Jasper: Love and Monsters (Book 2 of Jasper)

Everyone always talks about how their relationship is the best and how their partners treated them better than any other person would or how being in a relationship always makes them feel butterflies in their stomach. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Megan Zendel, a twenty-five year old interior designer, who has been considered a remarkable beauty among her peers. With her long black hair, meadow green eyes, pointed nose, bow-shaped lips, and her five feet eight height together with her slim but well-shaped structure, she could easily pass as a runway model.

Despite her beauty, it seems like her boyfriend _ Brandon Keller still doesn't give her the attention she wants. Megan didn't know what to feel again, he always gives excuses like this anytime they want to meet. Recently it has become worse, 'I am sorry I have a business dinner this evening I won't be able to make it.' 'I have to go on a business trip I would be very busy, don't call me.' 'I just got an important contract I won't make it to dinner tonight.' Megan was getting fed up, she supported him with her all, but he had been ignoring her for months now.

Megan and Brandon have known each other for four years and have been dating for three years now and he has never really had time for her like a boyfriend is supposed to have for his girlfriend. He hardly kisses her, only mostly when he is drunk he would touch her, he has never been intimate with her and when she tries to make a move he would pull back, kiss her cheek, and tells her to let them get married first. He always tells her they will get married and that she should be patient first and let him be successful enough to reach her standard.

She has never met any of his friends. He does not want them to steal her away from him, he would tell her. He doesn't forget to tell her how special she was to him. Megan loved him mostly because of the fact that he didn't approach her for her money like other men did, even after he found out after some months of dating that her father was a rich man, he didn't ask her for business favors it was Megan who told her father to invest in his company so that he would marry her quickly but ever since his business started excelling he never had time again for her and like now listening to him on the phone making another excuse.

"So when are you going to come over?" She asks him over the phone.

"Next week Wednesday" He replied with that deep voice that always makes her insides churn but today it didn't.

"Okay then, bye."

"Megan darling I..." She didn't allow him to finish his speech as she cut the call she tossed her phone on the bed. She stood up walked over to her floor-to-ceiling window and gazed out the night view of her 20th-floor penthouse. She remembers the time he used to come over to her house. They would admire the view together with his hands wrapped around her waist from behind sometimes drinking champagne and afterward he would kiss her till she was left breathless. Now gazing out the night view, she misses him so much that it hurts. Tomorrow was an important day, so she would sleep and think about this later.

Megan's eyes fluttered open as she stretched her body. But she noticed something strange, light was spilling out from the curtains. She stopped stretching turned to her side and searched for her alarm by her bedside table when she touched it, she checked the time it was 9:36, and she immediately bolted out of the bed.

"Oh my God!" She screamed standing up at a speed that she felt a bit dizzy, but she didn't mind it and rushed to the bathroom, she was so late and she had a very important client.

Megan Zendel is an interior designer she recently started her own company one year ago and she has been trying without her father's help she wanted to achieve it all on her own and they got an important deal from a very influential client to design his newly bought house and they were to meet at 9:30 and she was already late. Megan finished in fifteen minutes which was a new record time for her, she hastily packed her hair in a high ponytail, checking the mirror she saw it was neat, and rushed out of her apartment. When she reached her company, she quickly got out of her car and ran inside leaving her car parked outside, Mr Thomas the security man would take care of it for her. As soon as she reached her office, her secretary, Julie, rushed to her.

"It's ten o clock, why are you just coming now?"

"Has he arrived yet?" She asked.

"Yes since 9:30 and he is inside waiting for you. What took you so long I called your phone and it was switched off." Megan remembered now that she had switched off her phone after Brandon tried calling her again and she forgot to even switch it on back or set her alarm since yesterday was Sunday and she had turned off her alarm. Well, she guessed it was all her fault.

"I will answer that later. Bring coffee to my office." Why is he so punctual she thought.

"Yes ma'am." She said and left.

Megan reached the front of her door, took a deep breath opened the door, and entered. "Good morning Mr. Valenti, I am so sorry about the delay there was slight traffic, I hope you didn't wait too long?" She said as she walked to her desk and sat on her chair.

"It's alright, Miss Zendel." His voice was deep and husky.

She cleared her throat still not looking at him and continued in a professional tone. "I believe you just bought a house here in Los Angeles and you would like us to design it for you?"

"Correct."

"Is there any design or style you like or have in mind that you want us to do for you or would you like us to show you our design area?"

"No"

"No? Are you sure Mr Valenti" she asked puzzled finally looking at him, her green eyes colliding with his dark ones.

"Yes, show me what you've got, after all, that is what you do miss Zendel." The intensity of his gaze made her flatter for a second, it was then she noticed how handsome he was. He has black hair but when near or under sunlight shows streaks of gold and his hair is slightly long but curled, he had an aquiline nose and dark eyebrows above dark eyes, he had a five o clock shadow and golden skin, from what her secretary told her he was Italian and his lips oh they looked so... Suddenly there was a knock at the door Megan looked up and Julie came in with two cups of coffee she dropped one in front of her and the other in front of Mr. Valenti and left the office. As she turned to face the handsome stranger sitting opposite her, she saw he was smirking and she flushed. Oh my, he must've known she was staring.

Clearing her throat she spoke. "Excuse me for my rudeness. Would you like some coffee?"

"No." He rose from his chair in his imposing six-foot-three and glanced down at her "I will send further instructions through my secretary." He said briskly.

Megan stood up "Is that all sir?" She asked wondering why he was in a rush. At least many other clients will give her an idea of how they want their house to be, but he just seems like he doesn't care at all.

"Yes, and I'm looking forward to working with you." He stretched out his large masculine hand.

"My pleasure" She shook his hand and she felt a jolt of electricity pass through her and she quickly removed her hand, and seeing her reaction he smiled.