***** Jasmine was preoccupied with the letter, her suspicions reaching new heights. As she drove hastily towards her house, her phone rang. It was a call from Ceece. She picked up and put it on speaker, focusing on the road as she drove attentively. The sun was setting, and she assumed Payne must have already returned home with Nadia. "Hello, Ceece. Tell Payne I'm on my way home and will be there soon!" Jasmine said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil in her mind. "Jasmine, I’m not at home," Ceece's voice came through, fraught with anxiety. "There's a problem I’ve found myself in, and I don't know anyone else here who can help me out of this." Jasmine's grip on the steering wheel tightened, concern washing over her. "You sound tense! What happened?" she asked, pulling over to the side of the road to give the conversation her full attention. There was a momentary pause on the other end before Ceece continued, her voice trembling. "I tried to help you, Jasmine, but
*****"Though I admire your confidence," one of the men sneered, stepping closer to Jasmine, "you still lack the kind of beauty that usually catches his eye. You can go, but it won’t make a difference. Seeing him or begging for time won’t change your fate." His gaze was lecherous, and it made Jasmine feel exposed, as if he was undressing her with his eyes.Jasmine’s anger flared, not just at the men, but at the situation itself. How could Ceece, usually so intelligent and careful, have made such a reckless mistake? She tightened her grip on Ceece’s hand, feeling her friend’s fear and using it to fuel her resolve."You have caring nature but I am not required of it," Jasmine said, "I would like to know where your boss is!?"The man sneered at Jasmine's fiesty nature before turned around, saying, "Follow me!"Ceece hurriedly tugged Jasmine's hand, stopping her from going, " I don't think you should go and meet his boss: who knows what kind of character he own!"Jasmine coldly turned aro
**** The kiss did not last long because Damon hadn't intended it to be more than a lesson. He wanted to prove that his kiss was not disgusting. He pulled away abruptly, leaving Jasmine breathless and furious. She gritted her teeth and swung her fist at him again, but this time Damon caught it mid-air. His other hand grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly at him as he spoke coldly, "Do not tell me you are disgusted by me?" Jasmine's eyes blazed with defiance, her teeth clenched in anger. She was about to hurl an insult at him when the door suddenly burst open. Both of them turned to see a woman standing in the doorway. It was Linda, the person Damon had been waiting for. "Babe, what is happening?!" Linda exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and irritation as she stepped into the room. She shot a sharp glance at Jasmine, her eyes narrowing. Linda had been thrilled all morning after receiving Damon's call, but the scene before her was not something she had expected or was pl
******"There's no chance I'm letting my money go unpaid," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Negotiation is usually reserved for those who are my equals financially. So tell me, what do you have to offer as collateral if you fail to repay the money you owe my Casino?!”He flicked the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray, never breaking eye contact."You're not in a situation where you're desperate for money. I moved here a few days ago and have been struggling to find a job. I have nothing to give you as collateral. Besides, you violated me, and I’m not going to the cops about it. So I’m hoping you’ll be considerate," Jasmine said, her voice trembling with shame as she forced herself to bring up the incident.Damon chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're funny! So, you're referring to that kiss we shared? I know you didn't consent, but I wasn't entirely in the wrong either. I was waiting for someone else, and you just barged in out of nowhere. And as for going to th
★★★★ "Do I have to wait more minutes to get the answer from you about my sudden arrival that you asked for?" Cesar said, his lazy eyes half-lidded as he looked at Damon, who seemed lost in thought while having him in his cabin. "Why are you so impatient?" Damon snapped back, his tone edged with irritation. "You were lounging in your chamber, and there was a time when I waited at your place for you to unload your troubles!" Damon rolled his eyes dramatically, reaching for the glass of water on the table. As he lifted it to his lips, a flash of memory hit him—Jasmine rubbing her lips with water in disgust. The recollection fueled his anger, and with a frustrated grunt, he slammed the glass back down on the table. Cesar raised an eyebrow, watching Damon’s outburst with mild amusement. "Is something troubling you, Damon? You seem more on edge than usual." Damon glared at him, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration. "It's nothing," he muttered, but the tightness in his voi
★★★★Later that night, Jasmine found herself unable to fall asleep, her mind restless with thoughts of the encounter with Damon. Despite her daughter's excitement to share about her day at the party, Jasmine's distraction prevented her from engaging fully in the conversation.As she lay in bed, the image of Damon's face and his unsettling words continued to haunt her thoughts. Just as she was lost in her own turmoil, her phone suddenly vibrated on the nightstand, illuminating the dark room with Dante's name on the screen. Glancing back at her peacefully sleeping daughter, Jasmine quietly slipped out of bed and left the room to take the call."Hello, sweetheart. Can't sleep?" Jasmine answered with a gentle tone."I was debating whether to call you or not. I thought you might be asleep," Dante said, his voice filled with genuine happiness at hearing her voice. He hadn't expected her to pick up at this hour."I was just wrapping up some work," Jasmine replied. Dante's presence on the oth
★★★★★ As soon as the morning arrived, Jasmine prepared breakfast for Payne. It was the usual—eggs, juice, and bread. "Mom, why do you look so rushed? Do you have a shoot this morning?" Payne asked, noticing her mother's hurried movements and the familiar look of concentration that appeared whenever she was juggling too much at once. "Not in the morning, sweetheart, but I do have one in the evening. Right now, I'm trying to be quick because I'm going to visit a school. If it impresses me, we'll get you enrolled there. I don't want to waste another year of your education," Jasmine said, spreading avocado on her toast. Jasmine chose not to reveal the real reason for her rush, knowing her daughter’s inquisitive nature. Mentioning Dante would spark a slew of questions and a likely demand to accompany her. "Aw! You make it sound like I'm committing a crime," Payne said, flashing a mischievous grin. "Tell me, Mom, are you planning to kick me out before I turn 18 or after?" Payne asked, f
★★★★★Dante, on the other hand, was continuously scanning the crowd of parents, looking for Jasmine. He hadn’t told his father about the event, so if anyone from his family were to be here, it would be Jasmine.From a distance, Damon watched his son with a puzzled expression, unable to understand why Dante hadn’t gone up on stage after hearing his name called."Dante, you need to go to the stage. Everyone is eagerly waiting to see your performance," a teacher approached, her voice gentle but firm.Dante remained adamant, his eyes darting around the room. Although his family's seats were not far away, Dante was too small to spot Jasmine over the crowd."Dante, listen to me," the teacher repeated, but Dante dismissed her words, his face still hopeful.Seeing his son's distress, Damon took a few steps forward, intending to intervene. Just then, Jasmine stood up and rushed towards Dante, causing Damon to halt."Dante," Jasmine called out, hesitating slightly as she didn't want to draw unn