Jasper's Claim | Book One

Seven

Photo of Delphine Carney >>
Song: Chunky by Bruno Mars

India Frost knew many things about many things, but as she sat across her friend and colleague, she decided that Demi Rose would have to tell her exactly what the problem was.

It seemed like since she'd arrived at Demi's place that morning, her friend's mind kept wandering and she'd found herself bringing Demi back to the present more times than any human being should have to in one sitting.

"So... " India said, purposely raising her voice in order to regain Demi's attention. "What's going on with you Rosie?"

"Nothing new" Demi responded shrugging nonchalantly. She was seating cross-legged on her living room couch in the studio space that housed herself and her sister Sophia.

"Are you sure? " India asked, exasperated.

"Huh?" Demi gave her friend an amused glance, "I'm sure Indie."

"Don't call me that, Demi."

"Then don't call me Rosie, India."

Both girls glared at each other for a few seconds and then burst into laughter.

"But seriously Demi, what's going on with you? First, you got back to Miami and didn't think to let me know that you were back home until a week later, and now that I'm here, your mind is a million miles away. What's up girl, hmmn? "

Demi sighed and swirled her wine, which she'd poured into a styrofoam cup.

"I met someone new," she finally said, looking up at her friend, "and...I slept with him."

India's eyes were as huge and round as saucers, and, truth be told, if Demi hadn't felt the situation serious enough, she would have found her friend's expression amusing.

"You what?" India asked incredulously.

"You what?" A second voice asked from the doorway to one of the partitioned rooms.

Her sister Sophia walked out in booty shorts and an off the shoulder sweater.
Tall and effortlessly shapely with porcelain white skin, Demi sometimes caught herself envying her sisters regal build.

At 5'8, Sophia stood a head taller than her older darker sister. Sophia, it seemed had taken after her father's white side of the family, while Demi looked more like her mom who had hailed from Trinidad and Tobago.

Plopping down beside India and across from her sister, she grabbed a throw pillow and rested her elbows on it, hand in cheek.

"Tell me more about how my seriously responsible sister had a one night stand!"

Demi looked down at her drink sheepishly and sighed again.

"Oh honey," India said in a mock serious voice, "is this your first time?"

"Of course it's her first time" Sophia chimed gleefully "this is Rosie we're talking about, no?"

"Oh shut it, you two" Demi muttered annoyed. "It's not a big deal."

"For you sissy, it is." Sophie muttered under her breath while India burst into laughter.

Demi glared daggers at her little sister. "Just because I don't go around fucking any man who says hi to me doesn't mean ..."

"Uh...apparently, you do sissy." sophie cut-in.

"Did he even say hi first, before you jumped him?" India asked mischievously.

Setting down her cup, Demi stood up fuming; "Both of you, out of my apartment, now!" she said, pointing to the door.

Both girls shut their mouths immediately.

Satisfied demi sat down...and was once again bathed in soft giggles from the two ladies across from her.

"I swear if I didn't love you both... " she sighed, "look, we had drinks at the bar of the hotel I was at, he was well spoken, well to do by the looks of him and his penthouse suite...and I was a little tipsy, lonely and feeling sorry for myself for having been stood up. Next thing I knew, we were in the elevator and he was asking me to spend the night...I would have said no, but he was soo hot you guys..."

"Aren't they always" India said wistfully.

"Funny thing is, I don't regret it" Demi continued "I've not dated an African American man before...but, if he's any indication of how great they are in bed..."

Both girls gasped.

"He was African American?" Sophia asked.

"You know what they say, once you go black..." India chimed in.

"How was he?" Sophia asked.

"Uh...I'm not discussing sex with my little sister, thank you very much."

Sophia rolled her eyes, "Hey, I'm graduating University in two months, I'm 21 next week. I think I can be called an adult."

Demi rolled her eyes back, "you will always be my little sister. I practically see diapers when I look at you."

India choked on her drink, almost spilling it out of her mouth as sophia clapped her on the back, a little too hard, while she simultaneously glared at her older sister who sipped contentedly from her styrofoam cup, and wondered if she'd ever see her one night stand again.

                           ~~~

The offices of Carney and associates was located on the 5th floor of a high-rise building which was mostly made of glass.

Jax and Jay were immediately ushered into Delphine Carneys corner office, and offered refreshments, which Jay declined, Jax accepted a glass of water, and both were asked to wait for Delphine who was currently wrapping up a meeting with another client in her board room.

After a few minutes of sitting, Jay stood and walked to the glass wall/windows to admire the view.
He was unusually quiet and seemed a little nervous.

The sound of heels approaching caught his attention and he turned around just in time to watch Delphine enter the office.

She was an African American beauty of average height with light creamy skin, shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes.

She paused for a moment, smiled coldly at him and walked towards her desk, her smile turning warm as she faced Jax and held out her hand to him.

"Jax, what a pleasant surprise" She greeted, and turned to Jay who still stood by the windows, hands deep in his pockets. "Mr Vasquez" she murmured, "to what do I owe this visit?"

"We need to talk" He stated simply.

"Oh?" she responded with a raised eyebrow and sat down, and faced Jax, ignoring the man beside her, with whom she'd just exchanged words.

Jax watched the situation with amusement, these two had history, both individuals were clients of an exclusive social establishment and had met as a result of their membership. They had eventually spent a night together and had made plans to meet later in the day.

Delphine, apparently, had waited for him in the restaurant they'd agreed on, and his man Jay had never shown.

Three years later and he was still watching his friend pay for his mistake.

"It's been a while Jax," she smiled brightly at him, "sorry for the delay, I was just wrapping up a meeting when I was informed of your arrival."

"It's fine" Jax said, returning her smile before delving into the reason for his visit as Jay retook his seat beside him.