Chapter 8: Chapter 7 - A Shot In Paris

Chapter 7 - A Shot In Paris

After a couple of hours, Carlos announced that we would be landing so I gently awoke my sexy little secretary who was lost in sleep.

"Scarlett, wake up," I shook her shoulders gently as her eyelids fluttered open.

"Are we there?" She asked groggily, sitting up.

"Nearly. We'll be landing in ten minutes."

"Oh, okay," she said quietly before looking out of the window.

"Are you all right, Scarlett?"

"This trip seems more to me of a social call rather than a business call," she commented raising an eyebrow.

"I had plans to meet with Mr André but unfortunately he cancelled last minute and there was no point in wasting two perfectly fine tickets," I replied coolly mentally praising myself at my swift thinking.

"That's funny. I don't recall you asking for a meeting with any 'Mr André'", she said sceptically.

She didn't miss a beat, did she?

"Mr André... He's a very difficult man to deal with when it comes to meetings and bookings, he can be quite demanding."

"Is that so?" She smiled knowingly, clearly seeing straight through my lie.

"We're landing," I said quickly before I embarrassed myself any further.

Within five minutes we landed swiftly and safely at Paris airport.

"Thank you, Carlos," I said shaking his hand before exiting the jet.

"Thank you so much Carlos, that was a very pleasant journey," I heard Scarlett's soft voice thanking him.

"You're very welcome, Scarlett, have a nice holiday."

Holiday? Seriously, Carlos? I glared at him as he gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Wow, this is so beautiful," Scarlett spoke as the driver parked up outside the hotel.

"That it is," I grinned. "Shall we?"

I stepped out and offered my arm to her which she gingerly accepted.

"Ever the gentleman aren't we, Mr Queen?" She muttered as she looked up at me.

She was very small in comparison to my six-foot three, not to mention very slim and slender, but her curves! She had such beautifully curvy hips and perfect breasts, soft pink lips, honey brown eyes and a perfect nose. Her legs were never ending and her blonde hair was always styled to perfection.

This woman had no faults about her.

"What can I say, Miss Valentina, the girls can't resist it," I smirked as she rolled her eyes.

"Jasper! Bonjour, mon garçon!" The hotel owner, Louis beamed, coming over to kiss my ass no doubt. "And who is this beautiful rose?" His attention turned to Scarlett, his eyes roaming up and down her body lustfully.

He was a man in his sixties for God's sake! Instinctively, I tightened my grip around Scarlett's waist.

"She is my secretary," I barked before pulling Scarlett over to reception with me.

"Mr Queen!" She snapped glaring at me.

"Whilst we are on this trip, as your employer you are solely my responsibility and I will not have you being looked at like that by a man old enough to be your grandfather." I told her coolly as she shot me a glare.

"I am able to take care of myself Mr Queen," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Really? Able enough to keep more scars off your body?"

"What?" She whispered in disbelief as her eyes widened. "How-"

"Welcome, Mr Queen," a hotel receptionist interrupted. "You'll have room 208, along with... your secretary," she said eyeing Scarlett with disgust. "Here are your keys."

"Merci." I said, snatching the keys off of her and leading Scarlett into the lift.

She was very quiet once we'd got into the room and she carefully attempted to avoid me.

"Scarlett," I said loudly as I sat opposite her on a chair.

"Yes, Mr Queen?"

"Explain."

"Explain?"

"That mark on your body."

"Mr Queen, I have no wish to talk about it-"

"I'll have to go to the police then. If you are in danger, the least I could do is have the cops protect you."

"You wouldn't dare," she whispered, but the look in her eyes knew I would if it came to that.

"Just tell me where it came from."

"That is none of your business, Mr Queen." She snapped folding her arms.

"Well, I'm about to make it my business."

"I'm not telling you anything."

"Then I'll fire you."

"Even I know you wouldn't do that." she said confidently as I sighed.

"No. No, I wouldn't. Scarlett-"

"No. I am not telling you anything because there is simply nothing to tell. "

"Fine!" I yelled angrily as I bolted up. "I'm going out. I'll have round the clock security around the hotel." I stated before picking up my jacket and leaving, feeling like an ässhole.

"I am more than capable of looking after myself, Mr Queen!" She yelled opening the door after me.

"I just need to make sure that you're okay at all times Scarlett," I said a little more softly.

"Fine. Go then." She slammed the door shut as I left angrily to arrange the security.

***

A couple of hours after meeting up with an old friend, I decided it was time to get back to Scarlett. Why couldn't I get an answer out of her? I could get absolutely anything out of anybody - money, cars, houses but an answer out of a woman?

I was Jasper Queen for Christ's sake!

I walked up to the car where the chauffer was waiting before I heard the sound of a bullet resonating in my ear as everything including myself, completely blacked out.

Scarlett's POV

Jasper was such an incredibly obnoxious man, I wasn't sure how many times I was going to have to reinstate that. After a few hours, he still hadn't returned - probably found some beautiful French girl to make love to, I thought bitterly.

While I was unpacking, a security guard frantically opened the door.

"Miss Valentina? I'm afraid I have some bad news; Mr Queen was shot. Around 2 hours ago."

"And you tell me now?" I screeched loudly.

"Miss Valentina. Please. He wasn't the intended target but the shooter has been identified and is in police custody as we speak. Mr Queen is currently in a private hospital, in a stable condition."

"I need somebody to drive me there," I said quickly while I grabbed a pair of boxers, a T-Shirt, sweatpants and a toothbrush for Jasper.

"I do not think it is safe for you at-"

"Right now!" I yelled, glaring at him as I stuffed the contents into a small suitcase before bolting out of the door and into the elevator.

Upon reaching downstairs, I was escorted out by security into a car and within ten minutes, I was at the hospital.

"I need to see Jasper Queen, please," I said quickly to the hospital receptionist.

"Visiting time is over, sorry." The woman said in a bored tone, not sounding sorry at all.

"I am his sister, I've just come from New York, please," I pleaded as she rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Room 105."

Without thanking her, I ran to the ward in which Jasper was. His room was surrounded by security outside, so I took out my identity card which proved I was his secretary.

I stepped inside to see him lying in the hospital bed, his eyes closed and his torso wrapped in bandages. A feeling of guilt overcame me as I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.

Why had I assumed that he was with another woman, when actually he was nearly killed?

"I am so sorry," I sobbed quietly, placing my hand in his. "This is all my fault."

"Are those tears for your bïtchy boss, Scarlett?" His hoarse voice suddenly spoke out. He squeezed my hand gently before letting go.

"Mr Queen!" I said exasperatedly. "God, are you okay?"

Clearly, he isn't, idiot!

"I've been better," he smiled lazily as he tried to sit up before he winced in pain.

"Don't do that!" I snapped at him as he stared at me in surprise.

"What the hell happened?" He asked knitting his eyebrows together.

"You... You were shot a few hours ago." I said quietly.

"At least I'm not dead," he finally spoke.

"Please. Don't ever do that again," I said sighing.

"Trust me, I'm not planning on getting myself murdered any time soon," he smirked as I plonked myself on the chair beside his bed in relief.

"This was all my fault, I'm so sorry," I mumbled unable to look him in the eye. "If I had just told you-"

"Don't." He stopped me sternly. "It was just a case of wrong place, wrong time, that's all."

"I really am sorry Mr Queen." I said sadly as more tears slipped down my cheek.

"Scarlett!" He grinned. "Even if I did die, you would have some weight lifted off your shoulder's right?" He joked.

What did he just say? I stared at him shocked.

"Is that what you think?" I whispered as he avoided my gaze. "Is it? Because you don't know the half of it."

Suddenly, the door opened as a doctor came in.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I could come back later but unfortunately we need to run some tests on Mr Queen as soon as possible."

"Yes, of course. I was just... Leaving to get some coffee for Mr Queen," I smiled politely as I stood up to leave.

I could feel Jasper's gaze on me as I avoided eye contact. I sat outside, his words burning at my insides, why did he assume such a thing?

Oh, cut him some slack woman, the man could have died!

Sighing, I agreed with that irritating voice in my head. I headed over to the hospital café and ordered Jasper his favourite coffee and a blueberry muffin which I had noted he enjoyed considering the amount of times he would ask – no, order - me to bake him some.

As I headed back, the doctor came out of Jaspers hospital room.

"Is he going to be okay, doctor?"

"Yes, he will," he smiled reassuringly. "Luckily for him, the bullet was worn and blunt so it didn't do too much harm to his internal organs. However, I think he would be better off in the comfort of his own home where he should get at least a few weeks' worth of rest."

"Of course. Thank you, doctor." He gave me a nod and left the ward as I walked inside Jasper's room, closing the door shut behind me.

"Are you hungry, Mr Queen?" I asked gently, carefully placing his coffee on the table beside him.

"No, I'm fine, thanks," he smiled.

"At least drink some coffee."

"That I can't refuse." He grinned taking the cup from my hands. "We're going home later, Scarlett. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend as much time as you would have liked, I know Paris is on your 'Top Ten Places' list." He smiled apologetically.

"Forget about that, the most important thing is that you're okay. And don't you think you should rest up for a while before we leave?"

"I am not going to be resting. There is work that needs to be done."

"We'll see about that," I smirked to myself before standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"To sort your clothes out."

"Thank God, I thought I was going to have to stay looking like this." he mumbled closing his eyes. "I hope you bought my suit."

"I bought you a pair of sweatpants and a T-Shirt, actually, and I will have no arguments." I said folding my arms.

"Remind me again who the boss is?"

"For the next month Mr Queen, it is I," I smirked placing his clothes on the bed as he chuckled darkly.

"Now that I would like to see," he grinned attempting to get out of the bed as I walked over to aid him. "You're tiny, you can't help me up," he smiled cheekily cocking an eyebrow.

I pulled him out gently, allowing his weight to shift on me as I guided him towards the chair.

"See? I am not that tiny," I said triumphantly as he chuckled.

I carefully removed his hospital gown and proceeded to help him put his T-Shirt on.

"I've got it," he winced as he lifted his arm up.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you don't do this carefully," I chided as I instructed him to put his arm through the sleeve holes before carefully pulling it down his head. I tried to avoid staring at that sexy Greek god body in all of its rippling abs and muscular glory.

"Thanks." He said as his phone blared to life. "Could you get that?"

I picked the phone off the desk and answered the call.

"Hello. Jasper Queen's phone. This is his secretary speaking."

"His secretary?" A male voice enquired politely.

"Scarlett Valentina, sir. Sorry, to whom am I speaking to?"

"James Queen, Jasper's father. How is he? The reporters have been printing rubbish non-stop and his mother's been out of her goddamn mind. If you ask me, my son needs to grow some balls-"

"James! I want to know how my son is doing if you're finished insulting him!" A female voice interrupted from over the phone as I bit back a laugh.

"Who is it?" Jasper mouthed curiously as I handed him the phone.

"Your parents." I replied as he threw his head upwards sighing.

I left the room to give him some privacy before he called from inside.

"Your mom seemed very worried, is she okay?" I asked once we'd left the hospital.

"She's a drama queen Scarlett and my father... well, he's something else." He muttered.

"I know, I could tell." I smiled as I grabbed his suitcase.

"I've called ahead and there's a car waiting for us outside and the luggage will arrive separately." He informed me as he stood up. "Shall we?"

"If you're completely sure that you're okay," I told him as he shook his head.

"I'm fine, Scarlett, honestly."

"Let's go home then." I smiled at him as we got into the car.

What were the chances of today's mishaps? I mused silently.

My boss got shot and was already up and at 'em.

He had also seen those godforsaken scars that adorned my body.

Something told me, he wasn't going to let it go and I was not ready for that.