JASMINE POV—Nico walks out of his office, leaving me there with a mixture of confusion and desire. I quickly get down from the table just in case any other person is about to walk into the room."Screw him," I curse under my breath. Somehow, he always manages to have his way all the damn time, and it is really starting to piss me off. But no, the real thing that pisses me off is the fact that no matter how hard I try, no matter how hard I act like I don't want him, that I want none of what he's offering, the more I seem to gravitate towards him and find him harder and harder to resist. And the scariest part is that he knows that too. Maybe even figured it out right from the onset. I take a deep breath and turn to the glass windows that are at the side of the room. His desk is not arranged and half of the files are on the floor. My ears turn pink, the little pieces of evidence nothing but a clear reminder of just what was happening a few moments ago. I tear my eyes away from th
Nico's POVAll my excitement fades into thin air as I step into the large hall.My personal assistant walks in behind me, holding a set of files under one arm.My mind isn’t here at all; it still feels like I’m back in my office. A part of me wonders if Jasmine would still be there."You're late, Clifford," the spokesman of the board says. I look up to see the huge man in a gray suit and black tie. He leans back in his chair at the head of the round table and taps his smartwatch as if trying to prove a point.I roll my eyes with a shrug, walking deeper into the hall."Do you have a problem?" My voice rings out, holding a mixture of indifference and challenge as I stride toward the table.All the partners are already there. A few of them I recognize from previous meetings and events I was forced to attend. Then there are the ones I have to keep an eye on, always ready to pull out my gun and go full mafia mode if necessary. Like Chad, for instance.I pull out a chair and slip into it.M
Nico POV"They want to negotiate," Aaron says, catching me off guard. I pause, and for a moment, I just stare back at him, unsure of what to say. Finally, I snap out of my daze and clench my fist in rage."I'm not up for another one of their petty games," I say stiffly. "You can't be serious," Aaron throws his hand into the air and sighs in exasperation. "It's true that they are much of a headache, but won't you consider a negotiation process rather than downright war?" he asks."I wish you made sense, I really do." I shake my head vehemently. I turn away from him and instead focus on the driveway down below. After everything in the world, it seems so helpless launching. I find it hard to believe that all they ever wanted was an audience with me."Now listen, Aaron," I say, turning back to him. "You don't know these people like I do. You have no idea what Robert is capable of. I didn't predict him to move this quickly, but there's always been some bad blood between La Camorra and t
Jasmine POVI find myself nodding to his offer. It seems to be honest enough, and there was nothing really against my going out for a friendly lunch with him."Of course," I say.I have a feeling that being friends with a veteran that knows the ropes in the company would come in handy sometime."Well, ladies first," he says, standing up with a light smile on his face.I follow Adrian out of the office. The other man in the room doesn't really seem to notice anything, as throughout the whole time he was literally just sorting out some files and paying no heed to us."Maybe if you're up for it, I can give you a tour around the place," Adrian offers.I give a nod. I'm still wondering why he was being so nice. There has to be a reason behind it, right? I think to myself. I warn myself not to get too carried away with his act, just in case.I trail after him as we reach the elevator. He's at least 6 ft tall with long legs, and I have to walk fast to keep up with him."So tell me, Jasmine,
Jasmine's POVTime passes, and gradually, I get the hang of the job at the company. This morning, my mind drifts to the current situation. Over the days, I’ve managed to get a little more information about Chad and his divorce from Amelia, but even though people talk about it, I still don't know the real story behind it. I know that to get it, I'll have to ask him myself.After the day I ran into him and turned him down when he practically begged to speak with me, Chad has kept his distance—and rightly so.Yet, I'm still thinking about it.For some reason that is more than natural curiosity I feel very much interested in the situation. Even though it should have been 2 years ago I still feel like it was just the previous day that those two betrayers got married. And now I can't help what feel satisfied. Maybe what I really want is revenge. Something to make it feel equal between us. I don't deserve what he did to me maybe all this while my mind is just looking for justification for
JASMINE'S POV"Do you think he's gonna break up with me?" My voice breaks into another sob, and tears flood down my eyes anew.Amelia, my foster sister, and best friend, pulls me into her arms, caressing my back. "I told you already, he won't. This is just another fight and soon, it'll be forgotten. Like all other fights you both have.""Sure, but do other couples fight as much as Chad and I do? Before, it was once a month. Then it became once every week. But now, it's every day. And I can't help but feel he doesn't love me anymore…""Of course, he does. Why would you say that?""Because I can't help but feel he doesn't love me anymore. Am I ugly? Did I stop being beautiful?"It's insane that I'm questioning my facial features as they are the best attributes I've got. And the attention from men that I get comes mainly because of my pretty face.But Chad makes me feel rather ugly. It's like nothing about me fascinates him anymore. He makes me question my worth, and that stuff is killin
NICO'S POVStaring right at the window at the clouds sinks my heart into a depressing pit. I spot the wing of the plane through the window, flying my ass back to New York City.I feel sullen and like an irreparable wreck. The thought of Jasmine has my heart and mind in shackles. I can't stop thinking about last night and what happened between us.Exploring every inch of her body was the only way I could get them stuck in my head. She's fucking gorgeous. And it kills me to know I left her in that suite, without as much as a goodbye."Shit," I groan, shutting my eyes, reveling in the thoughts of her. But a firm hand taps my shoulder, forcing my eyes open."Wake up, man. We need to talk." Fabio says, sitting opposite me, adjusting his belt. A while ago, he was banging the busty stewardess."Sure. What is it?" I ask impatiently. He's my best friend and right-hand man. I love him to bits but right now, he just put a hold on my thoughts of Jasmine and it has me feeling very irritated."Isn'
JASMINE'S POV"What did you just say?" I ask, unable to comprehend every word I just heard.The woman, Italian, I guess, judging from her features, squeezes her face in what seems like a brewing irritation.Hope she forgives me but I'm still very confused right now. First, I woke up with a heavy grogginess, unsure of where I was. But then the shiny chandelier, the room, the sheets, the smell of sex, and the heavily mesmerizing smell of the man from last night joggled my memories.I gasped, recalling just what I did last night. How insanely aroused I was and when he kissed me, how shamelessly I'd fuddled with his shirt, begging to be fucked."You're messing with my mind, baby girl. That's pretty dangerous." His husky voice had warned. But I was too crazily aroused to hold back.And then he'd graciously taken me up on the offer, pinning me on the bed and riding me through one ecstasy to another. I remember it all and right now, it's not so appealing anymore.Because it means I just chea