Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Eric
M y mother and father missed Jasmine while I visited them. They’d had so many questions about my wife’s absence, and Mom started that emotional spiral until I’d explained that Jasmine was sick with the flu. That confession had gotten me sent home with ten different soup and bread recipes that I didn’t even realize my mother still remembered to give to Jasmine.
Admittedly, I’d missed Jasmine’s company, too, even though we’d texted briefly over the weekend. Since making sure she rested was a priority, I didn’t disturb her often, just a few times to make sure that she was doing okay. She was the first person I messaged when I touched down in Coral Gables late Monday afternoon, since we hadn’t texted since the night before.
Can’t wait to see you. I hope you’re feeling better.
I didn’t get an immediate response, but that had been par for the course the past few days and I figured she was still resting and recouping.
I checked my phone almost ritualistically over the next few hours as I reacclimated back home. Unpacking, checking and replying to work emails, making myself something to eat for dinner. Ignoring and deleting correspondence from James, then finally blocking him and his rants. He’d been furious with me when I’d shared what I’d discovered about his dire financial straits, and I’d made it clear that I had no qualms exposing what a financial risk he was to the community if he didn’t leave me, and Jasmine, the fuck alone.
That ultimatum hadn’t been received well, not that I gave a shit. I now held all the cards in this game James had been playing, and the other man knew it, too.
After eating and cleaning up the kitchen, there was still no response from Jasmine and the earlier message I’d sent showed as “unread”. Since I’d asked Jeff to make another food delivery to Jasmine today, I called his cell.
He answered on the second ring. “Yes, sir?”
“Hey, Jeff,” I said, sitting down on the couch in the living room. “Did you deliver the groceries to Jasmine today?”
There was the slightest pause before he replied, “Yes, sir.”
“Alright. Thank you. Did she seem like she was feeling any better?” I asked, concerned that she might have relapsed.
“She…umm, did seem a bit off,” he said.
I heard the reluctance in his voice, which wasn’t something he normally displayed. After our years together, and knowing how much I valued truth and honesty, he was forthcoming with everything.
“Off, how?” I asked.
Another brief hesitation before I heard him release a sigh. “When I stopped by to deliver the groceries there was a man named James in the apartment with her.”
Fuck. I abruptly stood up, my stomach twisting with unease. What the hell? Did James have a goddamn death wish? Why the hell was he pushing my hand by approaching Jasmine when I had the ability to fucking destroy him?
Jeff spoke again, just as hesitant. “The man who was there, he left before I did, but she…uh…asked that I not saying anything to you.”
I blinked at that. I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around that request from Jasmine, and could only surmise that she hadn’t wanted to worry me. Clearly, I’d been short-sighted in not thinking James would still have the balls to defy me when he had such a huge threat hanging over his head.
“We’re good, Jeff,” I said, still reeling with the bomb he’d dropped on me. “Have a good evening.”
I disconnected the call, just as a “ping” came through. My crazy heart leapt, expecting a response from my earlier text from Jasmine, but surprisingly it was a message from Dominique.
Darling, please tell me you’ve already seen this. I’m so sorry.
I frowned in confusion, having no idea what she was referring to. Attached to her message was a link, which I clicked on. It took me to The Affluent Collective —a Coral Gables society page that reported on society news and events. The link dropped me right onto a page with a headline that read: Philanthropist Eric Maxim secretly sequesters ailing parents with dementia out of public eye
My blood ran cold. What. The. Fuck. Normally I didn’t give a shit what the gossip site had to say about me, most of which was fairly tame and revolved around my philanthropy ventures, and sometimes, speculation about the women on my arm at various events. They were also known for exposing what they deemed salacious details about the rich, famous, and powerful in the community, but as of this moment, my private life had never been fodder for gossip.
I forced myself to read the article, my anger building with every word I consumed.
A source close to the well-known billionaire and self-proclaimed art patron of Florida has recently disclosed that Eric Maxim, who has always been close-lipped with his personal affairs, has been keeping his parents hidden away in a senior living facility. That’s right, the man who has made his brand all about giving back, abandoned his parents to the care of a notoriously abusive, problematic, and often underfunded care facility.
The source also revealed that the care facility in question isn’t even in state. Talk about trying to hide a dirty little secret…
The article went on, spewing nauseatingly specific details about my parents that only one person in my life had intimate knowledge of.
Jasmine. She was the only one privy to the depth of knowledge covered in this article.
The realization, the betrayal and deceit, nearly brought me to my knees. I had done everything in my power to protect my parents, and she’d betrayed the deepest pain of mine to a public that would twist the truth, not caring about my parents and their afflictions, nor how much guilt I carried with it.
The anguish I felt in that moment was brutal. Like someone had reached into my chest and ripped out my heart. A heart that had grown soft for a woman I’d confided in. Trusted. Fallen in love with…
I was such a fucking fool, but the pieces seemed to fall into place when I thought about James being at Jasmine’s apartment. Were the two in cahoots to ruin me ? Had I been set up and so fucking blinded by Jasmine’s charms and alluring smiles that I’d completely let down my guard, which in turn James had somehow taken advantage of?
The thought made me livid. Beyond furious. Blinded by rage.
I needed answers, even though I was certain I’d be met with lies and platitudes. But there was only one explanation for how this article could have published such accurate information, and it all pointed to Jasmine.
I went to my office and printed up the article, then grabbed my car keys and sped toward her apartment.