Chapter 14

Blake’s POV

“This meeting is important,” I told her as we left the house. “All I need you to do is sit and smile.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes. “I’m not a flower vase, Blake.”

“I didn’t say you were,” I grabbed her hands and hauled her over to face me. My gaze fixed on her and she swallowed at the intensity of it. “But today, just act like one. Sit. Look pretty. Smile. That’s it. Don’t speak. Don’t even cough.”

She raised her brow. “And if I do?”

I looked straight ahead. “If you don’t behave, I’ll punish you. You know that.”

She scoffed. “Touch me and I’ll cut off your hand. I’ll send it to your father, wrapped in one of your suits.” she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes at me 

And damn, if she didn't look cute but I won't let her face card deceive me.

I burst out laughing. I shook my head as I opened the car door. “You’re becoming scary and sweet, little monster.”

She climbed in with a smirk. “And you like it. Don't try to lie.”

I flashed her a grin and got into the car. We didn’t talk much on the way to the office. But when we got there, I stopped near the entrance and turned to her again.

“I’m serious. Just sit beside me and say nothing.”

“I said I got it,” she muttered. “I’ll behave.”

“You better.”

We walked into the building. My staff greeted me with nods and tight smiles. I could feel it already. I kept walking fast, Jasmine right beside me. She didn’t say anything. But I knew her eyes kept watching me.

“Why are they looking at you like that?” she asked quietly.

“Because they’re nervous,” I shrugged.

“Nervous of what?”

I didn’t answer. I just kept walking and thankfully, she didn’t press.

The meeting was set for ten o’clock. We arrived at nine fifty-five. Most of the board members were already inside. They were all seated facing papers open on the table. Their glasses were filled with water but some had wine. And the most important thing was the blank faces.

We walked into the room and everyone looked up immediately. Some nodded. Some didn’t.

I took my seat at the head of the table. Jasmine sat on my left. She crossed her legs and folded her hands on her lap. She gave that fake smile I told her to give. Good. She listened. And I hope she obeys the other instructions.

The chairman started speaking. “Mr. Blake, thank you for making time today. We called this meeting to discuss concerns brought up by several members of the board.”

“Concerns?” I repeated. “About what?”

They didn’t hesitate. One by one, they began.

“About you,” said Mr. Donald, the senior financial officer.

“When he meant you, it's the fact you don’t listen to anyone,” said another man.

“You always do things your own way,” added a woman beside him. “You shut down ideas without even hearing them.”

“You’re strict and too cold.”

“You don’t show any form of kindness to your staff.”

“You refuse advice.”

“You make changes without telling anyone.”

“You make people fear you instead of respect you.”

I sat there. I didn’t move. I didn’t flinch. But I felt the weight of their words. Jasmine kept turning to look at me, her eyes were going to be full of questions that I wasn't ready to answer. When I had told her, I wanted her in with me for a meeting fixed in my company, I didn't tell her it was about me. I just needed the back of someone when I faced the boards. I kept my eyes forward ignoring her pinch on my arms underneath the table. 

One of them even said, “You may be the CEO, but you’re not a king.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Jasmine leaned forward slightly, but I gave her a look. She stayed quiet, but I knew she was boiling.

Another man added, “We need someone who can lead, not someone who scares the life out of everyone.”

Still, I didn’t say a word. I didn’t defend myself. I already knew what they thought. This wasn’t news to me. They’d been holding this in for months. Now they had a crowd and a chance. Of course they’d talk. And I wasn't in the mood to talk. We'll continue the meeting I came here for after they finished ranting.

But what surprised me was Jasmine.

Suddenly, she spoke. “Are you all done?” she asked.

Everyone turned to her, confused.

She smiled politely. “I just want to know if you’ve finished throwing stones at him so I can speak.”

“This is not your place to...” someone started.

“Oh, I know it’s not my place,” she said. “Have you forgotten I'm his wife? And even though I was told to sit and smile, like a trophy. But now I’m bored of smiling.”

I turned to look at her. My jaw tightened, my eyes fixed on her warning her to back down but I didn’t voice it out to stop her.

She narrowed her eyes at me in clear answer 'You don't tell me what to do, Blake.' She stood up and smoothed her skirt.

“Blake Remington might be all the things you said,” she began. “Yes, he is stubborn. Yes, he is strict. No, he doesn’t play nice or pat people on the back. But let me ask you all one thing.”

Everyone stared.

“Has the company grown under his leadership or not?” she asked.

No one answered.

“Has your personal income increased or not?”

Still silent.

“Have we gained more investors or not?”

One man shifted in his seat. Another looked away.

“He intimidates you,” she said slowly. “And do you know why? Because you can’t match him. You’ve never met someone who doesn’t need your approval to move forward.”

The room stayed quiet and the tension thickened.

“You’re angry not because he’s failing, but because he’s succeeding without bowing to you. And that makes you uncomfortable.”

I kept staring at her.

She wasn’t yelling at all. She wasn’t crying but was calm, strong. Every word hit like a knife.

“You want a friendly leader,” she continued. “Go get a puppy. Blake isn’t here to be your friend. He’s here to win.”

Someone tried to speak. 

She raised her hand. “I’m not done, Mr. Redface.”

The room went still again but the man glowered at her.

“Have you ever seen a war general win battles by being soft?” she asked. “No. They win by being fierce, focused and brave. That’s what Blake is. That’s why this company hasn’t fallen apart yet.”

I watched her speak like she was born for this.

She looked around the room one more time.

“So next time you feel like dragging him down,” she said, “ask yourself what you’ve done that matches even a quarter of his work.”

She sat down and there came the silence, long, heavy silence. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move.

Jasmine didn’t look at me. She crossed her legs again. Picked up her glass of water and took a sip.

The chairman cleared his throat.

“Well… That was certainly something,” he said.

I felt something in my chest. I didn’t know what it was. Gratitude? Shock? Respect? All three?

The meeting slowly moved to another topic. No one said another bad word. Everyone sat quieter, even straighter. Jasmine had changed the mood of the whole room with just a few words.

When the meeting ended, everyone stood. Most left without looking at me. A few nodded but no one dared said a word to Jasmine.

Finally Jasmine stood up and left the room, walking ahead of me, quiet, calm, like nothing had happened. I followed her without saying a word.

I pressed the elevator button. She stood beside me, arms crossed, eyes forward. We stepped inside and the doors closed. The silence felt heavy. I couldn’t hold it anymore.

I turned to her. “What was that back there?”

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

She looked at me. “I defended you. And you're welcome.”

I frowned. “That’s not what we agreed on.”

“Oh, please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I said I’d behave. Not that I’d sit and watch them tear you apart.”

“I told you to stay quiet,” I snapped furiously. “I warned you.”

“And I said I couldn’t just sit and watch,” she said back, louder. “You stood there while they all talked down at you like you were trash. I couldn’t take it.”

“I told you I’d handle it,” I snarled. “It wasn’t your place.”

“I don’t care,” she waved a hand at me. “I wasn’t going to sit there and pretend I didn’t hear it. If you want to punish me, then punish me. Do whatever you want, Blake.”

I stepped closer to her. “Don’t test me, Jasmine.”

She didn’t back down. “I’m not scared of you.”

My eyes locked on hers. “Since when do you fight for me?”

Her voice dropped. “Since they tried to belittle you in front of me.”

I didn’t know what to say after that. I just looked at her. She was breathing hard. Her hands were clenched. Her cheeks were flushed at what she said.

Ohh great! She's not mad at me 

“You didn’t have to,” I said softer realizing what she has done for me despite the way I had behaved to her the previous week.

“I know,” she blinked hard. “But I did.”

The elevator gave a loud thud. It jerked once.

“What the hell...” I said.

We both grabbed the railing. The lights flickered and the elevator stopped.

“Are you serious right now?” Jasmine muttered.

I hit the emergency button. Nothing. I hit it again.

Jasmine turned to me. “Tell me this is a joke.”

“It’s not,” I gritted out. “It just stalled. You know, it happens sometimes.”

She groaned. “Great. Just perfect.”

Then she lost her balance. The sudden stop must’ve messed with her stance. She stumbled toward me. I moved fast and caught her. Her hands grabbed my shirt while my arms wrapped around her waist. We were pressed together. Her chest against mine and her face near my neck.

Her breathing was fast and mine was too.

We didn’t move.

Her little body fit into mine too well. Her scent filled the small space. I could feel the heat from her skin.

I looked down at her. Her eyes lifted to meet mine.

“You hate me,” I said slowly.

“No,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I feel anymore.”

We kept staring at each other. Neither of us spoke. My grip on her didn’t loosen. Her hands didn’t move from my shirt.

I wanted to lean in. I wanted to kiss her so crazy that her lips would bleed from it and she won't be able to erase the memory from her mind.

But then—

The elevator jerked again. The lights flashed and the motor began humming. We both snapped back to reality.

She stepped away and I let her go.

We didn’t say anything as the doors opened. We walked out side by side, still quiet and mulling over what happened.

But everything felt different. I couldn’t explain it but all I knew was that something had changed after this meeting.