Chapter Seven #2
Almost as though he could hear her thoughts, Emilio’s hold around her waist tightened fractionally. The power in his body undeniably a comfort.
‘When did this happen?’ Richard demanded, as if he had any right to ask. As if he hadn’t been the one sleeping with her best friend for months prior to their wedding.
How should she answer, in any case? Should she tell the truth or should she be vague? They were supposedly engaged, but she didn’t have a ring on her finger. She settled on saying exactly what she felt. ‘You don’t get to ask me that.’
‘Jasmine, can’t we at least be civil?’ Zara asked pleadingly.
The nerve!
‘No,’ Emilio said. ‘I suggest you leave, and I strongly urge you to reconsider any thoughts about coming back here.’
Jasmine was certain that tone had most of the world bowing to Emilio’s demands. And it looked as if Richard and Zara were no exception.
Before the pair had even had a chance to turn and walk away, Emilio’s focus was on her. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
‘I am,’ Jasmine said softly.
And then he leaned down and kissed her. And, just like the first time, the moment their lips met she was consumed. Transported away from this place or time. She existed only in this plane where Emilio granted her pleasure, and she pressed her body to his, wanting more.
This is why you don’t want to be physical with him.
But there was a battle within her between what she wanted and what she needed .
The problem was that she couldn’t tell which was which.
It was only the band of Emilio’s arm dropping away that made her finally put some space between them, force herself to step back.
As she did so, she spotted Richard’s car driving by. Both he and Zara were watching her.
‘Let them look.’
How did Emilio keep reading her mind?
‘I will be back this evening to take you home,’ he said.
‘You know I can get myself home. I’ve been doing so for years.’ The hint of annoyance audible in her voice was welcome. It made her feel more like herself, less shaken from the interaction with her ex.
‘I know you can, but we will have a few things to discuss. I’ll see you later.’
Jasmine didn’t respond. There was no point.
She walked away, feeling utterly conflicted.
She didn’t have anyone in her life who came to her aid quite like Emilio just had.
While it felt good to be part of someone’s team, she was also royally irritated that she had liked leaning on him.
And why must he make her body come alive with the simplest touch?
Her mood didn’t improve much throughout the day, because Emilio was never far from her mind. And, while her office was usually a great escape, he had been there too. There was no reprieve!
When she finally left the office that night, she found Emilio’s Maybach parked out front. This time it was his driver who held the door open.
‘Thank you…?’
‘James, ma’am.’
‘Thank you, James.’ She gave him a small smile and entered the car, where Emilio was seated with a velvet box in his hand. She settled in the seat, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
That didn’t help. The space smelled like him. Like his light, airy cologne. It made her think of vast oceans and open meadows—a tranquil scent. Ironic, because that was far from the effect he had on her.
‘What? No “hello”?’ he teased.
‘Please, Emilio, I’m not in the mood.’
‘Very well.’ She heard the snap of a box which had her opening her eyes. ‘Give me your hand. This morning made me realise that my fiancée cannot be without a ring.’
They must have been thinking the same thing during the altercation with Richard and Zara: a ring would make it so much easier to explain their relationship.
She pulled her hand back to examine the jewel in the light.
She had never quite seen anything like it; the emerald-cut stone changed colour between a bluish green and a purplish red.
Little sparkling diamonds were set around it and all along the platinum band.
It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen, and she couldn’t help but think that it looked so much better on her finger than the one that had sat there previously.
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘I’m glad you like it,’ Emilio said, and she believed him. ‘You should know, my team will be taking care of the paperwork, and we will appear together to get the marriage licence. Thereafter, a court judge can marry us.’
‘A court judge?’ And the moment was gone.
‘Is that a problem?’
Jasmine didn’t answer. She looked out of the window at the city passing by, trying to make sense of her thoughts.
Before Emilio had come along, she had planned a wedding, a beautiful ceremony.
She’d got so close to walking down the aisle.
She’d wanted her mother there—she would have been the one to give Jasmine away.
But it had never happened. She’d been denied.
She still wanted that. Even if this marriage was nothing but a union of convenience for the sake of their child, Jasmine didn’t want to give up that dream.
‘I want a wedding,’ she said calmly.
‘We don’t have time for that, Jasmine,’ he replied, matching her tone. ‘There is no need.’
‘It’s not that important. We can get married in the court house, for all it matters.’
She didn’t want to marry another Richard. This morning the two men had been like night and day, but right now Emilio sounded so much like him. It made her determined not to give an inch.
‘We either have a wedding or we don’t get married at all,’ she said defiantly, staring him down. ‘What is the basis of your opposition?’
She noticed a flash of emotion in his eyes before he swallowed, but she couldn’t decipher it.
‘Time.’
‘That’s easily fixed. I can arrange it. You simply have to be there.’
‘No.’
‘Emilio . ’
‘Fine. I will take care of it, Jasmine. I give you my word. You will have your wedding. And, once it is done, you will move in with me.’
Her rage flared again. ‘Don’t you pull this alpha bullshit on me!
You don’t get to dictate to me, Emilio. If you want to have a discussion, I will be willing to listen, but I will not obey.
I won’t leave my home because you ordered me to.
Besides, I don’t even know where you live.
It could be some dark lair, for all I know. ’
‘I will not be living in some frilly townhouse either.’
‘Where do you get off—?’ Jasmine stopped herself before she could burst an artery and took a deep breath, and then another, until she could trust herself to speak calmly. ‘This marriage is never going to work if we are both unwilling to compromise.’
The car came to a stop, and she saw that they were outside her home. She grabbed the handle and opened the door before Emilio could react, internally celebrating at the unhappy look on his face.
‘Think on it.’
She closed the door and walked away. It would be interesting to see if he could compromise at all.