Chapter 4: Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

JASMINE POV

Jasmine, what the fuck?!" Sebastian shrieked as I poured the milk all over him and his flashy ring.

I gritted my teeth. "I was never yours in the first place, you asshole!"

He winced as I stomped down the aisle, but he grabbed my elbow, pulling me back.

"Wait! Wait a second," he raked a hand through his soft, long, milk-stained hair, "Let me do right by you. Please."

"Seb, it's been eight years! I have forgotten all about you, and I don't need a fucking reminder of the heartache."

As I stormed away, I heard him mutter to himself. "This isn't over, Jasmine. You'll be mine soon."

I shuddered at that dangerous promise, blocking it out of my mind as I met the kids at the front of the line. Emily had my wallet with her.

I dropped the empty bottle of milk on the counter, and the cashier gave me a weird look.

"Don't forget to add that." I smiled nervously.

When everything had been processed, I grabbed the grocery bags and the kids, hurrying out of the store.

At the lot, Sebastian was long gone. I sighed in relief, opening the backseat for the kids. 

They scooted in and took a few of the bags with them while I kept the rest in the trunk.

The ride home was painfully long.

Asher met me at the door of our modern house. He took the bags from me and put them away in the kitchen. The kids jumped on him, giving him a hug. 

"Hey, kiddos. Did you have fun?"

They bobbed their heads.

He ruffled the boys’ hair and kissed Emily's cheek. "Good. Now go up and finish your homework."

In the kitchen.

I kissed Asher against the counter. It surprised him. I never initiated in the past, but today, I needed him to make me forget all those good things about Sebastian.

To wash off the memories of his kisses on my lips, on my skin, in between my legs. I deepened our kiss, moaning.

Asher broke it soon. "What's going on with you, Jes?" 

I cocked my head. "Is kissing my boyfriend wrong?" My eyes fell to the bulge in his pants, and they darkened. I touched him through his jeans. Asher groaned.

"No, it's...oh, fuck, Jes..." He threw his head back, biting on his bottom lip.

"You were saying?" I kissed my way up his throat.

Asher placed a hand over mine on his pants, stopping me, and I whined, biting his earlobe. A frustrated moan fell from my lips. "Ash, let me touch you."

"We've never... Are you really ready to take that step, Jes?" A notch settled between his brows. 

I giggled at seriousness, muffling the sound in his shirt. "Of course, I am. You are the only man I want to be with. Just you." 

We kissed again, and this time, he didn't stop me.

That night. Barneji and his girlfriend rang the bell. I hurried down the steps, careful not to trip over my dress. 

Rylee gasped. "Ohmygod, Jes. You look so beautiful!"

She gave me a hug, squealing at how much makeup and playing dress up had transformed me. Since the triplets' birth, I didn’t have time for myself. I had dedicated my life to them.

And now, Asher and I had decided that this night out was important for our relationship. We would finally take things to the next level.

Liam winked at me. "You clean up nice, Ross."

"You! I still haven't forgotten this afternoon." I raised my heel to his face as a weapon, glaring at him until his girlfriend whisked me away to save his ass.

Asher came around and gave Liam a bro-hug. They laughed over sports and other guy stuff as Rylee and I caught up.

"I'm so glad I could count on you guys to watch over them." I placed a hand on my heart.

Rylee held my hands. "Girl, you know I would do anything to make you happy. Go have fun with your beautiful man—" suddenly, she yanked me closer, lowering her voice, "You shaved those pretties down there, right?"

I pressed my lips together. Asher would have definitely heard that from where he stood, no matter how much Rylee tried to whisper.

"Rylee." I blushed.

"What? He's obviously going to tap that fine ass tonight." 

We made eye contact. I nodded my head in approval. I got a wax done two days ago for no particular reason. 

She wiggled her brows at me, and I almost died when I felt Asher's gaze on me.

We said goodbye to the twins and gave Emily extra special warning to behave. My daughter was crazy but cute, and I loved her and her brothers so much.

Asher had made dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant, and I thought the night would end there until Asher took me to an airstrip.

"Asher." I covered my teary face with my hands.

"Come with me. Allow me to show you how much you mean to me, Jes."

The private plane took us to Lexington. Asher booked an entire art gallery for me, and every photograph on display was about us.

We visited an aquarium, where he had booked the entire thing for the night. There was a path underneath the water. Asher and I walked it, hand-in-hand. 

In the end, his arms wrapped around me from behind. I pressed my back to his front, savouring the magnificent view of the stars on this penthouse’s balcony.

"Did you enjoy tonight?" He planted soft kisses on the side of my face.

A soft sigh escaped me. "I don't deserve you, Asher."

"Lies." He backed me against the railing, hooking my arms around his neck. "You deserve everything good, Jes. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm even worthy of you."

I gazed into his sterling grey eyes, mesmerised.

My lips crashed with his. My tears seeped into the kiss, even as it turned passionate. 

"I love you so much, Asher Slade." 

He smiled against my mouth. "Say that again."

"I love you," I giggled, giving in because it was the first time he was hearing that from me.

"Again."

"I lo—"

Asher ravaged my mouth, grabbing my ass. That night, he made love to me, and for the first time in eight years, the past was a blur in my mind.

I didn't want it to end, but we eventually returned home, and I had to go to work.

We were making out in the kitchen until a dish broke, and quickly we jumped away from each other.

Ezra rushed into the kitchen. "What happened?!"

I couldn’t even face my son.

Luckily, Asher distracted him and Ethan, taking them out of the kitchen while I recovered from looking red in the face.

There was a permanent smile on my face, even at work. I forgot all about the video and how wanted I was by the media.

I happily attended to patients, and each time I met Banerji in the halls, he would give me a knowing smile.

I looked like a woman utterly in love—I was one.

"Dr. Ross."

That was Brady's voice.

I turned away from my office's door, facing the chairman of the board. "Good day, sir. I was just about heading out for lunch..." 

It took a moment before I processed the scene before me. Sebastian stood at Brady's side, a devilish smirk colouring his face black.

Carter approached, bowing to Sebastian as he handed him a file.

I stuttered. Fingertips turning white.

"Dr. Ross, I'm afraid we were all acquainted with the director’s personal assistant that morning," Brady smiled like a man who just won the lottery, "Meet Sebastian Carter, the new director and your replacement."

I gaped, horrified.

My one night stand was my new boss.