Everyone in the retreat had gathered to witness the Christmas gift giving, there were a lot of shouts and giggles from the crowd as they handed one another the most expensive gifts. Jasmine on the other hand, had gotten a watch, it was the cheapest at the store yet it managed to run her account almost dry. She'd wrapped it carefully in a silver gift box, making it look more expensive than it actually was. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t fancy. It was the thought that counted. Right?She looked across the hall searching for Kol and Chad. Or at least one of them, if she managed to even tell them apart. She wondered if people weren't curious about how Kol had just shown up out of the blue.As she debated whether to keep searching or give up, a soft tap on her shoulder startled her.“Miss Jasmine?”She turned to find one of the retreat staff dressed in a black blazer, with her hair tied in a bun.“Yes?”“If you’d follow me, please.” The lady responded. She didn't wait for Jasmine to reply
Earlier…Chad's face had shifted from its usual stone cold expression. It seemed to change anytime he was around her, he'd started to wonder whether if she had some certain control over him or if he was just overthinking it.He looked down at the paper in his hand, Jasmine's name was scribbled on it.A slight smile crept to the corner of his lips. It seemed he and Kol had similar ideas. Kol had asked him to put on an act, making Jasmine think she had him as her Secret Santa.He walked down the hall, his mind immersed in thoughts of what he would get her. He wasn’t a gift person, heck, the last time he got a gift for a woman was when he was with Ava, and even then, she was the one who basically handpicked the gift.The memory of their kiss kept replaying in his head. Why had he made such a move on her? It wasn’t part of the contract. She was just his fake fiancée, that was it.He shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. It had to be because he finally saw his brother after so long. T
Chad strolled back into the hall, he headed straight for the hall where he'd last seen Jasmine.For some reason after the conversation with Ava, he was even more eager to see her now. Why did he behave so defensive when Ava had called her all those names? It didn't make sense. He barely knew Jasmine—at least, not in the way that should have made him care. And yet, something about the way Ava had spoken about her had unsettled him.He wondered how she'd even know about her mother's illness? and worse about their relationship being a fake? But that was the least on his mind. Right now, all he wanted to do was to see her.Just as Chad rounded another corner, he spotted Jasmine walking straight from the opposite direction. She hadn't noticed him yet but when their gaze finally crashed she looked a little taken aback. She blinked in surprise. "Didn’t you just—" she paused abruptly, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something more. Chad raised a brow waiting for her to continue
By the time help finally arrived, Jasmine had long fallen asleep and Chad's mind was a whirlwind of emotions.Fortunately, Peter had arrived at the retreat the morning before Christmas and had come prepared for any kind of unexpected turn of events including an extra car.Peter moved to the passenger's seat ready to move Jasmine into the other car however Chad had other plans and would rather do it himself. Once both Jasmine and Chad were carefully settled in the vehicle, Peter started the engine and headed south to the hotel.Chad leaned back against the seat, the quiet hum of the car engine filling the space. His eyes drifted to Jasmine, still asleep against the window. Her face looked peaceful, her lips slightly parted, her breath fogging the glass faintly.He wasn’t sure how long he watched her, but then she stirred. Her brows knitted together, and she shifted, then a soft whimper escaped her lip. She was having a bad dream. Suddenly, her body tensed, her head turning slightly
Earlier….Kol strolled into the rooftop party, hands tucked into his pocket lazily as he walked through the crowd, he noticed the people dancing like college freshmen teens in their first-ever frat party.The first person he spotted was Ava, who was slumped over some guy practically swallowing his lip in hers. When she noticed his presence, she dismissed the guy with a simple wave. The guy hesitated, clearly wanting more but one stern look from her, and he scrammed.“What brings you here?” She asked as soon as Kol halted in front of her.A snowflake dropped on his suit and he withdrew his hands from his pocket brushing it away.He looked at the sky, the snow was starting all over again. Then finally looked at Ava. “The hotel is a bit suffocating and I'm not used to staying cooped up in one place.” He said with the most nonchalant facial expression he could pull on. He didn't really fancy Ava or the retreat but he was tired of staying in the hotel especially since neither Chad nor Jas
The First Meeting Chad Blackstone sat in his office, gripping the edge of his desk as Peter, his trusted assistant, stood nearby. The news had hit him like a punch to the gut.“Ava Reeds is back in town,” Peter said cautiously, watching his boss for a reaction.Chad’s jaw tightened. “Why now?” he muttered, his voice low and tense. “After three years... Why the hell would she come back?”Peter shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure, but word is she’s attending some high-profile events. The media’s already buzzing about her return.”Ava. His Ava. The woman he’d once thought he’d spend his life with. The woman who’d left him broken and humiliated.Why? His chest tightened, anger and something far more bitter swirling within him. Three years. It had been three years since she’d vanished from his life without an explanation, taking his trust and his heart with her.His mind drifted to the past, no matter how much he fought against it. Ava. His childhood sweetheart. The girl he’d once though
“Listen up, everyone!”The sharp voice of Mr. Whitman, the manager of The Silver Holly, echoed through the restaurant as the staff gathered in the backroom. “Today’s not just any day, today's going to be hectic, and I want all of you on your toes. No mistakes, no delays. We’ve got some of the most influential high-profile clients in New York City dining with us, and if any of you screw this up, you’ll be out before the day ends. No excuses”Jasmine Withers adjusted her apron, suppressing a groan. It was the same speech every time high-profile guests were expected, but today Mr. Whitman seemed even more on edge.“The Silver Holly is known for its excellence,” he continued, pacing in front of the staff. “I don’t care if you’re serving water or a five-course meal—everything must be perfect. Got it?”“Yes, sir,” the team chorused.Jasmine Withers, standing at the back of the room, exchanged a glance with her co-worker, Lucy. “No pressure,” she whispered sarcastically.“Jasmine!” Mr. Whitm
Jasmine sat on the edge of her tiny apartment’s worn couch, her laptop perched on the coffee table. The email from Chad’s assistant had arrived an hour ago, the attachment glowing ominously on the screen like a trap. It still felt like a dream to her.She scrolled through the document, her heart sinking with every clause. The terms were laid out in painstaking detail: the conditions of her role, the timeline, and the stipulations on her conduct.Her mother’s treatment was prominently listed under “benefits,” as though it were a corporate perk. Immediate care, all expenses covered, and access to the country’s top specialists. She hesitated, Mr. Chad Blackstone isn't someone you can easily mess with, and she wasn't willing to subject her life to misery. Yes, she's sure that acting as Mr Blackstone's fiancee was going to be misery.Her phone buzzed, breaking her focus. She grabbed it quickly, her chest tightening when she saw the hospital’s number.“Hello?”“Ms. Wither,” a nurse’s voice
Earlier….Kol strolled into the rooftop party, hands tucked into his pocket lazily as he walked through the crowd, he noticed the people dancing like college freshmen teens in their first-ever frat party.The first person he spotted was Ava, who was slumped over some guy practically swallowing his lip in hers. When she noticed his presence, she dismissed the guy with a simple wave. The guy hesitated, clearly wanting more but one stern look from her, and he scrammed.“What brings you here?” She asked as soon as Kol halted in front of her.A snowflake dropped on his suit and he withdrew his hands from his pocket brushing it away.He looked at the sky, the snow was starting all over again. Then finally looked at Ava. “The hotel is a bit suffocating and I'm not used to staying cooped up in one place.” He said with the most nonchalant facial expression he could pull on. He didn't really fancy Ava or the retreat but he was tired of staying in the hotel especially since neither Chad nor Jas
By the time help finally arrived, Jasmine had long fallen asleep and Chad's mind was a whirlwind of emotions.Fortunately, Peter had arrived at the retreat the morning before Christmas and had come prepared for any kind of unexpected turn of events including an extra car.Peter moved to the passenger's seat ready to move Jasmine into the other car however Chad had other plans and would rather do it himself. Once both Jasmine and Chad were carefully settled in the vehicle, Peter started the engine and headed south to the hotel.Chad leaned back against the seat, the quiet hum of the car engine filling the space. His eyes drifted to Jasmine, still asleep against the window. Her face looked peaceful, her lips slightly parted, her breath fogging the glass faintly.He wasn’t sure how long he watched her, but then she stirred. Her brows knitted together, and she shifted, then a soft whimper escaped her lip. She was having a bad dream. Suddenly, her body tensed, her head turning slightly
Chad strolled back into the hall, he headed straight for the hall where he'd last seen Jasmine.For some reason after the conversation with Ava, he was even more eager to see her now. Why did he behave so defensive when Ava had called her all those names? It didn't make sense. He barely knew Jasmine—at least, not in the way that should have made him care. And yet, something about the way Ava had spoken about her had unsettled him.He wondered how she'd even know about her mother's illness? and worse about their relationship being a fake? But that was the least on his mind. Right now, all he wanted to do was to see her.Just as Chad rounded another corner, he spotted Jasmine walking straight from the opposite direction. She hadn't noticed him yet but when their gaze finally crashed she looked a little taken aback. She blinked in surprise. "Didn’t you just—" she paused abruptly, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something more. Chad raised a brow waiting for her to continue
Earlier…Chad's face had shifted from its usual stone cold expression. It seemed to change anytime he was around her, he'd started to wonder whether if she had some certain control over him or if he was just overthinking it.He looked down at the paper in his hand, Jasmine's name was scribbled on it.A slight smile crept to the corner of his lips. It seemed he and Kol had similar ideas. Kol had asked him to put on an act, making Jasmine think she had him as her Secret Santa.He walked down the hall, his mind immersed in thoughts of what he would get her. He wasn’t a gift person, heck, the last time he got a gift for a woman was when he was with Ava, and even then, she was the one who basically handpicked the gift.The memory of their kiss kept replaying in his head. Why had he made such a move on her? It wasn’t part of the contract. She was just his fake fiancée, that was it.He shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. It had to be because he finally saw his brother after so long. T
Everyone in the retreat had gathered to witness the Christmas gift giving, there were a lot of shouts and giggles from the crowd as they handed one another the most expensive gifts. Jasmine on the other hand, had gotten a watch, it was the cheapest at the store yet it managed to run her account almost dry. She'd wrapped it carefully in a silver gift box, making it look more expensive than it actually was. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t fancy. It was the thought that counted. Right?She looked across the hall searching for Kol and Chad. Or at least one of them, if she managed to even tell them apart. She wondered if people weren't curious about how Kol had just shown up out of the blue.As she debated whether to keep searching or give up, a soft tap on her shoulder startled her.“Miss Jasmine?”She turned to find one of the retreat staff dressed in a black blazer, with her hair tied in a bun.“Yes?”“If you’d follow me, please.” The lady responded. She didn't wait for Jasmine to reply
“Jasmine.” Her voice came out strained.“Mom “ Jasmine quickly responded.”How are you doing?” Is everything alright?” There was a pause on the other end, then she heard her mother cough. When she spoke again she sounded even weaker. “I'm alright sweetheart. It's just…when I woke up the doctor said you were in Switzerland?”Jasmine swallowed, she totally forgot to inform her. “I’ll be back soon, Mom. Just work but I'm so glad you’re awake. You scared me.”Her mom gave a faint chuckle, though it sounded tired. She said she was fine, she suspected there was something else on her mind.“Didn’t mean to. Where are you? Weren’t we supposed to spend Christmas together at Greta’s?”Jasmine lips pressed into a thin line. She hadn't forgotten about their Christmas plans. It was what they did every Christmas since her dad died. She'd spent the Christmas and new year with her aunt.“I'm sorry, mom. I had to do something else with…” she paused, she wasn't sure if she wanted to bring up Chad yet o
“I mean…it's a little complicated.”Jasmine wanted to push further, at least understand why she felt so off around him but seeing the slight change in Chad expression she paused. As quickly as the vulnerability came, in the blink of an eye it was gone. “So..” she started. “ Who did you get as yours?” Chad unusual playful smirk returned back almost immediately, amused by Jasmine's attempt to change the subject.He looked down at his card, as though he didn't already know who he'd gotten and then frowned.“What do I get her now?”Her? Jasmine for some reason panicked. Did he get Ava? With the way he frowned it had to be her right? “Who?” She asked, again. Chad motioned as she moved closer as if he wanted to say something that only the two of them would catch. Overwhelmed by her curiosity, she leaned closer, pulling her ear forward for him to whisper.He leaned in, his voice a low whisper. “Can’t tell. It’s a secret.”Jasmine rolled her eyes and pulled away. “Jerk” she muttered.
She stared at him dumbfounded, not having any idea on how to feel about having him as her secret Santa. “Your jaw is still hanging” He laughed, throwing his head back.Rushing to close her mouth, she glared at him “Can you pick again?”“I don’t think I want to” he responded, clearly having his fun out of this.She looked like the mere thought of being around him way longer shook her. The striking resemblance between him and Chad was alarming, it made Jasmine want to lose her bananas.“Is this fun for you?” She asked.“You should be comfortable. I don’t think there is much difference between me and my brother’s face” He smiled. His smile crooked in a way that reminded Jasmine of Chad when he was being mischievous.“That’s the problem. The resemblance between you both makes me uncomfortable” She sighed.“What?”He laughed “Don’t tell me I am the ugly twin?”Jasmine stared at him, like really stared at him and noticed the little difference along with the easy going facade he was putti
The bells of Christmas morning filled the hotel and Jasmine stirred in her sleep, her head throbbed with a light headache and unable to bear it anymore, her eyes flew open. A groggy sigh left her lips as she turned on her stomach, burying her head into the pillow.She'd had too much to drink that her memory was now a fog. What happened last night?Her eyes traveled down to her body, she was no longer wearing the emerald dress she wore the night before but instead it was a satin nightgown that smelled like it'd just be brought fresh from the laundry.Her body went still, something wasn't right. Who had changed her? A jolt of panic ran through her mind as she tried to recall what happened the previous night. At first it was all a blur until it all started coming back piece by piece. She remembered how tipsy, angry and overall.. jealousy, she had been. Her emotions were heightened and she kept on spilling uncontrollably to Chad. And overall, her fingers traced her lips. They had kisse