FEANCE. "You are the root of all the problem, so why don't you just do us all a favor and die. Just die, that way we can all be happy. I'm sure Jason would feel better without the extra baggage, because that is all you are to him. Extra baggage."When Meredith said that, Erika felt a sharp pain in her chest, and it wasn't just because she felt hurt that she was talking to her in such an offensive manner, it was because deep down in her heart… Erika knew that Meredith was just saying the things she used to think about.When she first met Jason, she used to feel bad for him because it was obvious that he was doing the best he could to make money, and things were not going the way he wanted. He was always working hard, and he was always ready to do any extra work, as long as it could earn him an extra pay. She understood him because she was like that as well.Asides from managing her parent's store, Erika was always available whenever there was extra work to do, she wasn't lazy and she
FLASHBACK.SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO.THE HOME OF THE EVANS."Julian, this is madness!""Madness? Tell me what is so mad in me wanting to make money?""By kidnapping someone else's son? This is not making money Julian, this is committing a crime, and I will not be a part if it!""Suit yourself brother, but don't come running back to me when I am busy spending all the money I make from this deal." "And where do you think you are going?""To my room, where else?""Did you not hear what I just said? I just said I do not want any part in this nonsense. Meaning there is no place for you or your girlfriend in my house.""Your house? Did you forget that our father owns this house? And that means I have just the same amount of right as you do.""And did you forget that after our father died, you were not given a share of his property? He left his company and this house to me. Did you forget?""Oh so that is the card you want to pull? Is that it?""Julian, regardless of the fact that we are only ha
NEW YORK."What the hell are you talking about Phil?!""I'm sorry Lauren but I don't think I can come back to the city just yet. There is this deal that I am still trying to sign, it is going to be worth it when I do so please try to understand.""Worth it, for you or for me?""Us, my dear. It will be worth it for both of us, so please let me finish up here before I come back there.""Did you even hear a word I said? My mother is still at the police station, and Rose said the only way she is going to drop the charges against her is if you show up. How can you tell me you can't?""I understand my dear–""Stop calling me that! Just find a way to get over here tomorrow.""To be fair, it wasn't my fault that your mother committed a crime, so why should I have to abandon my work because of her?""Did I just hear you say what I think you said? It wasn't your fault? So you can't help her out?""That is not what I meant Lauren, it's just, I wish you would understand me. If I leave now, it wou
"You wanted to see me, Miss Evans?""Yes sir, or is this a bad time?""Not at all. Please, have a seat." She obliged and sat next to David Sinclair at the dining table and he added. "You know, I had a feeling you would come.""You did?"He nodded in reply, taking a sip from his tea. "I presume this is about my right hand man, Julian?"Shantel's response was a firm nod. "How well do you know that man?" She asked, folding her hands on the table."I admit, I haven't known him for that long but I feel that he is quite trustworthy. Though by the look on your face, I'm guessing you don't agree with me?""I don't. Mr Sinclair, you have no idea what that man is capable of.""And you are here to tell me, or am I wrong?""If I do, will you believe me?""I think I need to hear your explanation first before deciding on whether I can believe you or not.""Very well. As much as I hate to admit it, he is related to my family.""He is your uncle, yes I am aware.""Step, uncle." She corrected. "He was
"Meredith, can we talk?""I have nothing to say to you, so if you don't mind I would like to continue with my work."Jason needed to lure her out of the mansion, so taking no for an answer was not an option. "It's really important that you and I talk."She didn't respond, instead she kept typing angrily on her laptop and normally Jason would have just walked away, but now was not the time for that. He needed to do his part so the others could do theirs quickly and without interruption.They had to leave France the next day and Jason didn't want Meredith to be aware, in fact, he wished no one would be alerted of their travelling. So his first option was for them to leave without packing at all, but it didn't sit right with Erika and her parents, so he came up with option two.Lure Meredith out of the house so they could quickly pack their luggages and take it to a hotel that he had booked for the night. Then once it was morning, they would each come up with an excuse to leave the house
FLASHBACK.ONE DAY AGO.FRANCE."So, what you're saying is that we still have to leave by Saturday?""Unfortunately. I'm really sorry you have to go through the stress, Matthew is just really worried that Meredith might try something and with Shantel now working with the Board… it's just not safe here anymore.""I understand, but how are we going to leave without Meredith noticing? It's not like we can hide all of our luggages, and unless you have a shrink ray somewhere that we can use, I say she's going to notice."Erika was right, he didn't have that much things exept his clothes and shoes, though there were some new items he had gotten but it still wasn't that much. Erika's bags on the other hand, had doubled, not that it was entirely her doing though. He had contributed in the increments of her things by getting her every nice dress or shoe he found at the mall. Then Meredith had also gifted her with some nice outfits and accessories. He didn't know anything about her parent's b
"Jason, I have loved you all my life. I don't know if you know this but, after you were taken, I almost killed myself. I wasn't the same without you.""I'm so sorry about that." He was aware, because his butler had told him all about it. And even though he wasn't at fault, Jason felt bad for making her go through something so painful at such a young age. He wished she would give him a chance to make things up to her, but not in the way she was implying. He wanted to make up for old times, he wanted them to go back to the time when they were best friends, he wanted to know what it felt like to have a sister… but it was obvious that what Meredith wanted was entirely different."I don't need you to be sorry!" She blurted out, catching the attention of some of the other customers around. "I need you to make up for all the time we lost!. And the only way you can do that, is by getting married to me.""Married?!" Jason's eyes bulged in shock as he heard her. She wasn't even talking about
FRANCE.As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Jason knew it was not true. Even if Erika hadn't come into the picture, he was not sure he would fall in love with Meredith. Besides, there was still Lauren. But maybe, just maybe if they had grown up together, maybe instead of Shantel, she was his best friend, maybe it could have happened.He hated the fact that all the woman that were supposed to be his people, to be on his side, were the ones trying to make his life more complicated than it needed to be.First it was Lauren, before the incident with Phil and their divorce, if someone had seen a vision that Lauren would break his heart, Jason would have said it was balderdash. Lauren was the sweetest woman he knew and to him, she was an angel. The fact that she accepted him and had a secret wedding with him even though he was poor made him feel that she was the most perfect woman there was.Boy was he wrong.Then Rose came along– and although their relationship was based solely on