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Chapter 42: A Passionate Night
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2025-03-24 19:34:00
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Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 43: The Contract Is Over
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-25Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Prologue: The First Meeting
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 1: A Deal With The Devil
“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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 2: A Deal With The Devil II
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 3: The Gala
Jasmine sat stiffly in the plush chair of an expansive dressing suite, feeling completely out of place amidst the whirlwind of luxury. Three stylists fluttered around her, debating colours and fabrics, while a makeup artist meticulously worked on her face."Chin up," the woman instructed, tilting Jasmine's face to the light.Jasmine complied, though her mind raced. How had her life gone from scraping together tips at the diner to this? The unusual transformation was almost laughable."Perfect," one of the stylists declared, stepping back to admire her work. "That gown will turn heads for sure.”Jasmine glanced down at the emerald silk dress they’d chosen, its sleek design hugging her figure with just the right amount of elegance. The plunging neckline and slit up the leg were bold, but not garish. For a moment, she felt like someone else entirely—a stranger in her own skin.Before she could dwell on it, the door opened, and Chad strode in.The room seemed to chill instantly as his pre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas The Invitation
Chad sat at his office, head buried in his palm as his mind raced. The previous night at the gala had been… a lot. Jasmine had played her part well—maybe even too well—up until the moment she nearly drowned herself in champagne. She had enjoyed Ava’s reaction, that much was obvious. But Chad wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Ava hadn’t spared him a second glance after their first exchange. Had she already moved on or was it just her way of ticking him off. Regardless, he didn't care or at least that was what he told himself. A knock on the office door jolted him out of his thoughts. Ahead was Peter. He gestured for him to come in and the young man strolled in with confidence. “This just arrived for you,” Peter said, placing the envelope on his desk. Chad's eyes roamed over the sleek black envelope. “What is it?” He asked. “An invitation,” Peter replied. Picking it up, he expression shifted, the seal was embossed in a golden intricate crest—the Reeds family emblem. Ava’s fam
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-15Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Ready For Christmas
By the time the phone hung up, Mr Whitman's voice came from the other end of the room. Jasmine internally rolled her eyes. What was it she didn't do right this time? Mr Whitman came into view, his face etched with worry. “There's still a lot to be done before Christmas and you're here slacking off on a phone call?” The restaurant wasn't even crowded and most people would rather spend their Christmas holiday at some resort and ski trip, rather than a restaurant, but unfortunately, that was spoken inward, he would never understand. Jasmine braced herself for her announcement. “Mr. Whitman I'm going on a family vacation first thing tomorrow, I wanted to tell you but it…” she trailed looking for the best excuse. “.. slipped my mind.” Nice one, Jasmine Withers. Super believable. His brows shot up, his mouth opening in disbelief before he scoffed. “A family vacation? Tomorrow?” His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. “And you conveniently forgot to mention this to me earlier?”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Is She A Mistress?
As scheduled, the Uber arrived at her apartment at exactly 6am. Jasmine, who was usually a light sleeper, had already gotten up earlier, ready for the rollercoaster she was about to get into. The drive started and an hour later they'd arrived at Blackstone airport. As soon as she saw Chad, a small smile creeped across her face. “Baby…” she called out. Chad, who was busy attending to a few employees, turned immediately. She saw his eyes go wide and only made her more determined. She stopped in front of him and pulled him in an embrace. She noticed him stiffen in her embrace, his hands hovering awkwardly at his sides. Jasmine could practically hear the way his teeth clenched together. “What is the meaning of this?” he muttered under his breath, keeping his tone low for the sake of the employees watching them. She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her expression fake innocent. “What do you mean, my love?” she said sweetly, tilting her head. His grip on her waist ti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-19
Bab terbaru
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 43: The Contract Is Over
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 42: A Passionate Night
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 41: Rooftop Party
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 40: It's Done
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 39: Chad Or Kol
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 38: Panick Attack
“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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 37: Secret Santa
“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.
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 36: Malicious
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
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 35: Secret Santa
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
