Six

Liam could see the debate going on in her head as he stared into her eyes. He also wanted to spend more time with her and wished that as a result of some miracle, she would agree to go with him.

Staring into Liam's eyes and soaking in his facial features made Jasmine know that she wouldn't be able to make a wise decision, so she removed her gaze from his face. Looking down, she said. "That would be very nice, but I really need to get to work. I haven't been in for a couple of days and as nice as my boss is, there is only so much a person can take."

When she had finished talking, she raised her head and looked into his sad and disappointed eyes. She had been told that she knew how to decipher a person's feeling by a simple glance, it didn't come as surprise to her after all, every emotion felt by a human being was projected through their eyes and Jasmine had learned quickly to study the eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Liam," she said as she stretched her hands out and stroked his arm.

"Hey, it's okay." Liam smiled and placed his hand on hers. He looked into her eyes and was happy when she couldn't stop staring at him as well. Jasmine could feel her heart beating faster than she had ever imagined it would, she felt fulfilled and safe just by staring at him. And it scared her.

Jasmine cleared her throat softly, as she gently removed her hand from under his. "I should get going."

"Yeah, I should too." Liam's voice was low as he spoke. "But can I see you this afternoon? Maybe we could do lunch and I'll take you out for a proper date?" He asked hopefully.

"I would love that," Jasmine smiled as she responded.

"Okay, so I'll pick you up around 2 pm?"

"That is perfect." She could no longer hide the red mark that threatened to burn her face and neither could Liam. She got out of the car and smiled as she walked to down the street that led to her office. Heaving a sigh, Liam turned on his car, sat, and watched as Jasmine walked away from his view, and then he drove off.

He was so excited he felt his heart would burst from the joy he was feeling. He was going to have a date with the beautiful Jasmine and he had to make it perfect. He started racking his head around the most elegant restaurants that he would take her to. He needed to call his secretary, the woman knew all the exquisite places in town. She was free-spirited and had enough knowledge on how to wow a woman. But before that, he needed to keep his promise to Alex.

***

Liam swerved back into the compound he had been in before and something about it felt different. The air wasn't cooler and trees didn't sway as beautifully as they did before. He knew that it wasn't the environment's fault. Everything was different because Jasmine wasn't with him. Getting out of the car, he jumped excitedly on the stairs and knocked on the red oak door. He waited silently for a few seconds and got no response. He repeated the action and was met with the same silence. Taking out his phone, he placed a call to Alex.

"Alex, good morning," he said immediately his cousin picked up the call.

"Liam, what's up? Did you find her?" From the tone of his voice, Liam could tell that Alex had been sitting on a chair waiting restlessly for his phone to ring.

"No man, she ain't here."

"Did you ask the neighbors?"

"You know what?" Liam said as he looked around hoping to see anybody that he could get information from. "I can't see anyone, man."

"That's because you are standing in front of her building. Go around to the back, her neighbor leaves there." Liam could imagine Alex making directions with his hands. He always did that when he’s restless.

"Okay, I'll call you back. Don't leave your phone."

"I won't." And Liam knew that he won't. His curiosity about who the mystery girl is to Alex kept on increasing but he, again, decided to wait a little while before asking him. He placed his phone in his suit pocket, jogged down the stairs, and walked to the back of the building. When Liam had finally found a door, he knocked on it softly. After having gotten no response, he was about to leave when he decided to knock again. A few seconds later, an elderly woman walked out of the house and opened the door. She had a pleasant, friendly smile with sparkling bright eyes. Her powder-white hair and faded skin indicated to Liam that she was a grandmother who probably had two grandchildren and made the world's best chocolate eclair dessert.

"Good morning, ma'am," Liam greeted with a slight bow.

"Good morning, handsome. How may I help you?" She said as she steadies her contoured hands on her hips.

"I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about the woman that lives in the other apartment."

"Oh, is that so? Let me call my daughter for you then, she owns this apartment. I'm just visiting." The woman said as she opened the door and screamed out her daughter's name. "Becky! Becky, come out here. There is a fine gentleman who wants to ask you a few questions about your neighbor."

The woman was at the door within a matter of seconds. "Mom, you know you shouldn't be yelling. The doctor has warned you against that severally." She took an authoritative yet caring stand over her mother.

"Oh, will you forget about that and just attend to the fine man?" The woman grunted as she stepped into the house.

"I'm sorry," Becky said when she finally tore her eyes away from the retreating image of her mother and focused on Liam. She stretched forth her hand for a shake, "Hi, I'm Becky."

Liam took her hand in his. "I'm Liam. I'm sorry to bother you but I just want to ask a few questions about your neighbor. Can you tell me if she traveled because I have been here a couple of times in search of her," Liam said as he tucked his hand back into his pocket and looked intently at the red-haired girl with baby teeth, almond eyes, small round lips, and a long-pointed nose.

"Oh, I'm sorry but she doesn't live here anymore."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She moved out a few nights ago."

"Do you know why?"

"No, I have no idea."

"Okay, thank you," Liam said as he watched Becky go back inside. Taking out his phone, he placed a call to Alexander.

"Yes?" Alex wasted no time in picking up the call and Liam wasn't at all surprised.

"Well, I asked her neighbor, Becky, and she said Ivy moved a few nights ago."

"Damn it!" Alex swore. The situation was making him very tensed. He could feel his pulse rising and his pupils were beginning to dilate. "Can you ask her where she moved to?"

"Okay, hang on." Liam knocked on the door whilst still on the phone with Alex. A few seconds later, Becky opened up.

"Yes?" She said as she poked her head through the door.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but do you have any idea where she must have relocated to?"

"No, I don't. And if you would excuse me, I have some work to do inside. Have a lovely day," Becky said as she shut the door without waiting for a response from Liam who wasn't surprised at her actions. He was, after all, disturbing her peace.

"Well, you heard it yourself. She doesn't know where she moved to."

"Okay." Alex took a pause, contemplating his next words and hoping that Liam won't get upset by them but he had to say it. He was desperate for any information about Ivy and Liam was the only way he could get it. "Can I give you the address of her office to go check it out for me?"

"Okay, Alex, I gotta ask. Who is this girl?" Liam was puzzled after he had gotten fed up with keeping it in.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Liam," Alex said as he took a deep breath. "She is my girlfriend and I haven't been able to contact her for a while now."

"Oh really? I didn't know you had a girlfriend," Liam said. Alex didn't strike him as a person to commit to one woman and he would have never guessed, even in his wildest dreams.

"Well I do and I know it coming as a shock to you, but we can talk about that later. Right now, I need you to go to her office. It's on...."

"Hello? Hello? Alex, I can't hear what you're saying. Hello?" Liam asked as he removed the phone from his ear and saw that the call was still connected. After having listened intently and still not hearing a word, he ended the call.

****

Jasmine was lost in her world of imaginary happiness that she didn't notice any of her co-workers that greeted her. She walked straight to her office and twirled her chair around as she sat down.

She wasn't given enough time to soak in her newfound happiness because a co-worker came into her office.

"Jasmine?"

"Yeah," she said as she tore her eyes away from the ceiling and stared into her co-worker's face.

"The boss wants to see you."

"Do you know why?"

"Nope," the lady said as she left her office. Jasmine stood up from her seat, arranged her clothes, and walked into her boss's office.

Knocking slightly on the door, she spoke. "Miss. Laura, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Jasmine, come in," the woman said as she lifted her eyes from the documents she appeared to be engrossed in. When Jasmine was settled, she asked with concerned eyes. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah ma. Thank you for asking."

"Well, that's good. I'm afraid I have bad news, Jasmine. I'm afraid I'm going to have to let you go."

Jasmine sat up on her chair, looked intently at her boss, and wished that she didn't hear her correctly. She could hear her heart begin to pound and she was sure that she would have a heart attack. "I'm sorry ma. What did you say?"

"I said you're fired, Jasmine. I'm so sorry."

Jasmine sat frozen on her chair, racking her brain to figure out whom she had offended and came up with no answer.