“I know dad”
“You know and…” He barked
“I don’t think that matters, I really do love him”
Her father sprang to his feet and flung the papers “You must be out of your mind Karen. I can’t believe you’re saying this, you’re love with the son of a criminal?”
“That doesn’t make him one” Her voice was shaky
“Automatically it does make him one, an apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree Karen, if his mother is a criminal then he of course will be one or something worse”
“Jason is nothing like his mother, he’s a really good person”
He was trying hard to simmer down “I won’t let you see that man and that’s final”
“Too bad dad, too bad you came back when I can make my own decisions without your permission”
“I’m still your father and you must listen to whatever I have to say” He barked at her
“You wanna act like you’ve been there for me the whole time?” She yelled at him too
“I haven’t but now I am and I won’t let you see him and don’t you ever bring up this shit again”
Anger built within her “Then get ready to lose your daughter once again”
“To the son of a criminal Karen? To a criminal?” He growled
“No dad, to the man I love, who’s been there for me when you were not, how could you even understand when I never really meant anything to you” She burst into tears
Her mother came out of the kitchen and leaned on the wall of the living room with a tray of freshly brewed tea, looking totally bewildered
“What’s going on here? You two aren’t having a fight, are you?”
“Really Martha, I can’t figure what’s wrong with your daughter, you should talk to her”
“She’s our daughter, Albert, what’s wrong?”
“She’s…can you imagine Karen saying all nonsense about being in love with the son of Jasmine Blackwell, that criminal”
“Who means a lot to me than you can imagine” She retorted
“Karen?” Her mother called
She looked away with tear filled eyes.
“I’ve told her I won’t let her see that guy”
“You know what? It’s my entire fault; I gave you the chance to make choices for me if I had just let you die…”
“That’s a stupid thing to say Karen”
“You know what? Talk sense into this child, I don’t know what she’s become”
Hissing furiously, he walked away.
“Karen, have a seat” Her mother said
“I won’t if you’re just going to take sides with him”
She dropped the tray of coffee on a stool “I would’ve if I didn’t know you so well”
She sat.
“Who’s this man, Karen?”
“Jason, met him at Bradford”
“And why does he mean so much to you?”
“Cause I can’t remember a time he hasn’t been there for me”
“And you love him?” She handed her a cup of coffee
She took it “He completes me mom, like a second half”
“Oh Karen”
“I know, right? Go on and tell me it isn’t right, that I’m deluded”
“I would say all this if I didn’t know you so well, Karen. I want the best for you sweetie, if you two love each other I have no problem with it” She smiled at her “But your dad wants what’s best for you, he doesn’t want you entangled in a wrong relationship with some criminal”
“Jason isn’t criminal”
“I know, at least to your father, just be patient with him.”
She smiled curtly and leaned back-a little relieved
__________
Mr. Adams sat at a bar over an already empty bottle of beer and a glass of bourbon chaser.
“Adams?” Steve appeared from behind him
‘’I was surprised to get your call”
“Certainly”
“I didn’t think you’d be back from Vegas so soon”
“Me either…well, I checked the affairs of the company like you asked me to”
He straightened “And…”
“Things are surprisingly running smoothly even better than when you were there” Steve said and laughed ironically
“You don’t mean that”
“Unbelievable, right? Someone have been financing the affairs of your company discreetly”
“Did you try to find out who it was?”
He drew a stool closer and sat “Completely untraceable”
“But…but do you have any idea of who it might be? Anyone at all” Adams asked
“I should be asking you because when I tried I almost got ripped up of my brain”
“Who could have done such a thing?”
“The most shocking part is that whoever this person is returned twice the exact amount those two took from you”
“How can?” He was astonished
“I checked the company’s account and it was unbelievable”
“I haven’t been so surprised in my life”
“Likewise”
“Whoever it may be must have something up the sleeves and not the positive kind”
“I agree but I’d continue to find out”
“Of course, you know employees like you are hard to come by”
He laughed derisively “Employee? That isn’t on the record, Adams”
“Isn’t it?” He handed him an envelope stacked with money
“I’m just trying to help, get your money out of my face”
Adams smiled slyly, leaning back “What are you?”
“Someone trying to help you get back on your feet” He threw him a slap on the arm “Don’t turn this into what it’s not”
“Hmm, you know I’ve always thought you to be mysterious”
He laughed “I thought the same about you too”
“Why’re you doing this?” He asked, grim
“Let’s just say I’m sick on being the bad guy, Jasmine made me do unthinkable things” He scratched his stubble “But when I saw you that day already falling for her cruel tricks, I knew you needed rescuing”
“You’ve helped me a lot” He pushed the money toward him again “That’s why I insist”
“Keep your money to yourself Adams; you need it more than I do”
Gulping the remaining content of his glass, he stood up “I guess we’ll be working together often”
Steve stood too “What else do you know about Jasmine?”
“I heard she has a son.”
____________
When Karen opened the door to her office, she met Jason sitting on the desk, legs crossed, flipping through the pages of a book
“Yikes, you scared me” She said
She walked to him, hands on her waist “I didn’t know you got my text, I tried calling severally”
“Something cropped up, I couldn’t avoid” He said evasively
“Okay, thank goodness you came, we really need to talk”
“Alright, but can we make this quick?” He peered closely at his watch “Cause I really have to come running”
“Your feet would hurt from too much running Jay”
He smiled and a dimple she never knew he had popped out on his left cheek “What is it you want to tell me?”
She drummed her nails nervously on the desk “I told him about us and…things didn’t go so well”
“I didn’t expect otherwise” He said curtly
“Why do you sound that way?”
“I actually met with your father during the weekend and believe me; he placed a big stop sign before you”
“So, are you going to go by that? My dad blusters a lot, you know?”
“It isn’t about the threats he placed, I don’t care about that, it’s just that he is you father, I can’t do otherwise”
“What are you saying, Jason?” She swallowed hard “So, you’re just going to let go?”
&
nbsp; He held her hands firmly “Do you think I don’t want to be with you? My life really began when I met you but your dad thinks…”
She interrupted “I don’t care what he thinks”
“I really want this to work, Karen”
“We can make it work, my dad…”
“Thinks I’m not good enough for you and let’s face it, he’s right” He looked into her eyes “We’re not high school kids anymore, Karen”
She freed her hands “What are you saying now?”
Raking his fingers into his hair, he moved a bit “Your dad has the right to be protective of you, he’s your father and he loves you”
“I’ve heard that junk a million time and I don’t care”
“I see things differently, this is about what Jasmine did to him and trust me any man would do the same”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this Jason”
“He thinks I have bad intentions”
“We’ve passed that level a long time ago”
“Yeah but if your dad isn’t okay with us then it can’t work”
“You never really meant any of those words you said to me, right?” Her eyes grew moist
“From the deepest part of my heart, I did”
“Then we can make this work, you don’t have to worry about him”
He stood “He’s in the center of the whole thing; we can’t care less about him”
“Jason”
He hesitated, jangling his keys “I’m sorry”
Has he walked away, his words sank in-she absorbed the pain and held back the tear that almost dropped from her eyes
“Jay?” She called after him in an unsteady voice-he left, not glancing back. Tousling her hair, she slumped into a chair, deeply hurt.
____________
“You see, I really have to go back to Vegas, I’m not used to this town” Steve started
“Neither am I, would be leaving next week” Adams said
He poured himself a drink “What about your family?”
“I would be back every fortnight to be with them”
“I see you’ve started to care about them” There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice
“I haven’t really heard you talk about yours” Adams said and filled his glass to the brim
“I have none”
He gave a sly smile, leaning in “Don’t tell me you’re one of those men who think they don’t need their missing ribs back”
Steve laughed gravely “Not at all. I was married but um…I lost them both”
“What happened?”
“It’s easy to guess, being a henchman of one of the most notorious criminal” He smiled wistfully “When they couldn’t find me; they laid hold on my wife and only kid”
“Who were they?”
“Some other criminals in Russia, you know everybody who works with Jasmine has enemies” He chuckled “I meant it when I said I was a bad guy”
“What happen after then?”
“I saw with Jasmine trying to make the same mistake as me”
“I’ve been seeing signs that this place is no longer safe, people are still after me” He let out a hard breath “I’ve been a fugitive all my life that’s why I have to skedaddle”
“It’s horrible”
“It’s all on me; if I had watched over them a little more” He smiled glumly “You’re lucky you didn’t lose in both sides like I did”
Adams grimaced “You know, Jasmine should be thrown in the hottest part of hell”
“I bet she should”
“Blackwell. I really do not know what that family wants from me. Now my daughter is all atwitter about being in love with Jasmine’s son”
Steve barked a dry laugh “What’s wrong in that?”
“It’s like Jasmine still trying to get at me…its unthinkable”
“You’re being vindictive Adams; I don’t see anything wrong in that”
“I’m I the only one seeing the big danger sign ahead? How do you expect me to believe they aren’t trying to throw more cruel bait on me?”
“I totally disagree, I don’t know him so well but he really is benevolent and obviously not like his mother”
“Benevolent?” He shook his head “Can anything come out of that family?”
Steve paused and then gave a loud squeal of laughter, throwing his legs in the air
“What’s that?”
“Are you thinking what I am thinking?” Steve asked, grinning broadly
“Evidently not, what is it you’re thinking?”
“I think I have a clue on who’s been helping you finance your company and all”
“You do?” His brow arched from the sun
“You’ll find out soon”
Adams gulped down the drink left in his glass “Well, there’ll be a party at my house tomorrow”
“Celebrating vain glories, right?”
He stood brashly “To celebrate the survival of survivor”
____________
Clutching a fist in a duvet, arms and legs pressed firmly together, Karen hugged herself in the living room with Annabel gulping down mango smoothies and eating French fries whilst watching a program on T.V
Karen sat up “I never really believed in happy endings”
Annabel tossed her a displeased look “Don’t sound so pathetic, Karen”
“Seriously, I’ve always my father back in my life but now he’s here and everything seems like a big mistake”
“This is about Jason, right?”
“I’ve figured it out; he can get any woman he wants without even lifting a finger”
“And you too can get any man you want without any effort”
“Don’t say these things to make me feel better, don’t”
“I came to spend the night, fearing you might kill yourself” She glanced her way “Or perhaps do crystal meth”
She rolled her eyes “Please, he’s not worth it”
“Seems someone is trying to convince herself, Jason’s complicated and I know”
Karen pursed her lip, silent
“He hates to fight for what it wants” Annabel continued
“He never had to fight; my father’s threats were as empty as a vacuum”
“Any way you slice it Karen, your father wants what’s best for you, he did it for you”
“I didn’t ask for it”
“If you and Jason are really meant for each other, he’ll come back to you in no sooner time”
She folded her legs on the couch, brushing tresses of hair off her forehead “My life has never been a fairy tale, Anna”
“I know, right? Someone comes into your life and means so much to you and the next moment leaves you broken”
“And this time, he isn’t coming back” She almost shed tears
“Good, so there’s nothing else for it but to move on, that’s the way the cookie crumbles”
Karen sighed and fell to the arm of the sofa, eyes tensed
“What are your plans this weekend?”
“I don’t know but my father is having a party tomorrow night, he’s as nutty as a fruitcake” She mumbled drily
“Great, Justin is back in town so I wouldn’t be spending the weekend with you and I don’t want you sitting alone, dejected”
“I didn’t intend going but fine”
19
Servers on a white shirt, black skirts and red polka dot bow ties around their necks ambled around the plush ambience with ash trays and cigars, bourbon and mimosa. Elites bantered excitedly in groups, oblivious of the bland background music gently booming from the stereo.
Steve shoved the dead end of his cigar into an ash tray before turning to Adams “I’m not into all this feasting and all, I’m more of a barfly”
“There are a heck of people here, just hang around, I might need your help” Hands in the pocket of his black tuxedo, he walked away
Someone called from behind him “Adams?”
When he turned to the p
erson beckoning on him, he looked bewildered “Nathan?”
They laughed, shaking their hands roughly
“Man, what the hell are you doing in New York?” Adams grinned
“You’re having a party, aren’t you?” He chuckled
“This is really you, Nathan, how many years has it been?”
“Almost Ten, I still showed up even after considering the fact you wouldn’t want my ugly ass here”
He laughed “Are you kidding? It’s good to have you, I man look at you, you look…”
“Flamboyant? Yeah…that’s the effect of being your own boss” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice but Adams ignored it
“I’m truly sorry for those times i…”
“No, don’t be sorry, I owe you big thanks, if we didn’t have issues, I would probably not have my own company now”
“Sure, how are things with you?” Adams asked
“Better than I expected being one of the top company in Vegas right now”
“You’re really good Nate, you should punch me in the face for not realizing that in you”
“Quit blaming yourself Adams” He laughed “But yeah, I should punch you in the face still”
They laughed.
“You’re still the best in the business, after all your company lost, no one expected you to get back on your feet so soon”
“Yeah, about that…”
____________
Jason stood at the counter, peering impatiently at his watch
“Good thing you’re here” Steve said from behind him
“Yeah, but why I’m I here?”
“I just thought it would be nice to blab about some things, isn’t that an enough reason to be here?”
“I have to take the first flight out of this town tomorrow”
Steve smirked “And?”
“I need my sleep not you asking me to a party for no reason”
“You might as well want to cancel that flight, Jason”
He sighed “I’m here just because you said you had something important to discuss”
“Aren’t we discussing?” He smiled “Karen’s here”
“And so is her father” He retorted
“What do you know about him?”
“I know he’s so rich, my mother had to dupe him”
“Oh, that has been returned in a double fold”
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