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
The hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in the dimly lit room. The sun was setting, Luna stood by the window, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “We need to talk.” She whispered. She could hear Jasper move around on the couch. She turned to face him.Jasper was tense. His usually composed demeanor was replaced with something raw.“What do you want to talk about?” he asked softly.Luna walked back to get a seat, opposite him. She sat down and put her hands on her knees.“After much consideration, I have decided to back out of the contract.” Luna said, her voice clipped. “No doubt, it's going to hurt. Because I really needed the cash for my mum's treatment. But there's only so much that a person can take.” She admitted. Jasper's eyes were searching hers. “You want to prematurely terminate the contract?” Luna shook her head. Her hands clutched her knees. “Yes. I know you said that a contract is legally binding and a breach is enough ground for legal actions to be tak
The car was quiet. The only sounds were from the three inhabitants of the vehicle as they breathed in and out. Luke was paying close attention to the road, trying to navigate the way to the house. The rain made this a difficult feat. It was raining cats and dogs. Jasper and Luna sat in the back seats. Jasper was tapping away at his phone screen. He seemed busy.“He's probably catching up with some office duties which he has deferred.” Luna thought to herself. She looked outside through the window and saw the heavy downpour of rain battering the outside world. The weather reflected her mood. Jasper raised his head from his phone. He looked towards Luna. She seemed lost in thought. Her coat was pulled tightly around her, and her gaze was fixed on the sights outside the window. His heart ached at the sight. She looked so small, so alone.He put his phone away and reached for her right hand which was on the car seat. She jerked at the contact and looked at him shockingly. He smiled at h
Luna's heart was a mishmash. As Jasper strolled past her into the room, she could smell his aftershave. She could tell that he had just showered.“He should be in bed now. Not here. In my room.” Luna thought to herself. She closed the door behind her, heaved a sigh and turned to face Jasper. The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of the curtains. Jasper stood near the window, his silhouette tall and domineering. Luna watched him from the door, her heart aching with the weight of their recent struggles and the quiet joy of their reconciliation.She closed the gap between them, but she still felt far away. No words were said.“Jasper, you should be in your bed by now. You need to rest. I know you postponed a lot of work today in order to look for me.” she murmured, her voice soft but steady.Jasper turned to her. There was something raw in his gaze, almost primal. “I’m done torturing myself.” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “I’ve come to realize that my feelings for you ar
As the soft morning light filtered into the bedroom, Luna stirred. She reached across the bed, her fingers brushing against the empty side. Jasper was gone. She immediately sat up, panic and fear strewn across her face. When she saw the neatly folded piece of paper on the bedside table, her panic skyrocketed.“Are we going to have this dance again?” Luna asked herself.She picked up the paper, unfolded it and read its contents with bated breaths."Good morning, sunshine. I couldn't bear to wake you up. You looked so peaceful. I'm off to work. I have a backlog of meetings and appointments to deal with. Last night was very good. The best actually. This is me being upfront about my feelings. You’re important to me Luna, and I promise to cherish every moment we have. Have a beautiful day. Yours always, Jasper."A goofy smile spread across her face. She held the note to her heart, letting his words sink in.Her feet hit the floor with renewed determination. She showered and got dressed.
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