All Chapters of Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

She turned on the laptop again just to make sure that her eyes weren’t deceiving her. Could it be that her father had worked for the Reeds before? The site opened again for her and her father’s face stared her in the face, she had been told many times that she had his eyes and those same eyes stared right at her. She could never mistake that face that she saw on her mother’s bedroom side table every single morning… She knew she would have to confront her mother with this information, she had to know the truth. Was Ava the reason she didn’t grow up with her own father, why she had to live a life of struggle caring for her mother and herself since she was younger? That would set off a completely different chain reaction in her life than just making Ava Reeds jealous… Oh no! She would make Ava Reeds pay for the pain and suffering she had lived with all her adult life. Jasmine stared at the clock, it was too late to call her mother or visit the hospital. Tonight she would continue scr

“I’m just going to send them a thank you card, that’s all. We don’t have to go, we can spend Christmas together as a couple if you want to travel somewhere nice then I’ll arrange that.” Cynthia Coleman said as she browsed through her phone. She sat at the edge of her sofa, the invitation placed on the table, when she had received it at her office desk that day. She already knew that she wasn’t interested in going. The invite had no intentionality at all and it was no surprise seeing as it was planned by Ava Reeds. The words boldly written ‘Ava Reeds Presents: The Exclusive Retreat’ her mouth pursed at the thought. She only told Alex because she felt they would both be on the same page. After all, Alex hardly liked going on work trips with her, but this time was an exception. “No way are you doing that. I think you’re overthinking the situation, the retreat is in a couple of days, maybe she has to work on a lot of things. This could just be an oversight or even someone in her staff

The grand waiting lounge was filled with good energy as more guests arrived, their voices mingled with the sound of wood burning in the big fireplace. Jasmine still stood beside Chad, she was relaxed but her mind was racing, calculating every move from Ava. She noticed that Ava didn’t go out to greet any other guests the same way that she had done with Chad. Jasmine noticed that more and more people were staring at her even the staff, she felt like she was an alien with the way people were stealing glances at her and whispering, she hoped she hadn’t done anything already. Despite the fact that she had her own plan, she still had to keep to her side of the contract with Chad, for her mom’s sake. While speaking to Peter and Mary Wicker, she had been introduced as Chad’s fiancée. It seemed the smiling Mary had sent the information around the room as she and her husband also chatted away. As she thought to herself, a pair of beautiful men approached her and Chad.“Hey Chad. Missed us?”

The dining hall was filled with chatter but Jasmine’s mind was somewhere else. The aromas of the different special dishes filled the air in the hall, but Jasmine’s appetite was gone. She kept stealing glances at Alex. He seemed very comfortable in this kind of crowd, the way he held the wine glass like he was born into aristocracy…He was seated beside his wife, elegant and poised. Her laugh was practiced but soft, the kind that blended into such rooms. Chad leaned closer to Jasmine, he whispered, “Don’t worry about it. Just maintain your composure.”“Yeah. I’m good,” she whispered back, although as she held her fork, Chad could sense her tension. Another course was served and Alex finally looked at Jasmine. His smile was deliberate, he looked at her deviously. He watched her look at him through the corner of her eyes, seated beside Chad Blackstone. Ava decided it was time to start her own little scheming, she knew exactly how to play this game. She walked and sat at the head of t

“What did you think about Chad’s new arm candy? Isn’t she sort of an upgrade from Ava?” Valentina asked her sister as they both were ushered to their rooms by one of the staff before dinner. They walked up the staircase behind the man, “Yes, she’s rather eccentric. I think she might be fun to watch, although I see Henri and Lucien have also taken a liking to her.” Natalia replied. “Those two will take a liking to anyone but I see the problem. We came here with the idea that we would enjoy the luscious company of those boys and I don't think that little newbie would want to get in our bad books.” Valentina smiled dangerously“Oh no! She definitely couldn’t. Did you notice thatgirl with the glasses again. The one father said is heading a pharmaceutical company?” “Yes. I’m surprised Ava invited her. She’s never been one to miss the simplest details. None of us speak to the girl so why invite her and that other one, the old one.” Valentina clicked her fingers as though she was trying