Page 8 of Ashes of Us
After Danica called the car for Craig, and Alex made sure he wasn't trying to make off with anything in his pockets or suitcase, they got him out of the house.
Alex called for a locksmith to change the locks the next day and let the security guard know no one else was allowed in the house, and to call him immediately if someone tried.
Danica waited, leaning against her car as Alex read Craig the riot act and told him he expected him to be on his best behaviour until they got through the memorial and publicity that would surround Alexander's death.
She couldn't hear everything, but she made out some threats about dragging out the probate period as long as he could.
When the car arrived and took Craig away, she got in the driver's seat and seriously considered quitting on the spot.
She knew Jasper would support that decision one hundred percent, and if she told him why, he would probably hunt down Alex and punch him in the face.
He was very protective of her and would want to defend her honour the only way he knew how, by getting violent.
The thought did give her a bit of a warm feeling, but she knew Alex wouldn't hesitate to have Jasper arrested.
By the time Alex got in the car, she had dismissed those thoughts.
She couldn't bring herself to quit without having something else lined up first. Besides, her loyalty to Alexander and Cassandra made her want to see things through until his memorial was over and the two of them were together again.
She started the car without a word and began the drive to the Seaport District.
She drove automatically, ignoring the man beside her.
She felt a small measure of guilt for wanting to leave the hotel but reminded herself that she owed Alex nothing and good executive assistants were a dime a dozen, he'd find someone to replace her very easily.
Alex didn't try to speak to her either, though she could see him glancing at her.
It was a short drive, and the only conversation was her politely asking him which condo building, and his rather terse response.
She pulled up in front of the building and got out, rolling back the tonneau cover while he went inside and got a trolley for his luggage.
When he came back, she had moved all the luggage to the end of the pan and was jumping over the side to the sidewalk.
She helped him load up the trolley and closed the tailgate a little harder than she meant to.
“Do you want me to arrange a car to pick you up tomorrow?” She didn't look at him as she rolled the tonneau cover back into place and secured it, trying to make it clear she didn't intend to become his chauffeur as well as his executive assistant.
“For seven-thirty. Please.” She nodded at his response, noting he tacked on the please after a slight pause, and moved to get back in her car, he reached out and caught her arm gently as she passed and it took everything in her not to grab his hand and flip him onto his back in the middle of the entrance way to his fancy condo building.
“Look, about what Craig said,” His voice was low and almost apologetic, but Danica still couldn't bring herself to look at him.
“Like I said, I don't care.” She shrugged him off and opened the door.
“Have a nice evening, Mr. West.” She got in and closed the door firmly, not in the mood to listen to his excuses or reasoning since she doubted it would come with any sort of apology, sincere or otherwise.
Putting the car in gear, she checked her blind spot and merged into traffic.
The drive to her home in East Boston was spent alternating between hurt, disappointment, and anger.
She didn't want to care about what Alex thought of her, but she did, which added to her anger.
She hated the thought that he believed she had an affair with his father while his mother was recovering from her stroke and that it continued after Cassandra's death, mostly because it invalidated all the hard work she had put in over the years and her marriage to Jasper.
It also sullied how much Alexander had loved his wife, whom he did everything in his power to make comfortable in her last year, hiring round-the-clock care so she could be happy and live in the house she loved until the second massive stroke took her a year later.
Alexander had been devastated when she died and fell into a deep depression that he never recovered from.
Of course, neither of his sons really saw that.
Craig had attended his mother's funeral, hung around until he got his inheritance and then went back to Vegas.
Alex had stayed around longer, hoping his father would announce his retirement, and when it was made clear that Alexander wasn't going to, he had gone back to London in a huff.
Alexander, for his part, felt that both his sons only saw him for what he could give them, not as a father, and just stopped trying to have a relationship with them.
She had to admit to herself that she had hoped that she could come to have a relationship with Alex like she had with his parents.
With both Alexander and Cassandra gone, she felt like she had lost her family for a second time, like she was eighteen and being told she was no longer welcome in their home and needed to leave all over again.
By the time she pulled into the driveway and parked to one side, she was in tears.
She got out and headed toward the garage.
The light was on, and she could hear her husband's heavy metal music faintly, so she knew he was in there.
Opening the door, she saw he was working on their latest project, a 1969 Dodge Charger they planned to fix up to sell.
He had the engine on the hoist and was looking it over critically.
He looked up and saw her, his face brightening happily before he noticed the tears, and then he started toward her.
“Ziggy, off.' He called over the music, and the sudden silence that filled the garage when the home assistant stopped playing was almost jarring.
He immediately cupped her cheeks in his large hands and made her look up at him, leaving what Danica was sure were greasy fingerprints on her face.
“What happened? Are you okay?” She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in, needing a hug.
“It's been a very long, rough two days,” she murmured as he let go of her face and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
She pressed her face into his chest and inhaled the familiar scent of grease and Old Spice.
“I'm tired and hungry.” She needed to eat, and they needed to talk, because as much as he wanted her to quit working as Alexander's executive assistant and dreading her working for Alex, she knew he wouldn't be happy if her leaving meant they had to cut down on things he enjoyed.
“Alright.” He rubbed her back, letting her have her moment of comfort. “Let's order pizza and talk.”
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An hour later, they were showered, changed into more comfortable clothes, and eating pizza on the couch.
When Danica finished her second slice, she leaned back on the couch and watched as Jasper devoured his fourth piece.
She wished he would cut back on the amount of takeout he consumed, but besides being a little pudgy around his middle, which Danica actually kind of liked because it was like hugging a cuddly teddy bear; he was healthy and in shape.
Seeing her watching him, he sheepishly shrugged and wiped his mouth.
“I forgot to eat today.” Danica shook her head and chuckled.
He had raging ADHD, and if she didn't remind him to eat when he was focused on something, he would go until he was faint from hunger. “So? What happened?”
Danica blew out a frustrated breath and then began to tell him about the last two days.
She started with how she found Alexander, how she found out Marcy was spying for Alex, Alex's remarks on the plane and finished with what Craig said before they got him out of the house.
Jasper listened quietly, occasionally asking a question for clarification or muttering out a few choice swear words.
When she finished, he looked outraged on her behalf but quickly hid it when he saw how upset she was.
He was quiet for a few minutes, just holding her and running his fingers through her hair while she sniffled, then he pulled back and looked down at her. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to quit.” She responded quietly. “I obviously need to see things through with Alexander's memorial service and making sure his wishes are carried out regarding his remains, but after that, I want to start looking for a new job.”
“Okay.” Jasper nodded, but she could see he was steeling himself to say something and tensed a little. “How long do you think you can suffer it out?” Danica raised her eyebrow. She had been expecting him to stand up and dance in excitement, not ask her to stay there.
“I'm not sure, why?” she looked at him curiously, wondering what his thought process was.
“Mom and Dad told me they're on a list for a senior’s community and offered to give us their property.” He explained, watching her carefully.
His parents owned a two-acre piece of land in Dedham that they had bought cheaply when the bank foreclosed on the original owners.
His father ran his garage out there, and Jasper worked for him.
“I figure if you can wait until they get a place, we can sell our place, move out there mortgage-free, and actually start our rebuild company like we talked about.”
Danica fell silent in shock. They had discussed starting a car rebuilding company when they started it as a hobby and side hustle shortly after they got married, but she hadn't realized he had taken that so seriously.
She always saw it as more of a pipedream that would never happen, but looking at his nervously excited face, she felt a rush of warmth run through her.
“How long are we talking here?” She wanted to do it, she knew how much it would mean to him if she agreed and she had to admit that as much as he complained, he had done a lot to support her in her job, including buying a house in an area that lessened her commute to work while lengthening his, but she couldn't help but feel cautious about it.
“Six months, tops, but it could be less.” He gripped her hand, holding it tightly and giving her an encouraging smile. “We could use the money we get when we finish the charger to get you certified as a mechanic.”
Danica took a deep breath. It almost sounded too easy, but she still saw one huge potential problem.
Jasper was jealous and a little possessive of her, and she didn't want to deal with his moods when she was gone for a week at a time with Alex.
“If I agree, you have to promise me you won't get upset when Alex and I start doing the audits on the hotels.” She watched as his brown eyes darkened, and he visibly struggled with his usual jealousy.
“I promise,” he said after a moment. “As long as I can join you whenever I want.” Danica felt like he had just lifted a ton of weight off her shoulders. She leaned in and kissed him hard, knowing full well he wouldn't actually join them because he hated flying; he just wanted to know he could.
“I would love to have you join me, you know that.” She murmured against his lips.
She would; she used to try to get him to come when she travelled with Alexander, but he always declined.
She had to give him credit; he never bought into the idea that she was sleeping with Alexander and always trusted her with him.
He just didn't like how much of her energy she gave to her job.
He was a lot more easygoing and relaxed when it came to that, believing a good work-life balance was more important than what was in their bank accounts. He grinned and pulled her into his lap.
“So, we're doing this?” He asked as his hands slid up under her tank top. He began to tickle her ribs, making her shriek with laughter. “Yeah?'
“Yes!” Danica giggled, trying to squirm out of his lap and away from his fingers.
“Yes! We're doing this!” This time Jasper let out a whoop and pulled her close in a tight hug as he stood up, giving her a look that had her stomach flipping as his hands found her ass and squeezed as he backed her toward the stairs.
“Come on, Mrs. Preston, I'm gonna remind you why you married me.”