to Ming Li, Daisy.”
“Well?”
“Hear me out before you snap. I know you’re tired of being reminded about Camille and Jasper, but technically, because she is… was his wife, she has legal rights that you don’t. This house, for instance. Because Jasper died, everything he owned in life she owns by his death, even his Escalade. Where is it, anyway? I thought you guys said Marcus left it here.”
“I let him take it to get cleaned up. Jasper’s blood was in it.”
“Marcus doesn’t have Jasper’s SUV. I would’ve seen it. I bet—”
“Camille! He gave it to Camille.” Daisy clenched her teeth.
“Let me finish,” Ming Li said. “Camille owns everything that was his, unless Jasper’s will states otherwise. Let’s not forget about Jay,” she added with a wink.
Gigi laughed. “She can’t overthrow his will, Daisy. Or his heir. Even if Camille has this house, as much money as Jasper had, you know you’re gonna be alright.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that. But…” Daisy held up her eviction notice. “Is this any good? Do I really have thirty days to vacate?”
Ming Li nodded. “Technically.”
“Call his lawyer, Daisy. Do you need me to get the phone? I gotta hear this,” Gigi said.
“Ming Li, give me a sip of whatever you have in that flask first, then I’ll go find the number. I have a feeling it’s stronger than this wine.”
“What’s in that flask, anyway? And how many sips do you take a day?” Gigi asked.
“Paradis, Hennessy cognac. And not that it’s any of your business, but I take about five or six swigs a day. It relaxes me.” Ming Li handed the gold flask to Daisy.
Daisy gulped it, twisted her face, and banged her fist on her chest. “Damn, that’s some strong stuff. What is it, again?”
“About three hundred dollars,” Gigi said, laughing.
Three calls to Jasper’s attorney but not one call back. Daisy tried to understand. After all, he was a busy and important man. But after the last unreturned call, Daisy became impatient. Gigi offered to try, and Ming Li said that she’d have her lawyer contact Jasper’s, but Daisy declined both offers. This was something she had to do for herself.
Daisy held the phone tightly and waited for the receptionist to put her through, tapping her foot. She felt confident that Jasper’s attorney, Kenneth Burgess, would tell her that everything was fine.
“Ms. Parker, this is Ronald Hayes. I’m a junior partner at the firm. How can I help you?”
Daisy sighed. “I’m calling about Jasper Stevens’s will.” As if you don’t know. “Was anything left to either his son or myself?”
Mr. Hayes cleared his throat. “I’m afraid all the beneficiaries have been contacted.”
Daisy’s heart pounded. “Are you sure? There has to be some sort of mistake. Maybe you sent something to a wrong address or called a wrong number. There’s no way he’d have forgotten his son. Will you please check?”
“Again, I’m sorry. There’s been no mistake. All beneficiaries have been contacted, and they’ve met in person for the reading and execution.”
Daisy dropped the phone.
She began pacing frantically. How could Jasper enjoy her loyalty for seven years and leave her without so much as a dime? Something had to be wrong. He loved Jay too much to leave him to fend for himself. She slapped her head. She’d been his fool. His whore. The woman he’d treated like his child. Don’t work, Daisy. What kind of man would I look like if my woman had to work? My mother didn’t have to work. None of my coworkers’ wives have to work. You’re going to shame me. I’ll always take care of you. Forever, Daisy. Me and you, forever.
Jasper’s lies raced through Daisy’s mind. She’d done everything for him, and he’d done nothing for her. Moved her to a city where she had no relatives. Given her a home, which he would’ve had whether she’d lived there with him or not. Taken away her independence so that she’d be dependent on
“Well?”
“Hear me out before you snap. I know you’re tired of being reminded about Camille and Jasper, but technically, because she is… was his wife, she has legal rights that you don’t. This house, for instance. Because Jasper died, everything he owned in life she owns by his death, even his Escalade. Where is it, anyway? I thought you guys said Marcus left it here.”
“I let him take it to get cleaned up. Jasper’s blood was in it.”
“Marcus doesn’t have Jasper’s SUV. I would’ve seen it. I bet—”
“Camille! He gave it to Camille.” Daisy clenched her teeth.
“Let me finish,” Ming Li said. “Camille owns everything that was his, unless Jasper’s will states otherwise. Let’s not forget about Jay,” she added with a wink.
Gigi laughed. “She can’t overthrow his will, Daisy. Or his heir. Even if Camille has this house, as much money as Jasper had, you know you’re gonna be alright.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that. But…” Daisy held up her eviction notice. “Is this any good? Do I really have thirty days to vacate?”
Ming Li nodded. “Technically.”
“Call his lawyer, Daisy. Do you need me to get the phone? I gotta hear this,” Gigi said.
“Ming Li, give me a sip of whatever you have in that flask first, then I’ll go find the number. I have a feeling it’s stronger than this wine.”
“What’s in that flask, anyway? And how many sips do you take a day?” Gigi asked.
“Paradis, Hennessy cognac. And not that it’s any of your business, but I take about five or six swigs a day. It relaxes me.” Ming Li handed the gold flask to Daisy.
Daisy gulped it, twisted her face, and banged her fist on her chest. “Damn, that’s some strong stuff. What is it, again?”
“About three hundred dollars,” Gigi said, laughing.
Three calls to Jasper’s attorney but not one call back. Daisy tried to understand. After all, he was a busy and important man. But after the last unreturned call, Daisy became impatient. Gigi offered to try, and Ming Li said that she’d have her lawyer contact Jasper’s, but Daisy declined both offers. This was something she had to do for herself.
Daisy held the phone tightly and waited for the receptionist to put her through, tapping her foot. She felt confident that Jasper’s attorney, Kenneth Burgess, would tell her that everything was fine.
“Ms. Parker, this is Ronald Hayes. I’m a junior partner at the firm. How can I help you?”
Daisy sighed. “I’m calling about Jasper Stevens’s will.” As if you don’t know. “Was anything left to either his son or myself?”
Mr. Hayes cleared his throat. “I’m afraid all the beneficiaries have been contacted.”
Daisy’s heart pounded. “Are you sure? There has to be some sort of mistake. Maybe you sent something to a wrong address or called a wrong number. There’s no way he’d have forgotten his son. Will you please check?”
“Again, I’m sorry. There’s been no mistake. All beneficiaries have been contacted, and they’ve met in person for the reading and execution.”
Daisy dropped the phone.
She began pacing frantically. How could Jasper enjoy her loyalty for seven years and leave her without so much as a dime? Something had to be wrong. He loved Jay too much to leave him to fend for himself. She slapped her head. She’d been his fool. His whore. The woman he’d treated like his child. Don’t work, Daisy. What kind of man would I look like if my woman had to work? My mother didn’t have to work. None of my coworkers’ wives have to work. You’re going to shame me. I’ll always take care of you. Forever, Daisy. Me and you, forever.
Jasper’s lies raced through Daisy’s mind. She’d done everything for him, and he’d done nothing for her. Moved her to a city where she had no relatives. Given her a home, which he would’ve had whether she’d lived there with him or not. Taken away her independence so that she’d be dependent on
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