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Fifty-seven Hours To Christmas
Last Updated:
2025-01-19 01:57:59
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Festive 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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?”
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-19Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Arrival
The Swiss Alps came into view beneath them. It looked absolutely breathtaking with displays of snow-covered peaks and high mountains.The private jet landed smoothly over the mountains, and Chad took a quick glance at Jasmine. Her eyes were wide with awe and her face practically pressed against the window. Unlike New York, Switzerland was much colder, and winter had already settled in, turning the landscape into a pristine wonderland. "You act like you've never seen snow before," He remarked. She turned to him, a grin on her face. "Not like this," she admitted. "New York snow is just…dirty slush and cold misery. But this—" She gestured toward the scenery outside. "This is beautiful." Chad studied her for a moment, noting the genuine excitement in her eyes. He wasn’t sure why, but the sight of her so captivated by something so simple made him momentarily forget why they were even on this trip in the first place. The jet began its descent, and soon, they were taxiing toward a private
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Fifty-seven Hours To Christmas
Chad managed to keep calm just enough to avoid Jasmine asking any more questions that he wasn't in the mood to answer. Some part of him felt a disturbed feeling for the way he spoke to her but he shoved the feeling right back to where it came from. He couldn't afford to feel anything for anyone. Chad walked confidently through the halls, adjusting his suit as if to ready himself. He was going to speak to Ava, trying to find out what exactly what she was up to even when he had promised himself he'd never get involved with her again. It was still early evening, around 5pm but due to the cloud covering the sky it looked a few hours to midnight. Chad made his way to the other wing of the mansion–Ava’s wing. He pushed the elevator button and watched it close. He saw a staff member just outside the door looking like she wanted to protest against him stepping to this side of the mansion. Another staff member cut up to her before she opened her mouth and whispered something that made h
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 25: Who Is Coming?
Curiosity kills the cat. That was what Jasmine had heard since she was growing up, yet the need to know what Ava was talking about kept biting her. She fiddled with her clothes, contemplating her next move, but then the room door suddenly opened, and Chad strolled to the wardrobe. She watched as he searched through the walls of perfectly hung shirts until he finally pulled out a small briefcase that looked like it could also pass as a box. Completely ignoring her presence, he unlocked it, and paper piles fell from it. Chad searched for half a minute, his usually expressionless face filling with concern. “Where is it?!” He said, his voice barely above a whisper as he swiped through it. After another minute he slammed it shut causing Jasmine to flinch a little. His frustration was clear and the usual calm and composed wall he wore was now replaced by raw unease. “What are you looking for?” she finally asked. Chad's mind was in his own business, completely oblivious to what Jasm
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 24: Brother
Jasmine's conversation with Georgia was the definition of pointless. She tries to get Georgia to say something about her and Jordan and why she'd been balling her eyes out because of him. After half an hour of trying to get her to feel comfortable enough to talk. Georgia ended up excusing herself, practically running out of the scene the moment she saw Jordan approached. She was very sure that wasn't how people were supposed to react when seeing their soon to be husband. Jasmine didn't bother waiting for him to speak and turned, walking away from him. She couldn't go back to the lodge, Chad was still there and after their kiss, she wasn't ready to be anywhere close to him yet. She moved wherever her feet could take and ended up on the other side of the mansion. Coming to think of it she'd never really been on this part of the house. It was a different area entirely, though it was painted in the same white and grey as the entire house, this part just looked different. Ahead of he
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 23: They Were Siblings?
Ava restlessly paced back and forth in her private suite, anger boiling within her. The room was very massive, she had an entire floor to herself, isolated from the rest of the rooms in the mansion. It was just exactly the way she liked it. Exclusive. She'd thought that if she became sarce for a few days Chad would soften his heart towards her or at least chase after her but oh how wrong she had been. She wondered if Chad truly liked Jasmine and had forgotten about her completely. No, she couldn't let that happen; she still needed him. Ava picked the glass of pine juice that stood on the luxurious desk in the middle of her room. She took a sip of the juice and dropped the glass back down. Christmas was in two days and yet she still hadn't achieved the main purpose of the retreat. She had thought that if she stayed distant and played the devastated ex, Chad might come to his senses. Maybe even chase after her. But no. Instead, she had been forced to watch him kiss Jasmine. The e
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 22: Getting Married
Jasmine’s breath hitched as she stared at Chad, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. The tension between them was still very thick from their previous kiss. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to snap out of it. It was just a kiss, her very first but it was only to make their relationship believable. Nothing more. Chad still didn't say anything but his expression had gone back to its usual stoic self. His grip on her waist was firm, as if he wasn’t ready to let go just yet, jaw slightly tight, Something she didn’t have enough courage to even say. Jasmine forced a laugh, hoping to break the tension. “Well, that was fun.” Luckily for her, Chad snapped back to reality and his grip on her loosened and he stepped back. What was going on with him? He mentally scolded himself. It took a few seconds for him to finally find his voice but when he did, it was as sharp as ever. “You call that fun?” Jasmine lifted a brow, feigning nonchalance. “You’re welcome, by the way. Ava’s going
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 21: The Kiss
Jordan’s smirk deepened as he stepped closer, clearly enjoying himself. “Well, this is a surprise,” he mused, looking Chad up and down like he was sizing him up. “Didn’t think I’d run into you here.” Jasmine internally rolled her eyes, her jaw clenching. She'd just spoken to him a few hours ago and here he was pretending to know nothing. Chad didn’t reply. He simply stood there, his grip on her steadying as he looked anywhere but at Jordan. Jordan chuckled at the silence, rocking back on his heels. “Still the same, huh? Always the quiet type. Makes me wonder how you keep up in business when words are just as important as numbers.” Jasmine felt Chad’s grip tighten slightly. Jordan turned his attention to her, amusement flickering in his eyes. “And you, Jasmine. I have to say, I didn’t expect this.” He gestured between the two of them. “Mrs Blackstone—his fiancée? That’s new.” Although Chad didn't speak, he wondered how he knew her name and for a fleeting moment, he felt a wave of
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 20: Jordan's Fiancee?
Jasmine headed back to the lodge and the first thing that caught her attention was Georgia and Chad. Georgia was talking to him and she even saw her laughing at something he said, though Chad remained blank and emotionless. Pushing down whatever unusual feeling she felt, she approached them. “Georgia,” she greeted. Both Georgia and Chad turned to look at her. A smile appeared on Georgia's face or at least the previous one became wider. “Jasmine! Didn't think I'd see you here. I assume you won't be needing any lessons right?” She chuckled and Jasmine followed, though it wasn't genuine. Jasmine looped her arm through Chad’s and then looked back up at her. She saw the way Georgia's expression stiffened. “It's a hot tub, I couldn't miss it. Especially not under a weather this cold. “ “Same here.” She replied. I was just talking to Chad, have you guys met?” Jasmine smiled, deciding now was as good a time as any. “Yes, actually. Oh, let me formally introduce you. This is Chad,
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 19: Terrible Liar
She pressed her hand over Chad's chest, trying to at least create an opening to slip past, but it was of no use. The man was as solid as a damn rock. But finally, he took the hint and stepped back, giving her enough space to slip past him. “I told you, it’s nothing,” she said quickly, reaching for the door. Chad didn’t stop her this time. “You’re a terrible liar,” he commented, and in the next minute, she was gone. ~••~ THE NEXT MORNING Jasmine and Chad were back in the lodge. After their awkward morning, they had managed to agree to keep up their fake relationship and well-played act. While they were here, they had to make sure no one caught the hint of pretense. Breakfast at the lodge was lively. Everyone was chatting over the freshly prepared meal. Jasmine had usually been the only one coming for breakfast, but now seeing Chad, a few of them were shocked. Jasmine and Chad sat together in the long dining hall. She didn't understand why everyone needed to have breakfast at on
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 18: Who Survived
Chad spent the rest of the night thinking about the news he had gotten a few days ago. Peter had reported the investigation looking into his family's case had brought up some new suspicion about someone surviving the explosion. The very idea of someone surviving that fire that'd taken out almost the entire neighborhood made a shiver run down Chad’s spine. For years, he had accepted the brutal truth that his family was gone, wiped from existence in that fiery destruction. No bodies to bury, just ashes and the worst of all was that he couldn't even identify theirs. Now, after all this time, someone was claiming otherwise? He exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers against his temples. “Damn it.” His mind had been running with wild thoughts ever since then he needed to escape not just because of Jordan but because he didn't understand what exactly was going on and not so many miles away from the scene. Who? Who could have possibly survived? Peter had been only mentioning that certai
