Hiding from Mr. Billionaire

42 Blackmailed Despair

Agatha heard the argument that'd unfolded and rushed up the stairs. Pictures of the Wrights family legacy's and their sons seemingly stared down at her with judgement as she passed. There Agatha discovered Jasper angrily walking passed her. "Jasper," she murmured. "What happened in there?"

"I think you know," Jasper taunted, slamming the door so hard the wood cracked. Agatha jolted. Something was wrong, very wrong. It seemed for a moment that nobody liked her interfering with a Martin girl. Agatha rushed in the room to see Vivian in a puddle on the floor. "Oh no," she breathed.
"Yes, he found me out," Vivian said quietly. "It's over, all of it is over. I've absolutely made a fool out of myself, more so than I made of Jasper."

"Oh dear, Vivian I'm so sorry," Agatha pulled her in for a hug and caressed her. "At least your hair is growing back, you can go back home look semi-girlish. and I'll give you some money to take with you. I'll try to stop my brother from any rash decision making while your gone."

Just as she mumbled those words they both herd a piece of furniture break from the bedroom down the hall. "Argh!" Jasper screamed loudly. "Maids, where are my maids!"

"They went home," Agatha yelled back. "To sleep!"

"Those maids are useless. I'm going to down there to ask Mr. Wilson if he can lend me one of his slaves for the night!"

"Don't be ridiculous Jasper, there's a civil war brewing out there. It doesn't matter if we live in a confederate state, you don't want to get into the tacky business. The maids will come back tomorrow first thing in the morning, so stop destroying everything like you always do!"

"I will pay them too then!"

The girls looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Jasper was indeed a ridiculous man. "Just get that Martin girl out here!"  he shot back once more.

"There's no guarantee, but if I try I get to keep my sessions with the Tavern lady!"

"Over my sweet powdered rumpus!"

Vivian jolted when he shattered another glass and jumped up to her feet, wiping the tears off her cheek."You best leave now," Agatha muttered quietly. "Or else Jasper's not going to stop doing this." 

"That's it I'm going to speak to him," Vivian didn't give Agatha a chance to speak as she marched down the hall. "He can't just toss me out like this for nothing. I'm going to go that man a piece of my mind!"

Agatha rushed after her, grabbing hold of her arm. "Vivian please be rational. He's not going to like that. Jasper may seem like a bad man, but he's my brother. I know him. Jasper has strong feelings and he values trust more than anything.  When that's broken he's not able to control what he says or does. I do not want you getting hurt in his moments. Please let me speak to him."

"Why should I let you talk to him when you're the once that always gets hurt?" Vivian questioned. "You two fight all the time, and frankly, he doesn't seem to care much about your feelings."

"Yes he does," Agatha said. "He apologizes to me when he knows he wrong. Almost always, my brother comes around for me."

"Can't you see? Jasper only does that when he wants you off his back in the mist of his problems. I see and hear you two, and whenever you want to do something he criticizes it and you fall to his side every single time. Tell me I'm wrong." Agatha remained silent and looked down at her hands. She couldn't hold Vivian back as she knocked on Jasper's door; leaning back when it slowly creaked open. In the small slit opening Jasper sat on the edge of the bed, hunched over in despair.

Jasper looked up and flinched away with a groan when he recognized the small dark haired woman in the corner of the room. "What do you want harlot?" Jasper snapped, lowering his head. "Or should I say, traitor."

Vivian sighed and sat on a wooden stool he had facing the dresser. "Can we stop with the absurd name calling and metaphors? I thought you'd at least be a little more formal than this given all the money your father spent trying to teach you manners. Come to think of it, he hasn't been seen in months..."

Jasper clenched his jaw. "How dare you make allegations against me when you just tarnished my reputation as a man."

"Stop being ridiculous. You're so painstakingly secretive not even your sister knows who you are. You keep so many things from her, from everyone. You're someone who hates broken trust, and yet, you went behind my father's back to cut him out of a job. You hated his view-share in the workplace. You made my family poor and desperate. You made me do this! now my father is sick and I can't fathom going back to him looking how I look. My beauty left the moment my hair did. So damn you. I'm leaving now. I don't know where I'll go, maybe to the streets. But I rather go there than stay inside this big, empty place another minute with you!"

"I don't think you understand ," Jasper said. "I can't let you leave even if I wanted you too."

Vivian looked at him with confusion. "You just told me-"

"You are signed as a co-partner in my company. If you left to town or even on the street people would recognize you. If they ever found out about you I would be terminated immediately. Reuben would take over, we would all loose our father's business," he said, nodding his head toward his sister outside. "Besides, no man wants a girl of middle class running a successful company. It's not proper. You and I would both be shamed if this were to be revealed." 

"You've already ruined me and my statue. I have nothing to loose. As much as I care for Agatha, I don't think I can." Vivian said. "Reuben sounds like a better owner than you'd ever be, I'm sure he'd do the right thing."

"You don't know what Reuben can be capable of, nor I if you do this," Jasper threatened through clench teeth. "Would you like to live in hell for leaving me on hinges, Martin girl?"

"Stop calling me that, my name is Vivian."

"Whatever," Jasper ignored her. "Whatever I have to do to protect my sister and the rest of my family name. You don't think I'd do something similar like you've done to me?"

Vivian's scowl suddenly vanished. "And you're in deep desperation I take it?"

"Stop smiling at me like that," Jasper said coldly.

Vivian thought to herself for a moment. "I will stay as your co partner, Jasper, under one condition. Well- two actually..."

"Not a chance," Jasper cut in.

"Jasper, if you don't agree with my conditions. I will automatically attest against you and walk out of this door blurting out how much of a woman I-"

"Fine!" Jasper exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Fine, you make the call this time. What do you want from me?" Vivian gulped as he towered over her with yet another daring glare. For a moment Vivian wondered to herself if she had the guts.

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A/N -  Hopefully no one got offended. Tried to make this chapter a little longer this time. Thank you for the votes and comments, really trying to getting better at this writing thing (: