Chapter Two

Jasmin£

Sometimes all it takes is one single realization to make the entire evening come crashing down.

All it took was for me to see a resemblance of my ex in this man standing before me to make my heart go haywire instantly.

As we stood gazing into each other's eyes, me focusing into his honey eyes and his staring into my contact blue ones with a slight frown.

Recognition hit me in full force.

“You..” the word left me before I could comprehend.

“Ace.” I heard a rigid manly voice behind me.

There was a silent tension between us with the voice interruption as I watched him wide-eyed and terrified.

With an arched brow, his eyes followed the shards of glass on the floor and all he did was take a sip of his wine with an unbothered stance.

“It's about time you got here young man.” I heard the unmistakable commanding voice of Chief Linton as I felt him approach us.

My body jolted back from the stare.

I shifted my gaze and took in Mr. Linton stopping , by our sides.

He recognized me standing there too and his face contorted into an instant smile.

“Ah here you are Jasmine. You have…..” 

He paused mid sentence as his eyes dropped to the floor taking in the bits of shattered glass.

He carefully drew me away from the area and ordered one of his guards to fetch a waiter to clean up the mess.

“You have glass at your feet dear.”

Then he started scrutinizing my entire body for any harm. “I hope you are okay.”

I finally found my voice as I nod lightly.

“I'm fine Chief. I just ah didn't notice.” I was still shaking from within as I tried to ignore a very unbothered male, a foot from us.

Do I even look familiar to him too?

Chief nodded, “it's fine dear.”

He gestured towards the man opposite me.

“I see you already met my other son.”

“Your…son?” I stammer as my insides quiver.

“Yes, he is my first son. Ace Linton. He is the CEO and Overall president of our empire, he also founded Ace scent and Ace foots,the brands.” He praised, making me glance at the male before me once again. I found him watching the interaction with a bored expression like these praises were like constant music to his ears.

“Son, meet Jasmine. The famous artist.” He added.

I watched him lower his tumblr to the tray of a passing waitress ever so gracefully before fixing his eyes on me calmly.

I take that time to actually give him a full body scan.

He was more on the honeyed complexion.    Clad in an exquisite three- piece suit, he was also spotting fine Fendi loafers. 

For this formal event, he had forfeited a tie, leaving two of his shirt buttons undone, which gave a sight into the silver curb he was wearing within and a chain with a cross pendant. 

His hair is a luminous dreamy black, layered in stitch braids.Then the honey eyes…

Jesus!

He emitted an air of sophistication and underlying arrogance, since he has refused to utter even a word of greeting to me tonight.

My eyes lingered on him longer. I know Chief was staring expectantly between us.

Finally, he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes roaming the venue, before he finally fixated them on me.

“Jasmine…” he drawled.

“You stare at me like you have seen some sought of ghost.” He voiced in a coarse voice raising his brows in question. 

Because your eyes haunt my dreams…..I wanted to say.

Instead I gulped uncomfortably and shifted my eyes to Chief who had a cheshire grin, watching our exchange and I just gave him a forced smile, shifting my gaze back to Ace.

“Anyways…” We got interrupted.

I watched as a man, probably one of his soldiers walked up to Chief Linton and whispered into his ear.

Chief nodded, and after that I had to watch him walk away with the soldier, after telling me he would be right back and telling Ace they would talk later.

I was suddenly alone with this man and my fear piqued up as I slowly glanced back to him.

He extended a firm hand, “Ace Linton, Top jeweller."                                                              He exuded a composed opulent aura and I realized he was settling for a minimal reintroduction.

I nodded, as I took his hand.

“Jasmine Parklane, Artist.” 

“Hmm..” he voiced in an analytic tone.

“I finally meet with the woman whose voice has captured my father's ears.”

My confidence kicked up.

 I intend to hide my quivering insides from this powerful yet awfully familiar man.

“What can I say? People love my music. My awards can back me up in that” I gave a sly comment as I plastered a fake smirk

I gave him a reminding look, a look that clearly said, you missed my awards mister and I think he caught on.

“Well you see it isn't a small feat when it comes to running a jewelling business, work was unreasonably huge hence I missed your awards.” He said so bluntly, it didn't even come close to an apology.

“I think I can pardon you on that one mister, seeing as money is involved.” I raised my brows as I replied in a reasonable voice.

He smirked, a smirk portraying hidden thoughts. I matched his energy.

He was about to say something else before we witnessed men in suit approach him, from the opening door, leading into this exquisite corridor we were currently at.

One of them,spotting all black and dark sunshades, proceeded to hand him a document. “It's done sir.” He said briefly and I couldn't help but observe the business like manner they operated with.

“Let's go.” He said.

He stopped to give me a smirk. “We should continue this conversation later, Parklane woman?”

I could feel the stares of his guards on us.

“Sure, Linton boy.” I replied in a slick tone, causing his bemused smirk to widen.

And with that, he stormed off with his men following suit.

I let out a shaky breath immediately he was out of my sight.

Grateful for the interruption.

My hand flew to my heart as an overwhelming feeling engulfed me.

Who had I just seen and why did he look so familiar?

I finally came face to face with the famous Linton and realizes he shares visible features with my ex?

Tears prickled at my eyelids as I remembered that for a moment back there, I thought he was my ex.

I found myself escaping to the nearest balcony, just as I heard the venue round up in cheers at the announcement of his arrival.

The night breeze slammed against my skin as I cracked out a sob.

How did my perfect night end up dangling the past in my face once again?

Seeing his face brought back bitter memories.

I clutched the rail tightly as my heart pounded in my chest.

I felt like the entire word was revolving around me as his cruel words echoed in my head.

“Loose girl.”

“I hate you.”

“You were a mistake.”

“Get lost. I never want to see your face ever again.”

“I hate you.”

No no…..I shook my head frantically.

Those words had been a constant torture to me. I always fought to forget them….but all of a sudden, tonight I had allowed them to resurface, all because of…….

No. Maybe I was overthinking.

I stared into the dark night and shook my head.  I wiped the stray tears forcefully.

No. That was in the past.                                  I was a star now….                                                    I was….

“Jasmine?” 

I turned at the hearing of my name from the unmistakeable voice of Chloe.

I saw her watching me with a frown.

“Are you okay? I've been looking for you, you just left the party…” She walked closer.

“Is that tear I see in your eyes?” Her voice turned soft.

I shook my head, wiping my eyes too and masking with a normal look.

Unwilling to engage in such conversation with her on this joyous night, I settled for an excuse.

“I…no. It's tears of joy…no it's actually I'm…I ah the breeze. It's really windy out here you know.”

She was giving me a disbelieving look.

I forced a smile. “The party was crowded, I just wanted some fresh air.”

She inched closer and pulled me into a hug. 

“You could have called me to tag along. I was getting worried looking for you.”

I smiled just as we untangled from the hug.

“No it's fine….I was about coming in anyways.”

“Let's return to the party shall we?” I glanced at the door.

“Are you sure? I thought maybe we could both chill….”

I shook my head. “No. Yes I'm sure. Now come on…” I didn't let her finish as I had started guiding her back to the party.

A loud presence was what I needed now, to rid myself of those bitter memories.

The whole room was vibrant with nightlife music as I kept on placing order upon orders on the most expensive champagnes.

They say kill it before you feel it, and that's exactly what I'm planning to do tonight.

Get high, and get the feelings off me.

“You'll get drunk Jasmine?” Chloe shouted over the loud music, wearing a really concerned look.

“Isn't that the whole point of after party?” I spread my arms in a carefree manner as I brought another shot to my lips.

I gulped it and cringed at the aftertaste.

I swayed my body to the pulsing musical rhythm and tugged Chloe to join me in.

She too went in for the courage. Cringing too after one shot.

I chuckled at her sour expression. 

I tugged at a passing waiter's shirt, “Keep the shots coming.”

I felt so alive and free tonight.                  Fuck my ex and my past.                      Who cares?                                                            I'm a fucking superstar now!

I glanced at Chloe, she was watching me with a smirk, then she nudged me with her chin in her sight direction.

I followed it and found her staring at Ace.

“So what do you think of the hotshot billionaire. I know you've seen him and I've seen you glance his way like four times tonight…” She voiced in a tease tone.

I gave her a ridiculous look. “Oh please, if anything, his presence just makes me wanna take alcohol.”

It was true. He had a resemblance to my ex. Every time he had caught my eye tonight, he made me wanna drink and forget what my ex looked like.

“What?”  

I didn't want to dive into that conversation now and I was glad when my award winning song blasted through the speakers.

“That's my song!” I screamed in overwhelming pleasure and glanced back at Chloe to see her sharing my excited look.

Seconds later, I was singing along to every lyric of my debut song, “Memories on fire.”

Chloe and I sang each lyric to our faces.

 I laughed, I was carefree.

Even in my semi drunk daze, I still wanted to live off the night.

Slowly, the alcohol was starting to take effect and I felt slightly dizzy as everything, everyone suddenly turned blurry.

The last image I saw, before I passed out was of a pair of honey eyes watching me with such intensity, from across the room.