2. Alec
Chapter two
Alec
“Master Alec!”
“What?” I wince, craning my head to look at Damien, my butler, standing behind me with a disapproving expression. “You don’t have to scream my head off.”
“I’ve been calling for the last minute,” he says. “You were distracted. What are you thinking about?”
That’s a billion-dollar question.
I was thinking about Jasmine and have been since I left her two days ago. Having sex with her was the best thing I’ve ever done, and it was more beautiful than I imagined. I’ve wanted her since I saw her five years ago for the first time. It was at a beach party, and Riley had distractedly introduced her as “My little sister, Jas.” She wore a green tassel bikini that complemented her curves and had stuck with me since then .
Over the years, I’ve tried to forget about Jasmine and treat her like a junior sibling, but my brain wouldn’t register that. Anytime I ran into her, she made my dick hard, and I’d spend the next few days purging her out of my system.
Two days ago, Riley’s unexpected departure was the worst timing. I’d already been struggling with seeing Jasmine in that little black dress; I didn’t need to be left alone with her. But then finding out she was also attracted to me was like pushing me off the cliff, and my control flew out the window. She was so tight. Fuck. My dick springs to life, and I adjust the lapel of my robe to hide my erection. I’m disgusted with myself, especially with Damien behind me, watching me like a hawk.
“You haven’t told me why you’re distracted.” Damien appears before me. “Is it a family matter?” He asks. “I know your mom has been putting a lot of pressure on you lately, but—”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Don’t remind me of my mom. It’s Jasmine who has me distracted.”
Riley is my best friend, but I’ve known Damien all my life, so it’s easy to talk to him. His father served my family, and Damien was raised to do the same. We grew up together in the Ace Family halls.
“Jasmine?” He scrunches his face. “That must be Riley’s younger sister?”
I scowl at him. “Don’t say younger sister like that. Jasmine is twenty-five years old. She’s hardly a kid.”
Damien doesn’t respond immediately, but the weight of his judgmental glare presses upon me. “She’s your best friend’s sister. ”
“What difference does that make?” I inquire. “Besides, I only said I’m distracted by thoughts of her; I didn’t say I’m walking her down the aisle.”
“You’ve always liked her,” Damien says. “But you know it cannot work. I suggest you take your mind off her and do something else, Master Alec. ”
While Damien discusses my schedule and suggests all other activities I could do, I tune him out. He must think this is a damn joke. If it were that easy to wipe Jasmine out of my thoughts, I would. He’s right; a relationship between us cannot work. Not with the type of family I come from. My life was planned before my birth. There’s no deviation.
“Master Alec!” Damien’s voice cuts through my thoughts for the second time. “You’re distracted again.”
Before I can respond, the phone in Damien’s hand rings. When he peers at the screen with alarm in his eyes, I already know who the caller is.
“Hang up,” I say.
“What?” Damien shrieks. “I cannot do that.”
“Why is she calling you and not me?” I whine, feeling cornered. I’ve been ignoring her calls for a week now, and I expect she understands it’s because I don’t want to speak to her.
“I’m taking the call,” Damien says. “Sorry, Master Alec.” He swipes on the screen and hits the speaker button .
“Damien.” My mother’s voice is sharp and confident, as always. “Where is my son?”
Damien glances at me, and I release a deep breath. “I’m here, Mother.”
“Alec!” She takes on a scolding tone. “You have been ignoring my calls.”
“Yes.”
She scoffs, and instead of asking why, she says, “You are expected home in two weeks. I’m sure you know how important it is that you make it.”
Two weeks. Home. Nowhere feels like home anymore, especially not with my parents. As the heir to the Ace conglomerate, I live a carefully outlined life. The Ace conglomerate is a business enterprise owned by my parents and is worth seven billion dollars. They’re headquartered in France, but they have branches worldwide. Since I was a child, I’ve been raised as the heir. I was primarily homeschooled, and a tutor came in four times a week to teach me everything about business.
At eighteen years old, I was accompanying my father to business meetings and making small-scale decisions concerning the business. At twenty years old, I was burned out and exhausted. I had no friends except Damien, who grew up with me. I wanted to go to college and live a normal life, but it took another two years to convince my parents to accept it, and they only agreed to let me go if I studied business.
I didn’t care what I studied; I just wanted to leave home and be with other kids my age. When I told them of my decision to attend NYU, they didn’t understand why I wanted to leave France, but my sanity was at stake. That was where I met Riley.
In France, my family ruled the business world, and I was a public figure. In the US, not so much. I was only twenty-two and had no interpersonal skills, so no one wanted to be my friend until Riley. He didn’t know who I was, didn’t know the power my last name held, yet he loved and treated me like a brother.
I enjoyed a normal relationship with Riley; unlike those back in France who kissed the ground I walked on; Riley treated me as an equal. He openly disagreed with me, insulted me, laughed with me, and just grounded me beyond the life I had known for twenty years. I was supposed to return permanently to France after my college education, but I’ve been unable to say goodbye to New York, the city where I could be myself.
My family isn’t too happy about this, especially my father, who thinks it’s time I take over so he can retire.
“Alec Ace de Courcillon Lionheart!” My mother growls. “Are you listening to me?”
When she says my whole name like that, it’s a sure sign of upset, which means it’s time to get off the phone. “I have heard you, Mother. I have to go now. Talk to you later.”
She starts to speak, but I hang up the phone and hand it back to Damien. “Are you okay, Master Alec?”
“Stop calling me that,” I snap at Damien, getting off the couch and marching into the privacy of my room. I’m in a sour mood,— talking to my mother does that to me. I love her so much, but my parents’ desire for control irks me in the worst way possible.
I grab my phone from the bed and pull up Jasmine’s phone number. I’ve had it for three years and have never called or texted once. I’m tempted now, though I know it’s a bad idea. There’s no space for frivolities in my life, even when it comes in the form of a five-foot-three bombshell who makes my heart race. I fall on the bed and stare up at the ceiling while trying to convince myself that calling Jasmine isn’t such a bad idea.