Chapter 13
Jasmine woke up as soon as their car came to a stop in the hospital’s underground parking for. Fighting off the lingering dizziness, she asked, “Have we arrived at the hospital, Mr. Sutton?”
“Yeah. Let me help you out.” Joshua leaned ever and unbuckled her seatbelt. His fresh, pleasant sent filled her senses, and her heart missed a beat.
Joshua’s looks and demeanor were exceptional, almost otherworldly among men. Uhlike Calvin’s ice–cold demeanor, joshua had a calm, refined sophistication
about him.
After walking into the hospital’s main lobby, Joshua helped her register for an emergency appointment at the self–service kiosk and accompanied her to see the doctor and undergo some bests
Jasmine felt really embarrassed. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me tonight, Mr. Sutton” She had planned to thank him with dinner, but now the felt like the owed him yet another favor.
Joshua’s voice was calm and warm as he said, “Don’t worry about it. Neighbors should look out for each other.”
After reviewing her test results, the doctor prescribed Jasmine some medicine for her headache and advised her to exercise more regularly to improve her overall
health
Joshua drove Jasmine back and said, “Our neighborhood has a gym and a swimming pool. I think you should make use of them, Ms. Scott”
Jasmine nodded, “I’ll make sure to exercise more from now on.”
Before she married Calvin, she was fit and made it a point to go to the gym three times a week. But after marrying Calvin, she spent all her time taking care of him. Excise was out of the question, and even sleep became a luxury.
“Let’s go together sometime,” he casually added. “I can introduce you to a personal trainer.”
Jasmine didn’t see a reason to retuse. “That sounds good.”
When they got to her door, Joshua asked, “Actually, how about we have dinner together? 1 can reheat the food you made.”
Jasmine realized he hadn’t eaten yet and felt even more guilty. “I’m so sorry for taking up so much of your time. You must have work to get back to, right? 1 penuinely didn’t mean to hold you up,”
Joshua chuckled, his eyes crinkling. “I’ll be pulling an all–nighter anyway. A short break wouldn’t hurt.”
Joshua took the food container she had given him and walked into her apartment, leaving the door slightly alar. Jasmine handed him a pair of new disposable slippers to wear Indoors.
He reheated the dishes and set them on the dining table. Noticing that he had done all the work, Jasmine felt even more self–conscious.
Sensing her unease, Joshua gently explained, “I only heated it up. That’s nothing compared to the real effort you put into cooling the whole meal.”
The pair sat down and ate in silence, Jasmine was a good cook, and the dishes the made were right up his alley. He couldn’t help but sing her praises. “When you cook again, could you make an extra portion for me? I’ll pay you. You can name your price.“”
asily make an extra portion for you.” She owed him a favor, so she
As soon as his words tell, Jasmine said, “It’s fine. You don’t have to pay me. If you want, I can easily i didn’t thinkmaking him dinner was much.
“Mr. Scott, il you won’t let me pay, I won’t trouble you either.” He was not someone who liked taking advantage of others.
Realizing he wasn’t joking, Jasmine relented. “Alright. If you’d like anything in particular, just let me know ahead of time.”
“Deal.” After finishing dinner, Joshua took it upon himself to clear the table, wash the dishes, and even pour her a glass of wann water, reminding her to take her medication. Once she had taken her medicine, he got ceady to leave. But before he stepped out, heeminded her once again, “Don’t forget to exercise, M. Scott.”
Joshua returned home and settled into his home office, his desktacing the window that looked directly across to jasmine’s unit. When he noticed her lights switched off, he paused momentarily, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. He looked out at the night sky, and a faint smile crept onto his lips.
jasmine walked into the office and noticed her colleagues giving her strange looks. Linda leaned over and asked, “Jasmine, what’s going on with you and Mr. Hendenon? There’s a rumor spreading around the group chat about you two. Here, take a look” She sent Jasmine a screenshot
Jasmine took a look at it and was so angry that her whole body started shaking. She asked, “Who posted this?”
When Linda nodded toward Tara, Jasmine grabbed her phone and matched right over to her
Tara was casually sipping her caller when Jasmine stormed over, but the former didn’t even bat an eye. She casually asked, “What’s the matter, Jasmine?”
Jasmine pointed at the screenshot and demanded, “Did you post this?
Tera glanced at it and sneered. “So what if I did? It you want to be a mistress, you had better be ready for people to talk about you!
Jeanine took a deep breath and said, “Come with me. We need to talk.” Tace didn’t think that the salt–spoken jasmine could do anything to bes, so she stood up and followed hr.
They stepped outside and came to a stop at a quiet spot just out of view of the surveillance cameras Jasmine immediately grabbed ‘Tasa’s hair from behind and slapped her twice. Tara tried to fight back, but jasmine twisted her anus, making her wince in pain.
Jasmine bad practiced self–defense when she was younger Even though it was mostly for show, it was enough to deal with Tara. Pulling Tara’s hair back, Jasmine threatened, “If you spout any more nonsense about it, I’ll tear your mouth apart! Tara, you’d better remember what kind of person I am today!”
Tata Intimidated by her fierce gaze, nodded weakly. “I–I get it.”
Jasmine let go of her and headed back to the office, where she bumped into Penny The latter patted the former on the shoulder and sindled. “Looks like you didn’t need my help after all. Nice job, Jasmine!”
212
Penny gave her a thumbs–up, and lastnine smiled at her.
When Tara returned to the office, two tresh handprints stained hercherks. Her coworkers gave her complicated looks. Humiliated, Tara hastily requested two days of leave and left the office.
From that point on, no one dared gossip about Jasmine being a homewrecker.
Jasmine assumed Leo would backoff, but a few days later, he was back, waiting for her after work every evening. Feeling the need to set things straight with Lea, she decided to go with him to a nearby café.
Leo assumed she was finally coming around, so he smiled kindly, his eyes lingering on her attractive figure. Jasmine was about to firmly reject him when, out of the comer of her eye, she saw Calvin and Olivia sitting a few tables away.
Olivia was surprised to see her as well. “Cal, isn’t that Jas?” she whispered.
Calvin glanced at jasmine, his eyes dark and unreadable. He had Vanessa look for her for half a month and hadn’t expected to see her here. He couldn’t believe that she was actually out on a date with another man.
Jasmine ignored them, shitting her focus back to Leo. “I think we need to talk, Mr. Henderson.”
“Hold on,” he interjected, pulling out a credit card while flashing a charming smile. “Hear me out, Ms. Scott. If you’re willing to be with me, I can give you everything except the position as my wife.
“I’ll give you ten thousand dollars a month as an allowance and pay for all our dates. And if you’re willing to have my children, I’ll give yo Jasmine sneered at the quoted amount. So, this was the going rate for being someone’s mistress these days. When she was Calvin’s wife, she didn’t even receive
you a property. Janything close to that amount.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she declined. “Thanks, but no thanks. I have no interest in being your secret girlfriend, Mr. Henderson. Please don’t bother me
Leo cocked his brow, “Is that not enough for you?” He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and let the smoke swirl around him.
“You’re trying to up your value, huh? But I don’t mind.
“I can’t deny I like what I see. So, how much do you want?” he asked, his lips curling into a disdainful grin.
