Chapter 1

Jasmine

“I need you to sleep with my wife so that I can find an excuse to divorce her.” Jeff, my husband’s cold voice sent chills in my body.

“Are you sure you want to sell her to me? It’s going to cost you a fortune? “A strange voice asked and my chest tightened with sadness. My own husband hasn’t touched me ever since we got married and now, he wants to strip me off the little dignity I still had.

 “Name your price. She cheated her way into my life and I am tired of seeing her ugly face. Bring me the evidence of her infidelity and you’ll be well compensated. “Jeff’s words broke my heart into little pieces.

I stood rooted on my spot as I listened to my husband’s phone conversation.  My body froze and my eyes clouded with tears. I couldn’t believe that my husband of five years was ready to dispose me like trash. All these years I’ve just been like a dog wagging her tail, waiting for a bone to be thrown at her.

 I have endured his coldness in the hope that I would earn his love. I knew that he never loved me, but somehow, I believed that if I tried harder, if I loved harder, his heart will melt for me.

Now this?

 I didn’t wait to hear any more of his hurtful words. I stormed out of the house and in to the dark cold night. I was frozen to the bones and my fingers started becoming numb. It just dawned on me that the five years of sacrifice was worth nothing and that he’d never created space for me in his heart.

Why was I this naïve?

A few minutes later, I was seated in the loudest club in town with dark clouds hanging over my head. I was usually a calm person but now my chest heaved as I felt the raging storm inside of me.

It never occurred to me that one day, I would find myself in the middle of this madness but I needed a distraction, to forget what a worthless life I’ve been living.

 I never attempted even a single sip of alcohol in my entire life. Between working and taking care of my husband, I didn’t have much time to spare for my own social life.

“Bar man, I need the strongest drink you have.”

“Can you handle a whiskey?” he asked with a sly smile and I rolled my eyes.

 I had just taken one sip of my drink when I saw someone make his way in to the club. The moment froze before my eyes, it was like everything came in to a standstill.

 His aura and the power that he wielded just made him untouchable. His face was ice cold as he scanned the room, eyes sharp like an eagle, piercing straight in to my soul.

 Our eyes met and I instantly recognized him. He was none other than my husband’s best friend who couldn’t stand my guts. The same man who never even spared a greeting towards me.  Whenever we were together in the same room, he would look at me like an annoying fly.

“Oliver…” I whispered, my voice trailed away as I tried to look for a perfect hideout.

I hid myself under the table. My heart threatened to bust out of my chest, breathing became difficult as the dust down on the floor mixed with the mold chocked me with their musty smell.

Panic shot in to my body, crippling my senses as I tried to hold my breathe so that I wouldn’t make a sound. I didn’t expect to run in to someone that I knew.

“Every one out of the club.” I heard his voice as   he growled. People quickly fled the club leaving only the two of us. A deep unsettling silence followed soon after.

 If I said that I was terrified, then that was an understatement. This man was scary. I never liked his guts and I never wanted to be left alone with him. I wished that the ground would break up and swallow me alive.

 I have never prayed for a miracle to happen in my life like I did at that moment.

“Jasmine, you can come out now “his deep voice cut through the air and I had no option but to show my face.

 I didn’t dare look into his eyes. How could I when I never did in the past? I don’t know what it was about him that always took my breath away. Him standing, towering over me made me feel small, like an ant he can trample on. I was practically trembling like a scared little puppy.

 I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, my mind suddenly became blank. I just remained silent with my head lowered.

“What the hell are you doing here? Does Jeff know that you are in this place?”  he asked, his voice low as his eyes flashed with anger.

 How was I supposed to answer this question?

I simply kept quiet.

“Alright, it doesn’t matter. You’re coming with me.” He instructed and then held my hands. I flinched at the feel of his touch but he didn’t let go. My legs became weak and I just found myself following him.

God, I didn’t know what the hell I was thinking at that moment.

 This was a man who couldn’t stand my sight. why the hell was he dragging me along with him? And why the hell hasn’t he made that call to my husband? I was really baffled. My head hurt as I tried to make sense of his actions.

 Jeff and Oliver were childhood best friends. They shared practically everything in life. I knew that they would never betray each other and the last thing I wanted to do was to come in between them.

 A moment later, we were seated in his hotel room.  He poured two glasses of drinks and handed me one. I took it and down it in one go. It burned on my throat but it did not compare to the nervousness that was coursing through my system.

 Today had been unfolding like a bad nightmare. My husband was planning to sell me to one of his goons and now I was in a hotel room with his hot best friend, the very man who hated me the most in the world.

“Oliver, I’m sorry. Please don’t tell Jeff that you saw me in the club. He will go nuts on me. “I mumbled, my voice low that it was barely audible.  I didn’t even know where I got the guts to talk to him.

 A long silence stretched between us as he glared at me keenly, his sparkling blue eyes peering into my skin like a sharp needle.

“Did he hurt you this much? What did you intend on achieving by coming to such a place? “He finally asked as he sipped his drink, his jaws tightened and his Adams apple moved as he swallowed.

 I didn’t want to look but the scene was just too tempting and forbidden, something that I knew would lead me in the wrong path.

“It’s my fault. I never should have forced myself in to his life but I really loved him. I fought so hard to fit into the woman that he wanted but he never considered me even for a single second. It hurts so much! It fucking hurts so much that he wants another man to have my body just because he wants an excuse to divorce me.” My voice cracked with tears as I stared at the man before me.

“I tried to be better. I really tried to be good. what more did he want from me? “ I asked and then shrugged my shoulders  “ Why  am I even telling you all this . You are the last person that want to hear my bullshit.”

His jaws tightened as he whispered “He didn’t deserve you. You were supposed to be mine.”