Chapter 5

Jasmine’s POV

The unexpected sound made everyone freeze.

"Who the hell is that?" Caleb barked, turning his fury toward the hallway.

"I will get it," I muttered, using the distraction to take a breath as my heart was pounding in my chest. With a shaky sigh, I walked to the foyer and pulled the door open, but immediately stopped dead in my tracks.

Standing on the porch and looking even more imposing in the morning light was the man from the club. He wore a flawless, custom-tailored dark suit that made him look like royalty, and his sharp blue eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.

"You left without saying goodbye, cupcake," he said in a deep tone as I stared at him, completely speechless.

"How... how did you find me?" I whispered.

"Who is at the door, Jasmine?" Caleb’s angry voice called out. Almost immediately, I heard his heavy footsteps approaching, followed by Emily.

The stranger did not answer me directly as his eyes roamed over my face. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wedding ring.

"You dropped this," he said smoothly, holding it out to me.

My blood ran cold. I must look like the kind of woman who is cheating on her husband. I even left my ring at someone else’s house but that is not what happened at all! What would my husband think of me?

Before I could grab the ring or push him outside, Caleb came into view. He came to a halt beside me, with his eyes widening as he took in the towering man standing on our doorstep.

"Who the hell are you?" Caleb demanded, trying to puff out his chest, but he looked ridiculous.

The stranger shifted his gaze to Caleb, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. He tucked the money back into his pocket and stepped inside boldly without an invitation.

"I am Ryan," he replied. His voice was calm, but it held an edge that made my skin prickle as he looked Caleb up and down with blatant disdain. "And you must be the husband who does not know how to appreciate what he has."

Emily stepped up beside Caleb, with her eyes wide as she took in Ryan's handsome features and commanding aura.

"Jasmine?" Caleb hissed, turning to me with pure rage. "What is this? Who is this man?"

My mind raced frantically. I had assumed he was an escort, but looking at his posture and the sheer authority he radiated, doubt seized me. Yet, I was already trapped in my lie, and if I backed down now, Caleb would crush me.

"I told you already, Caleb," I said, stepping closer to Ryan out of sheer desperation. "This is my boyfriend."

Ryan did not hesitate. Before I could even react, his large, warm hand slid around my waist, pulling me firmly against his side, and then he leaned down and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to my temple.

Caleb looked like he was about to explode.

"She is telling the truth," Ryan said, with his cold blue eyes locking onto Caleb's. "Though boyfriend is such a simple word. Jasmine asked me for a very specific arrangement a few nights ago, and I am here to ensure she gets everything she desires."

"This is my house!" Caleb yelled, with his face turning bright red. "You cannot just walk in here and—"

"I just did," Ryan interrupted smoothly, while looking around the foyer with a bored expression. "And from what I have seen, your hospitality is as lacking as your loyalty."

He turned his attention back to me, with his harsh expression instantly softening.

"We have things to discuss, cupcake. Why don't we go somewhere private?"

Swallowing hard, I looked at Caleb, whose face was contorted in sheer fury, and then at Emily, who looked utterly stunned. Taking a shaky breath, I could only nod.

"Okay."

There was silence as Ryan gently guided me out the front door and down the driveway toward a sleek sports car parked at the curb, and the moment we were out of sight of the house, I pulled away from his grip and turned to face him.

"What are you doing?" I lowered my voice. "Why did you follow me here? And why did you bring my ring here?”

Ryan leaned back against the hood of his car, crossing his broad arms.

"I told you, cupcake, I am simply fulfilling my end of our bargain."

"What bargain?" I shook my head, with confusion clouding my mind. "I thought... I thought you were an escort! I thought I was paying you for a service, so why are you ruining things for me now?!"

An amused laugh escaped Ryan's lips, his blue eyes dancing with humor.

"An escort?" He leaned forward, bringing his face inches from mine. "Is that what you thought I was?"

My face burned with intense heat as I quickly leaned away.

"Do you want me to call you something like “sweetheart”? I don’t flatter male escorts, I’ll just pay you.”

"Alright, Jasmine," Ryan said, with his tone turning smooth and yet cold. "And you offered me a contract. You told me your husband was a cheating bastard who called you boring. You said you wanted to make him bleed with jealousy, and I agreed to help you."

"I was drunk!" I protested, stepping back. "I was not thinking straight! You have to go. If Caleb finds out who you really are—"

"We just told him in front of his face that we are having an affair," Ryan interrupted calmly. "The lie is already out there, Jasmine. You claimed me in front of him, and if I walk away now, he wins, and he goes right back to walking all over you."

I bit my lip, knowing he was right. The look of utter shock and humiliation on Caleb's face when Ryan kissed my temple had been the first taste of justice I had felt in years. It felt too good.

"I know you want this, don’t lie to yourself."

He held out his hand to me, with his posture tall and commanding.

"You want to get him back, don't you?" Ryan asked softly. "I will play the doting lover, I will take you out, and I will make Caleb Ravencroft regret the day he ever made you cry. All you have to do is play along, like we have agreed."

I stared at his outstretched hand, with my heart hammering against my ribs. One look back at the house, I knew getting Ryan’s help was the only option I had left.

With a shaky breath, I reached out and placed my hand in his.

"We have a deal."

Before I could pull away, he looked behind me and his eyes lit up immediately.

“Oh, your husband is coming.” He said with a smirk. “Should we give him a surprise?"

“What surprise?”

“Just like the one we practiced the other night.