Liam could see the debate going on in her head as he stared into her eyes. He also wanted to spend more time with her and wished that as a result of some miracle, she would agree to go with him.
Staring into Liam's eyes and soaking in his facial features made Jasmine know that she wouldn't be able to make a wise decision, so she removed her gaze from his face. Looking down, she said. "That would be very nice, but I really need to get to work. I haven't been in for a couple of days and as nice as my boss is, there is only so much a person can take."When she had finished talking, she raised her head and looked into his sad and disappointed eyes. She had been told that she knew how to decipher a person's feeling by a simple glance, it didn't come as surprise to her after all, every emotion felt by a human being was projected through their eyes and Jasmine had learned quickly to study the eyes."I'm so sorry, Liam," she said as she stretched her hands out and stroked his arm."Hey, it's okay." Liam smiled and placed his hand on hers. He looked into her eyes and was happy when she couldn't stop staring at him as well. Jasmine could feel her heart beating faster than she had ever imagined it would, she felt fulfilled and safe just by staring at him. And it scared her.Jasmine cleared her throat softly, as she gently removed her hand from under his. "I should get going.""Yeah, I should too." Liam's voice was low as he spoke. "But can I see you this afternoon? Maybe we could do lunch and I'll take you out for a proper date?" He asked hopefully."I would love that," Jasmine smiled as she responded."Okay, so I'll pick you up around 2 pm?""That is perfect." She could no longer hide the red mark that threatened to burn her face and neither could Liam. She got out of the car and smiled as she walked to down the street that led to her office. Heaving a sigh, Liam turned on his car, sat, and watched as Jasmine walked away from his view, and then he drove off.He was so excited he felt his heart would burst from the joy he was feeling. He was going to have a date with the beautiful Jasmine and he had to make it perfect. He started racking his head around the most elegant restaurants that he would take her to. He needed to call his secretary, the woman knew all the exquisite places in town. She was free-spirited and had enough knowledge on how to wow a woman. But before that, he needed to keep his promise to Alex.***Liam swerved back into the compound he had been in before and something about it felt different. The air wasn't cooler and trees didn't sway as beautifully as they did before. He knew that it wasn't the environment's fault. Everything was different because Jasmine wasn't with him. Getting out of the car, he jumped excitedly on the stairs and knocked on the red oak door. He waited silently for a few seconds and got no response. He repeated the action and was met with the same silence. Taking out his phone, he placed a call to Alex."Alex, good morning," he said immediately his cousin picked up the call."Liam, what's up? Did you find her?" From the tone of his voice, Liam could tell that Alex had been sitting on a chair waiting restlessly for his phone to ring."No man, she ain't here.""Did you ask the neighbors?""You know what?" Liam said as he looked around hoping to see anybody that he could get information from. "I can't see anyone, man.""That's because you are standing in front of her building. Go around to the back, her neighbor leaves there." Liam could imagine Alex making directions with his hands. He always did that when he’s restless."Okay, I'll call you back. Don't leave your phone.""I won't." And Liam knew that he won't. His curiosity about who the mystery girl is to Alex kept on increasing but he, again, decided to wait a little while before asking him. He placed his phone in his suit pocket, jogged down the stairs, and walked to the back of the building. When Liam had finally found a door, he knocked on it softly. After having gotten no response, he was about to leave when he decided to knock again. A few seconds later, an elderly woman walked out of the house and opened the door. She had a pleasant, friendly smile with sparkling bright eyes. Her powder-white hair and faded skin indicated to Liam that she was a grandmother who probably had two grandchildren and made the world's best chocolate eclair dessert."Good morning, ma'am," Liam greeted with a slight bow."Good morning, handsome. How may I help you?" She said as she steadies her contoured hands on her hips."I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about the woman that lives in the other apartment.""Oh, is that so? Let me call my daughter for you then, she owns this apartment. I'm just visiting." The woman said as she opened the door and screamed out her daughter's name. "Becky! Becky, come out here. There is a fine gentleman who wants to ask you a few questions about your neighbor."The woman was at the door within a matter of seconds. "Mom, you know you shouldn't be yelling. The doctor has warned you against that severally." She took an authoritative yet caring stand over her mother."Oh, will you forget about that and just attend to the fine man?" The woman grunted as she stepped into the house."I'm sorry," Becky said when she finally tore her eyes away from the retreating image of her mother and focused on Liam. She stretched forth her hand for a shake, "Hi, I'm Becky."Liam took her hand in his. "I'm Liam. I'm sorry to bother you but I just want to ask a few questions about your neighbor. Can you tell me if she traveled because I have been here a couple of times in search of her," Liam said as he tucked his hand back into his pocket and looked intently at the red-haired girl with baby teeth, almond eyes, small round lips, and a long-pointed nose."Oh, I'm sorry but she doesn't live here anymore.""Really?""Yeah. She moved out a few nights ago.""Do you know why?""No, I have no idea.""Okay, thank you," Liam said as he watched Becky go back inside. Taking out his phone, he placed a call to Alexander."Yes?" Alex wasted no time in picking up the call and Liam wasn't at all surprised."Well, I asked her neighbor, Becky, and she said Ivy moved a few nights ago.""Damn it!" Alex swore. The situation was making him very tensed. He could feel his pulse rising and his pupils were beginning to dilate. "Can you ask her where she moved to?""Okay, hang on." Liam knocked on the door whilst still on the phone with Alex. A few seconds later, Becky opened up."Yes?" She said as she poked her head through the door."I'm sorry to bother you again, but do you have any idea where she must have relocated to?""No, I don't. And if you would excuse me, I have some work to do inside. Have a lovely day," Becky said as she shut the door without waiting for a response from Liam who wasn't surprised at her actions. He was, after all, disturbing her peace."Well, you heard it yourself. She doesn't know where she moved to.""Okay." Alex took a pause, contemplating his next words and hoping that Liam won't get upset by them but he had to say it. He was desperate for any information about Ivy and Liam was the only way he could get it. "Can I give you the address of her office to go check it out for me?""Okay, Alex, I gotta ask. Who is this girl?" Liam was puzzled after he had gotten fed up with keeping it in."I wouldn't lie to you, Liam," Alex said as he took a deep breath. "She is my girlfriend and I haven't been able to contact her for a while now.""Oh really? I didn't know you had a girlfriend," Liam said. Alex didn't strike him as a person to commit to one woman and he would have never guessed, even in his wildest dreams."Well I do and I know it coming as a shock to you, but we can talk about that later. Right now, I need you to go to her office. It's on....""Hello? Hello? Alex, I can't hear what you're saying. Hello?" Liam asked as he removed the phone from his ear and saw that the call was still connected. After having listened intently and still not hearing a word, he ended the call.****Jasmine was lost in her world of imaginary happiness that she didn't notice any of her co-workers that greeted her. She walked straight to her office and twirled her chair around as she sat down.She wasn't given enough time to soak in her newfound happiness because a co-worker came into her office."Jasmine?""Yeah," she said as she tore her eyes away from the ceiling and stared into her co-worker's face."The boss wants to see you.""Do you know why?""Nope," the lady said as she left her office. Jasmine stood up from her seat, arranged her clothes, and walked into her boss's office.Knocking slightly on the door, she spoke. "Miss. Laura, you wanted to see me?""Yes Jasmine, come in," the woman said as she lifted her eyes from the documents she appeared to be engrossed in. When Jasmine was settled, she asked with concerned eyes. "Are you feeling better?""Yeah ma. Thank you for asking.""Well, that's good. I'm afraid I have bad news, Jasmine. I'm afraid I'm going to have to let you go."Jasmine sat up on her chair, looked intently at her boss, and wished that she didn't hear her correctly. She could hear her heart begin to pound and she was sure that she would have a heart attack. "I'm sorry ma. What did you say?""I said you're fired, Jasmine. I'm so sorry."Jasmine sat frozen on her chair, racking her brain to figure out whom she had offended and came up with no answer.Jasmine stared wide-eyed at her boss, Ms. Laura. She blinked her eyes rapidly as she tried wrapping her brain around the statement that the woman just made. Jasmine froze in her seat as she stared at her boss and then, involuntarily, she lowered her head. She placed her hands on her chest as she tried to steady her breathing."Jasmine, are you okay?"'Was she okay?' That was a question that would take hours for her to answer. She was having the worst week of her life and she didn't even know why. She wished the person she had offended would come out of the shadows and tell her what evil she had done, it would be easy for her to apologize. At least, it would be easier than going through a series of heartbreaks in a day."Ms. Sullivan?" Laura said as she shifted awkwardly on her chair to get a better view of Jasmine's head which was bent low. "Ms. Sullivan!" Laura shouted when she still didn't get a response from Jasmine."Yes?" Jasmine raised her head as she finally looked at her boss
"Who is it?" She asked Bethany."If I knew the answer to that question, I won't be grinning this much, Jas. So, tell me, who is he?" Bethany asked while giggling."How am I supposed to know? I haven't even seen the guy," she said and got up from the bed with mixed emotions… Something in her wished it was Alex who had finally looked for her and found her at Bethany’s place. She walked to the door and opened it without looking through the peephole. Jasmine was surprised to see that there was no one out there, she stretched her neck and looked into the hallway, still, she didn't see any figure. Closing the door with a frown on her face, she turned to look at a smiling Bethany."Beth, that is not funny. You know I need my beauty sleep.""I said outside Jasmine, not outside the door.""What are you talking about?""Okay, let me explain it in simpler terms for your tiny brain to understand. A man is waiting for you outside the building and from the looks of it, he must have been standing th
Jasmine pulled away from his arms, averting her eyes to the busy road that paid no attention to her nor her feelings. She avoided looking into Liam's eyes out of fear of what she may find in them. Her insides were restless but she kept a stoic face."What's the matter?" Liam had finally gotten over his disappointment of not kissing her and tried as hard as he could to hide it. He knew that he was unsuccessful in his mission but if she could behave as if nothing happened, he could do the same."Nothing. I just don't think we should be doing this." Her insides burned with a hunger for him but her head kept her sane. What guarantee did she have that he was any different from Alexander Keller? Jasmine conditioned her mind to feel hatred for Alex, and she hated that a tiny part of her wouldn't allow her to feel that way. She still yearned for his touch, still ached to be in his arms, still longed for the sound of his voice, still prayed to hear him laugh. She still wanted him and she wasn'
The beautiful lady, whom Jasmine tried to see in her head as ugly, pulled away from Liam and left his lips glossy from the kiss. Jasmine could feel her temper rising as she stared at both of them. Of course, he was the same as everyone else, there was nothing he could tell her to make her think otherwise. He was rich and handsome, everything a woman wants and she had been a fool to believe that he would settle for only her. Her blood kept rising and her head kept ringing as she thought about it. But it will be over her dead body that she would get up and leave the table for both of them."Valerie?! What the hell was that?!" Liam asked, enraged. Valerie had always been a bit too comfortable in her skin and in getting under the skin of others. Liam had told her over and over again that simply because they were friends, it didn't give her the right to kiss him on the cheek whenever she wanted to."I'm so sorry. I was aiming for your cheeks, but then you turned and I got your lips instead
Jasmine stilled as Liam handed her the phone."Bethany wants to talk to you," he said.Bethany knew she was out on a date, yet, she still called her. Whatever the emergency was, she knew it had to be serious. Liam looked at her, he knew that whatever the caller had said wasn't good. Her beautiful features were distressed and queasy under the soft light in the restaurant."Whatever it is, can't it wait till after my date?" Jasmine asked."No, please. It can't. I'm so sorry this is happening now but you have to come now, please.""Okay," Jasmine sighed and handed the phone back to Liam.Then she looked up at Liam with downcast luminous blue eyes and Liam knew whatever she wanted to say he wasn't going to like it.Her hands fidgeted with the cutlery."I have to go now, Liam. Bethany just told me there's an emergency at home and she needs me to be there ASAP.""Can't it wait? What is it?" Liam asked, cradling her fidgety hands in his. In his mind, he was sorely disappointed their date was
Bethany was terrified going to the door, though she said it was the child's mother, she hoped in her heart. it was Jasmine who got up and walked to the door, counting her steps and wishing this wasn't happening. What if it was the child's mother? She could arrest them for kidnapping, and their lives could be ruined forever.When she reached the door, she stopped and turned to stare at Liam and Bethany, they both stared at her, wanting her to go on. The door didn't have a peephole she could look through to see who was on the other side, it used to have but Bethany had changed the door when she moved in a few days ago. The knock came again and her anxiety rose. They were surely going to jail if it was the baby's parents. She placed her hand on the doorknob, her heart pounding loudly, and turned it slowly then opened the door wide. Behold, it was a man on the other side holding a parcel."I didn't order anything," she said more to herself than to the delivery man."Did you order anything
The car gradually came to a halt right in front of the garage, while the driver rushed out to open the door of the backseat. Out came the glamorous, flair young man dressed in an ash-colored suit vest with a white shirt, sleeves rolled and ash pants to match, a watch on the left hand with a ring on his pinky finger, a pair of black brogue shoes, some dark shades and a smile to match it all up. He was charming and of a good height. He was none other than Alexander.Alexander Keller is the only child of the owner of the prestigious Marketing Company, Haven Marketing Corporation, Jayden Keller. A man that the nation looks up to which in turn leaves a lot of pressure on Alex, given the fact that his interest is not in the family business, but in music. But who in the world would let that happen? His parents were definitely not the answer.He took off his shades and heaved a sigh as he was escorted to the entrance of the building with other servants handling his belongings behind him. The
Alexander saw the cab that his uncle had ordered for him to use to the airport pulling into the compound. Breaking his gaze from the car as it drove inside, he attempted calling Ivy, but unfortunately, her line was unreachable."Alex, you gotta leave now if you want to make it in time to the airport," his uncle said as he walked into the room that Alex had decided to stay in. He could feel his heart breaking but he knew that Ivy would understand and support him like she used to. He just had to get in touch with her.He followed his uncle as the man walked out of the house. Placing him in the car, they waved at him as the car drove off. Distress became a friend of Alex as he tried severally to reach Ivy but to no avail. As he walked down the passage that led to the airplane, he tried her number again and when she didn't pick up, his heartbeat became fast and he immediately knew that something was wrong.***Alex sat on the comfortable chair that the first-class ticket offered, but the
Bethany was terrified going to the door, though she said it was the child's mother, she hoped in her heart. it was Jasmine who got up and walked to the door, counting her steps and wishing this wasn't happening. What if it was the child's mother? She could arrest them for kidnapping, and their lives could be ruined forever.When she reached the door, she stopped and turned to stare at Liam and Bethany, they both stared at her, wanting her to go on. The door didn't have a peephole she could look through to see who was on the other side, it used to have but Bethany had changed the door when she moved in a few days ago. The knock came again and her anxiety rose. They were surely going to jail if it was the baby's parents. She placed her hand on the doorknob, her heart pounding loudly, and turned it slowly then opened the door wide. Behold, it was a man on the other side holding a parcel."I didn't order anything," she said more to herself than to the delivery man."Did you order anything
Jasmine stilled as Liam handed her the phone."Bethany wants to talk to you," he said.Bethany knew she was out on a date, yet, she still called her. Whatever the emergency was, she knew it had to be serious. Liam looked at her, he knew that whatever the caller had said wasn't good. Her beautiful features were distressed and queasy under the soft light in the restaurant."Whatever it is, can't it wait till after my date?" Jasmine asked."No, please. It can't. I'm so sorry this is happening now but you have to come now, please.""Okay," Jasmine sighed and handed the phone back to Liam.Then she looked up at Liam with downcast luminous blue eyes and Liam knew whatever she wanted to say he wasn't going to like it.Her hands fidgeted with the cutlery."I have to go now, Liam. Bethany just told me there's an emergency at home and she needs me to be there ASAP.""Can't it wait? What is it?" Liam asked, cradling her fidgety hands in his. In his mind, he was sorely disappointed their date was
The beautiful lady, whom Jasmine tried to see in her head as ugly, pulled away from Liam and left his lips glossy from the kiss. Jasmine could feel her temper rising as she stared at both of them. Of course, he was the same as everyone else, there was nothing he could tell her to make her think otherwise. He was rich and handsome, everything a woman wants and she had been a fool to believe that he would settle for only her. Her blood kept rising and her head kept ringing as she thought about it. But it will be over her dead body that she would get up and leave the table for both of them."Valerie?! What the hell was that?!" Liam asked, enraged. Valerie had always been a bit too comfortable in her skin and in getting under the skin of others. Liam had told her over and over again that simply because they were friends, it didn't give her the right to kiss him on the cheek whenever she wanted to."I'm so sorry. I was aiming for your cheeks, but then you turned and I got your lips instead
Jasmine pulled away from his arms, averting her eyes to the busy road that paid no attention to her nor her feelings. She avoided looking into Liam's eyes out of fear of what she may find in them. Her insides were restless but she kept a stoic face."What's the matter?" Liam had finally gotten over his disappointment of not kissing her and tried as hard as he could to hide it. He knew that he was unsuccessful in his mission but if she could behave as if nothing happened, he could do the same."Nothing. I just don't think we should be doing this." Her insides burned with a hunger for him but her head kept her sane. What guarantee did she have that he was any different from Alexander Keller? Jasmine conditioned her mind to feel hatred for Alex, and she hated that a tiny part of her wouldn't allow her to feel that way. She still yearned for his touch, still ached to be in his arms, still longed for the sound of his voice, still prayed to hear him laugh. She still wanted him and she wasn'
"Who is it?" She asked Bethany."If I knew the answer to that question, I won't be grinning this much, Jas. So, tell me, who is he?" Bethany asked while giggling."How am I supposed to know? I haven't even seen the guy," she said and got up from the bed with mixed emotions… Something in her wished it was Alex who had finally looked for her and found her at Bethany’s place. She walked to the door and opened it without looking through the peephole. Jasmine was surprised to see that there was no one out there, she stretched her neck and looked into the hallway, still, she didn't see any figure. Closing the door with a frown on her face, she turned to look at a smiling Bethany."Beth, that is not funny. You know I need my beauty sleep.""I said outside Jasmine, not outside the door.""What are you talking about?""Okay, let me explain it in simpler terms for your tiny brain to understand. A man is waiting for you outside the building and from the looks of it, he must have been standing th
Jasmine stared wide-eyed at her boss, Ms. Laura. She blinked her eyes rapidly as she tried wrapping her brain around the statement that the woman just made. Jasmine froze in her seat as she stared at her boss and then, involuntarily, she lowered her head. She placed her hands on her chest as she tried to steady her breathing."Jasmine, are you okay?"'Was she okay?' That was a question that would take hours for her to answer. She was having the worst week of her life and she didn't even know why. She wished the person she had offended would come out of the shadows and tell her what evil she had done, it would be easy for her to apologize. At least, it would be easier than going through a series of heartbreaks in a day."Ms. Sullivan?" Laura said as she shifted awkwardly on her chair to get a better view of Jasmine's head which was bent low. "Ms. Sullivan!" Laura shouted when she still didn't get a response from Jasmine."Yes?" Jasmine raised her head as she finally looked at her boss
Liam could see the debate going on in her head as he stared into her eyes. He also wanted to spend more time with her and wished that as a result of some miracle, she would agree to go with him.Staring into Liam's eyes and soaking in his facial features made Jasmine know that she wouldn't be able to make a wise decision, so she removed her gaze from his face. Looking down, she said. "That would be very nice, but I really need to get to work. I haven't been in for a couple of days and as nice as my boss is, there is only so much a person can take."When she had finished talking, she raised her head and looked into his sad and disappointed eyes. She had been told that she knew how to decipher a person's feeling by a simple glance, it didn't come as surprise to her after all, every emotion felt by a human being was projected through their eyes and Jasmine had learned quickly to study the eyes."I'm so sorry, Liam," she said as she stretched her hands out and stroked his arm."Hey, it's
"Jas, you're scaring me. What's wrong?" Bethany said as she drew closer to her."I could feel his pain, Beth," she responded and the fear in her made her voice come out as a whisper."What pain are you talking about?" Jasmine ignored Bethany's question and slowly turned her head to the white sofa she was sure that would be Alex's favorite chair if he ever met Bethany and gotten into her house. Slowly, her mind drifted from focusing on the chair to wondering about why in her dream, she constantly saw Alex and Liam as close friends and also saw and felt Alex going through so much pain."Jas!" Bethany screamed when she got no response from Jasmine.Turning her face swiftly toward Beth, Jasmine said with a smile. "Let's go back to bed. It was probably nothing."Bethany squared her eyes as she looked at her friend. "It doesn't look that way to me.""Look, Beth, I just had a bad dream and I don't want to talk about it.""Okay," Bethany said as she let go of the topic and turned to her sides
For a moment, Jasmine stood still, with a mix of emotions running through her, a feeling of admiration for the very handsome creature standing in front of her, and a feeling of disappointment, as she was hoping Alex was finally here for her.Liam on the other hand stood in awe at the sight of Jasmine. He felt as though this was the first time he had ever seen such a beauty. But there was something off about her… ‘what on earth could make such a beautiful lady look so sad under the rain?’ He thought to himself.Jasmine's heart fell upon seeing a man that was not Alex. She had expected that somehow, he would show up and everything would be okay, but unfortunately, she wasn't so lucky to have that. She didn’t wait to hear a word from the handsome stranger, she bowed her head in pain, and walked away as disappointment clouded her entire being. She couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking and the tears from pouring out of her eyes.Breaking his gaze from the most beautiful lady he had ever