Chapter 16
JASMINE
Finished
“Jasmine when did you get home!” Fiona rushes towards me to throw her arms around me in an embrace.
“I missed you, I was so happy when I heard that you were coming home”
My whole body tenses with revulsion. “I see that your display of fake affection in front of Father still hasn’t changed,” I whisper in her ears. Fiona steps backwards from me, her lips still curled in a perfect smile.
Her performance is perfect; no wonder she’s an A–list actress!
I know her very well; right from childhood, she has made my life a hot mess, she is every bit as venomous and cunny as her mother behind closed doors, but each time we have visitors, she alwayspretendsds to be as gentle as a dove towards me.
I hide my contempt beneath my gaze, not wanting to give her any satisfaction. I’ve already promised myself before coming here that I will not allow them to rile me up.
“So, what have you been up to all these years? Why didn’t you call us?” Dad says, his eyes flashing, with guilt. He knows the reason as much as I do, so why bother being in it up?
Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, I have nothing to prove to these people.
A servant walks in, bowing before my father and Petra. “Dinner’s ready.”
“We’ll talk over dinner, then,” Dad says to me.
An uncomfortable silence hangs over the dining table, penetrating into my skin is Petra’s sharp. glare, Fiona does better to hide her emotions.
I eat quietly but not much since I’ve already had dinner with Bruno.
I scoff and nearly roll my eyes when Fiona continues ordering the servants around, as though she is trying to show off that she is the real miss of the household, not me.
“What do you
you do currently?” My Dad asks, probably trying to relieve the obvious tension that masks the whole room.
“I’m working at a perfume company,”
“What position is it?”
I’m a fragrance expert and scent designer,” I say, and my father nods, his eyes gleaming with admiration as he stares at me.
“Not had That takes a lot of skill and talent”
Chapter 16
Finished
I notice the envy burning in Petra’s eyes; she chokes on her food and begins to cough while Fional massages her back and gives her a glass of water.
Petra takes a sip, still glaring at me as though it’s my fault.
“There’s going to be a company anniversary dinner next Friday., I’d like you to attend,” Dad says, causing both Petra and Fiona to gasp, their hateful gaze slashing me like sharp knives.
“You cannot allow her, people will talk!” Petra slams her fist against the table, to which she receives an admonishing stare from Dad who turns to smile at me.
“Promise me you will come,”
“I don’t know, I’ll check my schedule”
The dinner comes to an end, but the tension does not diminish; even when I leave the house, I still feel as though I’m being suffocated by Petra’s hate.
The cool breeze blows across my face and hair softly when I suddenly hear the familiar voice behind me.
“This is my place, how dare you return here with your smelly presence,”
I slowly turn around to see her eyes flashing with ire, I equally feel the same about her.
“He’s not even your real father, so explain to me how this place belongs to you?” I take a step towards her and she flinches, her eyes widening slightly with shock.
I guess it’s because she is not used to me talking back to her.
“I’m the true daughter and whether you like it or not, this place rightfully belongs to me,”
I want nothing to do with my father’s property. I’m only saying these words to rattle her composure, and it seems to work because her eyes flare with fury.
“I see that you‘
you’ve grown some spine, to think that you used to bend to my every will when we were kids. You’re still just an ordinary perfumer. I’m an A–list actress who is going to snag the best actress award and land a major role soon. You can’t compare to me, Jasmine!” Fiona says, her expression turning even uglier.
“If you’re the true daughter, father wouldn’t have kicked you out while investing so much in me to make me a household name!”
I regard her with a bored expression “If you’re so confident Fiona, why are you so restless? You followed me out of the house just to tell me this?”
My words seem to fuel her rage even more. She raises her hand in an attempt to slap me, but I catch it just in time, shoving her forcefully and causing her to land on her floor.
Her shrill screams of frustration pierce through the air; her eyes are burning with wrath, and if
8.26 PM ď ď
Chapter 16
Finished
“How dare you, Jasmine! ” After a moment of shock, she quickly hid all her hostility, and just like before, when she saw my
a pitiful expression. Sh$ figure appear from behind the door, her face swiftly switched to
a pitiful expression. She wanted to play the victim in front of him, just like she used to…
Jasmine… But she clearly forgot that I was no longer the same person. Before she could speak, I interrupted her harshly. ‘Didn’t you want me to help you practice your acting skills? I’ll go along
with it.
With that, I turned and left under their stunned
gazes.
That night, I dreamt again of the day I received the news of my mother’s death after she fell off the cliff. In the dream, my father’s gaze at me was still incredibly deep. It was filled with shock, disbelief, despair, hatred, and even a hint of disgust.
I think some things I once cherished disappeared with my mother the day she died.
Morning came, and I go to work despite not nearly getting enough sleep last night. I enter our company’s new branch and Bruno introduces me to everyone.
“Oh my God, you are so young.”
“And beautiful.” Another worker adds.
“Love Pearl No. 1 is my favourite; we hope to learn more from you!”
Bruno escorts me into my own office, which also has a lab that has already been stocked with plenty of ingredients; Bruno has prepared all of this so I don’t have to worry about my work.
environment.
Once I’m done touring the lab and fully satisfied with everything, we return to my new office “So,
like this?”
do
you
“Very much so.” Inod.
A short silence passes between us. Honestly, I still feel a bit guilty about yesterday; I shouldn’t have abruptly ended the dinner, considering that it’s his birthday as well.
“Jasmine?”
“Hmm?” I look up to see Bruno studying me deeply, anxiety also flickers in his eyes as he seems to struggle to get the words out.
“I n–need a favour. I need a partner for a ball tonight. Care to put on a show with me?”
“Mr. Zamora__” I start when he interrupts.
“Bruno.”
“What?” I gaze up at him, slightly confused.
Chapter 16
“But we’re in the office, and you’re still my boss,”
Bruno sighs deeply at my statement, his shoulders slumping dejectedly.
Finished
“Anyway, about the ball. Please don’t say no, I can’t find anyone else. Pretty please,” He joins hist palms together, his lips pulling into a pout in a manner that makes me laugh, he looks like a pitiful puppy right now.
“Yeah, right. You can’t find anyone else” I don’t believe him, there’s always a long line of gorgeous women wherever Bruno is.
“Fine, I will accompany you”
As a friend, I can still do it for him. A huge smile flashes in Bruno’s eyes and as he dives towards me to embrace me, I hold out a finger, halting his movements.
“On one condition though, Remember to take me home before it’s too late.”
Bruno nods eagerly, his smile becoming even wider. “Sure thing, you’re the best Jasmine. I owe you!”
I shake my head, a small smile forms on my features.
No, it’s I who owes him a lot.
Send Gifts
20
