Chapter 7: How Dare He?

JASMINE’S POV

_Smash the freaking ketchup on his face!_

_Pull his ears out till he looks like Penny!_

These were a few of the tens of revenge ideas that came to mind. Instead, I kept mute, stabilizing my mood. After the milk incident at the mall and with me still not over it, it would be plain stupid to make things worse.

My bloodshot eyes burned with intense hate and irritation. Sweat dripped from each of my pores. I was furious and he knew it.

"Jas. You should think about this.” He reached out for my hands on the table and I cringed.

“First, you don’t get to call me that and lastly, there's nothing to think about.”

"Don't act rashly, Jasmine. You can take a few days and...”

“Have a nice day.” I pushed the chair backward, as the squishing sound made silly noises and drew unwanted attention to us.

I avoided eye contact with a few of the staff that chose my business over theirs and wore a fake smile. The news of my demotion rocked the four walls of the hospital, and with my replacement, Mr. Carter, being drop-dead gorgeous and rich, it made it even worse.

It would be careless of me to give them the idea of an uncanny romance between the hot boss and the fallen hero.

"Jasmine..."

"We're done here.” I walked out of the Cafeteria and to my office.

If I knew he wanted to degrade me, I wouldn't have bothered to grease his ego. How dare he place a prize on me?

_“Here is an open cheque. Be my Luna and state your prize... Any amount.”_

Fuck! His awful words echoed in my head, making it hurt the most. I barged into the office I shared with Liam, and grabbed my bag and phone. He encouraged me to go see Sebastian, even though I was aware there was literally nothing else he could say. I still blame him nonetheless.

He looked up from a client's folder he was skimming through and adding a report and focused on me, but I gave him my back as I assembled my stuff.

"How did it go?" He demanded keenly. "Was it that... Hell.” He cussed when he met my angry gaze.

"Jasmine, what happened?” He dropped the folder he was holding and stood up once he sensed my tense mood.

"It was beyond bad. For lack of a better word, it was worse... Terrible!”

"Do you want to talk about it?” He made a 'sorry’ face.

Just not now. If I should ever talk about it, it meant me reliving the moment, and I just might smash his face instead.

“I'm off, I feel sick to my stomach.” It wasn't all lies, plus I needed a well-deserved break.

“Have you told Brady...”

"If he comes looking for me, tell him anything.” I stormed out.

Any more seconds in this facility with Mr. Carter would mean one of us killing the other. And I was convinced he would die by my hands. I sure as eff wasn't going to let him have the last laugh.

In the parking lot, I sat in my car and laid my head on both arms, anchored on the wheel, for what seemed like an hour. I couldn't possibly go home in this state.

If Asher or the kids saw me this way, they would panic, and I hate it when they were worried, especially with Asher, not after all he had been through for my sake.

“Dr. Ross?” A gentle tap on my car window has me sitting up.

The pot-bellied security man stood by my car, curiosity written all over his features. He must have seen me walk in here and never return or drive out. To be honest, it was weird just sitting out here, but can't anyone just mind their damn business?

“Do you need help?” He said, with sign language to buttress his point.

My window was still wound up, the only advantage was that it wasn't tainted, so he assumed that I wasn't hearing him loud enough.

“No, thank you,” I repeat the action, my hands in the air in firm demonstration.

Satisfied, he nodded and left. I guess it was time I left, if he ever returned and found me in the same spot, I doubt mere sign language would do the trick.

“Mummy!” Ezra and Ethan ran towards me and hugged me.

Oddly, they were stained with a white substance that didn't smell like baby powder.

“What happened to both of you?” I tried to make sense of it.

They looked at each other and covered their mouths. When did they start keeping secrets from their mummy? It surely wouldn't take much to find out. Just a little tickle would sell them cheaply.

Emily remained with Penny and put her cute little lips in a pout. Someone was still angry at me for not giving Penny milk. I was yet to officially have a heart-to-heart talk with her.

With Emily, motherhood was complicated. She got too emotional for her tender age and was also too strong-headed for a girl. I don't know if she took after me or her father.

"Emily, won't you say hello to mama?” I mimicked a frown.

I walked up to her and tickled her gently. Limbs sprawled in the air, she chuckled and wriggled like a tadpole, with no means of escape.

Penny just whimpered and laid down, wagging her tail, in need of her own share of the fantasy.

“Hello.” Emily finally exclaimed, her mouth wide enough to see the space the fallen tooth left and I stiffened a grin because she looked cute regardless.

"Look who we have here." Asher appeared from the kitchen, he had an apron on and he was thoroughly clothed in white powder.

I chuckled. Now it made perfect sense how the triplets are all white. Asher loved to have fun with the kids, any day, anytime, anyplace. I should definitely put a 'no play in the kitchen’ policy and hang it on the door.

"Come here." He wrapped me up and took my lips in bouts of steamy kisses.

I threw my hands around him, demanding more than he was giving or I could handle.

"Slow down, Jas.” His words came out mangled as he tried to free himself and I had to let him go against my will.

“How about we visit this later? First, you have to freshen up while I serve your dinner.” He instructed. "Moreover, the kids are watching.” This time, he whispered.

I puffed and said, “Asher,” cupping his chin, "I will always choose you.”

Heart to heart and skin to skin, I connected with him. He read me keenly like a book and squinted his eyes. 'There is more to this.’ I guessed that was the thought going on in his head.

“What's wrong, darling?” His voice was full of worry.

"Nothing," I muttered.

“Sometimes you forget I know you too well, Jas. Right now, you're acting weird.” He pulled me to himself by my waist.

“Asher, really, there's nothing going on...”

“Kids, go to your room, your mama and I need to be left alone,” Asher instructed.

They ran upstairs, not without a struggle. I loved how they knew when to act childish and cool.

"Out with it, Jas or I call Liam.”

Asher's words placed me in a tight space.