2.

Jasmine. 

I’m getting the fuck out of here like yesterday. The one day I rebel and drink a little more than I normally would, the universe punishes me in worse ways than a sinner. 

“You can’t be serious, we’re not leaving!” Betty sighs, refusing to help me pack my luggage in our room. 

“I feel choked up… when I get back to New York I’ll be fine…” I try to get out of it, but she doesn’t seem to be buying it. 

I can’t tell her! 

God, No. 

I can’t tell anyone! 

I need to move out of my mother’s house and find a new apartment. Maybe move to a new state, or country, even better.

But that thought hurts more because I know I’m not in the position to do that. 

“Jasmine, trust me, whatever is going through your head, you just have to calm down. If you do this, you’ll make this about you again. Like you did when you were ten. Fourteen and eighteen. You always try to run, but it doesn’t make things better. You should know this from experience…” she tries to talk me out of it, but my mind is already made up. 

I can't bring myself to imagine what he thinks of me. 

Fuck! 

Did you see how he looked at me? 

He barely held my gaze for a second before he looked away.  I've had lots of disgraceful moments in my life, but never have I felt so embarrassed. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. 

What if he tells her? 

What if he tells my Mom I initiated it; I came on to him. 

“I—I’ve made up my mind, Betts, I'm leaving…” 

The slow drag of the door pulls our attention. 

“Hi, ladies,” that familiar warm voice comes, and my pulse spikes. 

Walter. 

My heart skips a beat. 

“H–Hi baby, you’re quite early…” I clear my throat, walking towards him. He’s dressed in a burgundy suit with a bottle of wine in hand. 

Too serious, and ready to impress.  

I give him a side hug, even though his arms are wide open. I just can’t; I feel tainted. 

“What are you doing?” he asks as his eyes scan our mess of a room, his brows furrowed. His shoulders move awkwardly like he’s trying not to make my side hug a big deal.  

“Big baby here can’t take mummy’s drama anymore—” 

“No… Come on, Betts, we said we would keep everything in check...” I panic, my palm pressing against Walter's chest as I take the bottle of wine from him. 

“So… are you searching for what to wear to the ceremony? I hear it’s on a yacht…” Walter asks, and he sinks into my sofa, beside my messy undies. 

Betty's gaze meets mine, her arms crossed against her chest, waiting for my response. 

The ceremony… where people drink and party… where he’ll definitely be. Vladimir. 

Hell no! 

“Yes… as a family member, I think we should board the cruise on time.” My lips move, and words that aren’t my actual thoughts slip out of me. 

Fuck! 

Twenty minutes later, with Walter's arm wrapped around my waist and Betty giving me a stern 'don't ruin this' glare, I find myself in the one place I promised I wouldn't go. 

Change of plans: stay the hell away from the bride and groom. 

“Did you get the email?” Walter’s voice forces my vision to concentrate. We’re on the cruise, and I’m in a black fitted dinner dress, not my first option given the situation, but Walter has to be credited for this. 

“N–No, what’s that about?” I try to make conversation just so my eyes aren’t wandering around searching for you know who so I can take the opposite direction. 

“I got a response last night…  From KGH. I’m to resume in the office by Monday…” 

“Oh, Walter. That’s good news,” I try to say with excitement, but my eyes continue to wander around, and I don’t even look at him. 

“So… what about you? Did you get the email?” he asks again. 

“I haven’t had time to go through my phone… this wedding seems to be messing with my head,” I respond, my eyes still searching. 

“Hey…” he grabs my jaw, forcing my gaze to him. 

My breath hitches. 

“You look worked up. Are you okay?” his brows furrow, his tone filled with genuine concern. 

My heart sinks into my belly; a sudden wave of guilt washes over me. That’s right, I haven’t looked him in the eyes since he got here. He’s not just here because I had promised I’d be on my best behaviour and introduce him to my mom; he’s also here for me. 

Oh Jasmine! 

“I’m sorry…” My voice softens as I turn completely to face him, his hand slowly sliding down my waist. 

“I’ve just been… carried away. I’m here now,” I force a smile, but I’m sure he can tell I’m lying.  

He holds my gaze and my eyes completely soften. He knows I like it when he looks at me like that. He knows how my heart gets when his gaze lowers to my lips. 

But this time… this time it doesn’t feel good. It makes me feel worse. 

Fuck! 

I should tell him and apologise; this can be resolved. I could beg! 

“Walter—” 

“It’s okay to be anxious and not in complete support of your mother getting married eight years after your father passed. You don’t need to like him or have a relationship with him…” 

This sentence starts very heartwarming and loving until the ‘him’. All my emotions get clogged by strangling guilt all over again. 

“We just have to be here to show our support to her. It’ll mean the world to her…” 

I force another smile, then slowly nod in agreement while my heart feels like it’s been infested with a beehive, and I’m stung from the inside out. 

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead, a gesture that usually calms me, but now, not so much. 

“Alright, check your email… KGH would be a fool not to accept you…” He says last before pulling away from me. 

With a heart like a mountain weighing me down and shaking fingers, my hand slips into my purse, pulling my phone out. 

That Email might just be the only good thing in my life right now. 

How could I have done this to him… he’s such a sweet soul and doesn’t deserve a mess like me. 

I pull the phone out of my bag, and the screen lights up and immediately unlocks with my Face ID. 

If I don’t get it, this could be my punishment! Father always said the universe rewards hard work and punishes evil. 

I open my email and refresh. 

My knees are going weak. 

Once, there’s nothing. 

I don’t even think I’m disappointed.  

Then again,d something pops up. 

KGH. 

Kensington Global Holdings. The dream of all Realtors. 

The light in my eyes suddenly returns. 

I don’t need to open the email; I could already see it. 

‘Congratulations, Miss Jasmine Faye Sinclair, your request has been approved…” 

“I got in…” 

It’s a mumble at first, then I almost scream. 

“I got in, Walter… fuck! We can still be together…” 

He chuckles, wrapping his arms around me in a hug. “Don’t be silly; we’d still be together even if one of us didn’t get in…” 

Oh, my God! The universe doesn’t hate me after all.  

For the first time since this morning, I can finally breathe without so much effort. 

My arms wrap around his back, holding him firmly… my pulse suddenly slowing down.  

“Ladies and gentlemen, please a round of applause as the bride and groom walk in…” a voice comes over the speakers, and everyone starts clapping. Everyone but me. 

I’m too engrossed in this hug to let go. And honestly, I can’t let him ruin this. 

“Hey…” Walter calls, tapping me to turn. 

I don’t. 

“Babe, it’s him. Look…” he gets excited, peeling me off him, ruining the intimacy of our moment. 

“What! I—I can’t believe this; it’s him. Vladimir Kensington.” 

Fuck! 

I finally turn to the sight of him, leaning against Walter. 

How the hell does a man look that good in an all-black tuxedo? 

“I know, Walter, that’s my mother’s new husband…” 

“No way! That’s Vladimir Kensington,” he beams excitedly. 

Oh my God! It's so exhausting that people react this way to him. First Violet, now Walter. 

 “Vladimir Kensington of KGH… the CEO…” 

A loud ringing disorients me. 

“W–what?” 

“We have to get over there right now! We need to introduce ourselves.” he grabs my palm and pulls me after him.