Nathan Halem

CHAPTER 9

"So on a scale of 1 to 10, how was it?" Jason asked. 

"Do you mean the food?" Jasmine asked to clarify. 

He nodded with an expectant look on his face. 

"Well it broke my scale, that's for sure, it was delicious!" She replied. 

He smiled at that, one of those genuine smiles of his that brought more colour to his stunning eyes. 

"I knew you'd like it," he told her. 

"Thank you," she said out loud, but she wanted to say "I'm sorry", but her cold heart rationalized that there was nothing to be sorry for, at least not yet. 

Even though she had the worst intentions she hasn't done anything wrong yet. However, her lack of action wasn't because of unwillingness, she just hadn't gotten the chance yet. 

"So how's work so far?" He asked. 

It was obvious he was trying to keep the conversation going, it was cute seeing him trying to make small talk. She knew he wasn't one to waste words, he was one of those annoying straight to the point kind of people. 

Seeing him making so much effort with her was nice, or maybe he was just being nice. Yeah, that's more believable. There's no reason for her to feel special just because the billionaire chose to do something that every other normal person would do. 

"I just started, remember? but so far it's been good, maybe because I have the best boss ever," she replied. 

"Oh, you don't have to flatter me, Jasmine, you can be honest with me," he said with a chuckle. 

"I am being honest!" She exclaimed, but she wasn't, she was lying, she was a liar anyway so it didn't prick her conscience when she said those words out loud. 

"Why don't I believe you?" He said with a smirk. 

It was a rhetorical question and she didn't even plan on answering. She was having fun with her little games. She just shrugged her shoulders and continued walking beside him. 

She intrigued him. The more he got to know her, the more mysterious she seemed. She was an egregious flirt but even that itself was funny and somehow exciting. 

Jason knew she was trouble but it was a kind of trouble he could not avoid. He loved the thrill of it all. Probably he would have appreciated a calmer mate, but he could make do with this tigress before him.  

"I want to know everything about you Jasmine," he blurted out. 

He mentally groaned as he said those words but he was not going to take it back this time around. He needed more control of that sharp blunt mouth of his but he could not help it. 

It was like his mouth had a mind of its own. It could also be because he was a typical Leo but he was never one to believe in the stars even though he was a werewolf. 

He was being serious though, he wanted to unwrap this mysterious lady already. He wanted to claim her. To proclaim her as his, to protect her with his life if necessary. 

"There's not much to know, I've lived a very simple, boring, happy life," she said quietly. 

Everything she said was a lie, but she planned on lying her way to his heart every step of the way. She could not let her guard down. He wouldn't understand her even if she tried to open up to him. He would sneer at all the horrible things she had done just to survive in this harsh world. 

He could not comprehend the life she lived. How could he? She was poor and he was wealthy. That already puts them in two separate worlds. It was a bitter pill she had long learned to swallow. 

The rich felt entitled and somehow it helped their ego to own the poor one way or another. Honestly, it was one of the reasons she went down this path. He was not her first target and she had never been unsuccessful. 

She knew this kind of behaviour, although it rarely happened, they were usually not this nice. There was something about Jason Halem that was suddenly making her grow a conscience. 

She could see actual sincerity in his eyes. Most of her previous targets didn't care about her, they never wanted to know more than her name and some even could not get her name to stick to their big skulls. 

She reminisced about a funny memory when one of her previous targets kept calling her gorgeous and while others thought it was because he admired her, it turned out he just couldn't remember her name. 

You would think that someone who continuously chased her without shame, hoping to get in her pants, would remember something so simple. She had no second thoughts when she exposed his scandal, he totally deserved it. 

Jason was different. She knew that from the moment she laid eyes on him. Now the more she got to know him, the more she began to realise just how different he actually was. 

"I want to know more about you instead," Jasmine told him. 

He seemed a little put off by the sudden shift of attention to his life, but it was just for a split second. His countenance relaxed after what seemed like a moment's hesitation. 

Jason did not expect that Jasmine would turn the tables around so fast. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about herself or her past. Apparently she was okay with being a mystery. 

Under normal circumstances, this would have completely come off to him as a bad sign but somehow he understood her. There was something about her that blinded him to her many flaws and he could bet it was the bond they shared because she was his mate. 

He wasn't any different anyways. His past was definitely not his favourite topic. In fact he never thought he could share that part of himself with any other person, werewolf or human. 

However, here he was with a strong urge to open his heart and soul to this mystery lady. Maybe it was because he was tired of being alone and he was incredibly lonely. He has always felt lonely, for as long as he could remember. 

The problem was that he never had the luxury to be vulnerable before anyone, he could not show any form of weakness. That had been his life motto since he lost everything and he convinced himself that it was working for him. 

Nevertheless, since Jasmine Calvin stepped into his life everything has changed. People say finding your mate brings a sense of completeness but it can also make you go crazy or do crazy things. 

He witnessed the good parts of having a mate as he watched his parents live the perfect life, at least in his eyes. They were each other's mate and for as long as he could remember they were always together, loving each other till death. 

They always had this spark in their eyes when they looked at each other and he wondered if he could have something like that with Jasmine. He wanted to have something like that with her. 

"I'm a lonely man with expectations I fear I could never fulfill and it haunts me everyday," he confessed to her. 

Jasmine was not expecting such a sincere revelation. It took her a few seconds to assimilate what he said and what it meant to the both of them. Just when she thought he could not surprise her more than he already had, he just had to go ahead and drop something like this on her. 

There was an awkward silence between them, the first of its kind. Jasmine didn't like to keep quiet, she liked to talk, it helped her forget about all the horrible thoughts going through her mind. However at this moment she was in a serious dilemma. 

Yes, her main purpose being here was to get as much valuable information from him, something scandalous that would fetch a pretty sum. He was rich, handsome, an absolute gentleman but he was alone. 

Well the whole world knew he was either alone or secretly dating, but she didn't know that he could be weighed down by loneliness so much that it was the first thing that came to his mind when he thought about himself. 

She knew he was being honest with her, call it a gut feeling or years of having to read people for survival, but she knew he wasn't lying. 

Still, why was he being so honest with her?! It just didn't add up to her. Maybe he thinks getting pity from her would make it easier to get into her pants…. No that can't be it. He didn't have to try so hard if that was what he wanted, not when she was so openly flirting with him. Also he did not look like someone that could do that. 

Still the million dollar question was yet to be answered. Why was he being so honest? 

Jason could see that she was having a hard time processing what he just told her and naturally he felt bad. He gave himself a mental note not to be so straightforward with her next time. 

People have often told him that he was brutally honest, but he didn't see the point in beating around the bush or being unusually vague when the essence of a conversation is to disclose your intentions for effective comprehension. 

Still, now he wished he had listened to them, maybe that would make talking with Jasmine easier. She seemed to be very shrewd, especially with words and he hoped he could communicate at her level. 

"I'm sorry, was that too much information?" He asked when it seemed that she was not going to say anything. 

"No, no, it just took me off guard for a moment, sorry that I made it awkward," she said. 

"I should be the one apologizing for just blurting out words without considering you," he tried to explain. 

"No, I'm glad you did, I'm glad you were honest with me. I just don't know what to say or how to reply, you see I'm not used to…being there for someone," she told him. 

He guessed that much. She seemed like a very independent lady. One who had lived on her own for a while, he could sense things like these. 

He wondered if she was single. She acted like she was but he still had not directly asked her that question. It was only right that he did, even if he was almost certain of the reply. However, now did not seem like the proper time to ask such a question. 

"You don't have to say anything, I just don't want to hide anything for you," he said. 

All Jasmine could think about was how hard he was making it not to fall for him! She couldn't fall in love, she couldn't grow a conscience, she was here for business. 

Still she wanted to scream, why?! Why was he this vulnerable with her? Why was making it so hard for her to be the bad person here?! 

She just simply nodded, afraid her voice may fail her or that her facade might fade away. So she chose to say nothing at all. 

They were already back at the company building entrance and as usual, he held the door for her. Always the gentleman. 

Claire was looking perky behind the counter as she welcomed them back. Jasmine gave her a beautiful smile and a lovely hello even though her head was in a mess because of a certain billionaire boss. 

They both got on the elevator to the top floor in silence. This silence was a little bit different from the previous one, but it was far from a comfortable silence. 

Somehow, she had to break the ice. She wouldn't be selling any juicy story if she didn't act the part right. 

"I had a nice time today, thanks for lunch," she said as she stepped off the elevator with her signature smile. 

"Me too," he told her. 

She headed to her desk and just as Jason was about to enter his office he turned back. He just could not let things be like this. Not when he wanted more. 

"Erm… I was wondering if you would be free for dinner sometime, nothing fancy though," he suggested. 

"Sure, I'd love that," she replied. 

"Alright, how about tomorrow? Say 8pm" He asked. 

"Alright Jason," she agreed with a smile. 

"Okay, it's a date," he said with a chuckle as he turned back and walked into his office. 

However, the smile quickly left his face as he saw Nathan, comfortably sitting in his office with his back to him. This brought him back to reality in an instant. 

While he was with Jasmine he almost forgot that there was a war ahead and a bloodthirsty werewolf out to get him.  

"Why are you here Nathan?" He asked as he walked into his office. 

His brother suddenly turned around, as if he didn't know he was back all this while. He had a mischievous grin plastered on his face. He was sure he heard the conversation he just had with Jasmine but he didn't have time for Nathan's games. 

"Welcome back brother! I'm sure you had a nice lunch!" He exclaimed with a wink and a little too much emphasis on the "nice lunch". 

Gosh, Nathan was never going to let this go!