Chapter 7: Nine Months

[Jasper's POV]

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I glared at Axel, who had just strolled in casually. Completely at ease. He didn't even seem to realize how sour our parents' faces had turned when he approached.

Where on earth had that kid been? I'd already told him there was a family meeting this afternoon.

He acts however he pleases. He’s an adult, but he acts like a teenager going through a rebellious phase. How can a member of the Windsor family act like this? And why do Mom and Dad let him do whatever he wants?

“I’m not late, am I?” he said as he sat down in a chair. He held his head high, even tilting it back a bit. No guilt, no embarrassment.

And he was the youngest person in the room.

“The discussion is almost over, Axel,” I said coldly. “Where were you?”

“Somewhere,” he said, grabbing a glass of water from the table and drinking it. “Besides, what does my opinion even matter? No one cares about it anyway.”

“But you need to know because this is about Nexora.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Dad said you’re going to start working at Nexora after you graduate.”

“Or so I heard.”

“How are you going to work acting like that? You’re not taking it seriously. Do you think work is a joke, huh?”

“How am I not taking it seriously?”

I gently massaged my temples. Talking to Axel gave me a headache.

“Just worry about yourself when you start working later. You don’t remember anything, so how are you going to do your job?” Axel mocked.

“My memory is gone, but my abilities are still here,” I said, feigning confidence.

Actually, Axel was right. I apparently had been CEO for almost four years and had forgotten most of it. I only remembered that, at the beginning, when Dad gave me the position, many people doubted me. Nexora’s stock even dropped during my first few months in office.

But judging by Nexora’s position before my accident, I must have done a decent job, right?

Axel let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“Have you finished studying the reports?” Dad asked.

“Yes, Dad. Noah also gives me a copy of the interim CEO’s report every day.”

“Then you can return soon. I’ll call a shareholders’ meeting as soon as possible to reappoint you.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I think I’m ready for that.”

I said it even though I wasn’t very confident. If Dad saw I wasn’t ready, he would be furious and think I was stalling. I wanted Dad to see me as competent.

That way, it would be easier for him to go along with what I wanted.

“I can start sooner, too,” Axel chimed in. “I don’t have many classes this semester, so I can work without waiting to graduate. It’s just an internship anyway, right?”

“You might be just an intern, but you’ll be placed in the strategy and business development division. Don’t underestimate your work.”

“Isn’t it you who’s underestimating me, Dad? Starting as an intern is something any other student in their fourth semester could do.” Axel pointed at my face. “Jasper started as a manager.”

Dad sighed.

“You and Jasper are different. He—”

“Of course. He has it easy.”

“Axel, watch your mouth,” I warned, my voice rising slightly.

He looked at me with a sharp glare. But I wasn’t afraid of him either.

“You think I got everything easily? I worked hard for it, living up to all Dad’s expectations.”

My words did sound defiant, but I kept my tone as gentle as possible. I didn’t want this meeting to end badly, especially since I hadn’t even shared what I had planned yet.

“And you? Look at yourself. Undisciplined, living however you please. Try to—”

“Jasper.”

I turned immediately at the sound of that voice. A wide smile spread across my face.

“Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor,” she greeted softly. “Sorry to interrupt. Jasper asked me to come here.”

Before I could say anything, Axel stood up from his seat.

“Why is she here? This is a family meeting!” he protested.

“Show some respect, Axel!” I scolded him again.

I saw the startled, frightened look on Lea’s face. I quickly got up from my seat and approached her, wrapping my arm around her back to make her feel safe.

“Lea will become part of this family anyway, because I want to marry her.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“Well,” Mom said, glancing briefly at Dad, “we already figured you’d marry Lea.”

“Yeah, everybody already knows,” Axel said. “You dumped Giana for her, didn’t you?”

“Axel!” I hissed, glaring at him.

“What? Is something wrong with what I said? It’s true, isn’t it?” He snorted, then pointed at Lea again. “You can bring her here once you’re married. She’s not part of our family right now.”

“I’m going to marry Lea soon. I’m planning on it in about six months.”

“Six months? You’re insane!” Axel exclaimed, clearly upset. He came over and grabbed my collar. “Think about how Giana feels!”

“Why should I think about her?” I slapped his hand away. “We were officially divorced today.”

“But Giana is—”

Axel cut himself off and looked away. His shoulders rose and fell as he struggled to contain his anger. I didn’t understand why he was so angry over something that had nothing to do with him.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re making Lea uncomfortable,” I said. “What’s your problem, anyway?”

Axel muttered quietly to himself as he counted on his fingers. “Seven more months? Eight? No, maybe nine months to be on the safe side?”

“Nine months? What are you doing?” I said, frowning.

His eyes widened. He blinked a few times before answering.

“A year. I mean, a year. I was just counting the time you’d need for preparation.”

“What do you know about preparation? Don’t butt in.”

“Axel has a point, Honey. I’m not sure if six months is enough either,” Lea said, taking my hand and holding it. “Especially since you’ll be going back to work after the accident, right? Maybe we need to take a little more time for that.”

Lea looked at Axel again and smiled.

“Nine months, huh?”