Nine

Jasmine's POV

Now I was fuming!

We appeared right before the elevator and I rolled my eyes angrily. I wasn't expecting that he would speak to me at least just yet. "Don't smile at anyone."

"You're not my boss." I replied and he looked at me with a small smirk that would seem unnoticeable.

"I am not but if we are going to venture into marriage, we need to set some ground rules." His eyes flashed with heat as he took a sweeping glance across me from head to toe.

"What?"

"Yeah... This is exactly what I imagined you to be like. It's not going to become a good business if we don't set some ground rules. I know that you're always ready to fight me and stuff like that, but this won't work if we don't do the right thing. I won't allow you be the boss, darling."

The elevator dinged and I turned toward him. "you are kidding me right now." I muttered and he grinned at me, his eyes gleaming with an emotion that I couldn't place my finger on.

"What the hell?" I repeated.

"We don't need to go back and forth because of this. We will have a proper conversation about this, and find a way to document it. Is that a deal?" Mr. Blackwood spoke.

I chuckled at his words, I had come to grow to the point whereby I understood that there was no hurrying in signing any document.

“We will speak about this when I am more comfortable. For now, I would need some briefing about who we are going to meet.”

“What are we introducing ourselves as? Lovers? Or what?" I inquired, I wasn't going to look like a bimbo in their presence.

"Don't you trust me, darling?" He grinned but I didn't find it funny.

"No, I don't." I replied as I walked out of the elevator first enjoying the way he was feasting on my backside when I turned.

“You should close your mouth, take a picture instead." I muttered, relishing the way he snapped his mouth shut instantly. He wasn't expecting that I would mention that.

I could see how this would go. We were both strong-headed so we were going to butt heads most of the time and I sincerely looked forward to it. If we could keep on butting heads I would appreciate it.

Here I thought this was going to be easy.

"You, are one vixen that needs taming." He muttered before taking a turn, "I will enjoy doing that." He mumbled.

We were lonely in the hallway and I loved the way the lights flickered, giving it a distinct illumination.

“I don't want you to discuss with those men. They are dangerous." He whispered at the back of my ear when I reached the door.

When did he sneak up on me? "You should know that you can't control me darling." I whispered and he shook his head, while pinching the bridge of his nose in tiredness.

"Oh, is this what you call control? Wait till we are alone then you can repeat this." He promised and I rolled my eyes.

"Promises, promises." I dismissed him and his eyes flashed wickedly, he had a lot of things in store for me but I loved pushing his buttons also. "Oh... I'm scared. I'll only believe it when I see it." I mumbled and he smiled at me before the door opened.

A large hall was revealed and a few men sat at the table, looking every inch powerful but I strode in confidently.

"Welcome, Mr. Blackwood." One of the men spoke and I looked up, casting a glance at all of them. So they didn't think it was right for them to greet me specially.

Mr. Blackwood's response was a sharp nod. But he placed a hand on my arm in possession which I wanted to shrug away but had to call myself back to order.

It wasn't as though anything was wrong with that because if he didn't do this, it meant that I was fair game.

"This is my partner." He introduced me.

Their initial condescension vanished and was replaced with curiosity. "it's lovely to meet your partner." One of the men spoke again but I could read their body language. They weren't happy with my presence. Well, they had no choice because it was their partner who invited me here.

"I have a name, Jasmine." I interrupted them. I wasn't some airhead that they could just brush off. If Mr. Blackwood didn't think I could cope with their line of conversation he wouldn't have allowed me to accompany him.

"Yes, that's her name." I heard Blackwood answer them. His tone held a hint of pride.

"You're welcome, Miss Jasmine." Another man spoke, his eyes holding interest.

I rolled my eyes inwardly, he must think that I was one of the women who Blackwood went out with not knowing that I was different. "Oh, I didn't pick any offense to your initial reception. I'm glad to be in your midst."

A hand tightened on mine in a split second but I didn't bother to speak anymore.

We walked to the chairs allocated to us. "Let the meeting begin." Mr. Blackwood spoke and he looked up at me.

"Rumors have it that Donovan has been trying to get into the company through the backdoor." An Asian man piped up instantly.

"How do you know this?" Mr. Blackwood spoke up and I admired his tact. He wouldn't obviously admit that he knew that his son was trying to meet with Donovan.

"We have ears in the industry. A few people have been able to provide proof." The Asian man continued.

"That brings us to the next line of action." Mr. Blackwood spoke.

"Yes, we should get hold of the insider that has been leaking all the company's information." The man whose eyes held interest suggested.

"In what way should we go about that?" The Asian replied.

"We need someone who can go inside the Donovan's den." The former man spoke. Then his eyes settled on mine.

"I think your partner can go."