do.
“Is there anything I can do?” Kayla asked.
“No, there’s nothing anyone can do,” Courtney said. “Andrew Jackson has it out for me and hired a hit man to come after me.” After hearing what Andrew had told Jasper when he thought he was unconscious, she was sure he’d intended to hurt her. “I have a police escort because I’m afraid of what he’ll do next. And the man I love is going to the lion’s den to try and get the goods on his father. No, I don’t think you can help with this one, big sis.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kayla said. Courtney could hear the sorrow in her voice. “I don’t know how this all spun so far out of control. Please, come sit with me.” She held out her hand and Courtney reluctantly walked toward her and grasped it. They walked over to the couch in her office and sat down.
“I’m not holding up too well, am I?”
“How can you?” Kayla said softly. “You don’t know when the other shoe is going to drop.”
“I’m scared,” Courtney said, “not only for myself, but for Jasper. His father is a man bent on revenge. He doesn’t strike me as a forgiving person. If he finds out Jasper is onto him and tried to set him up, he might finally lose all his marbles.”
Kayla laughed. “True, but this family takes care of our own. We will not let anyone harm you or Jasper.”
“Kayla’s right,” Shane said from the doorway of her office. “Did you forget we’re the three musketeers?” He walked toward the duo with his hand outstretched. “One for all...”
“You do realize how corny this is, right?” Kayla said, her eyes smiling at Shane as she too held out her hand.
“But effective,” Courtney said, and held out her hand. “And all for one.” The three siblings joined in a group hug.
* * *
Jasper shuddered as he drove his Maserati into the gates of Jackson Manor. When he’d left when he was fifteen years old, he’d vowed to never return. But now he was back, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. He’d been released from the hospital a few days ago. With both Courtney and his mother hovering and making sure he rested, he’d had plenty of time to figure out how best to approach Andrew. Jasper knew he had to convince Andrew that he was willing to try at a father-son relationship. What better way than to come to the enemy’s court?
The manor looked every bit as daunting as it had when he’d been a child. There wasn’t a single warm moment that Jasper could reach back into his memory to grasp. As soon as his mother had left when he was seven, it had been hell on earth. One nanny after another, then boarding school with other entitled students with wealthy parents.
When he rang the bell, an imposing-looking man in a black coat, who Jasper assumed was the butler, answered the door.
“May I help you?” he asked with a booming voice. It seemed to echo in the whitewashed foyer. The old dark wooden staircase was gone, and in its place was a stark marble one.
“I’m here to see my father.”
“Excuse me?” The man seemed confused. Clearly, he didn’t know Andrew had a son.
“I’m Jasper Jackson,” he said. “Andrew’s son.”
“My apologies.” The butler lowered his head. “I will let Mr. Jackson know you are here. Let me show you to the drawing room.”
“I would appreciate that,” Jasper said, looking around. Much had changed since he’d last been in the house. The interior was not nearly as intimidating as the outside. Must have been Blythe Jackson’s touch. The interior was all white walls, cream carpet and various African artifacts and paintings on the walls.
The butler led Jasper down the hall to a large, airy room and then closed the door behind him as he went to fetch Andrew.
Jasper noticed a Monet and a Renoir on the wall. Whether they were originals or prints, Jasper didn’t know or care, but he suspected Blythe did. She probably wanted everyone to know that she knew a little something about artwork. He went to the mantel and there were pictures of Andrew, Blythe and Monica, both together and apart. One happy family, thought Jasper.
He didn’t hear the door open and close behind him, but suddenly he heard a cold, feminine voice. “And what the hell do you think you’re doing here?” Monica asked.
Jasper spun around to face the she-devil. She was wearing a scowl to go along with the black riding coat, breeches and riding boots she had on. She was holding a leather riding crop and was hitting it against her hand. He’d bet she wanted to use the crop to smack him across the head. “Why, Monica, what a pleasure to see you again,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“I’ll ask you again,” she said, walking forward. “What the hell are you doing here?” She surveyed him, taking in the cuts and bruises on his face. “And what the hell happened to you?”
“Car accident.”
“Hmm...I wonder who suffered more damage, you or the car.” She laughed to herself. “But you still haven’t answered my question. And since you didn’t, let me give you a piece of advice. There’s no place for you here.”
Jasper smiled smugly because he knew the exact opposite to be true. Andrew would jump at the chance to have him back and throw this wannabe so far she wouldn’t be able to blink. “Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right.” She hated his smugness and started circling around him. “Andrew and I have been running Jax Cosmetics for years. And we don’t need you.”
“Thanks for taking care of my inheritance,” Jasper said. He could see she was on the edge and enjoyed baiting her.
Monica’s eyes glowed fire. “Andrew promised me that he would leave everything to me. And I know he will. He will see all the hard work I’ve put in and reward me accordingly. He will not let you come in and take what belongs to me.”
Jasper bent down until he was facing Monica eye-to-eye. “It was never yours to begin with. I was born a Jackson. Your mother just married one.” He could see Monica was about to slap him and quickly sidestepped her blow.
“Now, now,” Andrew said from the doorway. “Let’s all get along.”
“He’s miserable, Andrew,” Monica said, rushing to his side and hugging his middle since she was only five-six to his six-six. “He said the most horrible things to me.”
“And I’m sure you didn’t provoke him, right, sweetheart?” he said, patting her on the head.
Monica seemed appalled by his comment. “Of course not, Daddy.”
“Why don’t you go on your ride with your mother? She’s waiting in the stables and I need to talk to my son.”
Jasper watched Monica bristle at the word “son.” Clearly, she had thought their father-son relationship was over, so she was disappointed to hear otherwise. With her head lowered, she slowly walked toward the door. She gave Jasper one final withering glance before she departed.
When the door closed, Andrew walked over to Jasper and enveloped him in a large hug. Jasper pulled away quickly, since he didn’t want Andrew to feel the wire he was wearing underneath his clothes. He’d met up with the police detective in an unmarked van up the road from the manor so he could be wired up. He was determined to get Andrew to talk. “I’m surprised, but happy to see you here, Jasper. It looks like you’re healing well.”
“I’m made of tough stock,” Jasper responded evenly.
“Yes, you are.” Andrew went over to a large wingback chair, sat and folded his arms across his chest. “But that still begs the question as to why you came. You know I love you and always will, but I thought you said you wanted nothing more to do with me. You said you would never come back to Jackson Manor.”
“Near-death e
xperiences have a way of making you reevaluate things, and I realize I may have been too harsh on you.”
Andrew snorted. “Ya think?”
Jasper sucked in his breath. “Well, I’m here now.”
“And?”
“I was thinking that maybe we could try having some sort of relationship.” Jasper sat down on the couch across from Andrew.
Andrew leaned forward in his chair and looked him square in the eye. “You know that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Good, because it looks like things with me and Courtney have stalled. She’s been distant since the accident.”
“You mean the witch abandoned you during your time of need? After you saved her? What kind of woman does that?” Andrew had read the papers. Witnesses had said Jasper stepped in front of the SUV and pushed Courtney out of danger.
“I guess she was truly just looking for a fling and things have gotten too serious for her,” Jasper said. “I think our affair may be over.”
“But you don’t want it to end, do you?” Andrew asked. He could recognize the signs of a man besotted with unrequited feelings. It was as if he were looking in a mirror at himself when he’d been spurned by Elizabeth.
Jasper nodded. Ah, he’d found the hook. He would tap into Andrew’s history with Courtney’s mother. “It’s hard, you know, when you put yourself out there and your feelings aren’t returned, makes me feel like I’m not good enough for her.” He bowed his head in his hands and massaged his temples. He was trying hard to give the appearance of a man distraught. “I suppose it would never have worked anyway. Ever since that dinner you interrupted, the Adamses haven’t trusted me. It’s been an uphill battle ever since. She probably gave in to pressure to end our relationship.”
“Apparently that’s what the women in that family do,” Andrew replied. “Toss you aside when they’re done with you.”
“Anyway...I think I might go back to Punta Cana,” Jasper said, rising from the sofa. He walked over to the window and peered out, hoping the police were getting every word of their conversation. “Life there was simple, easier.”
“You don’t have to leave, son,” Andrew said, coming up behind Jasper. Grasping his shoulders, he turned Jasper around. “You and I, we can get back at the Adamses. And you can stick it to that witch in the process.”
“I don’t know...”
“Don’t you want to get back at her for how she’s treated you?” Andrew said, egging him on. “Trust me, revenge would be sweet.”
“I’m a hotelier. I know hotels. I don’t know anything about the cosmetics business.”
“Don’t worry.” Andrew wrapped his arm over Jasper’s shoulders and walked him away from the window. “I can show you.”
He moved over to a painting and pulled it down to reveal a safe underneath. “I have been sticking it to those Adamses for years.” He moved the safe dial several times back and forth and then opened it. He removed some of its contents. “That—” he threw down a notebook “—is the formula to Ecstasy. We used it to re-create a fragrance for Noelle.”
He threw down several photos. “That is the prototype to Ecstasy’s bottle. We leaked it to the press. All thanks to Noelle Warner and James Burton. I couldn’t have asked for a better cohort. She kind of fell into my lap thanks to Ethan Graham’s arrogance. Of course, there’s more from over the years, but I won’t bore you. But with you on my side, who knows how much more damage we can inflict on them?”
Jasper couldn’t believe Andrew was laying his darkest secrets bare, all because he wanted Jasper back in the fold. “And we can do more,” Andrew continued. “All you have to do is cozy back up to that Adams girl, make sweet love to her and she’ll tell you all her secrets. She struck me as not the brightest one in that bunch.”
If only he knew. Courtney was just as smart as Kayla and Shane. “You’ve gone pretty far in to attack the Adams family, Dad. Just how far did you go?” Jasper asked.
He already had the evidence he needed to nail Andrew on corporate espionage, but he needed the goods on his attempt on Courtney’s life.
Andrew looked up at him, disoriented. “What do you mean?”
Jasper’s eyes turned cold as ice as he stared at the man that was his father. “How far did you go?” He watched Andrew draw in a deep breath as understanding dawned on him. He knew Jasper knew the truth. “Answer me!”
“Listen, son.” Andrew took a step toward him, but Jasper stepped backward. “I don’t know what you think you know, but you were never supposed to get hurt.”
“What was supposed to happen?”
“The Adams girl was supposed to get hurt, not you. I hired someone to push her in the street and then a car would accidentally hit her. I just wanted her out of your life, and obviously she wants you out of hers too. Why else would she treat you so callously after you saved her life? I did it all because I wanted you back.”
“And you would do anything to get me back here, in this house?” Jasper motioned to the room. “My God, do you even realize what you have done?”
“I...I love you, son,” Andrew cried. Tears were falling from his eyes and he was visibly distraught, running his fingers through his slick black hair until it stuck up on his head. “I would never put you in harm’s way, you must know that.”
“What I know is that you tried to hurt the woman I love,” Jasper returned. “And that’s unforgivable.”
“But I did it for you, for us,” Andrew said, wiping the tears from his eyes, “to bring you back to the fold.”
“Then you’re delusional,” Jasper replied, “because I don’t need or want your kind of love, the kind of love that makes you willing to commit murder.” He made for the door, but the police detective and several uniformed officers were already walking into the study.
Andrew looked at Jasper, blinking with bafflement. “What...what’s going on?”
Jasper ripped open his button-down shirt to reveal the wire. “The police heard everything,” he responded. “They heard how you’ve sabotaged the Adams family for years, but most important they have you on attempted murder.”
“Jasper.” Andrew pleaded with his eyes as one of the uniformed officers cuffed him and read him his rights. “How could you do this? You must know I never meant to harm you.”
“You harm everything you touch,” Jasper said.
“I’m sorry,” Andrew said as the police officers led him toward the door. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be the father you always wanted and needed, the father you deserved.”
Just then Monica and Blythe came through the study doors. “What’s going on here?” Monica asked, looking at the police and then back at Jasper. “What have you done?”
“More like what has Andrew done?” Jasper replied, walking up to her. He bent down and whispered so only she could hear him, “I don’t know if you played a part in Andrew’s scheme to kill my girlfriend, but my advice would be to get a good lawyer. Because all of this—” he motioned to the house “—may not be yours to inherit. Have a nice life.”
Chapter 19
“We can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done, Jasper,” Elizabeth Adams told him when he came to the Adams estate the next morning. He’d been at the police station giving his witness statement until late the day before and hadn’t been able to update all the Adamses on his success. When the morning paper had been delivered, they’d all been shocked to see the headline Cosmetics Tycoon Andrew Jackson Arrested for Attempted Murder.
At the breakfast table, Shane had called Ethan and Kayla, who too were in stunned disbelief. They’d rushed over to the estate to find out from Courtney what had occurred. Now they were all gathered in the Adamses’ living room, listening to the sordid tale of Andrew Jackson’s crimes. Courtney and Jasper and her mother were seated on the sofa while Ethan and Kayla shared the love seat. Her father
was standing by the mantel, his usual spot at family meetings.
“You did so at great personal risk to yourself,” Elizabeth continued.
“Mom’s right,” Shane said. He and Gabby were standing by the terrace doors. “We owe you a debt of gratitude. We’ve been trying to take down Andrew for years and were unsuccessful.”
“This...this is huge” was all Kayla could muster. As CEO, she’d been battling with Jax Cosmetics for years since her father handed the reins to her almost seven years ago. She was in disbelief that it was finally over.
“What I can’t believe is that Andrew copped to everything he’d done,” Shane said. “And I’m sure what he said on tape wasn’t the half of it.”
“The police are still going through the items in his safe,” Jasper said, “so there will probably be more to come.”
Elizabeth shook her head in dismay. “It amazes me the lengths Andrew went to hurt us. To hurt Courtney. It breaks my heart.”
“Do you feel sorry for him, Mama?” Courtney asked.
“Of course not. It’s just so hard to believe how far he strayed from the nice boy I once knew. I’m just thankful Jasper got him to admit what he’d done before he tried to hurt you again.” Her eyes brimmed with tears when she looked at Courtney and Jasper.
“You don’t owe me anything,” Jasper said. “I did it for this one.” He pulled Courtney toward him until she was snuggled securely in the crook of his arms. “But I also did it because it was the right thing to do.”
“What do you think will happen to Jax Cosmetics?” Gabrielle wondered aloud.
“We cut off the head and I think the body will wither and die,” Ethan replied, “because Monica, well, she’s good, but she’s not qualified enough to lead the company. Plus, I suspect once the investigation is done, we’ll find out she had a hand in some of Andrew’s underhanded dealings.”
“I’ve no doubt,” Jasper said. “That woman is a barracuda.”
“I’m just happy this is all behind us,” Courtney said.
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