14. Alec
Chapter fourteen
Alec
Something is wrong. That’s the first thing I think when I burst into Riley’s house. Something is wrong.
Riley and Jasmine are standing a few feet away, their arms around each other, and to my distress, I realize that Jasmine’s face is wet with tears.
The siblings stare wordlessly at me, and in both their eyes, I see disappointment. My heart starts to beat slowly and despondently in my chest.
“Jasmine…” I dash towards her, but she holds out her arm to stop me.
“Don’t come close.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my face melting into a frown. “Have you been crying?”
I reach for her again, but Riley blocks my view by standing protectively before Jasmine. As far as I know, he doesn’t know Jasmine and I are an item, but it feels like a lot has happened in this room before I came in.
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?”
“No, you tell me.” Riley nods. “Alec of Ace Corps.”
My mouth falls open with shock, and it feels like a bucket of ice water has been dumped over my head. I stare at Riley and Jasmine, finally understanding the disappointment in their eyes.
“I can explain.”
I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. For a few seconds, I struggle to get past the ball of cotton in my mouth, and the siblings simply stare at me.
“I can’t do this,” Jasmine says, stepping out from behind Riley and walking to the door.
“Jasmine!” I grab her arm, but she pushes me away.
“Leave me alone!”
“Jasmine, please, I can explain. I swear to you.”
“I don’t care,” she says, her eyes shining with seriousness. “I don’t want to speak to you ever again!” She walks out of the door.
I watch her go for a few seconds before dashing after her. I’m almost at the door when someone clears their throat, and I turn to see Riley squinting at me. Across the distance, we study each other, and in the corner of my mind, I’m aware that the more I delay, the farther Jasmine walks away.
Still, I’m held captive by Riley’s stare. In a split moment, I choose to stay and talk to Riley before going after Jasmine. He’s her brother, and something tells me he’s the one I have to convince if Jasmine would give me a chance.
“Riley…” I walk toward him. “I’m sorry.”
“That doesn’t begin to cut it,” he says.
“I know. How’d you find out?”
“On TV,” Riley says. “You were on a date with Eve Sicily.”
My heart explodes. “Fuck! Jasmine saw that?”
“How come you’re dating my sister without thinking to tell me first?” Riley asks, his eyes flashing with anger. “
“I wanted to. She wouldn’t let me.” I shake my head.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Ace Corps?”
I’m having a whiplash at how fast Riley is flitting between different topics, but I understand that this is all too much for him, and he’s trying to make sense of it.
“There’s no valid excuse, Riley. I swear I meant to tell you, but I was scared about how you would react, so I kept postponing it.” I pace the living room. “My life here in New York and back in France is completely different, and I try as much as possible not to spill anything over from both worlds. Here, in New York, I’m happiest.”
“Why? ”
“Because there’s no family responsibility,” I sigh. “Don’t get me wrong, I understand the weight on my shoulders and am willing to bear it, but I don’t have to like it. I was raised like an heir, never had friends, and never attended parties, until I came to NYU and met you. You were the first person to ever treat me like a normal person, and I was scared that if I told you who I was, things between us would change.”
“Like hell, it would.” Riley rolls his eyes. “Nothing would have changed our friendship, Alec. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. We’re friends, and that's the only thing that matters.”
“I’m sorry, Riley. I really am.”
Riley stares at me for a few seconds before shrugging. “What’s with you and Jasmine?”
At the mention of her name, my heart constricts. “I love your sister, Riley. I love her so much. I’m not going to hurt her. I promise you.”
“You already did,” Riley frowns. “Who is the lady you were on a date with?”
I release a deep breath, regretting that I even agreed to go on that date with Eve in the first place. “Remember the family responsibilities I told you earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Eve is a major example.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve been betrothed to each other since we were little.”
“What? They still do that?”
“You’ll be surprised at the many archaic practices the rich still dabble in,” I scoff. “Anyways, my family expects that I marry Eve to strengthen our alliances and merge the Sicilian and Ace corporations.”
“Then what do you want with Jasmine?” All traces of laughter disappear from Riley’s eyes. “This sounds like too much trouble.”
“It is, but I don’t love Eve, and I won’t marry her. I love Jasmine. She’s the one I want to be with.”
“Your family would not accept her,” Riley says, and I’m shocked by how close to the truth he is.
“At the end of the day, my family cannot dictate the decisions I make for my happiness. After the date, I broke it off with Eve.” I walk towards Riley, stopping a few feet away from him.
“Riley, I promise that I’ll never hurt Jasmine. You can trust me with her. She means the world to me, and I’ll fight everything—even my family—to ensure we end up together. I promise.”
For a moment, Riley doesn’t speak. Then, he balls his hand into a fist and punches me across the face. I stagger back, my hand touching my nose where blood is trickling out. I look up to see Riley smirking at him.
“That’s for making Jasmine cry,” he says. “Don’t do it again.”
“I deserve that.” I nod, wiping off the blood. “Any idea where she must have gone?”
“Ana’s house,” Riley says, and I rush out .
Damien is waiting downstairs in the car, and his eyes narrow when he sees my bloody nose. “What happened?”
“Riley.” I shut the door behind me. “Drive. We’re going to Ana’s house.”
Damien pulls the car onto the road with a disapproving look on his face. “Why did Riley hit you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shuffle through the glove compartment for some tissues and wipe the blood trailing from my nose.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Damien asks.
“What are you talking about?” I glance at him.
“Your relationship with Jasmine,” he says. “It’s taking a lot from you.”
“Excuse me.”
“Your family has just cut you off, Alec. You don’t seem to be too worried about that.”
“They cannot cut me off, Damien. You, of all people, should know better.”
“You underestimate your mother.”
Somehow, I am not bothered about being cut off from my family. If they would rather not see me again than consider my happiness, that is their choice.
“I want to be with Jasmine.” I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. “I don’t care what my family says. She’s the one I want. ”
Damien sighs. “Are you thinking about Jasmine, though?”
“What?”
“Jasmine, are you thinking about her?”
“What do you mean?”
“Because this isn’t about you alone,” Damien says. “It’s about you and Jasmine. Your family may not cut you off, but they’re going to make Jasmine’s life a living hell. Especially your mother. It would be best if you thought about this well. If you love Jasmine, you’ll let her go.”
Damien’s words hang in the air between us like a heavy shroud. He’s right about my mother making Jasmine’s life hell, but that’ll only happen if I let it. Everyone is underestimating how hard I’m willing to go for Jasmine. For years, I’ve lived by all my family’s rules, but not this one. When it comes to my happiness, there will be no compromises.
I lean against the seat, my body thrumming with impatience as we near Ana’s house. The mental image of Jasmine’s teary face tortures me, and I cannot wait to have her in my arms and assure her that everything will be alright. I can only imagine how she felt seeing Eve and me on a date on TV. I think about Jasmine on a date with another guy, and a flash of discomfort surges in my blood.
Minutes later, Damien pulls the car in front of Ana’s house, and I rush out of the car and head to the front door.