Prodigal Thorn

Chapter 13

On Thursday, I finally bit the bullet and paid Jeffrey Sinclair a visit. Nate put me on a deadline. He wanted this matter handled at the party tomorrow night. Not that I blame him. It's a royal shit show,but just this morning two more accusers dropped the charges.

"Hello. How may I help you?" A slender man asked with a warm smile. I smile broadly and extend my hand, "Hello. I'm Alexandra Carson. I called earlier to speak with Jeffrey if that's okay?"

Before I could get an answer from Lurch, yes I'm calling him Lurch, a male voice sounds just behind him. "It's fine ,Benny. I'm expecting her. Thank you." Jeffrey Sinclair stands before me as Benny moves aside. "Please have Mrs. Norris arrange a platter to be sent to my living room please, Benny." Jeffrey smiles to Benny before motioning me to follow him. He has his own living room? What?

To say the Sinclair estate was not a museum is a bit of an understatement. I followed Jeffrey through a maze of hallways filled with portraits from artists I'm sure Xan would come in his pants just to look at their pieces. "So tell me how does it feel to do my job, granted I've never had the confines that you?" Jeffrey chuckled as we stepped into the room.

"Wow," I gaped. Jeffrey's living room, surrounded by glass on majority of walls and one wall is has a built in bookshelves with a marble fireplaceall. Instead of turning off a TV, I watch as Jeffrey remotely closes his projector screen just above the fireplace. My gaze zeros in on the books on his bookshelf. A few of them in my private collection. "You've read the Domino series?" I arched a brow at him. Jeffrey nods, a small smile pulling at his lips just as Lurch- I mean Benny walks in carry a perfectly crafted fruit and cheese tray.

"Sir, what can I get you and your guest to drink?" Benny asked his slender hands clasped in front of him expectantly. Poor guy. I'm glad my parents, more specifically my mother opted not to have a full staff. That woman is more anal about the ins and outs of our home than any Stepford wife I know. "I'll have a JD and coke and Ms. Carson here will have a..." Jeffrey inclines his head at me. Is he for real? Don't get me wrong, I've drank plenty of times with and without my parents thanks to the perks of spending two years of my life in England.

"I'll have a vodka cranberry please," I take my time walking around the room and Jeffrey takes his seat in an armchair. "I'm sure you have questions." He starts and my eyes take in the dark circles under his blue eyes, the way his dark brown hair is disheveled, the slight tremor in his hands and most disturbingly the faint scars on his wrist. Jeffrey Sinclair is falling apart and I want to know why. "You didn't do it, did you?" I conclude, my eyes narrowing on him.

I can see the truth the instant his eyes have registered what I've just said. "Doesn't matter. I have no choice, but to go through with this," he sighs, resignation coming of him in waves. I know in my gut that Claire St. James is pulling the strings here, but why is a prominent figure like Sinclair laying down like a good dog? "Just tell me how Claire is manipulating this whole thing?" I asked just as Benny walks in with our drinks. "I figured Master Jeffrey could use a double." Jeffrey smiles appreciatively before gulping his drink.

"Bring the whiskey from my private stash, Benny. We're gonna need it," Jeffrey eyes me curiously, "You really are the collector, huh? Not surprised Nate put you in my position. You work fast," he muses before downing the remainder of his drink. I smirks drinking my vodka cran with appreciation of the little cranberries Benny put inside. "You can thank Alicia for my piqued curiosity. Or have you not spoken to her?" I've seen the recent DMs between them as of yesterday, Jeffrey advised Alicia to cooperate, but still maintain her stance. Alicia, to her credit, hates everything about this.

"Claire has always had a jealously streak. Especially when it comes to the bedroom. She particularly hates when she's not dominant over the others in bed." Something crosses his face, but it's gone before I could catch it. Resentment maybe? "I've always had a thing for Alicia and Candace on a deeper level. Ive always been honest about anything I've pursued with another girl. Claire said she was okay with that...at least she hid her jealousy well enough....until Alicia and I became close."