Jasmine Jaiswal had grown accustomed to living as the forgotten daughter.She was more or less forgotten, whatever it was the people and media would term it as.Born as the illegitimate daughter of the Jaiswal Mr. Who had disowned her after she dropped out of the University.She had lived the early days if he childhood with her single mother who doted on her and showered her with all the love there was in the world to, even though they were feeding from hand to mouth and suffered each passing day to make ends meet.She still tried her best to raise her and for them to live as a loving family.But that had changed a night when the rain had been falling.Jasmine was just ten when it happened.Her mother had tucked her in to sleep that rainy night. The wind had blown too cold and it was late that night before she tucked her in to sleep.They had been expecting a visitor. The man she had been told were her father.Her mother had promised her that she would finally get to meet her father t
"Please marry me Arun""What do you mean?" He asked pretending not to have heard her the first time she asked." I'm begging you Arun, please marry me" the voice came again, lower this time around yet steady.Arun let out a chuckle in his heart.He hadn't expected this to happen but as it had, he was happy it ended that way.Who would have thought that the almighty Maya Jaiswal would plead with him, and beg him to marry her after all she said to him before.She had boasted and on all her ears talking about how she was going to get wedded to Marshall Yugo, while keeping him as her side cock for whenever she wanted to come to him for some stress relieving activities.Not just did she rate him low and downgrade him even though he became a billionaire through crooked means for her sake, but she had the momentum to suggest him being her cheating partner after she got married to the man of her dreams, and not him who had been there for her.So when he had gotten his hand on hold of the info
Everything else seemed to pause as Arun watched Maya walk into his office.Had she realized her mistake? How bad it had been of her slapping him; he who was her husband and head.He wanted to believe that was the case and reason she had come to meet him at his office at such an auspicious time.It didn't take her time to. Had anything happened that warranted her regretting her actions or she was just doing so on her own accord.There had to be something. Maya was not one to be moved unless something or an external force propelled her to, so it couldn't be that she had realized her mistake.It was either that she needed a new bag or jewellery and had to take money from him to pay for them. Her cards had been limited by her mom of recent, so it was explainable why she was coming to his office to see him.A thought made him look at her face as she continued to walk in. It was then he realized that none of his thoughts were right.No, she hadn't realized anything yet, nothing has propelle
"Mr. Gabriel sold his shares out. I just received his email a few minutes ago. He forwarded his contract documents with the new share holder to me sir. Should I forward it to you as well?" The petite woman asked , oblivious to the fact that Arun didn't know anything about the transfer of shares prior to her telling him about it.Arun stood gazing hazily at nothing in particular for a minute still wanting to believe that what his secretary had just said were all lies.Mr Gabriel has the highest shares in his company. He had been one of his core investors and that reason had made him let him have up to the 15% share holder right he just transferred to someone else."Should I forward the contract to you sir?" The secretary repeated noticing the silence and tension wearing more in the room.Arun still stood tongue tied as he fell back to the chair he had been sitting on before. It had to be a lie. He had to be dreaming." Who is the new share holder?" He finally found his tongue and asked
Maya angrily walked out of Arun's office.This wasn't what she had expected when she followed the voice in her head to marry him.He had been head over heels for her for years and she knew it, which meant that he would treat her so nicely that even she would get bored of. But with the way things were going, it seemed to her as if she had made a wrong decision. "She shouldn't have married him"A voice in her head told her. Yes, she shouldn't have because if she had not, he wouldn't have done this to her.He wouldn't have betrayed her this way hoping to be bigger than her, though such a cheap trick.And what the fuck was with the facade he just pulled with his secretary earlier.Did he honestly think she would fall for such a little piece of scam?Being a retired manipulator herself, she could atleast tell when and when not someone was trying to manipulate her into believing a lie, just like she had done to her half sister before her death, did Arun honestly think he would be able
"But I must ask why you are doing this? Why should I believe your reasons?" An elderly man asked the lady sitting in front of him.Some Photos and documents were scattered all over the table where she sat opposite to him.Jasmine looked at him and smiled before she spoke up."I fell inlove once with a smile that didn't belong to me, a laugh which wasn't mine and a person I couldn't call mine..." She began slowly, staring intermittently at him as she did."It really wasn't meant to be a love story but I did believe it could become one. And because of that hope, I denied the whole world for him, but in the end, it seemed as if my... only world had denied me."" What makes a villain Mr Gabriel?"" People who do evil things?" The aged man replied as he adjusted his glasses while still staring at the woman in front of him."I had never minded not being people’s first choice until when he looked me in the eyes and told me he never loved me. That’s when I broke""Even you Mr. Gabriel, you
"I chose the second Jaiswal" Maya could not take her mind off the content of the piece of paper Mr Gabriel has left for her as he boarded his plane to leave the country. It was too plain and at the same time hard to understand. She couldn't tell what he meant by the one sentence, even to someone else she wouldn't be able to explain it. The Second Jaiswal. Who was that? Who exactly was that and what influence did the person have that made him give up his 20% stakeholder shares at her father's company. It just didn't make any sense to her considering how the company was the second best in terms of profit in the whole of Qhezon City, why would he give up his shares that easily without flinching and relocating abroad. Her heart missed beats the more she pondered on what had happened right in the twinkle of an eye. The elevator door she was in with a few other people at the Jasmine Company opened. She stared at the lady before her. She looked awkwardly familiar. It was the l
Mia was that friend everyone would want to have. Bold, courageous, assertive and always looking out for other people's good regardless of the situation she found herself in.She never for once envious or jealous of the fact that Jasmine had been a Jaiswal throughout the years of their friendship.Seeing her reflection from the computer after what she had told her made Jasmine's heart break.Perhaps she was just annoyed that she wasn't listening to her advice. That must be it. There was no way Mia would be jealous of her. What was there about her for her to be jealous of.Perhaps someone had annoyed her and she didn't know any perfect time to express her anger but at her. Perhaps that was what had happened."Am I doing too much, Mia?" Jasmine asked.She felt the need to ask to get the reassurance she so desperately needed after seeing Mia's expression."No Jasmine. You're not. Don't for once think you are. Many that might be in your shoes will do worst. I'm surprised you haven't done a
The hall was filled to its brim with all board members being present. Except for one person who was absent. "We will begin the voting" a lady dressed in a suit announce and brought out two boxes which two ladies carried and stood at the edge of each side of the table. The door creaked open and Jasmine walked in. She was so elegantly dressed and her gold jewelries glittered in the morning sun. Maya's face went sinking immediately she saw her but her mother's own could not be compared to hers. "I heard that a board meeting was held in my absence a few days ago Mr Jaiswal. Is this how this company treats it's majority share holders?" She calmly asked while smiling all sheepishly. There was an agreement to her point from the crowd and Mr. Jaiswal immediately apologized to her much to Maya's disgust. " That is a matter of the past now" she said and walked over to where Mrs Jaiswal sat. There was no seat left for her to sit on except at the extreme end of the large table. Mrs Jaisw
It was running late and her chauffeur hadn't arrived yet.Maya didn't know if she were right to panic or worry and which of the moods fitted her position. She felt uncomfortable and began sweating even though she was in an air ventilated hotel. Only the worst case scenarios filled her head. Had her chauffer gotten into an accident on his way or something bad had caught up with him that was making him run late. The man's impatience has stretched all over his face and she herself was growing tired of trying to convince him to stay to wait for her driver who was coming with the money she has promised to give him to use and bribe other board members to her side. She picked up her phone to call her chauffer when she grew too impatient. "The line you have dialed does not exist" she disconnected and retried calling gaslighting herself into believing that it was all in her head and the issue the call wasn't connecting was because of the network. She hesitated before dialing the number t
Arun watched the lady before him as she Informed him of a news he hadn't expected to hear."This would be our last day together .I am travelling abroad soon" her words echoed in his head.He felt bad. Perhaps because he had grown familiar of her and presence the few moment's they stayed together.But on the contrary, he felt as if she had been sent to torment him further.Her face was glaring and he knew he had been his late Jasmine's friend while she were still alive. He had almost forgotten the scene she threw at her funeral. How possible was it that she had brought herself down to being his call girl or had that being the revenge to Maya she had threatened her about?He watched her as she left. Unable to make a decision. Was he to go after her or let her be. And did he harbour thoughts of going after he because he felt that she would have at least some qualities Jasmine possessed?Had he been looking for Jasmine in other ladies ever since she left? Had he been looking for a submiss
Maya was a smart woman and there was no disputing for that fact. He knew she was and he believed she was. But he couldn't make heads or tails about her decision and if it was the right thing for her to do at this junction she found herself. "I still believe you should reconsider. It took us quite a while before we were able to get buyers for your properties ma'am. Giving the proceeds all away in your quest is not the best thing to do" he repeated. If only she would hear him nor heed his warning. She was setting a grave for herself and she won't be able to walk out of it unscathed if he eventually let her. " Seems like you are quite forgetting. It's not in your place to advice me but to drive my car and take me wherever I command you to". Maya scuffed. He was getting getting ahead of himself and forgetting his place and she needed to remind him of that .That again. That all the time. Was it that hard for her to accept correction and advice from another person even when she was der
Arun's world was crumbling around him. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut and hence unable to catch his breath. The estate agent's words echoed in his mind: "The house belonged to her... You gave her the rights to your properties."He thought back to the days when he and Maya were deeply in love. He had trusted her completely, including her name in the ownership of all his properties. He had never imagined that she would betray him like this.He had never imagined that one day their relationship would come to this.A call came for him and he answered. It was from Maya's mother."I've been trying to contact Maya to no avail but tell Maya I said she should back down. There is no place for her at the company. She should quietly resign and not cause issues and embarrassment for herself. I'm willing to give her some money if that's what she want but if she'd continue being greedy, then I'll not only make sure that she doesn't smell the position she covets, I'll also make sure to ra
"I'm sorry but I couldn't stop her. Plenty people were watching and I didn't want to call attention" Maya was almost as if she wasn't listening to what her chauffer was reporting to her as she watched him bring in her boxes. He had questioned her on why she was leaving the house to stay over at a hotel but she had provided no tangible reason as to why. And he had to join her as her chauffer, sleeping away at the living room of the hotel room. She didn't care anymore. Arun, how company or anything about him. Her company was slowly slipping away from her finger and she couldn't afford to watch while it did. Most importantly was her safety. Her mother had shown whom she truly was and her safety was not guaranteed anymore. Sometimes she questioned the authenticity of her being her biological mother and as it stood, her security might be tampered with which might make her question her maternity again. "Are you giving up on the company?" her chauffer asked her but she was in no mood
Maya stared at Mia. It has taken her white some time before she was able to convince her on the call to meet her.” Girl, Jasmine wouldn't care if you betrayed her or not. She has the world at her feet now whether you liked it or not” she had told her and her words had touched the lady who felt lacking herself.Now she sat with her in the open gardens of the hotel she had picked for them to meet.“Do you regret it?" Maya asked her as she stared at her across the able.“Regret what?" Mia replied her pretending to be confused.“We're both losers Mia. I just found out that all my life I have been working for others and Id I don't act now, I will keep on laboring for others who enjoy off my sweats while for myself is vain" Maya hated getting close about her worries with people but with Mia she felt the need to.Only her had the right information that might salvage her situation currently and to get more from her, she needed to act the most needy and vulnerable before her.“I have never im
"Tell me something mother, did you use me all these while to clear the path for your son?" The board members had gone when she returned wanting to have a word with her mother. "Did you use me all these while?" Her breaking voice came again. Because that was the realization occuring to her suddenly. Her mother had used her all those years to pave way for her son, her favorite child. "You knew Jasmine was father's favorite child, did you use me to get rid of her? Answer me!!" She screamed at her when no answer was forthcoming to her question. "It's a good thing you're final realizing, Maya" she finally replied. "In our world, you either use others or you'd get used" she added. A tear almost dropped from Maya's eyes but she held herself wanting not to cry and especially not before her. She couldn't afford to let her know that she had broken her. "If I were you, I would begin planning my exit, Maya. In a few days time, you'll get voted out of the company. How are you going to pre
The meeting ran quickly with no tangible thing being discussed. The board members were still appalled by how a lady and wife of their competitor got to own such a voluminous amount of shares in he company. It made her the second person with majority shares in the company after it's owners that even numerous of them didn't have. Maya could tell where the whole thing was going and that Jasmine had come back for revenge, and her revenge included making the companies hers. She needed the companies herself and the fact that it was also what Jasmine wanted made her vow to stand her guard. She was not going to sit back and watch her. She wouldn't even allow her dream of owning any of the companies. Once again, she was going to show her where she belonged, below and underneath her feet feeding off the crumbs she would be generous enough to give her. Jasmine turned to leave when it appeared like the meeting had been dismissed. She left but only few board members did after her. The other