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 cheated on my boyfriend. With some stranger. I just cheated on Chad, dear goddess, please forgive me!
But the panic stops as I notice I'm alone in this suite. There's no sign of the man from last night. And then this woman walked in and dropped a rather shocking piece of information. So shocking that I can't seem to wrap my head around it.
"The gentleman from last night…"
"Michelangelo," I chip in, just so I'm sure he's the one she's referring to.
"Yes, him. He said he had to leave early. So I should help you freshen up and have one of the bouncers drive you back to wherever you live. He says you both might never see each other again. So I should tell you that last night…" she stops, her cheeks turning red. In anger? Or jealousy? Not sure. "...that last night remains the best night he's ever had." She says the same words she's been saying for the past five minutes. It's like she's on a loop.
"Wow." I sigh in disbelief, grabbing the sheets closer to cover my body. Tears flood my eyes as I do a recap. First, I got drunk. Then I got swooped off my feet by some hot stranger. Then I spent the night with him. But this morning he disappears, leaving just a message through some cranky woman. Now I can't help but feel a bit like a whore who was paid and did a service last night.
Because how else do I explain this incredibly insulting treatment? He ran off so early. But had to tell the whole world that we spent the night together. What if…what if Chad hears about it?
My relationship will be gone. All because of some stranger!
"Please go take a shower, ma'am. The chef will bring your food shortly."
"I'm not hungry," I say, holding back my tears as I get off the bed. "I just wanna get the hell out of here."
"As you wish."
I take a long shower, trying to wash off every relic from last night. But a spot on my neck feels sore and I groan from the pain.
Taking a look at it in the mirror, I gasp at the deep wound. Too deep to be called a hickey. What is it? Did I…did I get marked?
"Miss? Your dress is ready." The woman calls from outside the door.
"All right. I'm coming right out." I say, drying my body hurriedly.
I step out of the bathroom and get dressed. She leads the way as we leave the suite. I wanna head back the same way I staggered through last night but she grabs my hand.
"The nightclub is down there. And it's filled with people."
"So?" It was filled with people last night when I came up here.
"You should take the elevator. That's better than going the same way. The gentleman requested it."
"I don't understand…"
"There was an altercation down there this morning. It was because of you. I can't explain further. Just come with me." The woman says impatiently. She seems to have a short circuit.
"All right," I say, unsure of what she means. An altercation because of me? I don't understand. What does it have to do with me?
We get into the elevator and then soon, I'm hopping into a black, tinted glass car, being driven from the premises of the nightclub.
My guilty heart can't hold back anymore so I give the man the address to Chad's house. I need to see him. And maybe…tell him what I did last night. I hope he forgives me. It wasn't intentional. I don't know what happened.
Shit! Amelia! She abandoned me at the nightclub. What the heck?
I take out my phone, dialing her number but she's not picking up. I keep dialing, even as the driver drops me off in front of Chad's house.
I go inside, and head to his apartment. There's a wild noise coming from his door, like screams. What's going on?
I turn the doorknob but the door is locked. I rummage through my bag for his key, he gave me one of them. I open the door and step inside, going pale at the scandalous and unbelievable sight in front of me.
Chad has Amelia in his arms, with her back pinned to the wall while he's fucking her at a mad pace. I gasp, and they both turn their hands in my direction.
He quickly drops her but she has a rather nonchalant look on her face, strolling to the bed. She lands on it, giving me a churlish grin and waving at me.
"Hi, Party girl."
Chad grabs his shorts, puts it on, and heads with angry strides toward me. "Come outside." He gruffs out, grabbing my arm and pulling me outside.
I'm still too shocked to react. Tears roll down my eyes as I slowly wrap my head around what I just saw. "Why…"
"I'm breaking up with you, Jasmine. I should have done it a long time ago. You and I don't fit. So let's end this shit, instead of dragging it on any longer."
"You're…. you're breaking up with me because of Amelia?"
"Not because of her. But yes, I love her. I wanna be with her. Not you. So I hope you understand and try not to make a scene here. Go home. Or wherever you spent the night." He adds with disgust.
"She…she took me to a nightclub…"
"Bloody liar. Amelia was with me all night. While she told me you had gone to see some boyfriend of yours at a nightclub. It's good though. At least you've got a new guy and you won't feel bad that I'm breaking up with you."
"That's a lie!" I yell, in distress. And then it hits me. Amelia set me up. She…oh my goddess…she drugged me. That has to be the reason for how I felt last night. Amelia drugged me. Just to implicate me like this!
How could she do this to me? We've been sisters since we met in the orphanage when I was two and she was 3. How could she be so mean?
"A lie? Then what is that mark lying shamelessly on your neck?" He asks, pointing at my neck. "The bastard even left a hickey."
I cover the spot with my hand, feeling guilty as hell. More tears leave my eyes.
"You're a shameless whore, Jasmine. And I don't ever wanna see you again. Get out!"
JASMINE'S POVMy feet feel sore standing two hours straight and it pains me that the meeting is far from being over.I should have gotten used to it since I've had this secretary job for like two years. Chad found me this job through his connections shortly after we began dating.This company is the second largest in the city. Chad's company is the largest but he didn't want me working with him in the same company. He said tongues would wag unpleasantly and he'd be accused of mixing business with pleasure.With these reasons, he offered the job to Amelia instead and got me a job here. Back then, I had no problems with him working together with Amelia. I trusted her with my life. Right now, I feel so stupid for ever doing that."Jasmine?"I look up, and realize the meeting has ended. Half the hall is empty now, and my boss, Mr. Logan, is standing in front of me. Seems he's trying to go out and I'm standing in the way of the door he wants to go through.But then, there are two doors in
JASMINE'S POVThe snickering behind me gets pretty uncomfortable and disturbing. I glance subtly at the two American blondes who have their hands clamped over their mouths. What's their problem? And how can they be so childish in such a serious situation?Right now, we're being addressed by one of the managers of the hotel we work in. And maybe his deep Italian accent is a bit too rough to the ears, I still don't think it's nice to laugh at him the way the girls are doing.It's a very stupid and gutsy thing to do, considering the fact that they'll be fired instantly if he catches them.I maintain a straight face, listening to his every word. He's talking about a huge party that will be held in the grand hall in an hour. There will be important guests, including Nico Ferrari, the rumored owner of the hotel and the man who typically runs the city."OMG, Nico will be here?" One of the girls gasps. And this time, I share in their surprise.It is shocking news. I've been here three years a
Jasmine's POV"Good to see you again, baby girl."I stare back at Michelangelo as he stands imposingly in the doorway.His faint Italian accent strikes a chord in me, adding to the air of superiority around him, and I can't even look away.My mind tells me to slam the door in his face and get the hell away from this place, but even if I wanted to do just that, I couldn't find the strength to move. It was like I was in the presence of a god, and good lord, it wasn't just any god.He takes a step closer to me, and I find myself stepping back instinctively. Now, I'm only vaguely aware of the fact that I am slowly being cornered against the wall."Well, I never imagined our reunion to be like this," he continues and chuckles a little.He places his hand on either side of the wall, trapping me under him, and licks his lips with a grin.I find myself unable to look away.What happened to the tears and heavy emotions just a while ago? Everything seems to have frozen in time because of the ma
NICO'S POV—She literally ran away. I let out a frustrated growl and stepped out of the room myself. I don't understand why she doesn't want to meet me. I left the rest of the group at the penthouse just to go after her, only for her to slip out of my grasp again.Not that I ever imagined I would see her again in the first place. Even if my inner wolf kept telling me that she was my mate and that I was supposed to go after her, I never quite had the chance to do that. And three years was enough for a man like me to conclude that some things are just not meant to be.But now, she is here again. Just maybe I would be spending a longer time in America this time."Where have you been?" Fabio asks in a whisper as I slip into the seat next to him.The men are staring at me, and I can feel their noses all up in my business as they silently demand some kind of explanation.I give them my best "fuck off" smile and pour myself a glass of martini."I went to take care of something," I whisper ba
JASMINE POV —I leave the dining table and take a deep breath to calm myself down. I have a deep feeling that something isn't right, a strong impending doom just around the corner. I curse myself for being paranoid. Ever since the encounters with Nico Ferrari, the indomitable king of America, Italy, and all the surrounding districts, I never really got over it. I quickly clear out the table. I'm the only one downstairs. I check on Michael really quick to make sure he's still quietly asleep in his nursery, and as I make my way to the kitchen, I pull out my phone and dial in a number. "Hey, Mrs. Smith," I greet my old neighbor the minute she picks up. "Jasmine, dearie, it's pretty damn early, don't you think?" Mrs. Smith greeted. I give her a half apology. She is a friend, and I usually left Michael with her whenever Isabella wasn't around. "The key is just under the flower vase," I inform her once more. "Oh, I know that, Honey. But what I didn't know was that you had visitors,
—NICO'S POV—Shadows of the past converge, A tiny figure, a familiar surge.I scroll through the files on my desk, but I can't concentrate.Those innocent green eyes stare back at me wherever I go. It's impossible.A little kid, barely more than a baby, maybe a couple of years old. As someone who grew up facing the heartless side of humanity from the onset, I never bore any sentiment toward kids. But it's different."Leave me and my son alone," Jasmine's desperate cry fills my ears, even though it has been a whole half-hour since I drove away from her little apartment and back to the hotel.Her son...Could it be...My grip on the pen in my hand tightens so much that I'm about to snap it in two.A lot can happen in three years, a voice in my head says to me.Back in Jasmine's apartment, I was barely able to control myself. But that kid... I pause, swallowing hard.Why did the thought scare the crap out of me? I have faced off against rival mafias and conquered the whole of Italy, ma
Jasmine's POVI am still shaking long after the door bangs shut and I hear Nico's car speeding away from the driveway.Finally, after what seems like eternity, I manage to get out of my daze."Mommy?" Michael's voice cuts through my thoughts. I turn to his direction immediately."Oh, I'm so sorry for that, baby. It must have given you a fright," I say, rushing to his side immediately and hugging him close to me."Who's that?" He whines as he pushes me away. The small frown on his baby face breaks my heart.I realize that I might have traumatized him for life. What was a 3-year-old supposed to do after seeing such a scene and being unable to make sense of it?"Don't worry, honey. He won't come here again," I reply, then repeat it a few more times as though it was going to solidify my stance. Maybe saying it long enough would make it real. I definitely did hope that Nico wouldn't show face here again.An alarm goes off in the distance, and I quickly reach for my phone in my back pocket
Nico POV I arrive at the clearing more than an hour early. My first thought is to scout around the place and make sure that this isn't a trap, but the noise around the cabin area stops me. Garfield Bay, in Little Italy, New York. A whole goddamn half an hour drive from the main city. My first conclusion was to ignore the message and enjoy another not-so-glorious night in the hotel but alas, my bored ass already knows that I'm a sucker for suspense. Waiting this long is already killing me. If my suspicions are correct, of which they are ninety-nine percent of the time, then I am facing off against Robert Hunter, another one of the leaders of a rival mafia pack. But that isn't the only thing about him. He's twice my age and so without a doubt way more established than I am. And we are enemies. I park my car and step out of it. The only thing that can be heard is the sound of the waves against the rocks. I close the door of the car, still not believing that I did exactly what he s