I answered the call. “Hello.”
There was a momentary silence on the other end. “Kiara?”
I recognized that deep husky voice. “Jasper?”
“Sweetheart, your mother told me everything.” I could hear the hesitation laced with concern in his voice. “About your father.”
That’s when I couldn’t control the floodgates that opened up deep inside me. “Jasper.” I choked a sob. “I’m so lonely. I don’t know what to do…”
“Let me help you, Kiara.”
Chapter Nine
The guilt and shame from what I’d done to my own father came back to me in spades. I’d half expected Jasper to never show up, thinking I wasn’t worth all the trouble, but as always, he was here to help me. When I walked out of the park, I noticed the black Aston Martin pull up by the curb. I approached the passenger side, and waited until the window rolled down and Jasper peered out. “Hop in,” he instructed.
I climbed into the car and sank into the soft leather seats, hands in my lap. I repeatedly told myself that I couldn’t be weak; I couldn’t start crying, but the reality of the situation was so jarringly obvious in my mind. It wasn’t changing no matter how guilty I felt.
I felt Jasper’s hand slide under mine, his fingers interlocking gently. We stayed like that for a while. His thumb traced a pattern on the back of my hand which was soothing. I could feel him gazing at me.
“It’s not your fault, Kiara. You did it to protect yourself,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
“I killed my father.” I choked a sob, covering my face with my hands. “I can’t forgive myself. The police, Jasper… What if they think it was planned? I don’t want to spend my life in prison.” I knew I was bordering hysteria, but the possibilities of getting caught and convicted were obvious, unless there was some miracle.
Jasper’s arm went around my shoulder as he pulled me closer. “Shh…everything is going to be alright. I’m here now. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He assured me, kissing the top of my head. “It’s a promise.”
I believed him, and his encouraging words made me cry harder. Jasper was my solace and my knight in shining armor. Even though the pain seeped deep into my bones, I felt at ease somehow. With Jasper by my side, I believed that everything was going to be alright. He let me cry until I’d no more tears left. I breathed into his shirt, and a few minutes later, he let me lay back into the seat as he pushed the car into drive and maneuvered it onto the road.
I looked out of the window as houses and trees passed. Jasper gripped the wheel with one hand and held my hand with the other. Exhausted, I didn’t even realize that I dozed off. I slipped into a dream. In the dream, I was dressed in an orange jumpsuit with my wrists locked in shackles. That was enough to pull me out of the dream. It seemed too real, I had to double-check my surroundings. I was still in Jasper’s car. A soft opera song drifted from the stereo. It sounded lovely yet haunting.
My eyes traveled to the digital clock on the dashboard. The time read nine forty-five p.m, and that meant I’d slept for almost an hour. When I glanced out the window, I realized that we’d crossed town.
Where was he taking me? I’d assumed we were just going to drive around and Jasper would help me find a solution to my problem.
“Where are we going?” I asked him.
Jasper passed me a smile. “You’ll see.”
“You’re killing me with suspense,” I said.
He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the knuckles.
It was at that moment I knew.
I loved him.
Not just because he was kind and caring and had rescued me from situations in the past, but I felt so comfortable around him. Granted, Jasper was like a Rubik’s cube. The things he said sometimes were hard to decipher, but I knew in my heart that I would do anything for this man without batting an eye. After my mother’s relationship with my father, and the few men that I’d dated in the past, I thought love didn’t exist. I never felt like my heart soared every time I looked at someone, nor did I feel like I was flying in a hot-air balloon as I did now. When I was with Jasper, I almost forget to breathe. He made me forget all the difficult things in my life. It also made me worry.
Did Jasper even remotely feel the same about me?
He’d hinted a few things in the past but never outright said he liked me or something along that line. If he didn’t like me back, I was ending up with an unrequited love. I knew it was very old-fashioned of me to gush and obsess over a man, but I just couldn’t help myself where Jasper was concerned.
“We’re almost here.” Jasper’s voice cut through my thoughts.
Mountains surrounded the area; a scenic view ahead. A colossal mansion loomed proudly ahead amid the lush trees. The car approached the metal gates that had the letter ‘L’ on either side of it. Jasper reached out for a small remote control and pressed a button. The gates opened slowly. I drank in the spectacular scenery surrounding the equally impressive mansion which seemed modern yet had a gothic feel to it. I knew Jasper was wealthy. My mom knew about it, only having met him once. But never in my wildest dreams had I thought he was so rich as to live in a place like this.
Jasper probably noticed my reaction to the house. “It’s a modern Italianate mansion built by my great-grandfather in the eighteen hundreds,” he explained proudly.
“It’s a beautiful home.”
“A home without a family isn’t really a home, is it? It’s just fancy house.,” he said. “I’d love to turn it into a home one day when I already have a wife. So far, I live here alone with the house staff.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “When I was young, this house was filled with people. Now the silence is almost too suffocating.”
“Oh,” was all I could manage to say. This was such a beautiful home, and it deserved a big loving family with children playing in the garden, a loving woman cooking meals for her family, and a husband to love and provide.
But Jasper lived here alone.
How lonely could that be?
He drove around a large fountain dominating the center and parked in one of the vacant parking spaces. I wondered why he’d brought me to his house out of all places. As if he’d heard my mind, he said, “It’s not safe for you to go back to your house or any shady motels, so I assumed its best you stayed here for a while until we figure out what we can do about your situation.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to intrude. It’s your space. I can’t just barge in and stay here for as long as I want.”
Jasper placed his hand over mine. “You’re definitely not intruding, and I would be more than happy to have company.”
I smiled at that. Jasper was stubborn. It didn’t seem like the topic of living in a motel was still open for discussion.
The mansion was at least three stories high with an innumerable number of large windows. I’d only seen houses like this on TV that were owned by celebrities, and I couldn’t believe that I was now about to live here for at least a few days. There was a beautiful courtyard, all set with a table.
“Are you just going to stand there and stare?” He chuckled. “Come on, it’s even better inside.”
The central foyer of the mansion was wide and spacious. The flooring was shiny white marble. The house was built decades ago, but with time, it seemed to have been renovated and modernized. Carpeted sweeping staircase glided from both sides, leading to the grand foyer upstairs. We entered a large open space living area that seemed to be the size of a mini-football field with a fireplace so huge, it could fit a bed inside. The crystal chandelier above matched the ivory walls. Persian carpets, rich gold drapes, huge oil paintings… The house screamed opulence; everything was so breathtakingly gorgeous, all down to the matching décor.
Jasper smiled beside me, probably enjoying my reaction to his space. “There’s also a mini home theatre that could accommodate a dozen people, a spacious library on the second floor, a gaming parlor which is one of my favorites, and a bar with my co
llection of vintage liquor.”
“Does the home theatre have popcorn and a nacho machine?” I decided to tease him.
To my utter surprise, he nodded. “It does. It also has a soda vending machine. And a gumball machine.”
“Do celebrities visit your home?” I queried.
“Not this mansion because it’s so far away from the city, but they visit my other homes.”
“How many other houses do you even have?”
Jasper chuckled, leading the way. “Not to brag, but since you asked, I have a penthouse on Fifth Avenue, another mansion in Beverly Hills, the largest one in Aspen which is my favorite, an old family mansion on Lockhart’s island, then there are apartments in London, Switzerland, France, and Dubai…” he paused. “You want me to go on?”
“There are more?” I stared at him incredulously. “And you have an island after your name?”
He just smiled as an answer.
“Any place in the house that you wouldn’t want me to wander into?”
“The bar where I keep the vintage liquor. You touch one of those bottles, and you’ve made an enemy,” he said good-naturedly.
I was speechless. My entire house would fit into the foyer of this mansion. A middle-aged lady, probably in her late forties stood at the foot of the stairs. She was dressed elegantly in a beige shirt and a black skirt. Her brown hair was tucked in a neat bun, and she had the most beautiful grey-green eyes. She smiled warmly at me as she saw us approach.
“Kiara, this is Margret. She’s the housekeeper who’s been with this family for as long as I remember.” With that remark, the two smiled at each other. “And Margret, this is Kiara, the beautiful damsel in distress I told you about.”
I laughed. “Did he just describe me as a damsel in distress?”
“The same way that I’m a knight in shining armor. That’s a good pair, you know.” He passed me his devilish grin.
I couldn’t miss the subtle hints he dropped in from time to time. Margret smiled in silence at the exchange.
“Get some rest, Kiara, and I will see you in a while for supper.”
I nodded and thanked him again. When we were done with the basic introduction, a tall young man, somewhere between his thirties materialized. An apprehensive look was plastered over his face, but I still managed to pass a nervous smile. Without a word, he lifted my baggage. Margret decided to introduce him.
“This is the assistant housekeeper, Morgan. Should you require anything, he will be at your service. If not, you can always call me, and I will assist you.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Morgan was a man of few words; he didn’t spare me another glance as he took my bag and began climbing the stairs.
“You’re always welcome. I assume you must be tired. I’ll have the bath ready for you upstairs in the guest room if you could follow me, Miss Kiara.”
***
The guest room was a spacious bedroom on the second story. A white wooden canopy bed was at the center with plush cushions and a soft feather-like comforter. I’d always dreamed of having a bed like this to sleep in. It also had a large white dresser with an oval mirror and a wardrobe. My feet melted above the soft white carpet.
Margret opened the built-in wardrobe full of outfits hanging from it. Beautiful gowns, cocktail party dresses, and casuals were neatly arranged inside, along with formals that hung at the top. I was mesmerized by it. I opened the last door to find a wide collection of footwear on at least five different shelves.
“If the clothes are not to your liking, I can arrange to get them replaced for something more suitable to your taste.”
“I actually brought some of my clothes from home.” I pointed at the small bag lying on the floor until I realized it was missing. “Whose wardrobe is this?” I asked.
I could have sworn I’d seen Morgan bring my bag into this room, so why wasn’t it here?
“Mr. Lockhart has a cousin living in London who visits every once in a while. Camilla uses this room, and this closet belongs to her.”
“I can’t use her things”
Margret waved her hand in dismissal. “Trust me, dear, she wouldn’t mind. Camilla has a kind heart and besides, once she’d used an entire wardrobe of outfits for a month; she doesn’t make a habit of using it twice. She likes a change. It will go to charity anyway.” It made me feel a bit better, although I couldn’t miss the meaning behind that last line that I was perhaps charity.
“What about my bag?”
“Which bag, honey?”
“The one that had my clothes in it,” I said.
“Oh, you wouldn’t need that anymore,” she said with a smile, and before I could question her with what exactly that meant, she left the room, closing the door on her way out.
I wondered if Morgan left it in another room. I sighed and decided to have a nice warm bath. I smelled like mud and cheap motel soap. My hair was dry and untamed, in urgent need of some conditioner.
The adjacent bathroom was just as luxurious and spacious with smooth Italian granite flooring, a vintage porcelain bathtub at the far end of the bathroom, and a golden French Louis chair by the mini-dresser. My gaze traveled to the long cabinet. I opened it to find different varieties of bath-wash bottles, soaps and shampoos lined up on three shelves, along with lotions, moisturizers, and other stuff. The fragrance drove me insane.
I realized how lucky Jasper’s cousin Camilla was to have this luxury as a part of her daily life. I soaked into the steaming tub and took the opportunity to rub every inch of my body to remove the grime. Once Jasper found a way to solve my problem, I wouldn’t be having the pleasure of experiencing such a relaxing bath anymore. I thought of Mom and how life had been unfair to her. One thought led to another, and then I ended up thinking of Dad. I remembered every small detail of the night I’d hit him. Hot tears trickled down my face, and I allowed myself to cry in silent mourning.
Chapter Ten
After the best sleep of my life, I woke up at exactly eight a.m. the next morning and was summoned downstairs to join Jasper for breakfast. I dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans and was surprised at how perfectly Camilla’s clothes fit me. I descended the stairs slowly, and it wasn’t hard to spot the dining area. Jasper was seated at the head of the table, and when he saw me walk in, he passed me his usual warm smile.
“How are you feeling, Kiara?” he asked me.
“Much better, all thanks to you,” I said, taking a seat right beside him.
“Is the new room to your liking?” he inquired.
I laughed. “What’s not to like? I feel like I’ve met a fairy godmother who flicked a magic wand and changed my life completely.”
Still smiling, Jasper nodded. “Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a fairy godmother, although I think it is a gentleman’s duty to help and support a woman in her difficult times.”
“You’re very modest and kind,” I admitted.
I thought I heard him mutter, “I’m far from it” when Morgan walked inside the room, pushing a trolley filled with cakes and assortments.
“What do we have for breakfast today?” Jasper asked the butler.
Morgan recited the elaborate menu which was a little too much for a table that only consisted of two people (unless Jasper ate like a monster). A petite maid approached the table and served portions of food. My plate was towered with pancakes oozing with maple syrup, a side dish of strawberry shortcake, toast with blueberries and fresh strawberries, and sunny side omelet with hash browns. There was even orange juice and coffee.
Jasper probably realized that his little breakfast had rendered me speechless because he said, “Please help yourself.”
I dug into the food like a hungry lion caged up in the Sahara Desert for months. I think I’d forgotten who was watching me for a second because I literally devoured everything. I noticed from the corner of my eye that an uncanny smile played on his face.
The few minutes after that were filled with sounds of the silver cla
nking with the cutlery. Jasper was raising a glass of juice to his lips when he received a phone call. He excused himself, leaving the room, and a minute later, he returned to his seat. There were lines of worry crossing his handsome features.
“There’s some news,” he declared.
“What is it?” I asked.
“You shouldn’t have fled the scene after…” he trailed off. A bit later, he continued. “The police were investigating, and they think it wasn’t an accident…that you killed your father on purpose.”
The fork slipped right out of my hands. I lost my appetite all of a sudden. I started to feel nauseous. “Do you believe that, Jasper?”
His gaze was locked on me as if he suspected me of deliberately murdering my father. I went on. “I didn’t kill him,” I said in a hushed whisper. “Please trust me. It was an accident.”
“I trust you, Kiara, but I have some inside sources informing me that the police suspect you of foul play. My suggestion right now would be for you to continue staying here with me and let me handle this my way. If you are taken into custody, I daresay it would only end up in chaos.”
My mind had already gone blank. The police wanted me for questioning, and I was doing a great job by hiding like a coward.
“If you’re willing to listen, I will advise you about how we can go about the situation.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I know you’re not going to like this, but it’s best you cut all contact with your friends and family for a while. Let the police investigate. Your mother will tell them that you weren’t even in town when it actually happened. I’ll pose as your alibi should the need arise, and even if something were to go wrong, I have the best attorneys in the country. No one will be able to lay a finger on you. You have my word.”
“That means I would be a freeloader,” I said nervously. “I know we are friends, but I can’t let you pay for everything. I can’t keep asking you for favors, I feel awful.”
Psycho Billionaire: A Dark Romance Page 6
