chapter 5

Chapter 5: could he really resist her?

Barbara’s eyes widened as she rose from her seat almost jumping . “Security! Now!” she called sharply, panic in her voice.

Alex’s hand shot up, stopping her. “No need,” he said smoothly, his voice calm but carrying a dangerous undertone. “I’ll handle this.” and with that he got up and shoved the woman outside the room.

Jasmine, drenched and fuming, hadn’t moved. Her father’s eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you get out of the way, Jasmine?” he barked.

She didn’t flinch. She just glared at him, letting the silence hang heavy between them. he just had a way of finding fault in everything she did.

Then, almost imperceptibly, a smile curved her lips. She smoothed her wine-stained dress and turned to Barbara.

“I should apologize. I think it’s best if I take myleave.

Barbara blinked, then nodded, quickly regaining her composure. “Of course, dear. Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Jasmine said firmly, her gaze flicking toward her father, who gave nothing away.

Tony cleared his throat. “The wedding… it’s a week from now,” he said casually, as if mentioning the sun might be less shocking.

Jasmine froze in shock but masked it immediately with a polite,smile disguised carefully. “A week?” she murmured. Then she met Barbara’s expectant gaze. “Well, that gives us time. Perhaps we can spend more time together… maybe while planning the wedding.”

Barbara’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be wonderful!” she exclaimed, delighted. " and pls call me mother".

Jasmine inclined her head. “Of course, Mother.”

She stepped away from the table with quiet control, heels clicking steadily across the floor.

She turned the corner—and nearly ran straight into Alex and the same woman from before

The woman’s voice was tight, angry. “Alex, why are you marrying someone else?”

His eyes shifted to her, cool as ice. “Cynthia. What we had was never defined. I’m not interested in commitment. And you know better than to have interrupted a family dinner.”

Cynthia’s chin lifted. “If you’re not ready for commitment, why get married at all?”

He let out a short, controlled sigh. “It’s a contract.”

She stepped closer, undeterred. “i wouldn't have cared if it was a contract of not baby,I just want to be with you.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. “Stop talking nonsense. You would never agree to sign the divorce papers.”

He signaled someone nearby. “Escort her out,” he said quietly. His gaze landed on Jasmine for just a moment, sharp and calculating.

Jasmine froze, heart hammering, as she realized just how tangled everything was about to become.

His gaze didn’t leave hers for a second as he walked up to her.

“I’m sorry that happened,” he said.

Jasmine nodded, trying to avoid eye contact. His stare was too direct, too focused, making her uneasy.

She could still hear the woman struggling, resisting as the men tried their best to lead her out without being too forceful.

“Let me take you home,” Alex said, his gaze still locked on her. It confused and made her nervous.

“There’s no need, Alex. I’m pretty sure George is waiting for me outside, and I have clean clothes in the car. I’ll just ask him to step out for a bit so I can change.”

“Very well,” Alex said with. sign,a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Please call me if you need anything.”

Jasmine could have sworn she saw a flicker of care in his usually cold, demanding eyes. She nodded and left, feeling a bit embarrassed. She thought over the woman's conversation with alex —and now she was certain about Alex being obsessed with women.

Her head was spinnin and something in her whispered, that this was only the start. Enemies would come with the role she’d taken—wife to a man like him, even if it was just on paper.

She didn’t want to go home. She wanted to be with the one person she had always felt safe with. When she got out, she didn’t find George, and she didn’t try. She quickly hailed a taxi and went straight to the hospital, not bothering to change.

All she could think about on the way there was one terrible question:

How was she supposed to tell her mother she was getting married in a week… to a man she hardly knew?

At the hospital, the receptionist sat behind the desk, chewing gum nonchalantly,with a bored expression Jasmine used to jokingly call “bitch-face syndrome” back in college.

“Hi,” Jasmine said softly. “I’m here to see my mom—Maria Hayes.”

The receptionist looked up. Her expression stayed sharp, but her tone was surprisingly respectful. She explained that the doctor had been waiting earlier but had to leave—and that Maria had slipped into a coma.

Jasmine went cold. Her vision swam, She felt the urge to vomit but forced herself to stay upright. Shaking, She forced herself into a chair before her knees gave out. Everything inside her lurched at once.

In that moment, she was absurdly grateful for the contract. The hospital bills were piling up, and with student loans still unpaid, and several other debts, she needed every bit of financial support. She didn’t have room to fall apart.

She would cope. She always had.

~~~~~~~~~

“Ten million dollars? Isn’t that a bit much, Alex? I mean… some women would do it for free just to be married to you.”

Alex chuckled at his friend’s reaction. He and Jason had been friends since they were five; Jason was basically the only person he trusted.

“I did a little research on her,” Alex said. “She needs the money. And besides…” He took another sip of his whiskey. “Unlike the others, she has no interest in me.”

“Yet,” Jason smirked, making Alex laugh.

“Trust me, Jason. It’s better this way. She’s doing this for the money, which makes her controllable. She’s already signed the papers. Those other women would never agree to sign the divorce papers—I’d be stuck with them.” The thought disgusted him.

Jason shook his head, positioning the stick on the pool table. “If you say so, Alex, but we both know you have a thing for women. Can you really stay under the same roof and not touch her?”

The question stung more than Alex wanted to admit. He forced a smile. “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

Jason smiled, pouring himself another whiskey. “Good luck, then. I can’t wait to meet her.”

Alex took another sip of his whiskey and forced a smile as he returned to the game. But his mind was elsewhere, wandering back to Jasmine. Had he made the right decision?. he wasn't sure what he found more unsettling —finding her attractive or actually questioning whether he could keep the rule he had set—was something he couldn’t yet answer. Could he really resist her?