“Actually, Imogen, that’s not correct either,” Victoria said. “My son Asher is a playboy. He’s attractive and fun with lots of family money.”
“And?” I spoke out, “Why is he being forced to marry me?”
“Again, he has been given an ultimatum. There happens to be a big scandal, he created, so I’m making him marry and settle down a bit,” Victoria offered. “He won’t be grouchy because he is going to love the look of you. Hence, why we are all discussing you as if you weren’t also right there.”
My mind was racing. Why would I let myself be bought for a guy who clearly can get his own women and is mad he is being forced? What if he gets violent too? Maybe I need to cancel this thing now? No way, I can’t. They have helped so much already and I can’t let Brice find me. Man, would he be pissed if he found me now. I felt the shivers start on the back of my neck, making their way south.
“Imogen, it’s really okay, I assure you,” Victoria said looking straight at me. “Asher is a good person. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’d play with the fly and buy it fancy stuff, but never hurt it.”
At that, Mia and Poppy both started giggling. I was starting to get an image of this Asher, and I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like him and was going to have my hands full.
I wonder if they would show me a picture?
Chapter 8
AUGUST
I worked until one in the morning. Asher never showed up to look at the blueprints with me. I had been feeling bad for him but I just wasn’t anymore. He had to learn his lesson and he needed to get focused on the partnership. The Hawthorne name brought in major accounts, too many accounts for one architect to handle, especially with all the travel involved.
I’ll have him trapped on a plane for twenty-two hours. That’ll be my chance to have that serious discussion. He needs to start helping or get out of the partnership so I can run it the way I want to.
Saturday morning came and went. The family went in multiple directions. Parker and Mia headed back to Manhattan after breakfast, while Murphy slept off whatever partying she had done on her date. Trey, on the other hand, was in the kitchen talking on his cell when I walked in looking for lunch. He nodded then said his goodbyes to the person on the other end of the line.
“I was wondering when you’d be down.” Trey passed the plate of bacon to me. “Asher is in quite a mood still and took off this morning to meet up with a few of his regular women.”
“I have no idea how he’s my twin,” I joked. “He should be your twin.”
“Wait a minute.” Trey took the bacon back abruptly. “I never caused a family scandal. I never caused a family meeting to happen. And I showed up to work every day.”
“Yeah, I know. Why don’t you talk to him?” I poured myself a cup of coffee. “You are the oldest, you know.”
“Don’t go trying that one on me. Mom’s got this handled, we should just stay out of it.” Trey took my coffee cup the minute I set it down on the counter. “Thanks for the coffee.”
Dianne had walked into the kitchen giving us both the “what are you doing in my kitchen” look. Trey tried to hide the plate of bacon, but you couldn’t fool her. She was tough when it came to running the manor, especially the kitchen.
“Henry Hawthorne III put the bacon back in the warmer before I take my spatula to your fingers!” Dianne said, never checking to see if he had it. “And don’t look at August like he had anything to do with it. I know better.”
All I could do was laugh. The expression on Dr. Trey’s face was priceless. If his patients could see him now.
“August, what would you like to eat?” Dianne put on her apron. “Trey, did you fill up on my bacon or would you like something too?”
“You know I love you, Dianne, and you know my favorite is bacon. Which is why you have three plates of bacon in the warmer.” Trey kissed Dianne on top of the head. “I’m taking this plate with me. You better get your spatula out, and I want the ten second head start like always.”
I could hear Trey laughing all the way up the stairs. Dianne was smiling ear to ear while she pulled pots out and turned the stove on. She loved this banter as much as any of us.
“And you thought when we finally grew up we’d stop being brats to you,” I laughed. “I have to get back to my blueprints, can you send a sandwich with a salad up for me? Please?”
“Your usual?” Dianne asked. “You need to put some meat on those bones, young man. I’ll send up some dessert too.”
“I knew you would. Send up the same for Asher. I’m going to go find him.” I left the kitchen in search of my scandalous twin.
Asher wasn’t anywhere in the manor as Trey had said. I had hoped he was wrong and that my twin was hiding in his suite. I walked down to the library hoping to catch my parents, specifically my mother. I was having my doubts about this plan of hers. Mom wasn’t in the library and surprisingly neither was my father. This was strange, in itself, because as a kid, I thought maybe he never left the library, and there was a hidden bed that came out at night for him. I was heading back to my suite when my cell vibrated in my pocket.
Alright Asher, now what?
“Where you at, Ash?” I asked, hiding my frustration. “I worked on blueprints until two in the morning. You never showed up.”
“I had to get out of the manor. Mom is crazy if she thinks this is a good idea,” Asher protested. “You gotta talk her out of this for me.”
“Not gonna happen, Ash, and if you cared about anyone but yourself, you would have helped with the blueprints last night,” I demanded right back at him. “I don’t even care where you are, but you better be at the airport by noon tomorrow.”
“And what if I’m not?”
Chapter 9
IMOGEN
The injuries and the day combined were taking a toll on me. I had gone through so many emotions in the last twenty-four hours. I wanted to call my parents to let them know I was okay, but I knew Brice would have their phones tapped. It was definitely better if they knew nothing. Once I got out of the country, I could let them know I was finally safe from him. I just hoped he didn’t give them a hard time and harass them.
“Imogen, the doctor is here to check you out. Are you dressed?” Poppy tapped from outside the bedroom door.
“Yes, come on in.” I walked to the door and opened it. “You don’t have to knock in your own home.”
“Don’t be silly, everyone deserves privacy. This is Dr. Nelson, he’s here to make sure that eye is alright,” Poppy smiled. “I’ll get out of the way, but you are in very good hands.”
“Thanks, Poppy.” I smiled back. “You can stay if you want.”
“I’ll be right across the hall if you need me.” Poppy seemed to understand that I was apprehensive. “When you’re done, we have some fun stuff to do.”
“Imogen, let’s get started with an eye exam.” Dr Nelson sat his bag on the table. “I think the lip will heal on its own, in time. Does your jaw hurt?”