I inhaled before I provided him with my answer. “No. I did not spend the night with Reed at The Ritz.”
His face reddened, and I couldn’t believe that I had ever thought he was even slightly attractive. Jasper was a good-looking man, for sure, but he did nothing for me. “I would suggest you don’t lie to me, Storm.”
That bitch that I used to keep inside of me started to resurface. Who did he think he was? “I’m not lying.” Straightening my spine, I said with a smug expression. “I didn’t spend the night with Reed at The Ritz.”
Jasper gave me an untrusting look. “Swear it on your father’s life.” I didn’t miss the vein pulsing in his temple. That was new.
I held my hand up, like a Girl Scout, and gave him what he’d asked for. “On Daddy’s life, I didn’t spend the night with Reed at The Ritz.”
His entire body relaxed. What the hell? Like, he gave a shit about where I really was. It wasn’t like I had been caught by the press and sullied his name; I knew Jasperwouldn’t be that bothered. “Well, that’s a relief. Otherwise, you would be in breach of our agreement.”
Or that was what I thought until his reaction to my next words. “I spent the night with Reed at The Bayberry.”
I watched open-mouthed as my usually calm yet cruel fiancé shot to his feet and slammed his hand onto the breakfast table. “Jesus Christ, Storm!” Everything on the surface rattled, and I grabbed my water just in time to stop it from spilling over.
Pushing to my feet, my napkin fell to the floor as I faced him across the space. “Don’t act as if you care, Jasper.”
We appeared to be shouting at each other. Neither of us seemed to care that the staff was only in the next room.
I could see his fists were clenched at his sides as he came around the table towards me. “I care about my reputation. I won’t allow you to make me look the fool.”
A wave of shock went through my body as Jasper grabbed my upper arm and started to lead me out of the breakfast room, past a surprised Judy.
I tried to shake him off as my feet had no other option but to follow him. “You do that fine all by yourself. Where are we going?”
“Your father’s office. I don’t think I want the staff to know all our business.”
“We don’t have any business, not really.”
“How about the fact that my future wife is a fucking slut?”
The color must have drained out of my face; he’d been cold in the past, but never so blatantly disrespectful. Jasper kept hold of my arm and mounted the stairs towards Daddy’s office.
My following words were spluttered as I was half dragged down the corridor. “Look. I’m sorry, OK. I’ve been wanting to speak to you about our arrangement for the last few weeks.” I hated the fact that I suddenly felt so weak. The recurring thought of how I got there snapped back into my thoughts. I was Storm Summers, and no one pushed me around. So why was I allowing Jasper to?
“I don’t want this marriage, Jasper. Not anymore.”
Jasper glanced down at me with a hard edge as he shoved open the door of my father’s study. “Ever since he came back, you mean.”
After almost shoving me into the room, I caught hold of the back of one of the leather chairs. Daddy’s office still resembled the Oval Office even though he wasn’t a politician anymore. I forced air into my lungs, feeling slightly shaken by Jasper's unusual, forceful behaviour.
As I watched him stride around my father’s desk, I felt a twinge of annoyance. If my father were there, Jasper wouldn’t have dared sit in Daddy’s chair. I took a deep breath as I approached the other side of the table. “I don’t want this, Jasper. And you don’t either.” I exclaimed, motioning between us with one frantic hand. I wondered where my mother was, hoping she’d hear and come to my rescue, either that or Phoenix.
As Jasper faced me and slowly lowered his body into the seat, I could see that his mask was back in place. “It doesn’t matter what we want. Emotions are not part of this, and you know it. Have always known it. You made a promise, Storm. We both did, and there is no going back. You remember what I said would happen if you betrayed me?”
So, he did still intend to threaten Reed’s career. Before I could reply, he held one bony finger up, as his cell started ringing and he took the call. I felt like a child being admonished by a parent rather than his future wife.
I planted my hands on my father’s desk as Jasper spoke to the caller, who turned out to be his father.
“Yes. Just come up. I’m in the study. Yes, he’s at the office. Meeting with Caruthers at eleven over brunch.” I noticed he didn’t say ‘Dominic’s’ study. Jasper then ended the call, his lip curling slightly. What the fuck was his father doing at the house when mine wasn’t? It was all majorly messed up. Something didn’t sit right.
“Where were we?” Jasper said, as calm as ever, the hot air had gone. “Oh yes. Lover boys’ future in the NFL.” That was the first time I noticed how soulless his eyes appeared. Panic started to gnaw through me.
The muscles in my spine stiffened. “You’re surely not still singing from that hymn sheet? Reed had made it big now. There’s nothing you can do to ruin his career. He has a watertight contract.” I was so tired of Jasper’s mind-fuck games.
“Maybe not, but something could stop him from playing.”
A thick slice of something not very nice slid into my gut. “What are you saying?” His message sank in slowly.
