Branch Seventeen
“Can you please put Jessica back on the line?” Burke said trying to compose himself.
“Anything you have to say to my wife you can say to me too” Xavier answered.
He was irritated with the back-and-forth of Jessica with him. He had a faint idea that Burke was behind the news but he only confirmed the suspicions now.
“It’s a private matter between us” Burke answered. He did not expect to speak with him so soon.
Burke was quite aware of the power and wealth that the Delgado family carried but his anger towards Jessica who had changed her status overnight by marrying into the family made him furious and he went after the family without any reason.
After all, there was no way he could single out only Jessica without affecting the family. There was no direct link between the blog owner and Burke so he was calm and there was no evidence of the information transfer too.
“I will call her back then” Burke responded when it was obvious that Xavier was neither going to say anything nor pass back the phone to Jessica.
“So your little boyfriend got us into this mess?” Xavier asked throwing the phone onto Jessica’s lap.
“He was my boyfriend, not anymore” Jessica answered with gritted teeth.
He knew that so why was he acting like a meanie? Since he woke up he had been a jerk to her. What was his issue? In fact, if they look at it very well, he would not be blamed after all she was the gold digger who pushed her way to wealth. He was very unaware of the situation. She was the bad guy.
“You’re so annoying” Jessica muttered and plugged in her ear pods to drown anything he might have to say. She was already having a very hard time. Why was he bent on making her angrier?
Xavier drove back to the house silently. As he stopped at the door of the mansion, Jessica came down and stormed off to her room. She entered the room while paying no attention to the employees who head where ever down to greet her.
Her name was being dragged into the media and here this man was trying his possible best to piss her off the more. He must be doing it on purpose after all this could be a good way for him to get off this marriage.
Jessica sat on the bed after she locked the door from the inside. She was fuming mad and she was breathing heavily. The ringing of her phone made her even angrier.
She pulled it out and it was an unknown number. She had been getting calls and messages on all socials and she was tired so she picked up and barked into the phone.
“What do you people want from me? I never did anything to you. All I did was get married yet I never hear the last of it. Am I such a sinner for getting married?” she yelled to the recipient.
“No, you are not a sinner”
Jessica could tell right away from the voice that it was Dawson. The old man was rather worried about Jessica. He had his fair share of media gossip back in the day. Then everything was not as digitalized as this but word still got out.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Dawson knew that Xavier and Jessica barely knew each other but he went along because he thought that perhaps his grandson may find love in the hands of a stranger. Upon spending time with her knew he knew she was a pure soul. He was old but still an excellent judge of character.
“Hello Dawson,” Jessica said.
“I’m so glad you recognized my voice,” Dawson said.
He had decided to call her because he knew his son was not the best at handling any situation like this. He had grown a thick skin to the media after what they did after his parents died.
Xavier happened to be in the car but got out unharmed. His mother’s hands had been cuddling him and he was crying and wailing at the scene.
He barely understood anything but he knew he had lost his parents. A media house thought it would be fun to hand the little boy and he came in severally to make him speak. He had difficulty speaking for three years after the accident.
From then on Xavier made sure to do nothing that would make the media go after him so relentlessly. The only time his name was mentioned in the media was when he closed a deal or for a business purpose. Tabloids and entertainment news barely saw anything worthy to write about him.
“It would be extremely hard not to” Jessica replied.
He was a sweet man who made her feel comfortable while her so said husband made her feel unwelcome.
“How are you? ” Dawson asked.
“Honestly?” he added.
“I could be better. Maybe this is the universe’s way of punishing me for bad deeds” She responded with laughter.
The classic turn your tragedy into comedy in the presence of others.
“Why don’t you come in to see me tomorrow?” Dawson asked.
Jessica could use a distraction from the back and forth on the media and Dawson could use the company. It was a win-win situation.
“I don’t know if I should be seen about and around,” Jessica said.
To be honest she just wanted to be coupled up inside her room without talking or seeing anyone. She made a mistake. She was to blame after all.
In her defense when she approached Xavier she did not know who he was until after they had signed the marriage papers so she was clear. Was he perhaps greedy when she heard his status? Was she what they called her to be?
“Come see me,” Dawson said in a compelling voice.
“I’m really bored being all plugged into these drips and constantly being pierced with needles all day” Dawson added.
He pleaded his case, yes but he wanted to see Jessica. He decided to make her stay with his grandson. He may seem selfish but the boy had been alone all his life. He needed the company and now that he has got one he was afraid she might lose it.
“Come see me okay?”
He made it sound like an amusement park offer that she couldn’t refuse.
“Okay then. I’ll be there tomorrow”