Chapter 1. Inevitable Deals

Jasmine pondered for a moment at the scattering of shards on the floor, the result of her careless hand not nudging the glass. She raised her gaze slowly, finding one of the men already standing directly in front of her. The man's presence asserted authority, while the other burly figure remained in place as if to show who their leader was.

"What do you want?" cried Jasmine with her hands clenched into fists, trying not to be afraid to face the men alone.

"Tell me your name," said the man Jasmine believed to be the leader. His eyes looked sharp and his tone was threatening.

Jasmine didn't want to talk about herself to the stranger who had barged into her house, so she didn't answer.

Jasmine's uncompromising attitude only made the man smirk, then he took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. While time passed, he smoked quietly in front of the woman who looked at him with a disapproving expression.

"It's that simple, can't say it?"

The bespectacled man suddenly stepped in front of them, thrusting a mysterious document. "This is the data you requested, Mr. Hawthorne."

The man with a dense aura of power, called Mr. Hawthorne, was now reading the document in his hand. "Hiding it won't do you any good. I can have my people find out about you, Jasmine Everhart."

The bespectacled man swiftly took over the document as Mr. Hawthorne handed it to him, then he backed away slowly.

Cigarette smoke billowing in the air, Mr. Hawthorne dropped the cigarette he had only taken a few puffs on and stomped on it.

"Where is your father?"

The sharp question left Jasmine shocked and confused. "Why... my fa—ther?"

"Let's keep this short," Mr. Hawthorne said, his voice firm. "Your father took my money and I don't know where he's hiding now. Do you know where your father is?"

"No way..." Jasmine whispered in disbelief.

Mr. Hawthorne raised his eyebrows. "What'l do you mean no way?"

Jasmine swallowed. "My father wouldn't have stolen someone else's money. H-he...!"

Jasmine's gaze darted around, somewhat dazed by the circumstances under which she had to face such a large number of men. Her heart was racing and sweat was already flooding her body.

Jasmine tried to focus herself, to fight for her father's good name again. "My father is not that kind of man!" she said loudly.

Mr. Hawthorne moved forward as Jasmine stepped back. At that moment, Jasmine whimpered as the sole of her foot stepped on the shard and her body instantly stiffened in place.

Mr. Hawthorne grabbed Jasmine's chin. "So, you're saying I'm hallucinating?"

Jasmine used both hands to release the grip. It was not easy as the more she tried to break free, the stronger the grip got.

"I hate people who steal my property the most. Now all you need to do is pay your father's debt before my patience runs out."

Jasmine whimpered, even the heated eyes were already dropping tears. As the drops hit between Mr. Hawthorne's fingers, the grip was roughly released.

Jasmine held her cheeks trembling, on the other hand she also knew that she needed to end their encounter at any cost. "N-now I don't have any money, but if I'm given time to pay it off—"

Mr. Hawthorne smiled lightly. "You can find a hundred thousand dollars in one night?"

"One hundred thousand dollars?!"

Jasmine's eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. Obviously, it was impossible for her to raise a hundred thousand dollars overnight. After all, what would her father take away that much money for?

For some reason, Jasmine felt guilty about this incident, considering that her father worked hard all by himself to make ends meet. She knew that her father worked hard to send her to college, and maybe he stole the money to make their lives better.

Jasmine sighed, still not expecting her father to go to such lengths. "Please give me one week. I will definitely pay off everything my father owes you," she said in a pleading tone.

"Don't try to fool me. It will be impossible for you to repay them even if you die. Do you think I didn't find out about my workers? Your father was a hopeless man who begged me to support his only daughter. Now he's forgotten his nuts and you're asking me to trust the daughter of a traitor?"

Jasmine immediately fell at Mr. Hawthorne's feet, undaunted by the bloodied soles. "Mr. Hawthorne, please give me a chance," she whispered.

Mr. Hawthorne looked down at the spot where Jasmine had tearfully pleaded. Perhaps if it had been him back then he would have felt compassion, but things were much different now.

"You must pay it back right this moment."

"W-with what? We have nothing of value."

Mr. Hawthorne's expression turned fierce. "With your life, because that's the only thing worth paying for. You will stay by my side and do only what I command."

The silence was heavy, as if absorbing every word that left Mr. Hawthorne's lips. Those words also managed to make Jasmine feel like she was being struck by lightning.

How can I be by this horrible man's side for an indefinite period of time? Jasmine said to herself.

"Miss Everhart, I need to warn you that denying my words is asking for death."

"I-"

"Let me tell you the only way out to escape from me."

Mr. Hawthorne slowly crouched down, one knee resting on the floor. He raised Jasmine's chin with a tactile arrangement of his forefinger and thumb. "Your father is your last resort, if he's still alive of course." Both ends of her lips lifted until they could form a grin.

Jasmine shuddered, barely able to breathe. That horrifying stare and those sharp words had managed to drive right into her heart.

"Take this girl, without the shard and the blood on her feet," Mr. Hawthorne ordered.

Mr. Hawthorne got up and walked out of that small house. His presence commanded respect from his followers who could not enter and could only stand guard outside.

Mr. Hawthorne waited in the car for some time. Jasmine entered after having her leg treated and bandaged by a bespectacled man who claimed to be Mr. Hawthorne's secretary.

With a low rumble of the engine running, the cabin door was closed. On the passenger seat with Mr. Hawthorne, Jasmine tried to create a wide berth. The car drove off after receiving an order from Mr. Hawthorne and brought them to a tense silence.

Jasmine tried to glance at the man beside her even though the self-doubt was still looming. After deliberating for a long time, she let out a voice, "Where are we... going?"

"Pinnacle Heights Suites."

"Wh-what... P-pi ...."

Mr. Hawthorne let out a long breath. "Pinnacle, Heights, Suites."

Jasmine tried to understand Mr. Hawthorne's lips, trying to grasp the direction of their destination.

Mr. Hawthorne saw the incomprehension on Jasmine's face. He turned to the road they were traveling on as he uttered, "I don't know why I have to pronounce it for someone like you."

"What do you want me to do in that place?"

"You will find out later."

Jasmine looked down, holding back the fear that continued to creep in. In the confusion that crept into her mind, she wondered about what other events awaited her ahead.

"Am I going to work to pay off my father's debt?" That was all that was surfacing in Jasmine's mind right now.

Mr. Hawthorne gave Jasmine a sharp look, his expression reflecting disapproval. "Don't make me repeat the same words because I don't like that." His voice filled the cabin space with an increasingly thick dark aura.

Jasmine lost the courage to open her voice further, so she could only look down or let her gaze drift out the window.

Moments passed, the wheels of the car passed through the gate and stopped in the front yard of a building. Someone opened the door for them, first was Mr. Hawthorne and followed by Jasmine as the newcomer.

"Follow me," said Mr. Hawthorne, his steps steady towards the front door of the building.

Jasmine walked behind and joined him inside the building which exuded an exclusive aura. The receptionist bowed when she noticed Mr. Hawthorne's arrival. There Jasmine saw the letters Pinnacle Heights Suites on the wall, reminding her of the conversation in the car.

"Why?"

Mr. Hawthorne's heavy voice broke her reverie. Jasmine shook her head and followed the steps that led her to the elevator.

Ting!

Mr. Hawthorne swung his legs out of the elevator, Jasmine following hesitantly. The dim light of the corridor welcomed her, the elegant accents on the walls seemed to permeate the silence. The plush carpeting that produced a subtle sound accompanied each step, further putting Jasmine on edge.

Mr. Hawthorne opened the penthouse door, using smart sensors that automatically detected his presence. The door opened smoothly. The sophistication witnessed by Jasmine left her gaping.

As footsteps crossed the threshold, an atmosphere of luxury instantly pervaded. Soft light embraced the room, illuminating the luxurious furniture and art that was gracefully displayed in the penthouse. Jasmine was mesmerized for so long that she did not realize that Mr. Hawthorne was now standing in front of her, watching her.

With stern words, Mr. Hawthorne declared, "Until your father is found, you will live in this penthouse."

Confusion immediately seized Jasmine. "Huh?"

"Don't think you're here to relax."

"Okay!"

Mr. Hawthorne frowned. "Okay? You haven't even been told what job you'll be doing."

Jasmine scratched her temple. "That's... because I'm not allowed to ask."

Mr. Hawthorne pointed at Jasmine's face seriously. "You will be a mistress who will serve me, that is what you are here for."

"Mis-tress?" As if she had not been able to fully digest, Jasmine was too late to be surprised. Her pupils fluttered as she slowly backed away. "No, I'm..."

Mr. Hawthorne laughed widely, growing fear in Jasmine's eyes. "Don't be so surprised, Miss Everhart. I was just about to start."

Jasmine understood the meaning of a mistress, a connotation that referred to a relationship outside of marriage and was considered unethical. Right now she was being degraded, while the man standing before her seemed perfectly content with that ghastly laughter.