Jasper followed behind as Luna led the way. She walked with a determined gait. “What gift could she possibly have for me?” He pondered as she opened the door leading into the sunroom.The sunroom shimmered with the soft glow of evening light filtering through the tall, arched windows. Luna walked forward and stood beside a large rectangular object that was covered with a white cloth. Her hands nervously clasped in front of her. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind a million times, yet her pulse raced.Jasper entered after her. His gaze swept over her, lingering briefly, before moving to the large, cloth-draped object beside her.“What do you have there?” He asked, with a little smile tugging at the corners of his lip.“It's…uhmm…I…uhmm..” Luna stammered. She was suddenly overcome by nerves. She looked at Jasper. He was quiet. His silence was egging her on to continue. “For …..uhmm…everything you’ve accomplished.” she said, her fingers clasping and unclasping. “You’ve achieved s
As Jasper walked briskly from the sunroom to his study, he ruminated over everything that had happened in the last hour. He thought about Luna, her gift to him and the way her face fell when he rejected her gift.Unfortunately, he could not dwell on those thoughts for long because of Evans’ call. A frantic call from Evans meant only one thing- Bad news. “Imagine being tossed into another war, after just recently surviving the last one.” He thought to himself. As he entered the study and shut the door, his phone rang. “Hello Evans. What's up?” Jasper inquired with hitched breath.“Hi boss. I'm so sorry to bother you, but there's an emergency.”“What's going on, Evans? Have there been any new reprisal attacks on the company?” Jasper queried impatiently.“No boss. None at all. The emergency is not work related. It's about my father.” Evans blurted out. “He was rushed to the hospital. They think it might be a heart attack.” Evans, who was usually a pillar of confidence, sounded so ner
Jasper’s bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the quiet hum of the night outside.“Jasper, where am I?” Luna inquired. She couldn't recognize the room. “You are in my room. Don't be in a rush to sit up. You might feel dizzy.” Jasper advised as he stood up and approached her. “Why am I in your room Jasper?” Luna asked softly.“You slumped in my arms. I had to carry you in my arms. Bathed you and tucked you in. I even had….” Jasper was still explaining before Luna cut him off.“Wait…What? You bathed me?” Luna's voice increased in pitch. She looked at Jasper and she could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lip. “ Like I was saying, I brought you here. Bathed you and tucked you in. I even instructed Ariel to brew some herbal tea for you.” Jasper said cheekily. He enjoyed making Luna squirm. Luna's cheeks were red hot. She felt embarrassed in that moment. She glanced down at her body and real
Sunlight spilled through the partially opened blinds of the window illuminating the edges of the room. The room was opulent, yet cold—much like its owner. Jasper stood by the window, his sharp profile framed against the morning light. His posture was rigid, his gaze fixed on the expanse of the estate grounds.Behind him, Luna was still asleep on the king-sized bed, her scent still wafting gently into Jasper's nostrils. Jasper was in deep in thoughts. A lot of thoughts were colliding in his head. Prevalent among them was the strange affection he had started developing for Luna. It was confusing to him. “What the hell is wrong with me?” He silently asked himself. His mind flashed back to his first encounter with Luna. The feeling of disgust he felt towards her was now dissipating. At first, he saw her as a nuisance who entangled herself with him for her own selfish gains. But now, those feelings of disgust were fading away and they were being replaced by a new undescribable feeling. “
An eerie feeling permeated the whole mansion. The house shook as Jasper thundered down the staircase and out the front door. Fury boiled in his veins as he approached the front gate, where the two security guards stood uneasily, exchanging nervous glances.“Why the hell did you let her leave?!” Jasper roared, his voice carrying across the driveway.“Sir,” one of the guards started, his tone defensive but respectful, “She insisted. She said she needed to go, and we didn’t think it was our place to—”“Your place? Your job contract literally states that you are responsible for whoever comes in and goes out of the gate.” Jasper barked, his fists clenching. “What do I pay you for? To stand around while my wife walks out?”“Sir,” the other guard interjected, “she was very upset. She even threatened to call the police if we didn’t comply. We couldn't hold her against her will.”Jasper exhaled sharply, his anger giving way to a gnawing fear that settled in his chest. He turned away from the g
The clock on the wall ticked louder than usual, filling the suffocating silence of the empty house.“Good day sir. You are home early” greeted Ariel, with confusion evident on her face. Her boss had never arrived home in the middle of a work day before. “Ariel, please I want you to think very carefully. Do you know any place where Luna might seek shelter?” Jasper asked with a worried tone. He tried to hide his worry, but he could only do so much.Ariel knew that Luna was probably with her sick mother. But she didn't want to divulge that information to Jasper. At least not yet. She was in a dilemma. “No sir. I don't know anybody or any place where she might be holed up in. She never talked about her private life, so I don't know whose house she might seek refuge in”Ariel said. She felt bad, lying to her boss was painful, especially after seeing the troubled look on his face. But she has no choice. Luna wanted to keep her sick mother out of the picture. And she decided to respect Luna
The car jerked to a sudden halt. Jasper was pulled out of his reverie. He had been lost in thought.“Apologies sir. But we have arrived at the destination.” Luke said, with a tinge of remorse in his voice. Jasper looked out the window and tried to acquaint himself with the new environment he found himself in.The place was not the highbrow neighbourhoods he was used to. As an upperclassman, he was uncomfortable with his present location. He stepped outside the car and looked around.The atmosphere exuded a raw and unpolished vibe. The air was heavy with a mix of odours- fried food and cigarette smoke lingered in the air. The street was narrow and lined on both sides by cars, his car being the newest model. He was aware of the stares from onlookers who were conscious of his arrival.“Here goes nothing.” Jasper silently reassured himself. “Stay in the car Luke and be on the lookout. I don't feel comfortable here. I'd try to round up as quickly as I can.” Jasper instructed.He took out
“Damn! Luna open the door. We need to talk” Jasper rasped. He had been knocking for ten minutes and Luna hadn’t opened the door again. His knuckles were throbbing. “I'm going to keep knocking until your neighbours intervene. Do you really want to be in the spotlight like that?” Jasper questioned. He was determined to hash out whatever issues he had with Luna.He raised his hand again to knock. Before his knuckle could make contact with the door, it was thrown open. An angry Luna stood on the other side of the door with her hair disheveled. She glared at Jasper. “What do you want from me? Leave me alone. I quit. I resign. I forfeit. Whatever terminology rocks your boat!” She retorted. Jasper's heart contracted. He felt a sharp pain. He was clearly hurt by her outburst. It felt like he was a predator that didn't know when to let up and walk away. However, he decided to overlook her outburst and his pain. “ Anything to repair this damage.” He swore silently to himself.“Can I at leas
Victoria's voice gave Jasper pause. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his left hand, with his back turned to her. “The meeting is over, Victoria. Any observation or suggestion should have been brought up during the meeting. We would have analyzed them with the help of all members of our joint team. Cohesion is our watchword. And for that to be achieved, all members should table their concerns during general meetings.” Jasper stated bluntly and a bit curtly.Victoria leaned back in her chair, the polished mahogany desk between her and Jasper. She sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “ The meeting addressed all my concerns. I don't have any suggestions or observations. I asked you to stay back because of another matter.” Victoria said with a sigh, she suddenly looked tired. Jasper turned and saw the look of worry on her face, he could tell that she had been battling some internal demons. He approached the desk and sat down opposite her .Victoria continued sol
Jasper woke up with a start. He heaved a sigh of relief as he pinched the bridge of his nose, while staring at the ceiling. He looked at Luna. She was sleeping peacefully, her face angelic and calm as her chest rose and dropped with each steady breath. Jasper sat up gently, left the bed and walked over to a chair situated in the corner of the room. He sat down with a huff and pressed his fingers to his temples. He had been dreaming. Dreaming about being chased in the forest by masked gunmen. “Luke was right. Trauma, if bottled up, would eventually fester and be problematic in the future.” Jasper whispered to himself. He looked at the wall clock mounted on the wall opposite him. He had to prepare for work. He had a team meeting with Victoria Stefan. With a heavy heart and mind, he stood up and walked out of the room. Before he closed the door, he looked at Luna once again. She stirred once, but was soon fast asleep. He closed the door quietly behind him and walked towards his own ro
Luna crawled slowly, sizing Jasper up as she went. She was like an entirely new being. She felt powerful, she felt invincible. She wanted to imprint her insignia on something, someone. She watched Jasper, enjoying the look of panic that was evident on his face. He tried his best to mask his emotions, but she could read through. Like a primal beast, she could smell it.He was unnerved. As she got closer to him, she could smell his musk, stimulating and erotic. She could see the tent in his pants. He looked uncomfortable and she knew the effect that she had on him at that moment. She felt powerful indeed. She climbed onto his laps and straddled him. His member poked at her butt. It was hard and ready. She gently and rhythmically moved her butt over it, stimulating herself and him. A throaty moan escaped Jasper's lips as he grabbed her butt, his fingers digging into the fabric of her shorts. He pulled her close, squeezing her butts aggressively.Jasper attempted to flip her over, but sh
"Who is Victoria?" The question was repeated. Luna’s voice was soft, but there was an edge to it.Jasper studied her closely, her arms were loosely crossed, eyes searching his face. She wasn’t angry. She was… concerned. That made it worse."Victoria is the CEO of Frontier Space, a tech firm that I recently signed a contract with. Her firm embodies the qualities that I need in order to propel my firm to greater heights." Jasper explained. "We have a team meeting tomorrow and she just wanted to check in."Luna nodded slowly. There was a look of hurt on her face, but she quickly straightened up. “Okay. That's all?” There was no accusation in her tone. But Jasper felt it like a weight on his chest. He walked toward her, reaching for her hand, but she didn’t take it immediately."It's strictly business.” He stated. “ And I wasn't entirely forthcoming with the truth. Remember the whole Mali situation? The attempted kidnapping? Well, she was also a victim. We managed to escape together. Her
“Jasper” Victoria said with a seductive tone. “I was beginning to think that you were avoiding me.” She stated.Jasper sighed. “Victoria, now's not a good time.” He said, rubbing his forehead.“Oh?” She hesitated. “You sound off. Is everything okay?”Jasper exhaled. He didn’t want to explain. Didn’t want to open that door. “It's personal. What do you need?”“Well,” she huffed, “your secretary hasn't contacted mine about the team meeting. I've been waiting, Jasper.”Jasper shut his eyes. He tried to steady his breath. His emotions were almost overwhelming. “I'll look into it.” He stated flatly.Victoria could feel the gloom in Jasper's voice. “Jasper, what's the problem?” She inquired softly. There was silence on Jasper's end of the call. Victoria could hear his attempt at stabilizing his breaths. After a moment of tense silence, Jasper replied. “My wife's mother just died. Today has been a rollercoaster of a day.” “My condolences to your wife.” Victoria stated, remorse evident in he
The hospital air was thick with antiseptic and grief, a suffocating combination that made Luna’s chest tighten as she and Jasper hurried down the long, sterile corridor. Each step felt heavier than the last. The beeping of machines, the hushed murmurs of nurses, the distant sound of someone sobbing—it all blurred together as she approached the ICU. Jasper was right beside her, his hand firmly holding hers, his grip strong yet gentle. But even his warmth couldn’t stop the dread curling in her stomach. As they reached the nurses' station, Elizabeth, her mother’s caregiver, stood waiting. The sorrow in her eyes was enough to send Luna into a panic. No. No. No. Elizabeth stepped forward, her hands trembling. “Luna…” she started, voice thick with emotion. Luna’s breath hitched. “Where is she?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Elizabeth’s lips quivered, “I’m so sorry. She’s gone.” The world around her tilted. “No,” Luna whispered, stepping back, shaking her head.
Luna was finally discharged from the hospital. Jasper was there to pick her up himself. He spent a few minutes listening to the doctor drone about the need for her to get enough bedrest. Jasper thanked the doctor and promised to calm him if any complications arose. Jasper helped Luna get into the car. After that, they drove off towards Jasper's mansion, home.The drive home was quiet and uneventful. Occasionally, Jasper had to glance over at Luna to make sure that she was okay. The silence in the car was unnerving. Jasper sighed. Knowing Luna, Jasper had an idea of what was eating her up. “Bunny. Is it Mali?” He asked gently and he reached for her hands with his free one. Luna turned to face him. Tears were welling up in her eyes. She nodded her head and the tears dripped down her face. She was shaking. “ You said you almost didn't make it out of Mali… I'm trying to come to terms with my life without you… I know ……I don't …I…I …” she broke down in tears. Jasper parked the car, jer
Jasper adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the car. He stood at the entrance of his building's door. It felt strange being back after so long. He chuckled silently to himself. “Damn. I can't believe that it's only been a week of absence but it felt like decades.” Jasper whispered to himself.He pushed the door and stepped in. The moment he walked through the glass doors, a wave of applause erupted."Welcome back, boss!" someone called."Good to have you here, sir," another added.Jasper was surprised. He wasn't expecting any form of rehearsed welcome. He had only been gone for a week. Nevertheless, he smiled and nodded in acknowledgment at his employees. The welcome was reassuring. The company had survived without him, but now, it was time to thrive. Jasper walked towards the elevator which was going to convey him to his office floor. Beverly, his secretary, stood up as he walked through the door.“Good morning sir. Welcome back. I hav
Luna blinked at him, struggling to gather strength. “I heard… Mali… terrorists…” Her voice was hoarse, her breathing shallow. “You could’ve died, Jasper.”Jasper squeezed her hand gently. “But I didn’t. I’m right here.”Tears welled in her eyes. “What if you don’t come back next time?”He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Luna, listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. Mali was an impulsive decision which left a sour taste in my mouth. But moving forward, I promise to be more open with you” His voice softened. “I won’t let anything take me away from you.”Luna swallowed hard, her grip tightening around his fingers. “Promise me, Jasper.”“I promise.” His voice was firm, unwavering. “Always.”A soft sigh escaped her lips as exhaustion pulled her back into sleep. Jasper watched her for a long moment before looking up at Luke.Luke exhaled. “You really scared her, man.”Jasper nodded, his expression solemn. “I know.”And as the beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence once m