012 Jessica Jones?

Karl

My phone vibrated beside me, and I peeled my eyes from the road to pick up my phone.

“What?” I asked impatiently.

“Why are you being grumpy? come to the mansion, Grandpa wants to talk” Ryan said

“Hell no,” I replied.

“You don't have a choice, Karl. I can't be the only one dealing with the old man, save your brother's life.” Ryan pleaded, and I took a deep breath.

“On my way,” I answered and hung up.

_

When I got to the Moretti mansion, I met Grandpa talking to Ryan, who had his head down.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. “Karl! You're here,” Ryan called, and Grandpa's attention turned to me, clearly not pleased.

“You finally decided to come see this old man,” Grandpa Vincent said, getting up from the couch.

“How have you been?” I asked, but he scoffed in reply.

“Grandfather has been very disappointed in you,” Ryan said, shaking his head, and a small smirk tugged his lips.

“If this is about Daphne Brighton, I already told you I am not interested,” I said to him.

“You're not getting any younger, you're already in your thirties, you need to get married!” he yelled.

“Let's not talk about that right now,” I said, trying to change the topic.

“He already has a girl he is after, Don't worry, Grandpa, very soon you'll have a grand daughter in law,” Ryan spoke up, and I glared at him.

Fuck him.

Why would he tell him that?

“Really? Who is she? What family is she from? Is it someone I know?” Vincent asked curiously.

“It's no one, Ryan doesn't know what he is talking about,” I replied.

Vincent sighed as he sat back on the couch. “You boys would be the death of me,”

I sat down opposite him on the next couch, and Ryan did the same.

“I wanted to ask about Jessica Jones,” I started, and Grandpa paused.

This is part of the reason I came here to see him. It would be best to hear from him before I decide what to do with Lana.

“Why would you want to know about her? Is there something I am missing?” Grandpa asked instead.

“I still haven't found out the leader of the venoms and unfortunately, I had to kill Simon for being a mole, my head of security. They are becoming a huge problem, I need all the information I can get of them,” I replied.

“She was working with the venoms, wasn't she?” Ryan asked, and Grandpa sighed.

“That was a long time ago, I don't think she has anything to do with the venoms of the present, and I believe she is already dead. What happened should remain in the past, focus on finding the leader of the venoms,” Grandpa concluded and got up. “You'll definitely introduce me to that girl someday.” he added before walking out of the living room.

“You know he won't talk about what happened twenty years ago,” Ryan said, turning towards me.

“I know, I was just hoping to get something out of him,” I replied.

“What about Lana? Did you ask her anything about her mother?” Ryan asked.

“No, but I believe she is oblivious to everything. After all, Jessica Jones did everything she could to keep her family a secret” I said, and Ryan nodded.

“Just for the record, I will say it again. Staying close to Lana could cause trouble,” Ryan said, and fuçk, I hate how right he is, but it's already too late.

I definitely can't let Lana go. I don't even know when this urge to keep her with me began.

The sound of a vibrating phone pulled me out of my thoughts, and I turned to Ryan, who removed his phone from his pants pocket.

His expression changed into something I would sense as pain? Disappointment?

“What's wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing” his expression masked into nonchalance.

“It better be nothing” I replied and got up from the couch. "Go to the textile company tomorrow, find a new finance manager," I instructed before walking towards my bedroom.

Going to my penthouse would anger Grandpa, and while I’d love to test his patience, not today.

I changed out of my suit and wore something comfortable before laying on the bed.

My shoulders finally slacking after a long day.

The finance manager at the east branch of the textile company I own was embezzling funds, and I had to handle him.

It's ironic how people actually think they can steal from the Moretti family.

My eyes fell closed, and the image that filled my vision was Lana.

I didn't even know when a small smile tugged my lips.

She looked beautiful and ethereal. Perfect.

So damn perfect.

I didn't want to open my eyes. The fear of her disappearing from my vision clouded me, so I kept my eyes shut.

When did I fall this deep?

The urge to hear her laugh engulf me, I wonder what she would sound like.

Angelic, that's for sure. I heard myself chuckling, and that's when I realized I was well and truly fuçked.