3.

Jasmine. 

“Walter Stilinski, sir…” Walter beams like he’s a child who’s meeting their dream superhero in real time. He has his hand stretched out waiting for Vladimir's. 

My expression is quite different. Aside from the soul-crushing humiliation threatening to swallow me whole, just being this close to him makes it hard to breathe. 

My mother is standing just next to him. Her hand interlocked in his, a big smile on her lips. She didn’t even smile this much when I got into college, nor when I got my first paycheck.  

A thin line of a smile drew across Vladimir's lips, his eyes solemnly on Walter's. 

“Vladimir Kensington,” he responds, his other hand reaching out for Walter’s. 

My breath shudders just hearing his voice again. 

‘You shouldn't be wandering into strangers' rooms at night; men are cruel.’

My lashes flutter, goosebumps erupting across my skin. 

It’s the same voice. From last night. His voice, it keeps taunting me. 

“Hon, this is Jasmine, my first daughter.” Mother introduces me a little too excitedly. 

I feel my soul leave my body. 

Everything slows down, the noise in the background dying as his head slowly twists towards my direction and stops on me. 

“Ah, Jasmine. The wild card…” 

Blood rushes into my cheeks, my ear turning red as well. 

I remain still, eyes wide open, unable to blink as he holds my gaze. 

W—Wild card? 

He looks so calm, completely unbothered; it forces my pulse to quicken. 

I only nod, not daring to say a word.  

His gaze moves back to Walter, completely dismissing me. A cold chill runs through me. 

What was that? 

The slow feel of Walter's fingers crawl across my waist as though he's discreetly trying to call for my attention. 

“Em, Mrs Sinc— My apologies, Mrs Kensington. I'm Walter… Walter Stilinski, Jasmine’s boyfriend…” he introduces himself, doing the very thing I'm supposed to do. 

“Yes, I heard.” She smiles. “I always thought Jasmine had terrible taste in men, but you clean up nice…” she adds jokingly. 

 I force an awkward laugh, one I shouldn't have vocalized, and it comes out like the cry of a broken horse, forcing surrounding eyes to us. 

Fuck me! 

“Um, yeah… I think we should… um, I mean Betty is here somewhere; we should find her—” I try to end the awkwardness that comes after that, but Walter just has to try to impress my mother. 

I’m sure she’s fine,” Walter interjects, eager to impress. “Mr Kensington, I must say it would be an honor to work in the same office as you… I mean Jasmine worked extra hard for years just to be able to enlist for the application…” 

Oh Walter! 

Vladimir’s brows twitch for a second, almost like his composure slips, then that default calm returns and his head snaps towards me. 

“You applied at KGH?” he asks, trying to hide the surprise in his tone. 

My soul almost leaves my body. 

“Y—Yes.” That one word takes almost ten seconds to completely come out even though I try to compose myself. 

“And?” 

I swallow hard, a bead of sweat rolling down my temple. 

He suddenly doesn't sound so neutral anymore… if anything, I'd say he's cold and somewhat authoritative. 

“I got in.” 

“We both did,” Walter adds immediately after me. “I can't believe we get to see you in person before resuming in the office.” 

Oh God! 

“Hon, isn't KGH one of your companies?” My mother suddenly inputs like she's just getting the gist. 

“It is; I never knew Jasmine had knowledge of that…” 

“W—What? I didn't know who you were, and I just saw you for the first time today.” I cut him off in a rush of panic. 

It felt like an attack, and I lost myself. 

He can't be imposing what I'm thinking he is, right? 

“Of course, Jasmine. A happy coincidence, I bet,” he says casually before a smirk forms on his lips. 

Oh my God! 

He’s an asshole! 

“Wow, you're finally doing something that pays real money. Maybe you'll finally move out or get a house of your own someday.” My mother's eyes soften, almost genuinely, but I hear the shade in her tone. 

I roll my eyes, having heard enough. 

I think Walter suddenly reads the mood and finally says something in defense of me. 

“It’s still your big day, Mrs Kensington; all this work talk must bore you. We should go mingle with the crowd…” 

“You should,” Vladimir imposes immediately as though he was waiting to hear that. 

My heart sinks into my chest, a slight ache spreading, more from rage than his cold dismissal. 

I turn to leave immediately, and Walter follows behind me. 

I can't believe this! Betty won't believe this either! 

I lost my virginity to that guy! 

That guy! 

My breathing suddenly becomes heavy, my jaw clenched, forcing down everything inside me from spilling out. 

I don't think I understood how deeply I fucked up until now. And worse, he's going to be everywhere! 

Home! 

Every morning! 

Every night! 

Work! 

Every single day! 

I'll be stuck in purgatory made by him. 

I'd have to stare at his face while he acts like he's my boss or my stepfather! 

He has seen me naked! He’s had his lips on mine… and on my skin. 

Goosebumps erupt across my skin. 

We've barely walked ten feet away from them when I hear my mother's voice. 

“Take it easy on her, she's… fragile.” 

My breath shudders. 

“I bet.” He responds. 

“Keep her close to you at work… I know you don't mix business with pleasure, but can you do that for me, dear…” 

Me? 

Fragile? 

And here I was thinking things couldn't get any worse. 

I'm moving out. To Walters or Betty’s. Hell, I'll live under the bridge than spend a day in that house alone with both of them. 

“I can't believe your stepdad is our boss…” Walter vocalizes his thoughts again, and I can still hear the shock. 

“So did I, babe… but here we are.” A sarcastic response slips past me. 

I don't mean to sound so cold, but it comes out that way regardless. 

“Hey, Rookie…” 

I halt, and so does Walter. 

It's his voice. 

Vladimir's. 

We both turn to the sight of them both waving at us from a distance. 

“I can't wait to work with you. Don't be late.”