CHAPTER 11: DINNER

JASPER'S POV,

I always knew Elizabeth was too good for my son.

Tyler had her over dinner one night, and I was confused, to say the least. He did mention a few times that he was seeing a girl but we never had any conversation about it. None of his dates lasted for more than a month, so it was surprising to see someone had captured his interest for that long.

Elizabeth walked into the house that night with a little awkwardness in her movement. Her hand was wrapped tightly around Tyler’s arm the whole time we talked before the dinner. She was a little shy, and couldn't look me in the eyes for longer than a few seconds. I found that extremely cute and it made me smile a little.

She was breathtaking with her big and curious eyes, sharp facial features, full lips, straight nose, and genuine smile. She had an energy about her that filled the whole house with positivity. My cold house felt alive once again when her voice echoed through the halls.

“Dad, this is my Izzy.” I still remember the way he introduced her to me, in that careless, almost dismissive way of his that would have made my blood boil if I were in her shoes.

She didn't say anything. Instead, she gave me a polite and eager smile to make a good first impression. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Mr. Black. Tyler talks about you all the time.”

That was a lie. I knew for a fact Tyler never talked about me unless it was to complain about the way I was running the company or to whine about how strict I had been with him growing up. I knew my son. Still, I played along, shaking her hand and asking her to get comfortable.

It was already known to me that she was too good for him, but Tyler further proved that by opening his mouth and speaking about something he had no idea about. I knew instantly that she was madly in love with him when instead of correcting him, she changed the topic.

I sat across from them at the dining table, watching as she looked at my son like he was going to end poverty, wars, and world hunger altogether. And it made me feel something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Jealousy.

It wasn't because Tyler had her, instead it was because she loved him with everything inside her. I never had someone who had looked at me like that. The kind of love that was unfiltered, raw, and real, and not tainted by materialistic desires and selfishness.

I had women, a lot of them—dates, flings, acquaintances I shared my bed with when the loneliness became unbearable. But none of them had what she had in her eyes for Tyler. For a few seconds, I was jealous of my son and his luck.

But I knew, right then and there, that Tyler was going to break her heart. And maybe deep down I wanted him to.

I tried to ignore my feelings towards her. I told myself it was wrong, that she was young, bright, and full of life—while I was a man who had seen too much of the world to believe in things like soulmates. But when Tyler got more serious with her, I had no choice but to spend more time around her.

And I fell for her.

I fell for her kindness and the way she saw the world. It almost made me believe that she was living in an entirely different reality that was far away from ours. At dinners—which became almost a weekly occasion—she would ask me things that no one else cared about asking.

“Mr. Black, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?” she questioned me once, twirling her wine glass between her fingers.

I had been caught off guard by that simple question. Most people had only asked me about business, money, or investments, but she had her own strange thoughts. I remember turning to look at her in confusion, only to find her waiting for an answer like my dreams actually mattered.

“I’ve always liked Greece,” I said truthfully. “There’s something about the old ruins that makes you feel like time isn’t real. Like we’re all just passing through, and everything comes to an end.”

Her face lit up, and she offered a smile in my direction. “That’s beautiful. Have you ever been there?”

“No. Work always gets in the way.”

“Then you have to go,” she said with narrowed eyes that meant she was serious about it. “Even if just for a week. No emails, no business calls. Just you and the old ruins.”

Back then I could only laugh at it awkwardly, but something about her words stuck with me. And then, there was that time when she found me alone on the back patio. It was my birthday, and Tyler had thrown one of his ridiculous parties that I never liked because they were more about him than me.

“Aren’t you going to socialize with your business people?” she teased, handing me a glass of my favorite whisky.

I remember rolling my eyes at her, followed by a chuckle. “I think I’ve passed the age where loud music and drinks are my idea of entertainment.”

“You’re not that old, Mr. Black.”

I had taken a sip of my whiskey, watching her from the corner of my eye. I shouldn't have thought about it much, but for my lonely heart, it was a ray of hope that didn't let the flame of desire burn out inside me.

“I am not in college either, well neither is he but I guess he never grew out of it.” I was looking at Tyler who was drunk, and dancing with his friends.

“He didn't. in his head, he is still twenty,” she commented, and I stopped myself from asking her why she was in love with him.

She took the empty place next to me for the remainder of the party. It was probably because she felt sorry for me, yet I still carry that memory with me. For me, that moment with her was the best birthday present.

When Tyler proposed to her, I told myself I needed to get rid of my feelings towards her. She was about to be my daughter-in-law. And I did manage to stop thinking about her a little, but then the wedding was canceled.

When I came to know she had caught Tyler cheating and ended everything, I thanked whatever gods existed. Because for the first time in years, I was free to do something about the feelings I had been hiding. I could confess the truth to her.

So, I buried down all my fears and the voices in my head telling me to stay away from her. I called my personal assistant and asked her to clear my schedule for the next day and picked up my phone from the desk. Elizabeth's contact number was on display because I had been contemplating calling her for hours.

I told myself that I was going to date her and I was going to love her the way she deserved to be loved, not caring about anyone else. My heart started to beat fast when the ringing started, and on the second ring, she picked up the call. She was silent, which was unusual for her, so I gathered up the courage and said what I wanted to.

“Can we meet tomorrow? I want to take you on an official date.”