Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
She waited five days.
Not because she hadn’t made up her mind. On the contrary, thirty minutes after Maxwell walked out of her office last week, Jasmine had known what her decision would be, but she had needed time to think and analyze every angle. She hadn’t wanted to be impulsive.
By Saturday, she had confirmed her decision, but on Monday, she halfway talked herself out of it when she saw him.
His presence intimidated her. The look in his eyes, the determination, made her wonder if she was crazy for attempting to handle a man like him.
It would be like trying to wrangle a wild bull with one hand tied behind her back and a blindfold over her eyes. She was sure to get damaged.
Now, here she was on Tuesday morning, confident she knew what the next step would be but worried Maxwell would rebuff her when he heard her terms. If he did, so be it. She refused to move forward without proof he was serious.
Jasmine walked into the reception area with a folder tucked under her arm. The workday was almost over, the waiting room empty, and Keisha was tapping away on her computer.
“I need your opinion,” Keisha said by way of greeting.
“About what?” Jasmine slipped the file she’d been carrying into the second drawer of the cabinet.
“The Bahamas.”
Jasmine walked over and took a look at the hotel on the screen, a property located on a beach with beautiful blue water kissing the sand.
“Marcus and I are planning our anniversary trip to the Bahamas, and he found this gorgeous hotel. It has great amenities and most of the reviews are positive, but the cost is more than we discussed spending. I’m not sure we should spend that much and suggested we find a cheaper hotel. Am I being too frugal?”
Keisha was the one in her marriage who kept track of the money and held the couple to a tight budget.
Jasmine examined the photos. “How much will staying there push you over your budget?”
“Seventy-five dollars a night for the four nights.” She showed her the price. “Of course, it’s our ten-year anniversary, so I’m not mad we’re doing something extra special.”
“Your tenth anniversary is a milestone. Four nights in the Bahamas for that price isn’t unreasonable. I think it’s worth paying a little extra for the experience. I say go for it. Spoil yourself.”
Keisha pursed her lips. “Marcus said something similar.”
“He’s not wrong.”
Her friend looked at the screen, and gradually, her furrowed brow cleared.
“You know what, you’re right. It’s a gorgeous hotel, right on the beach, with lots of amenities.
” She enlarged a picture that showed off the Olympic-sized pool.
“We’re packing in a lot during the time we’re there too.
Taking a cooking class, going to a club to party with the locals, and going water skiing. ”
“Water skiing?” Jasmine asked, surprised.
“I want to try it. Marcus doesn’t want to, but I’m including it in our itinerary. He’ll thank me later.”
Keisha scrolled through more photos and showed Jasmine the bookmarked pages with ideas for their itinerary. She listened and asked questions, genuinely happy for Keisha but preoccupied by the conversation she intended to have with Maxwell before the end of the day.
“All done. We know where we’re staying,” Keisha said, bookmarking the home page of the hotel.
She exhaled with satisfaction. Turning slightly in her chair, she gestured at the corner of the desk, where the Haworthia plant Maxwell had given her on his first day sat in its pot, upright and very much alive.
“Look at my baby, still thriving. Marcus didn’t believe me when I said it was alive, so I had to send him a picture. ”
“I’m proud of you,” Jasmine said.
“Who brings someone a plant on their first day of work? A very specific plant that won’t die at the hands of a plant killer?”
Someone who pays attention, Jasmine thought. Dr. Maxwell Santana.
“He’s something else,” Keisha added with fondness in her voice.
“Dad made a good decision hiring him,” Jasmine said, in her most neutral voice.
Keisha eyed her with interest. “Are you okay? You seem off.”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine. I have a lot on my plate, that’s all.”
“If you need help clearing your plate, let me know.”
“I will, but really, I’m good. I have everything under control.” That’s what she wanted to believe, anyway.
“If you say so.” Keisha swiveled her chair to face the computer. “I’ll have the intake forms entered before I leave today.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”
Sitting behind her desk, Jasmine buckled down and started working. Well after closing, she was a bundle of nerves in anticipation of the conversation. Maxwell’s Range Rover was in the parking lot, but the rest of the cars were gone, which meant she and Maxwell were alone in the building.
Taking a cleansing breath, she walked down to his office and found him writing in his journal, the pen moving swiftly across the page as if he had to get his thoughts down before he forgot them.
She hated to interrupt, but if she didn’t talk to him now, she wasn’t sure she’d have the nerve to do it later.
Before she said a word, he lifted his gaze. Clearing her throat, Jasmine closed the door and faced him. He set down his pen, offering his full attention, which made her more nervous.
“I’ve thought about what you said, and I have an answer. You want me? Prove it.” She kept her eyes level and locked with his.
He leaned back in his chair. “How?”
Feeling more confident, Jasmine moved closer, keeping her voice even.
“I know what kind of man you are, Maxwell. Like I told you, I clocked you the first night we met. The champagne, the charm, the whole production. Since then, I’ve done research on you and your family.
You really downplayed your pedigree. The fact is, you’ve probably had easy access to everything you’ve ever wanted your entire life: money, connections, women.
The only thing you’ve ever had to work for is your residency and career, and both of those came with a safety net not afforded to most people.
“I’m not interested in a wealthy, entitled player who thinks he can get whatever and whoever he wants.
Someone who has probably been careless with women without any real consequences, coasting through life on charm and his family’s last name, slumming it with regular folk for the novelty of something that doesn’t come easy.
” She studied his expressionless face. “If that’s the kind of person you are, tell me now so we don’t waste each other’s time. ”
She had expected him to push back or argue, but he remained perfectly still, absorbing what she had said.
“Is that what you really think about me?” he asked.
“I’m asking you to tell me if I’m wrong.”
“You’re wrong,” he said quietly.
Relief swept through her. Despite her confident air, she hadn’t known what answer he would give.
“In that case, I need something from you before we can move forward. Assuming you’re serious about this thing between us, here’s what I need.
I want you to apologize to the last three women you hurt.
Not women from years ago who’ve already healed.
Leave them alone. I’m talking about recent women who might still be carrying the pain of your betrayal.
You need to give a real apology. Not a half-hearted one just so you can report back that you did what I asked. ”
He looked appalled. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I want you to fully understand what your behavior cost them.”
“Three women?” he asked, his expression bordering on disbelief.
“Three. Oh, and this has to be done in person.”
“In per—” He broke off and stared at her. “How will you know if I did as you asked?”
“I won’t. I’ll have to trust that you’re being honest. It’ll be a test for both of us,” Jasmine said simply.
Maxwell glanced away for a moment, his jawline tightening. “I do this, and then what?”
“I’ll have dinner with you. One dinner. That’s all I’ll commit to for now.”
“What if I can’t find the women?” he asked.
“That’s your problem to solve, but I believe in you. A man with your resources shouldn’t have any problem locating them.”
“What if they don’t want to talk to me?”
“Then you go to the next woman on your list.”
Maxwell remained quiet for a moment. “Why is it so important to you that I apologize to these women? You don’t know them.”
“But I can empathize with them. They’re someone’s daughters. Men like you, Jayson, and Leon, my ex, wreak havoc on women. I want you to reckon with your actions and really understand what you did. Do we have a deal?”
He held her gaze for a long time. She didn’t move, waiting for his answer.
“Okay,” he finally said.
He didn’t try to negotiate or deploy his charm to soften the terms. His answer was simple. Okay. That’s all it took for her to make a deal with a man who could be the next one to break her heart.
“I guess we’re done here.” Jasmine turned to the door.
“Jasmine.”
She faced him.
“What you said about me coasting and having a safety net.” His voice was quiet, without anger or ice. “You’re not entirely wrong about the privilege I’ve had in my life, but you’re not completely right about the type of person I am, either.”
“I look forward to being proven wrong, assuming you do as I asked.”
Jasmine left the building a few minutes later. If Maxwell carried out her request—and she wasn’t 100 percent certain that he would—she had made a promise to him. They could go to dinner.
She didn’t know how to define what was unfolding with him, but she suspected that whatever happened in the coming weeks would be life-changing.