by Vivian Payne
We all split up to go to our own classes with promises of meeting for lunch.
During lunch hour, Melly and I went to get some food like we always do. I had texted Jasper to let him know, and he had only replied a thumbs up.
“I just don’t understand how you can stand her. She’s so freaking annoying,” Melly complained.
“She’s Jasper’s sister. I can’t really be mean to her.” I pointed out, but Melly scoffed. “You know she is taking advantage of your relationship with her brother to be able to get in with the cool kids. She knows being friends with you will earn her points because everyone likes you.” I was aware of that because Mary was always trying so hard to be included in everything. She kisses everyone’s ass just so that she can get them to invite her to their parties. I lost count of her auditioning to become a cheerleader, and she never got a position.
When we arrived back at school, we went straight to the cafeteria where I spotted Jasper eating his lunch while reading a book. I heard Mary’s loud laughter, and my eyes widened when I saw her over the table where the cheerleaders and football players.
“You know, Natalie is dating my brother, Jasper, so maybe if she doesn’t want to take your offer for cheerleading, I was thinking that maybe I could take it instead?” I was about to sit next to Jasper when I heard her say that, and I froze.
They all settled their eyes on me. The head cheerleader raised an eyebrow at me in questioning, and I stared at her. She was a sweet and nice girl and was fair when it comes to considering things. She’s nothing like the typical evil bitchy cheerleader who is dating a cocky football captain. I just never accepted the offer because I wanted to focus more on my studies. She smiled and turned back to Mary. “I’m sorry, but currently, there are no positions open.” I relaxed for about a second until I heard Mary’s reply.
“But you have some that are not very good. Maybe you could just…I don’t know, sit them on the bench and have me take one of their spots? I feel like this team deserves the best of the best, and honestly, some of them are not doing well. They are only making you, as the head cheerleader, look bad.”
I held my breath as I waited to see what Mary just got herself in. She was using me and my name to get ahead, but why would she think that acting like a jerk and insulting the girls of the squad would get her ahead?
“Thank you for your opinion, Mary, but I think we have it under control. Perhaps, next year, you can try out again,” the cheer captain explained. I could sense the displeasure dripping from her words, and I knew Mary did as well because she was laughing nervously as she came over to our table.
“All I want is to join them, but they are making it so hard.” She whined, and I just smiled at her in sympathy that I didn’t actually feel.
“I don’t understand why you want to join them. It’s just a pointless sport, and besides, you’re graduating soon. So, what’s the big deal?” Jasper stated without taking his eyes off the book he was reading. Mary scoffed.
“Of course, you would say that. You don’t care about feeling belonged to a popular group. The only reason you’re with Natalie is because she pursued you.” I opened my mouth to say something because that felt like an insult. But Melly, my best friend, had stayed quiet, seething in silence.
“You’re making it sound like Natalie is a slut,” Melly said, glaring at Mary. I saw how Jasper and Mary met each other’s gaze. Instead of Mary apologizing or Jasper asking her to, Mary just sported a fake sweet smile while she shrugged her shoulders. Jasper looked at me for a second and then turned his gaze back to his book, as if nothing happened. I was stunned, and Melly was angry on my behalf. And after a few seconds of silently debating on what to do, I decided on letting it go because Mary surely didn’t meant it that way.
I sighed heavily after reminiscing that memory. It was funny to realize that our relationship had already been a joke back then as it was now. Jasper never respected me; recalling those little memories were eye-opening. Sure, we had good times when we were alone. We used to go to the movies and hold hands, small kisses and soft laughs about this and that. Jasper was full of dreams and plans.
When we were alone, he would share some of them with me. We talked about our future. We would get a place of our own once I graduated after him. We would finish college, get married, and have children. We had a plan that never happened.
Jasper had already graduated college and had a career, but he kept traveling back and forth. He spent more time with his parents than with me, which is totally fine, but still. In fact, the day I graduated, he had taken me out to have an early dinner just to tell me he was getting ready to go visit his family.
I had been mad, but not enough to demand more from him. I just rolled over and took whatever he dished. I was a pushover. Was I afraid of being alone? Was it only because I liked the idea of a fairytale love that I wanted to hold onto my high school sweetheart just so that I could say “my husband and I have been in love since high school.”
Did I just like with the concept of being in love? Was it okay with me to have a pretty wedding but a sad marriage? I shook my head no just to take these thoughts off my head.
Isaac was so different. He was caring, funny, gentle, and understanding. He always put my needs before his.
That was all I was trying to do when Jasper came, demanding me to leave Isaac and go back to him instead. He even blackmailed me into marrying him. I had hurt Isaac so much, and that had pained me. The first time we had said I love you to each other and Jasper took that from us. I was in pain every day after I ripped Isaac’s heart into pieces. He had dissapeared for a week, and no one would tell me where he was or how he was doing.
Not even my best friend, Melly, who had decided to get back with Ian, and her loyalties lies with the D’Angelos. She made it clear that until I get my head out of my ass and make a better decision on who to choose, she was not going to be around to wacth me ruin my life. Melly had always stayed quiet when it came to Jasper, but she could never hide her disgust towards that guy. I’m aware that she knows me better than anyone, but I didn’t think she was right about Jasper. Boy, I was wrong. Where I refused to open my eyes and see what was in front of me this whole time, Melly had already seen it right from the start. She was just being a friend and letting me live my life freely.
Chapter 16
Isaac
That son of a bitch.
I couldn’t believe he would do this to Natalie. I mean, I never thought I would meet someone as disturbed and sick as this guy.
I had been investigating this dude for a whole week. I checked his goings and comings, what he ate, his incoming calls and outgoing calls.
As a lawyer, I had encountered some people with no conscience or no regard for others. Jasper really seemed like your normal everyday guy, but there he was, living a double life, and no one knew about it. Ian had been friends with him, and Melissa had been around him. He was so good that they never realized who he was. I was so glad Natalie wouldn’t have to marry that piece of trash.
Here’s what I found out. On the first day of my investigation, I followed him everywhere. I discovered that Jasper had a family of his own. The woman with him seemed to be just around the same age as him. They had two kids; one was a boy that looked like five years old, and one was still an infant, probably one year old.
I dug more about his identity, his whole life. Fuck, even his bank statements.
Being a well-known lawyer had advantages.
I smirked when I got into his bank statements. He had no money, and that meant he was desperate. After some more digging, I learned that his dad was loaded. I had good friends in very high and important places. And with the right questions, I found out why he was such in a rush to marry Natalie.
First things first: I had to talk to my father and the rest of the partners.
Yeah, I decided to come clean about me being a stripper and bisexual. Well, that was only an issue because I had slept with a couple of guys only in one-night stands,
but still, it was sex. I needed to tell everyone that I loved Natalie, and I was going to marry her.
“Hello, gentlemen. Father, please take a seat.”
They all did as I told.
My father cleared his throat.
“Son, what’s the problem?” my dad questioned me worriedly.
After a few minutes and a couple of times clearing my throat, I started telling them everything.
I narrated them my story from when my ex cheated on me and left me up to when I proposed to Natalie. I informed them about Jasper blackmailing her and that it was the reason I came clean. I had quit dancing because I loved and respected Natalie.
After I finished my storytelling, they all just stared at me.
“So that’s pretty much it. And now, I’m asking you all if it’s still okay for me to be a partner in this firm.” I looked at them, waiting for their response.
My father was the one to speak.
“Son, first of all, I’m happy for you and Natalie. Secondly, your private life is yours and shouldn’t bother any of us,” he said while glaring at the partners, daring them to argue with him.
“And lastly, how are you planning to fix the problem with this Jasper guy?” my father asked me, and I smiled at him. I appreciated him for being so understanding. The rest of the partners agreed with my father.
“I’m handling it. I’m planning to expose him on their wedding day. His blackmailing scheme won’t work since I already told you all about it. He is going down.” I smirked.
I then excused myself since I still had to drive to Connecticut to find out more dirt about Jasper.
***
I pulled into a nice neighborhood and waited there. It was the place where Jasper’s woman and kids lived.
I decided to lie my ass off. I pretended to be a magazine writer who was going to do an article about safe neighborhoods. So I was going interview people about house safety and shit. Yes, that could work. I also had with me a little spy cam that was recording everything I saw and talked about with anyone.
Well, here goes nothing, I thought as I rang the doorbell.
A little boy opened the door. He looked so much like his dad.
“Hey, is your mom or dad home?” I smiled at the boy.
“My daddy works away. He only comes home once a week, so it’s just Mommy and my little sister,” the boy replied right as a woman holding a little girl on her arms came to the door.
“Jas, what have I said about opening the door to strangers?” The boy’s mom scolded him, looking mad. Wait, did she call him Jas?
“Sir, how can I help you?” the woman asked me.
“Sorry. My name is Martin Stevens. I’m checking the area around here. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions for my health magazine?” I introduced myself to her, and then I took out a pen and a little notebook.
“Sure. Come in and take a seat.” She offered and smiled sweetly.
I went inside and looked at the pictures hanging on the walls. I knew about Jasper’s other life, but seeing all this in person was still a shocker. How did he manage to do this?
“Awesome. So, you have two kids, right?” She nodded, then answered my question.
“My boy’s name is Jasper, just like his daddy, and my little girl’s name is Meadow.” I nodded, writing down the details.
“Okay. Is it just you and the kids?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“My husband, Jasper, works in Manhattan. He has an apartment there, but he tries to come over to spend time with us,” she chirped. One could tell how much this woman loved Jasper.
“I see. How did you two meet?”
She blushed at my question.
“What does that have to do with a health magazine?” she asked, getting defensive.
“It just shows how strong a family grows. It will make the readers smile and wish for what you and your family have.” Damn, I was talking out of my ass. I stared at her to see if she believed me, and the proud look she had on her face told me she did.
“Well, back in high school, Jasper and I used to sneak off behind Natalie, his girlfriend at that time. He was a year older than me, but when he went to college, he still managed to come see me.” So that asshole had been cheating on Natalie all this time.
“And the girlfriend? What happened to her?”
She flinched and made a face.
“She was still in the picture up until a couple of months ago. My husband said he was going to break it off with her, and that’s when we got married,” she replied and showed me her wedding ring.
I had to ask her.
“Didn’t it bother you? You know, your husband being intimate with someone else?”
She laughed.
“Natalie never slept with him because she wanted to save herself for marriage, and that was fine with Jasper since he was getting it from me,” she said while blushing. “I know it sounds bad, but he’s under a lot of pressure. See, his father doesn’t like me because I’m a nobody, and he told Jasper that in order for him to get his trust fund, he will have to marry a girl they would pick. His parents picked Natalie. Well, he can’t get his trust fund, and that’s why we haven’t gone public,” she explained. After a few more questions, I thanked her and bid goodbye. I got what I needed.
“One more thing. If they didn’t accept you before, did his parents change their minds, if he married you and not Natalie?” I asked, and she sighed with a soft smile playing on her lips.
“He said he had everything under control. I told him that I didn’t care about the money, so maybe he finally listened. And while it didn’t bother me before, we now have kids, and I don’t like him to be around Natalie anymore. I mean, why stay with that girl when he could be here with me and our children? I’m so glad he finally broke it off with her, you know.” She finished, and I couldn’t say more. She didn’t know Jasper was planning on marrying Natalie. Was he thinking of keeping Natalie as the mistress? No way in hell would I let that happen. He was going to jail for legally marrying two women.
Jasper was a deceitful son of a bitch, and I was going to let him down.
All I had to do was to find the place where he married the mother of his children and then bring the police with me on the wedding day.
Chapter 17
Natalie
Isaac explained his plan and showed me everything he had done.
I was shocked, angry, and betrayed; I felt stupid. How did I not see it before?
“Easy. You weren’t paying attention because you didn’t feel anything for him,” Isaac said.
I laughed so hard, freaking Isaac out. I turned to face him.
“I know you don’t like cheese. You hate dogs or cats. You hate movies with Brad Pitt in it. You like Claire De Lune and Mozart. You like playing the piano, like to eat spaghetti, love Doritos—the ranch kind. You prefer bottled beer than the canned ones,” I said, proud of myself for knowing all this about him.
He looked at me stunned, and I smiled.
“Now, ask me what Jasper’s likes and dislikes are, and I couldn’t tell you anything because I don’t know. Isaac, I love you, and now, I believe in soulmates because I think I have found mine. So make your plan work. Do whatever you have to do to destroy my wedding with that bastard, and then you marry me,” I declared. Isaac picked me up, engulfing me in a sweet yet possessive embrace.
I never felt this way before. Isaac made me feel alive, and I swear Jasper had never made me feel special and wanted nor looked at me like I was the only person in the world.
“I love you,” Isaac murmured as he closed the distance between us. Before I could even reply, Isaac kissed me, his mouth stealing any words I might have said. His sinful tongue swept into my mouth as he pushed me against the arm of the couch. His greedy hands explored my body, leaving tingles all over.
“We have to stop,” Isaac muttered. I opened my eyes as he softly pushed my hands away. I didn’t realize that I had been trying to take his shirt off. “If we continue this, I migh
t not be able to hold myself back. I want to respect your wishes of waiting until we’re married,” Isaac explained. But instead of leaving me, Isaac dropped to his knees and started mouthing over my covered crotch. He lifted my dress up and started placing sweet kisses around my thighs. My breath was ragged as I looked at him bury his face in between my legs. I moaned aloud when I felt his tongue inside of me. I grabbed his hair and started bucking my hips up and down his face. I felt that burning sensation, letting me know that I was getting close to my orgasm. He started to fuck me with his tongue until I shouted his name and came. Isaac kissed me there one more time before standing up and sitting next to me. He leaned in and kissed me, letting me taste myself. “I could eat that every day and die a happy man.” Isaac smirked, and I blushed as I tried to compose myself.
“Gosh. That was great, but I need to go. I have the stupid dress fitting to do,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Isaac smiled at me. “Here’s an idea: think about our wedding on that day and treat this wedding plan to our benefit.” I bit my lip as I thought about it. It wasn’t sitting right with me. I wanted my mom and Isaac’s mom to do the dress fitting with me. I wanted my maid of honor to be Melissa. I just couldn’t enjoy doing this when the people I wanted to share this special moment with weren’t there.
Isaac sighed, and I lifted my eyes to look at him. “Okay. I can see why this isn’t a thrilling idea. We could plan to do a second dress fitting with my mom and yours. My mom would love that, and she has connections, so you would get to pick any designer dresses.”
I smiled and kissed him. “I don’t care about the designer dresses. I like the idea because this would be something I would enjoy, but shouldn’t we get our parents together to explain the situation first?” I suggested, and Isaac nodded thoughtfully.