4.

Jasmine.

“Em, Ma’am, I think there's a mistake somewhere.” I protest, walking into the secretary's office, completely confused at the post assigned to me on my file. 

One that clearly wasn't in the email. 

 I didn’t want to take the job. I spent the whole morning at Walter’s place contemplating what this could mean for my future, and after seeing the pay of ten thousand dollars per month, I find myself here. Knowing that in three months I could afford the security deposit, first month's rent, furniture... and finally get out of my mother's house. 

My determination shatters the moment I glance at the file and read my assigned role. 

“I was hired as an Investor Relations Analyst, not a personal assistant…” I say, handing her the file, knowing there’s a mistake somewhere that needs to be sorted out. Walter is already in the meeting room, where they’ll be addressed, and there’s nothing wrong with his assignment. 

The lady behind the desk tilts to the side, away from the monitor in front of her, one brow raised, asking the question she doesn’t say. 

She clearly doesn’t care. 

“A quad-shot black Americano—extra hot, no sugar,” she responds, and her gaze immediately returns to the monitor. 

“Excuse me?” I sigh, my breathing suddenly becoming heavy. 

“Coffee. He’ll be here in five.” 

Simple. Cold. Dismissive. 

“I’m not making Coffee for anyone…” I scoff, rolling my eyes. 

She can’t be serious. 

I spent two years working hard for this role, and now that I’m here, I’m being asked to make coffee?  

“Suit yourself,” she breathes with no concern in her voice. 

What? 

I’m not going to take that attitude. 

Fuck this, I’m going to HR.  

I storm out of her office and head for the hallway. 

My heart continues to thunder in my chest, a storm violently building its way up. 

Standing in front of the elevator waiting for the door to open, I clench my fist, my nails digging into my palm, holding back the rage clogging my throat.  

I pull out my phone, dialing Betty immediately. 

“Hey girl, how’s your first day at work?” she beams as though I’m about to give her some good news. 

“I hate him… I hate him so much it’s killing me.” I snap. 

“Whoa, Jasmine, what’s wrong?” 

“Vladimir! He’s an asshole! Can you believe he made me his PA? A fucking personal assistant, Betts…” I continue to ramble, not caring that my voice echoes through the hallway. 

“Your stepdad? Why would he do that?” 

“He hates me; that's why! He wants to punish me. I can’t do this, Betts… I thought I could survive this; I thought I could hold on, but a PA?” 

“Jas, I need you to breathe and listen to me.” 

I’m panting now, sweat rolling down my temple as I try to collect myself. 

“I don’t believe he hates you; the man doesn’t even know you,” she tries to calm me down. “I know you're good at what you do, but have you thought about how this could be for your own good?”

“My good? I know getting a job was hard, but my CGPA—”

“For fuck sake, Jas, just listen! You don’t have to like him, just pull yourself together and when the day is over you don’t have to go back there anymore… but remember you need that money.” 

My jaw tightens. 

He must be punishing me! 

It must have something to do with that night! 

I scoff. 

I still don’t remember what really happened, and he’s punishing me! 

“Are you there?” Betty’s voice comes over the speaker again, but it doesn’t clear my mind of the one thing that seems to be the only reasonable solution to this. 

I have to confront him! 

“Jas…” 

“I’m here… i’m better now…” I say, trying to catch my breath. 

“Jasmine, I know you… Please be professional, don’t lose yourself and forget he’s your boss because he’s your stepdad.” 

My mind is already made up. There’s no need to go to HR; I’m going to talk to him myself. 

“Okay, fine…I won’t, " I respond, clearly a lie, but that’s the only way to get her off my back. 

If only she knew. If she knew he was my mystery man, I’m sure she’d see things differently. 

“Thanks, Betts, I’ll see you later…” 

“Hm mm. Sometimes I feel like I’m your mother. I should spank some sense into you…” she exclaims tiredly before the line disconnects. 

The moment my body attempts to move, the elevator finally dings open and… fuck. 

My body freezes as the thick oud scent of his cologne drifts out before he even comes into view. 

My heart skips a beat. 

Grey old-money suit and a black tie. Black slick shoes and a black Richard Mille watch; my breath is snatched from my throat once again by the sight of him. 

He moves, his eyes scanning me from head to toe very detailedly, and they linger around my waist for a second. But his expression doesn’t change. Just that locked jaw, perfectly aligned lips around a clean shave— 

“Rookie!” 

My body flinches. 

Fuck! 

He stretches out his hand, his eyes locked on me. 

My vision blurs for a second, a sharp jolt coursing through me. 

His brow furrows. 

“What are you doing standing there? Where’s my coffee?” 

That question slams against me like a truck, knocking me back to reality. 

“Coffee? What coff—”

Right… 

I shake my head, fist clenched around my phone, ready to dissect him. 

“We need to talk…” I blurt out, and my voice creaks at the end, but I hold his gaze, trying not to blink. 

He looks above my shoulder, and his body moves. He walks past me without saying a single word. 

NO… 

“I mean it…” I turn and follow behind him. 

Silence still. 

I continue to walk behind him, heading right back down the hall to the conference room. His height gives him a great advantage of taking a step when I have to take two, and when I finally get out of breath, I snap.  

“Hey!” 

He halts, but doesn’t turn to face me. 

I walk until I’m two feet away, and the second I stop to catch my breath, he turns. 

“You forget yourself, Miss Sinclair. This is a workplace, and you’ll treat it like such,” he snarls. 

Oh no, he doesn’t! 

“You shouldn't be wandering into strangers' rooms at night; men are cruel… aren’t  they, Mr Kensington?” I retort almost immediately. It’s as though his coldness pushes me over the edge, forcing his words right out of me. 

His eyes widen, and he snatches me by the arm. 

I gasp out loud before I can control myself, heat shooting up my spine and spreading across my entire body the moment his palm comes in contact with my skin. 

It’s a flash, just for a second, but the image his clear. 

He’s seated on a bed with white sheets, the lights somewhat purple? I’m straddling him, his hands firmly on my waist… 

He pulls away immediately, almost like my touch could burn. I catch the slight discomfort in his eyes, his adam’s apples bobbing in his throat as he swallows hard. Then he clears his throat and adjusts his suit like nothing happened. Like he didn’t feel the heat that made him pull away. 

“Get my coffee and be at the meeting before it starts…”