Hiding from Mr. Billionaire

21 Finding common ground

A/N- 

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Jasper chuckled to himself. "No, and I'm not going to financially support your love interests any time soon," he said, leaning over Vivian to reach for another newspaper on the rack. "Besides, this young man seems to be uneducated enough. He doesn't know how to put on a tie. What could I possibly give him besides some common sense?"

Agatha laughed  as Vivian narrowed her eyes at her pointedly. "Well give the man a break Jasper, he's been unconscious for a day. Maybe during that time he forgot a few things."

"I highly doubt that." Jasper said, giving her an incredulous look. 

 "Remember that time father hit his head under the desk before he went out for his business trip and forgot where he left the key to his briefcase?"

"Your point?"

Jasper chose to ignore her and opened the newspaper,  raising a brow of interest in "The typical Negro,"  from Harper's weekly, published by the northern press.

"Inaccurate," he muttered, turning the page while ignoring his sister. "Offensive"

Agatha groaned and snatched the newspaper out of his hands. "You're a cruel, cruel man." She said defiantly, throwing the whole newspaper away.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Now thanks to you I won't know what the hell is going on in the world for another week."

"These are real people you're criticizing" Agatha said gravely. "I don't like you to talk poorly about them by denying the truth."

"What truth? Let me remind you, we live in the south and our father has acclaimed some of these very plantations in which these things take place. I think it's a little hypocritical on your part- to all of a sudden care so much. You've never done a damn thing to help any of these Negroes yourself."

"I don't care," she snapped. "It's torture and they don't deserve to have their humanity taken away from them."

"Oh really, and what are you going to do about it?" he shot back. "Even I don't have the power to turn the whole south north. Listen to yourself, it's ridiculous"

"I won't have it-"

"Quit this I say," he glowered. "We went off topic by accident and I don't want to argue with you, not today."

When Agatha didn't say a word Jasper grunted in acknowledgement, his eyes flickering to Vivian, who was standing there with a solemn look on her face. "So, my sister implies to me that you want a job. Don't you?"

Agatha's face brightened a bit and she whipped around with her hands entwined, nervously. 

"I guess I do," Vivian muttered, gazing at Agatha's determining glare.

"You guess," he scoffed. "Life does not run on your guesses Mr. Smith, it's either a yes or no, no guesses. The best business men do not take their chances with a guess. They have intention... a reason. Why do I-"

"Yes," Vivian cut him off firmly. "I only guess because you do not seem to want me around."

"I don't."

"Then why?"

Jasper looked at her sister's warning glare.

"Because I trust Agatha, and despite her agenda against me. I choose to believe we have a clear understanding of each other."

Agatha stayed rooted to the spot, her frown still etched in her face.

"That's a first," she snorted.

"Tell the maids to prepare me some rotisserie, I'm starving," he said, walking toward the hall that extended behind the stairwell, ending in large glass panels. The beautifully tamed garden she remembered from the ball showcased behind it, lavishly green. "Mr. Smith," he gestured, "care for a short walk between two men?"

"Not at all sir," Vivian hesitantly spluttered.

Agatha gave her one last debatable glance before vanishing off into the kitchen behind them.

"Have you had a job before, Mr. Smith?" he asked as they walked among the Calendulas.

"Nothing business related, that's for sure," she muttered. The sun was setting and the sky was a pinkish orange. She gazed up at it, filled with hope and relief.

"Do you know anything about Inns Mr. Smith?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"I know you stay in them," she replied stupidly.

Jasper was unfazed by it.

"Well, at least you know something."

Vivian smiled, for a moment there he was actually being generous, until he sneered.

"Needless to say, I need more than someone with a one dimensional brain."

"Oh," Vivian's head hung low in disappointment.

"Lucky for you I just need someone to work at the front desk," he said, taking her by surprise. He turned to her with a straight face. "Can you read the clock and write well?"

"Yes!" Vivian exclaimed excitedly. Finally, there was something she knew how to do. "I can also read and recite the bible word from word!"

Jasper narrowed his eyes. "Good, if we decide to open a church in the Inn. Then you can recite the lines while you check in customers using a sacred binding ritual."

Vivian cocked her head to one side in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"oh never mind!" he riled up. "Bible verses are not necessary for this job. Meet me in my office after dinner and we'll go over simple procedures at night. Won't take long. Besides, I don't want to be seen outside with the odds of you!"

He flounced off to the front door before she could say another word.

"I was just trying to show you that I wasn't completely useless," Vivian muttered quietly to herself after he left her sight.