Chapter Four
Amelie
Jasper picks me up before the sun has even risen. The drive is a little out of the way, but I feel like it’s necessary for me to make the trip. I’m still unsure what Kalen’s interest in her is, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
“So…” I say to Jasper once my first coffee of the day has hit my system.
“So…” he mimics, knowing what my next question is going to be. “Nothing happened.”
“Not what a little birdy told me,” I say, starting on my second coffee.
“If that little birdy is Kalen, he really needs to get his facts straight first, I swear he lives in a fairy tale.”
I laugh because it is true. “He may have heard from someone that you spent a lot of time with Elsie while I was away. I’m going to ask her, you know that, right?”
His head turns briefly to look at me and he smiles before turning back to look at the road. “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”
“Fine, but if you hurt my friend I may have to kick your ass.”
That makes him laugh. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Since you’re still on my security detail, I’m sure we can make it happen.”
We continue our mindless banter until he pulls into a rundown driveway. I double check the address on the packet Sawyer gave me this morning, and it’s correct.
“I have to walk you up, so please don’t cause a scene.”
“Me, cause a scene? I would never do such a thing.” I bat my eyelashes at him and Jasper gives me a pointed glare. I chuckle.
We both exit the car, Jasper with a bag of pastries we picked up when he stopped to get me a second coffee. God knows why he’s bringing them with us.
We walk up the dilapidated wooden stairs, where the paint is non-existent and termites have had a nice meal on them. I carefully make my way to the front door and knock.
The door is pulled open, and the girl from the dossier stands before us in threadbare pajamas. She must be cold, but the sleepy look on her face quickly disappears when she takes us in. She looks to her left and she panics.
“Hi, I’m Amelie and we need to talk.”
“I have nothing to say.”
She guards the doorway with her body. She isn’t small, she’s my height with boots on and has a solid build.
“I think you’ll want to hear me out. I’ve come here today out of respect and hope we can start this on good terms.”
“You can’t take him.” Her tone softens slightly but her stance doesn’t change.
“I’m not here to take him, I’m here to make sure you keep him. Can I come inside so we can talk? I’m still not climatized to this place and I’m freezing my ass off.”
She looks torn, she doesn’t trust easily. “You can, but he stays outside.”
“No,” Jasper states. “I’m her security and I follow her everywhere. Bosses’ orders.”
I sigh and turn slightly to face him. “I’m going in and you can wait in the car. You seem to be forgetting that I am the boss now.”
Jasper mutters under his breath but hesitantly hands over the bag of food. He heads back down the stairs tentatively like they might give way under his weight – which I think is a little dramatic – and gets into the car, no doubt calling the others to rat me out.
She steps aside and lets me pass her by. I take in the barely-there furniture and the smell of cleaning products, which is so strong it makes my nose tickle and my eyes water.
I find the kitchen easily and she moves around me and flicks on the light, holding out her hand towards the two mismatched chairs and a small table.
“So, who are you?”
“I can’t tell you exactly who I am, but I can tell you what I can do for you.”
“Bullshit. People don’t do anything for nothing. I want a name at the very least.”
“I could lie and give you a false name, but I won’t. It’s Amelie, and you’re smart. But I never said that it would be free.”
“Well, you’re here now, so you may as well spit it out.”
A girl that’s straight to the point, I like her.
“I have an offer that could benefit both of us. I work for a…company that wants to offer you a job.”
She snorts. “I’m not going to be a prostitute.”
“That’s good to know, but it’s more like the role of a personal assistant. This is what we are willing to pay you, along with housing and a company car.”
I slide a piece of paper across the scratched, worn tabletop and she unfolds it. Her eyes go wide, and she looks across at me with her mouth gaping.
“What’s the catch? Because when things seem too good to be true that means they usually are.”
“You will have to attend Knox Academy classes, not a full class schedule since you will have duties as my personal assistant. I’m also offering the chance of a scholarship position to an elite private school to your brother, but it’s only an interview and he would have to do the hard work.”
“Why me?”
“My boyfriend sees something in you, and I trust him.”
“And what if I say no?”
“Then we do things the hard way.” I sigh.
“You have a court hearing coming up, where someone from my company will attend and you will be spared jail time in exchange for a three-year program at Knox Academy. Which is like a damn prison anyway – trust me, I know. The downfall to that is that you won’t be offered the paid job, and there’s no children’s housing on campus. ”
“You would separate us?” she snarls, feeling backed into a corner. I don’t blame her.
“The way I see it you have two options – and that was more than I was given. I had to move countries and was ripped away from my family. Yes, it worked out in the end for me, but you have a sibling to think about. My butthead brother is old enough to look after himself. I’ll give you time to think about it.
” I also slide a business style card across the table.
I may have squealed a little when Sawyer handed me a box of matte black cards, with The Order logo and my name and number on it.
I feel like a freaking boss handing my first one over, but this isn’t a game.
I like this girl, and she really does need me.
And if Kalen thinks I need her too, I’ll trust him on it.
“You have until the night before your court hearing to let me know. I suggest you consider both options. Option one is a job that can provide your brother with a better life, and also one for you, but just know there is no walking away once you’re in.
And option two is that you come to Knox and do your three years, then you’ll be free to walk away once you are done. ”
“What do you mean, there’s no walking away?”
“You’re a smart girl, I’m sure you can figure it out. I look forward to hearing from you.”
With that, I stand and push my chair back. I don’t know what I would do in her position because I have reasons to be in The Order, but her? She could still make a life for herself outside of all this. She follows me to the door and just when I’m on the threshold, she hesitates.
“Amelie?”
“Yeah?” I say turning to face her, one foot already out the door.
“What’s your boyfriend's name, the one who wants me to have this job?”
“Kalen Knox.”
“Motherfucker,” she mumbles, probably hoping I don’t catch it. But I do.
“Care to explain?” I snap.
She shakes her head no.
“You should ask him.”
I nod and step outside, not surprised when she slams the door behind me.
I don't expect to hear from her for a few days.
Jasper watches as I walk closer to the car. I jump in the passenger side and I'm grateful he has the heat on for me.
He wastes no time driving away. I look at him and instantly know that he’s called someone. He’s way too quiet. I put that information somewhere safe. Jasper has a tell, and it might come in handy one day.
"So, who did you call?"
"I still answer to Sawyer until I'm told otherwise. It's a direct order from Monty. Until you’ve done all your training, you don't have the authority to dismiss me."
I snort at his words and shake my head. “He told you to say that, didn't he?” Jasper smiles and nods. Damn Sawyer. I need to find a way to get him to teach again. There has to be a way. Surely I have the connections now?
Jasper drives us straight to Knox Academy where Elsie is waiting impatiently.
“Oh my god!” she screeches as she runs towards us. I don’t miss the looks between her and Jasper. She almost jumps into my arms and pulls me in for a hug.
“I can’t believe those boys have held you hostage since you arrived back! I have so much to tell you.”
“I know you do,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She looks over my shoulder at Jasper. Linking our arms, she pulls me away leaving him to trail behind us.
“Do you think he can hear us?” she whispers.
“No, I can barely hear you,” I state, knowing damn well he will be able to hear, it's why he’s paid so well to protect me. A little tidbit of info that Kalen dropped while we were naked.
“I’m so confused,” she complains, taking us into the cafeteria. She knows I need all the coffee. Jasper points to the coffee machine and I nod.
“About what?”
“Jasper. We hooked up.”
“I knew it!” I yell. Elsie leaps across the table and throws her hand across my mouth.
“Shhh!”
“Okay,” I mumble, my words muffled by her hand. She gives me a ‘be serious look’ and removes her hand.
“I’m a lesbian,” she whispers.
“Why are you whispering? I didn’t think that was a secret.”
“It’s not, but how can I like a boy?”
We both turn to look at Jasper and he happens to look over at us, confused as to why we are staring.
“He’s hardly a boy.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Okay, so you like Jasper. Have you considered that maybe you just like him as a person and not because of his gender?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never liked a boy before.”
“You’re still young, you’re allowed to not know how you feel. Don’t talk yourself out of it just because you’ve put yourself in a box.”
“You know you’re straight.”
“I do, but that is because I’ve only been into men so far, but I never thought I would have four boyfriends.”
“And I bet they look fine naked.” I snort when Jasper places our coffees on the table at that exact moment. Elsie goes beetroot red. I look up at Jasper.