Chapter 6
Back at the brownstone, Anastasia tucked her ID and documents into her desk drawer.
The marriage certificate? That was another story.
Cassian had pocketed both copies with the ridiculous explanation that he was “preventing any unfortunate misplacement incidents.”
He’d insisted on storing them in his private safe at Rhodes Tower.
Anastasia had rolled her eyes at his high–handedness.
Whatever. It’s not like she needed it for her daily coffee run anyway.
She found Elisabeth in the kitchen, already prepping for lunch, the radio playing softly in the background.
Anastasia slipped on an apron to help.
Despite being in her eighties, Elisabeth Paige still moved around the kitchen with the confidence of someone who’d been cooking for decades.
“There you are, sweetheart,” she said, handing Anastasia a bunch of carrots to chop. “Playing hooky from work today? You should tell Jasper to come over this weekend. I’ll make my lasagna–the one
he raved about at Christmas.”
Anastasia nearly cut her finger at the mention of Jasper’s name. “Got some personal stuff to handle this morning,” she said, recovering quickly. “Heading to the office after lunch. Jasper’s crazy busy with the spring collection launch. Probably won’t see him for dinner anytime soon.”
Elisabeth sighed, her disappointment evident. “That boy needs to learn to take a breath. You’re too good to him, Ana. Remember, marriage is a two–way street. Both of you need to bend a little or everything breaks.”
As her grandmother continued dispensing relationship wisdom, Anastasia focused intently on dicing
vegetables.
Chapter 6
Understanding? Compromise?
Funny how those expectations had only ever applied to her, never to Jasper.
In three years, had he ever once compromised on anything important?
It didn’t matter now. By tonight, she’d be free of the need to make excuses for him.
After lunch, Anastasia headed straight to J&A’s SoHo headquarters, mentally rehearsing what she would say to Jasper about her 40% ownership stake.
When they’d founded J&A Jewelry together, she’d insisted on maintaining significant equity–a business decision that had proven wise:
Jasper, determined to prove his worth without his family’s connections or money, had eagerly partnered with her after they’d been dating for a year.
What had started in a tiny studio with five employees had exploded into a company of over 120 staff, with their pieces featured in Vogue and worn at the Met Gala.
The company now had a full design department, but Anastasia remained both Design Director and the brand’s signature creative force.
Her collections consistently sold out within days of release, driving the company’s remarkable 300% growth over the past two years.
Yet somehow, Jasper seemed pathologically incapable of acknowledging her contribution, crediting their success to his “strategic vision” and “market disruption.”
His ego had inflated in direct proportion to their profit margins.
The success had finally earned him the approving nods from his father and brothers that he’d desperately craved.
But after today, everything would change.
13:58
