Three weeks later
Jasmine's POV
Evan and I had been lying in bed when an idea crossed my mind. I had realized that there were so such to him that I didn't know about as yet and so many unanswered questions.
I gently tugged on his shoulder and he turned towards me with a smiling face and messy hair.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked, ignoring his question.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Why do you give women white roses when you're through with them?"
He chuckled and ran his hands over his face.
"When I was a little boy, I used to go to my great grandmother's house a lot before she passed. Right before she got sick, she started planting a garden of white roses, and I assisted her sometimes. Right before the very first blossom of the roses, she passed. She never got the chance to see her white garden, and I took it very hard. So, I use white roses to tell women goodbye, and that they're dead to me."
I was shoc
Chapter OneJasmine's POV"This can't be the proposition she was going on and on about for weeks with her annoying ass voice, which always makes my damn ears ring! Miss Rhino can't be serious! This has absolutely no benefits or profits behind it and, as matter of fact, if we invest, we would be at a loss! I'm not interested in this. Why the hell did I hire her?"He looked at the documents in the folder on his desk I had brought in for him by his Chief Operating Officer, Miss Rhino."Get Ms. Rhino on the line and instruct her to find herself in my office immediately!""Yes sir," I answered sharply."And, Miss Blackman, reorganise my schedule for the upcoming week. Cancel that nonsensical meeting with Mr. Hoggers since I'm not interested in investing one billion dollars in his shitty business. Also, fax those documents to the sixth level and proofread these for me before one p.m. And can you send Julia a bouquet of whit
Evan's POVI stood up at my desk, ready to call my best friend Zack to meet up for lunch. We had been best friends since our high school days and all throughout the years at Harvard University where we received bachelors degrees in Marketing and Communications, and masters in Business Administration."Hi darling," a voice greeted as I was walking to my private elevator.I turned around slowly, knowing who it was, and she immediately threw her arms around my neck and drew me in for a kiss.I pulled away gently."What are you doing here?" I asked her. I wasn't expecting her and I hated it when people showed up uninvited."I wanted to surprise you and take you out to lunch." She was still cheerful.How do I shut her down gently? I asked myself.Julia Starlet was a twenty four year-old actress. Tall, slim, blonde and beautiful. I adored her bright brown eyes and the elegant way she wore her makeup.
Jasmine's POV"Thank you." He'd said to me.Have you ever had that feeling where you feel like you're back in high school and your dreams were finally coming true because you were getting noticed by the popular guy, who also happens to be your crush?Well, that was what it felt like with Mr. Hollen; but I had to be very professional with and around him now that I was going to be working even closer to him and may have to accompany him to meetings and on business trips. I didn't know how I was going to contain and control myself, but I had to. Losing my job was not an option.I arrived at my apartment. I pushed the key into the lock and opened the door to find my mother sitting at the couch, reading one of those gossip magazines."Hi Mom," I greeted, shutting the door behind me and taking my handbag off my shoulder."Hi Jassy, how was your day?""It was great. My boss is promoting me to be his Personal Assi
Jasmine's POVMy sister and I waited for the midnight bus to take us back home. The night was still, calm and quiet. Well, at least that was what it felt like to me because I became numb."Your mother's health is at a critical stage. There's nothing more we can do unless she gets that lung transplant. Without it she'll only have three months to live, or less. I'm sorry."Those words were haunting me and hung on my shoulders like a piece of clothing I couldn't shake off. I had absolutely no idea on how I was going to be able to pay for my mother's lung transplant. The given total was over half a million dollars, and I wasn't sure what her Medicaid would cover. Regardless, I would have to hit the lottery to obtain that kind of money.I had to pay the bills and the rent at my apartment, support and provide for my sister's education, put food on the table and provided for myself as well. It was all too much. I didn't know what to do or where to turn t
Evan's POVI watched her standing at my desk in my office. I was antagonized by her behavior. She had already arrived late and when she eventually arrived I called her desk and she wasn't answering the line. I had to put an applicant in her place because Miss Blackman was nowhere to be found. She, of all people, should know better. I hated slackers and she was becoming one, which was very disappointing. She was one of the best employees I'd ever hired and I really didn't want to regret hiring her."Miss Blackman, what's the meaning of this?" I asked, referring to her absence a while ago from her desk.She hesitated to answer. I looked at her carefully and noticed her makeup had be smudged.She was crying. Maybe because of her mom. What's really wrong with her mom anyway?"I'm... very sorry Mr. Hollen," she stuttered and lowered her head in trepidation.She was trembling, sending all the signs of fear from being in such a po
Jasmine's POVOh my goodness, he actually fired her. He actually fired Miss Rhino, his COO and second in command. I counted my lucky stars that I hadn't been previously fired as well.After the meeting and the firing of Miss Rhino, I went back to my desk and found a tall, blonde haired woman standing there. She had bright blue eyes, cream skin and wore an expensive suit. She had to be one of Mr. Hollen's girlfriends because she was not wearing a company name tag or a badge. She was also too overly dressed to be an employee."Hello, can I help you?" I asked her."Yes. Is Evan in?" she asked.I knew Evan was Mr. Hollen's first name. His father and mother called all the time asking to speak to Evan-- their son."Yes he is, but he's not in his office. He should be here any minute now.""That's fine. I'll wait in his office.""No, you can't," I said."Excuse me?" she asked, turning around at m
Evan's POVAfter work, I went to a local pub to meet up with Zack. I desperately needed a drink to digest the unforeseen feelings and situations popping up in my life and in my mind-- Jessica Hills' return and an unexplained lustful feeling for my personal assistant."Well you look like hell," Zack greeted as I walked over to him."You have no idea man." I snatched the extra beer he held in his hand."What's going on?""Remember Jessica from high school?""Yeah, umm, her sister is Regina, right?""Right.""Well what about her? Isn't she in Canada?""No. She's back and wants us to reconnect.""Dude. No.""And that's not the half of it," I went on."What else?"I knew Zack and the way he can get when told new information about my personal life and affairs so I let it go.I heavily exhaled a breath and raked my hand through my hair. A beer wasn't cut
Jasmine's POVI received a phone call from my little sister right after I stepped out from my place of employment. She needed me to come get her and take her home from a bar-- she'd had a few drinks. And by a few drinks, I mean she'd been heavily drinking and now she was intoxicated.I found the bar after walking for half an hour. She was sitting at a table surrounded by beer bottles. Her eyes were slightly closed and she was holding onto a beer bottle like she was holding on for dear life.What the hell?"Zen, what are you doing?" I asked furiously, embarrassed to see her in such an unusual state."Hi *hiccup* Jassy," she answered."Come on, get up. I'm taking you home!""No, I'm not ready yet anymore. I need to finish drinking this beer.""What the hell are you doing Zenia?" I asked angrily."Drinking this beer. I just told you that. Duh!""Zenia, listen to me. You need to s
Three weeks laterJasmine's POVEvan and I had been lying in bed when an idea crossed my mind. I had realized that there were so such to him that I didn't know about as yet and so many unanswered questions.I gently tugged on his shoulder and he turned towards me with a smiling face and messy hair."Can't sleep?" he asked."Can I ask you something?" I asked, ignoring his question."Sure, what is it?""Why do you give women white roses when you're through with them?"He chuckled and ran his hands over his face."When I was a little boy, I used to go to my great grandmother's house a lot before she passed. Right before she got sick, she started planting a garden of white roses, and I assisted her sometimes. Right before the very first blossom of the roses, she passed. She never got the chance to see her white garden, and I took it very hard. So, I use white roses to tell women goodbye, and that they're dead to me."I was shoc
It was April 10th. Three more days to his first birthday, and she was already planning a huge surprise for him.His tiny heart desired one thing and one thing only. His mother knew just what that was, and she was going to give it to him on his very first birthday.The following day, she had set out and prepared for her gift to him, and to herself as well. She had sent in her resignation letter to the the law firm, where she had worked for six months, and booked a flight to Brooklyn, New York.At six p.m., they had already landed and were making their way to their home.Although there were strict guards at the huge, familiar gate, they were let in without hesitation. After all, the little one with her was the heir to everything around them.She stepped out of the taxi with her son in her arms. She took a deep breath, inhaling and absorbing the fresh scents surroundings around her. She walked up to the main entrance's double doors and pushed t
Evan's POV"Son, we cannot seem to get an exact location on Jasmine. We tried tracking her cellphone, but we lost the connection," my father explained on the other end of the phone.I was already settled in my private jet, EJ next to me.Zenia! I thought and dialed her number."Hello?""Zen. It's Evan. I need Jasmine's exact address.""I can't provide you with such.""Zenia, please! I need to get to your sister as soon as possible!" I begged."I swore to secrecy. I'll be betraying Jasmine if I tell you."I knew, at this point, she wasn't going to give me the address unless I did something I never enjoyed doing. Bribery."Zen, if you do this for me, I'll give you the capital to start your own clothing line and boutique, and that's a promise."There was a long pause on her end, which was a good sign because I knew she was considering my proposal. Jasmine had told me that i
Evan's POV"I'm going upstairs to get Aria," I told my mother."I'll be waiting right here," Mom replied before sitting on the couch I had slept on for the night.I climbed the stairs while my head floated to another dimension. My memories were only of putting Jasmine and Jevan out the house. The way she cried and pleaded to me. The way she looked at me when she tore up the check. The way Jevan looked at me when he was out the door in his mother's arms. The way her last words hurt me: "Go to hell Evan Hollen."It was haunting and it was painful. My heart squeezed against my chest as if it wanted to break free. I couldn't handle all of the heaviness. I needed to fix this and fast."Aria, we have to leave right now," I said as I entered the bedroom.She was sitting at the dressing table applying her makeup and already dressed."What's going on?""Mom is downstairs. She did a DNA test and the results stated t
Jasmine's POVEmma and I sat down on the patio while Zenia was inside with Jevan."Jasmine, I need you to be very honest with me. I'm not here to judge you or yell at you and belittle you. I'm here for the truth. Can someone else be the father of baby Jevan?"I shook my head no."Could Bradley Pittsburg have drugged you and had sex with you without your permission and knowledge?""No, Emma!" I snapped at her but quickly regretted it. "It never got to a stage where anything like that could have happened. I know what I did at the gala was messed up, and I know why Evan had doubts in the beginning, but I never slept with Bradley, or anyone else for that matter. I was always conscious when I was with Bradley, and never once had he forced himself onto me. We never even kissed. It was just a friendly get together whenever we got together and nothing more."I was reaching a point where I couldn't stand this anymore. Ev
Jasmine's POV🎶Hush little baby, don't say a wordMamma gonna buy you a mockingbirdAnd if that mockingbird don't singMamma gonna buy you a diamond ringAnd if that diamond ring don't shineMamma gonna buy you a--"JASMINE!"I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard him yell out my name. I had just put Jevan down for his nap and I was singing sweetly to him. I kissed his little cheek and went to find Evan.A large brown envelope was thrown at me when I approached him in the living room."Who else you slept with, huh? YOU LYING, CHEATING BITCH!" he blasted out at me.I stood there, dumbstruck by his sudden behavior and tone of voice."What are you talking about?""You're going play dumb now? You're gonna stand your ass there and pretend you don't know what the hell I'm talking about?!""Evan! I don't know what the hell you're talking about!"
Evan's POVHe had my grey eyes, my hair texture and color, and my complexion when I was newly born. Mom took countless pictures of when Emily and I were babies, and Jevan resembled me. I had no doubt in my mind; he was absolutely my son.Jasmine had been discharged the following day after she had given birth. I took her and the baby back home. I knew I said that, when the baby came, Jasmine would have to find somewhere to stay, but Jevan was too young to be outdoors so soon, and the police detectives still hadn't found out who attacked her during the early stage of the pregnancy. All of that just made me unsettled to have Jevan out there.I had already bought everything a baby needs: from cribs and countless pieces of clothes, to newborn baby formula. She had everything she needed for Jevan, and she wasn't to worry about a thing.I watched him as he slept so peacefully in the crib. Mom, Dad, EJ, Emily, Susan and Zenia met us at the hospital
*Three Months Later*Jasmine's POVI was definitely round like a ball. My C cup became a DD cup and my butt got huge. The baby's birthday was approaching so I had been preparing for his arrival.Evan and I went to parenthood classes and exercise classes together. They taught us how to be excellent co parents so it doesn't have a negative impact on the child.Evan was engaged Aria and set a wedding date for after the birth of the baby. He said he wanted his son to be apart of the wedding.I'd learned to accept his engagement and decided to move on with my life once the baby arrived. Evan promised to get a place for us and put money into an account for me until I could get back on my feet and find myself another job. I was grateful for him, though I may not have had him to myself. He was a very wonderful man; he was amazing and had a heart, even after I broke it.It was my fault for him not wanting another
Evan's POV"Preg... pregnant?" I stuttered, taking the box of tissues on my desk and attempting to clean myself up."Yes.""How? We've been very careful. You told me you were on the pill, and I still used protection with you most of the time.""I know that Evan. But accidents do happen."Lord, give me strength."You're mad, aren't you?" She looked like she was about to tear up."No. I just wasn't expecting this. Have you taken a pregnancy test? Have you been to the doctor?""No and no. I've just been throwing up a lot this morning and not feeling like myself.""Okay. Lets go." I took my jacket off the back of the chair, took my car keys and guided her out the office.I decided to bring her to Dr. Matador. He was an excellent OBGYN and didn't leak any information to the press for a quick buck. My parents trusted him and so did I."Hello, Mr. Hollen. What can I do for you today?