Chapter 3

Janet's POV

I lay on my bed with my stomach bearing all my weight as I scrolled through my phone. There was a message from an unknown number, who could it be?

        Do you have any idea how long I've looked for you? I'm yet to understand the reason 

        why you had to run away but in any case, I need you to come back home. Only the 

        thought of you in another man's arms pisses me off. Oh, and by the way, Jasmine is 

        pregnant with my kids but it doesn't matter, the moment you come you'll still take your

       place as Mrs. Levine. Just take it like she's your surrogate, she can have our kids and you

      don't have to worry about losing your figure since it's essential for you as a model.

               I'll be waiting for your return and let me give a quick warning, you can't run away from

     me so don't even think about it. I'm going to make sure you come crawling back.

It was Asphalt, was this supposed to be a threat? And why was he so obsessed with me? Of course it was annoying to see the likes of my sister with him but I wasn't going to be his puppet wife. There was no way I was going to marry him. He claims he's jealous of me being in another man's arms yet he has the guts to tell me that he got my little sister pregnant. The guts of some people.

      “ Babe,” I heard my boyfriend Jim call as he walked into the room where I was.

“ You're back?” I sat up to look at him properly. “ I thought you went out to get groceries, so where are they?” I looked at his empty hands in confusion.

 “ I did go out to get groceries but your card kept getting declined,” he explained sitting besides me.

“ What do you mean by it keeps getting declined? Did you forget the password?” I frowned.

“ How could I?” He scratched his head. “ It's the day we started dating isn't it?” He asked for confirmation.

“ Yes but given how clumsy and careless you can be, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't remember the date,” I rolled my eyeballs. He in defense called out the password, he was right so what could be the problem?

“ Maybe you should ask your pay,” he shrugged. Maybe I really needed to call her.

“ Mom!” My voice and tone was everything demanding and authoritative as she answered her call.

       “ Strawberry, what's the problem? What's with the tone? Did I do something wrong?” Mom asked in concern.

   “ You nearly embarrassed I and Jim a few minutes ago, he went to get groceries from the convenience store but he couldn't because the card kept getting rejected. Did you or Dad tamper with my account?” I interrogated.

“ No, honey. I didn't and I'm not sure if your dad anything either,” her words made me remember the text I had gotten Asphalt.

“ I think I know who it is. Did you give Asphalt my new phone number?” How else did he find me and even get my number if no one gave it to him?

“ No, why would I? I wouldn't want him to ever find you if I had my way,” mom mumbled.

“ I don't know because he messaged me a while back,”

 “ And what did he say?”

“ Can you believe that he still wants to marry me even after he has f**ked Jasmine real good and even gotten her pregnant?”

“ I can't believe him but now that I think about it, it's not such a bad idea to marry him,” mom whispered in a snake-like voice.

“ There's no way I'm going to marry someone who has touched Jasmine, ewww! It's like I'm getting her castoffs,” I dismissed the idea completely.

“ Hear me out, baby. Jasmine has always been obsessed with Asphalt even though we know who exactly he loves,” she bragged about me. “ She's been a little bit relaxed in the position of Mrs. Levine and it annoys me that she really thinks she's entitled to that title. It wouldn't be a bad idea if you come back and put her in her place,” mom connived.

“ I really feel like doing that but what about Jim? I really love him and I definitely don't want to be married to that mentally unstable person,” I complained.

“ What are you both talking about?” I heard dad's faded voice from the background, followed by the sound of a door slamming shut.

“ Nothing, I was just talking to Janet,” mom explained.

“ So you knew where she was all along? Do you know the trouble the both of you have caused me?” Dad was getting really angry.

“ Dad, I had to leave okay? It's not mom's fault,” I couldn't let him go yelling at mom when I was the one who made her do it in the first place.

  “ I'm glad you're okay but do you have any idea what is going on with the company?” 

 “ Is something wrong? What happened?” I became very bothered.

“ The company is going bankrupt and I don't know what to do, I'm thinking of asking Asphalt for help but I'm not sure he'll aid me since he's still mad at us because he couldn't marry you,”

“ No need to panic dad, I think I can help,” 

“ And how do you plan on doing that?”

“ I'll come back and talk to Asphalt on your behalf. I'm also guessing that he got you to freeze my account, right?”

“ Yes, I'm sorry,” he apologized sincerely.

“ Who does he think he is, trying to toy around with us?” Mom said infuriated.

“ Babe, if you go back then what happens to me?” Jim interrupted the phone call. This was very difficult decision to make since I loved Him but then again my parents come first.

“ Wait, I think I have an idea,” mom snapped her fingers.

“ You do?” The three of us asked in sync.

“ Asphalt thinks he's on top of the world, doesn't he? What if we use you, Janet to collect L cosmetics and scents?” Oh my gosh, what in the world was mom thinking?

“ But isn't he already married to Jasmine?” Dad questioned.

“ And you really think he likes her? Think again,” she scoffed. “ Think about it as killing lots of birds with one stone. With you, we can get both the money we need, the prestige of being a part of his family and you can show Jasmine just how dominant and in control you really are, ” mom was satisfied with her plans.

“ Okay, I understand what you're saying but how does this affect me? I mean, what happens to I and Janet's relationship?” Jim wasn't buying the idea at all.

“ Oh sweetie, wouldn't you like to be rich overnight?” Mom was good at proposing tempting offers. 

“ Who wouldn't? But that means I have to let go of Janet in the meantime?” he wasn't still on terms with this arrangement.

 “ Jim, sacrifices must be made for a greater good. I mean, it's no big deal if she marries him and even sleeps with him a million times. She's yours no matter what and that won't change a thing,”

    “ Babe, we have to do this,” I finally decided to aid.

    “ It's uncomfortable for me to let you go like this but if it's for huge amount of money, I wouldn't mind. After all, it isn't the end of the road for us,” Jim as always loved money more than anything.

“ But if you come suddenly wouldn't it be suspicious?” Dad questioned.

“ Who said I was coming soon? Besides, I received a text from him this morning. He wants me to come back and he expressed how he is willing to push Jasmine away for me so he wouldn't suspect a thing,”

“ That's a good thing,” he muttered.

“ I thought you were going to be a bit sentimental about replacing Jasmine, dad,”

“ She has been married to him and has never been useful to us in anyway. It's not my fault she can't get her husband to love her,” dad was a cold-blooded CEO as expected. He cared more about saving the company and not to brag, I'm the only one he cares about unlike Jasmine whom all he felt towards her was obligation.

“ So when do you plan on coming home?” Mom inquired.

“ Find out the day Jasmine is to give birth, that's when I'll come back. I need to show her who's boss.”