David made excellent money and Jason didn't want for anything since his father threw toys and clothes at him rather than spend time with him. Jason rarely saw his father and was foisted onto sitters, or literally anyone else, so long as the young boy didn't cramp David's carousing or work. It took Jason several hopeful years to come to terms with his life, but by age 10 he realized his situation. He had a father who made plenty of money but was never around for him. He also had a mother who loved him, but he never got to see or speak to her. Jason never believed the lies David told him about how Elin wanted nothing to do with him since he'd come to L.A. with his father, but it was hard to fight against that feeling since he never heard from her again and his father reminded him over and over again.
So, Jason did his best with what he had. He grew interested in computers, took his education seriously, and even participated in sports, not that his father would have ever known since he'd never come to see him. After a few years, and promotions at work, David was making enough money to buy an extravagant house in L.A., but it was never a home for Jason. It was beautiful, very modern in its design, and tucked discretely behind a large gate to keep unwanted people from getting in. This only made it feel like a luxurious prison to young Jason. It was also a house with a revolving door of women who David used as his playthings until her tired of them. It was shocking at first, but Jason soon got used to new faces every few months and was able to cope with it after a while.
Three weeks ago, however, it all ended abruptly. David and his newest conquest were on the Sierra Highway in north L.A. That road was notorious for being in a constant state of disrepair because traffic was so heavy both day and night. There was never really a good time to shut it down because of this. Due to the desperate need for repair, and the inability to get to the repairs without creating a massive traffic snarl, the highway department missed one of the large road signs that had worked its way loose from its bolts from old age. A strong gust of wind was the last straw for the bolts holding it in place and it fell straight down onto David's car, cutting both he and his date in half as they sped beneath it.
After news spread that Jason had been approached by several attorneys to sue the California Highway Department, the state decided to be proactive, trying to keep as much of it out of the news as possible, offering Jason a settlement offer. He wasn't at all heartbroken that his father had died, and the offer of $20 million, along with his signed assurance that he'd not speak about the deal, was good enough for him. But again, it wasn't about the money. He'd lost his entire family when his parents divorced, and the blame for that was the fault of his now-dead father. To say that Jason was relieved to be free of David was an understatement.
"And with all of this read and understood by you," Morgan continued, "I am now no longer your father's attorney. Which means that I can tell you that you were foolish to take the settlement with the state." When Jason just looked at him, Morgan continued. "Your father was important to this community. He wasn't a diplomat or anything like that, but as a doctor, he had a hand in saving countless lives, and because of the shoddy work by the Highway Department, his ability to save future lives has been cut short. Had you taken this to court, or even threatened to do so, you could have easily gotten double the amount, maybe more."
Jason bit his cheek to keep himself from an angry tirade about how absolutely delighted he was that his father had died a gruesome death. Or how the man had ruined not only Jason's life, but that of his mother and sisters by being a selfish, useless, walking penis who couldn't control himself around women. After a few moments, and a few subtle, cleansing breaths, he could only manage to say, "It's fine. I'm just glad this business is done."
Morgan nodded, still believing Jason to be grieving and in shock. "Regardless, you have my condolences." He stood, signaling the end of their meeting. "If there's nothing else, I only want to remind you to go to the courthouse as soon as possible, and to visit the bank. I believe the settlement money should have already been deposited into your account, so you should probably do some consolidation. Also, seriously consider seeking out a financial advisor or accountant, and an attorney." Rounding the desk, Morgan stood in front of Jason who did the same. Clapping a hand on the young man's shoulder, Morgan stuck his other hand out for a shake. "Take care of yourself, Jason."
"Thank you." Jason looked down at the man's hand and shook it. And with that, he walked out and called for a ride.
It took him the better part of the day to finish up with both the county courthouse and the bank before he got home. As soon as he did, he stripped completely and dove into the pool, one of the only places in the house where he felt at ease. He could swim laps or float away the day to ease his mind. When his skin began to prune, he toweled off and walked inside to the kitchen. His shoulders slumped when he realized he'd forgotten to stop for food on the way home. He could order groceries and have them delivered, but he didn't feel like making anything. Finding his phone on the kitchen counter, he stopped briefly to look at the large, plastic bag that held everything his father had on him when he died. The medical examiner's office had bagged it up and, as his closest relative, signed it over to him.
"Burn in hell, David," he muttered at the bag, then opened the delivery app on his phone and quickly placed an order. But when he finished, his eyes were drawn to the bag again. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, knowing he'd have to go through it at some point. Ripping open the bag, he dumped the contents onto the marble countertop.
There were various mundane items in the bag. A few ink pens, which was an odd thing to take on a date, business cards, some coins, and the pocketknife David had always carried with him. He eventually picked up the Louboutin wallet and began pulling everything out. David's driver's license, some business cards, several bank and credit cards, and a very graphic picture of his current conquest, the same one who had been cleaved in two by the massive road sign. Jason's eyes lingered on it a while. She had been a very beautiful woman, and going solely by her body, he understood why David had been attracted to her. But she had been an epic bitch, which made her physical beauty null and void in Jason's eyes. Last, he opened the section that held the bills and rolled his eyes as he pulled ten $100 bills, and a few smaller notes. "Money isn't everything, you ass," he grumbled, but it wasn't lost on him that he took the bills and put them to the side to add to his own wallet.
His eyes fell onto David's phone. One of the employees of the M.E.'s office had done their best to wipe the blood from it, but some remained in the cracks of the slim case around it. He also noticed what looked like a small clutch, obviously belonging to the naked woman in the picture. David must have been holding it for her when they died, and he remembered hearing that the woman didn't have any family that they could find. Still, it was odd that her belongings were mixed in with David's. Out of curiosity, he opened it. A pack of cigarettes, a bottle of Xanax, $54 dollars, and her license were inside. With a shrug, he took the money out and added it to the stack.
After checking for the estimated delivery time, he saw that he could take a quick shower before his food arrived. Out of habit, he walked to his own bathroom, but stopped. This was his house now. He could shower wherever the hell he wanted, including what used to be David's bathroom. His father had given him strict instructions never to enter his bedroom, or bathroom, without invitation, which always made Jason wonder what was in there David didn't want him to see. Or was it just that he didn't want his own son to come in and hang out with him? The man had always kept Jason beyond arm's reach, never really wanting to connect at all.
Entering the large, spa-like bathroom, Jason ignored everything in the bedroom and bathroom as he turned on the water. The first thing he did was piss all over the walls as another fuck you to his father. Once he was satisfied, he realized he'd only managed to get urine all over the place where he was supposed to wash himself clean. "Dumbass," he muttered as he began cleaning himself. When he stepped out of the shower and pulled on some fresh clothes, the doorbell rang.
The redhead smiled happily as she handed the food to him. She was beautiful, and her blue eyes, slight freckling, dimples, and pretty smile had a definite effect on him.
"Uh, one sec," he said, holding up a finger. Leaving the door open, he walked quickly to the pile of money on the kitchen counter, took the $50, and walked back to the door. "I can't remember if I had tipped you or not," he said as he took the bag and handed her the money, "but I hope this will do."
"Oh, wow," she said as she looked at the bill and then back up at him, her beautiful smile even wider. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," he said, giving her a smile of his own. He let his eyes drift over her body as she bit her bottom lip shyly. He gave her a wink and began to close the door.
"Would you like my number?" she blurted out awkwardly.
With a satisfied grin, he pulled out his phone, opened the contacts and handed it to her. She smiled happily, glancing up and down between Jason and the phone as she entered her contact information. Once she handed it back, he immediately sent her a text that said, "Text me when you get off. Jason."