Chapter 18
Asher
Iknow Harper wasn’t expecting a job offer on the spot.
Daniel’s reasons for firing her are obvious. He hires girls so he can use them at his disposal. And now that she is no longer on the table as one of his love-struck little puppets, well, he has no use for her.
For now.
And that makes my veins burn with anger. Not that I want her at his beck and call, but because he thinks he can treat people this way.
No, if I am being honest, I want her at my beck and call.
Which is exactly why I hired her as my personal assistant and not a bartender.
Sure, she makes some banger drinks. I’d go as far to say that she whipped up some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. She’s an artist, and I would love to employ her at some point.
But right now, I am a little worried about the unpredictability of Daniel Colby. I wouldn’t put it past him to string her along to stoke that fucking ego of his. Or worse, try to get her back for some twisted reason.
Who’s to say she’s not going to go looking for him to get some closure or an explanation after a wine and romance book binge in the middle of the night?
Having her as my assistant ensures I can keep an eye on her while keeping him away.
Is it a controlling move?
Maybe.
I didn’t fly half way across the planet to deal with her bratty ass just to have her go running back to that scumbag the moment I turn my head.
This way, every time I do turn my head, she’ll be there.
Mondays are a bit more hectic, seeing how I’ve been out of the office for a week. Jaylen and I are the CEOs of Levine St. James Restaurants; an independent chain of eateries and bars in Denver.
It all started with Social Hour, an upscale American restaurant and bar right in the heart of the Mile High City.
Opening new places in a city of this caliber is either a risk or an investment.
Between the innovative menu and modern atmosphere at a very trendy location, Social Hour quickly became the latter.
Its success allowed us to branch out, opening a second location with an even more exclusive vibe.
The cocktail lounge has a limited food menu that we named Nightcap.
After we realized how much we love bars and lounges, we opened another place.
We gained a lot of traction in the industry, and now own a chain of restaurants.
The newest addition is near Mile High Stadium called Highball; it’s a high-end sports bar.
Between the three locations, we’ve done pretty well.
But we aren’t finished yet.
“So I was thinking,” I tell Jaylen as I walk into his office, coffee in hand. “What if the speakeasy has a literary vibe?”
“Is that your way of saying hello after kidnapping my sister for a week or…?”
“Listen, I’ve missed enough work as it is, thanks to unpredictable weather in Central America. I was hoping to just get right to it,” I say.
“Oh, poor you. Trapped in a gorgeous villa secluded in paradise, away from the snow and chaos. Give me a second while I search my pockets for the world’s smallest violin,” Jaylen says, actually shoving his hands into the pockets of his gray slacks.
“Listen.” I hold up a hand. “Believe it or not, shacking up with your sister isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world. She’s salty as hell.”
Jaylen smirks. “Yeah, I could have told you that.”
“Not to mention she wasn’t exactly in a good mood after I’d just crashed her wedding.”
“And for that I am forever in your debt. But I’d prefer you’d told me that’s what you were planning to do. She’s my sister after all.”
“I get that,” I say, and I do. “I’m sorry,” I add. I am, but I have my reasons. The main reason being that I really wanted to do it myself.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jaylen says, rounding the desk so we can go back to my office. “From now on though, no more secrets. We’re partners, remember?”
“I know,” I nod as we walk across the hall.
“And best friends,” he adds.
“I’m aware.”
“At least as long as you’re not fucking around behind my back.”
I turn to face him. Jaylen really is my right-hand man, and I’d never intentionally do anything to upset him or jeopardize that. Of course, some things are more complicated than others.
His sister is one of those things as of late.
“I got it,” I say, and he nods. I open my mouth to say something regarding his sister, but before I can, his phone rings, and he steps out of the office to answer it.
Oh well.
I sit at my desk and glance at the time.
Harper will be here any minute for her first day.
Sooner if she’s an early bird. Jaylen still doesn’t know I hired her as my assistant, unless she told him.
I guess we will find out soon. I was going to tell him that before he got a phone call.
I’d like to think that it won’t matter to him.
I mean, why would it? Daniel kicked her to the curb.
The least we can do is offer her a job. And for the first time in her life, she’s going to have benefits.
I am doing both of them a favor as far as I am concerned.
I wiggle the mouse on my desktop, waking up the screen. I kept tabs on emails while we were in Costa Rica, but I know there will be more. I take a sip of my coffee, willing the heat and caffeine to do its one and only job. But before I can log into my account, my phone rings.
I glance down at it, irritated, until I see the number. I pick it up immediately.
“Mom?” I ask.
“Oh, Ash. Thank goodness you’re there,” she says, and my stomach bottoms out a little. I switch her to speaker phone and check my messages and voicemails to see if I missed anything from her or a nurse.
“I’m here, Mom,” I reassure her. “Is everything okay?”
“I mean, you haven’t come to visit in a while. Too busy for an old bird these days?” she asks with all her usual sass. I’m grateful for it, but still concerned. She doesn’t usually call me.
“Sorry, Mom. I was…on vacation for a week,” I say.
“Vacation? You mean your slave-driving boss actually lets you take days off once in a while?” she asks, and I lean back in my chair.
“I don’t have a boss, Mom. I’m my own boss, remember?”
“I know, I know. I just like giving you shit,” she says, and I can’t help but smile at that. Whether or not I am alarmed by her calling, it’s good to hear the sauciness in her tone.
“There is something I wanted to ask you about,” she goes on.
“What’s up, Mom?” I ask.
“Have you talked to your father recently?” she asks.
My heart drops to the floor.
I take in a slow breath and let it out.
“Mom. Dad is–”
“I know he has Elk’s Club on Thursdays, but he also likes to check on the A/C unit in the winter to make sure the pipes don’t burst again. Do you remember that year when the copper tubing got so cold it just snapped?”
“Yes, but, Mom–”
“We had water pouring down the walls! I thought the whole house was going to come down. Do you remember that, Ash?” she asks.
I sit up straighter in my chair and reach for my work phone, punching in the number of her nurse. “Yes, Mom. I remember.”
“You know what I think,” she goes on. “I think he’s been playing poker with the guys again at Rumors.”
“I don’t think so,” I tell her.
“Oh, I do. He knows I hate that seedy bar. Just a bunch of old men drinking domestic beers and throwing peanut shells on the floor while griping about whatever game is on the TV. I don’t mind him going out with his friends, but I haven’t seen him in days.
Days, Ash. I don’t know whether to be worried or mad. ”
“Mom, is Jennifer there?” I ask, referring to the nurse who takes care of her.
“Jennifer? You mean the maid?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut before wiping my hand down my face. My work phone buzzes with a text from Jennifer.
“Oh, I fired her. She didn’t keep the bathroom the way I like.”
“You can’t fire her, Mom. She’s a—” I’m cut off when I hear Jennifer talking softly in the background.
“Mrs. Levine, why don’t we take a nap? You had a rough night.”
“I don’t need a nap, young lady. I need to talk to my son. I need to figure out where my husband is. Have you seen him?”
“No, Mrs. Levine. I’ve never met your husband.”
“Well, sure you have,”
“Mrs. Levine,” Jennifer goes on, and my jaw tenses so hard it makes my teeth hurt. “Your husband is dead.”
“Dead? What are you talking about?”
The voices turn to mumbles, including the voice of one of the doctors. Eventually, I can’t listen to it anymore, and I hang up to let them do their thing. They are experienced in how to deal with these situations. She’s in good hands.
I take a moment, leaning back in my chair. But before I have a chance to get upset, Harper walks in.
“Good morning,” she says, filling the room with the scent of flowers and freshly washed hair. I swear it still smells like coconut and saltwater. “Personal assistant, reporting for duty,” she says with a mock salute.
I get up from my chair, nearly knocking my coffee over, and her smirk turns to a pout.
“Uh oh. Am I in trouble already? Am I late? I thought I was early.”
“No, you’re fine,” I shake my head.
“Okay,” she says with a slight smile. “Then why do you look so surprised to see me?”
I open my mouth to say something when Jaylen walks in. “Did you know they took artichoke dip off the menu at Highball? Oh, hey sis!”
“What?” I ask, my head spinning in two directions at once.
“Yeah. They replaced it with buffalo chicken dip. Personally, I prefer that, but it’s much more sports bar if you know what I’m saying.”
Jaylen stops and looks between us, and the expression on Harper’s face tells me she didn’t tell him about her new job. Awesome.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, his eyes scanning her very business casual outfit before looking at me.
“Ash didn’t tell you?” she asks.
Fuck.
“Didn’t tell me what?” he asks slowly.
“I work here now,” she answers.
“You work here? Now?” he asks.
“Yep,” she answers. “I’m his new assistant.”
Jaylen looks over at me while slowly arching an eyebrow, and it all crashes in on me at once. I might be out of Costa Rica, but I’m still in the eye of the storm.