Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 4

Reece

Reece sat in his office, high above the city, staring at the contracts spread out before him. The quiet hum of the city below was like white noise, his thoughts fixed on only one thing: Jasmine Vaughn. He had taken the next step, as planned. The paperwork was finalized. By this time next week, he would officially own both the bookstore and the small café Jasmine frequented each morning.

He could have bought any business in the city, but these two held something far more valuable than profit—they held her. Jasmine, with her soft voice and bright eyes, would have no idea that her simple routine now revolved around him. It would seem coincidental at first, as it always did.

Reece's assistant, Vincent, had arranged for a "chance" meeting between them. Everything was in place. The idea of seeing her again, this time on his terms, sent a thrill through him. He thought back to their first meeting, the way she had looked up at him, flushed and embarrassed after spilling ice cream on his suit. He remembered the scent of her—faint, floral—and the sound of her nervous laughter. That had been the moment his obsession began, though at the time, even he hadn't realized how deep it would go.

Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow, he wouldn't let her slip away so easily.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

The next morning, Reece arrived at the café early, taking a seat by the large window, where he could see both the street and the inside of the cozy shop. He watched as the morning crowd trickled in, none of them holding his interest. But then, at 8:25 sharp, she appeared. Jasmine.

She stepped through the door, just as she had every other morning, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, a tote bag slung over her shoulder. Reece's heart quickened. She hadn't seen him yet, and that gave him a moment to observe her. She moved with a quiet grace, greeting the barista with a soft smile as she ordered her coffee. He noticed the way she stood, her weight shifting slightly from foot to foot, her fingers drumming gently on the counter while she waited.

Perfectly timed, Reece stood, walking over to the counter just as Jasmine was handed her cup. She turned, almost bumping into him.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, startled, then her eyes widened with recognition. "I remember you—you're the guy from the other day, with the ice cream. I'm so sorry about that!"

Reece smiled, the charm slipping effortlessly into place. "No harm done. It was probably the most interesting thing that happened to me that day."

She laughed softly, her cheeks coloring again. "I'm glad you weren't too upset."

"I'm Reece, if you forgot," he said, extending his hand.

"Jasmine," she replied, shaking it. Her hand was small, warm, and the brief contact sent a spark through him.

"Nice to officially meet you, Jasmine," Reece said, his voice smooth and easy. "I come here often—don't you love this place?"

Jasmine nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, I do. The coffee's great, and it's so cozy. I come here almost every morning before work."

Perfect, Reece thought. Just as he had hoped.

But as she reached for her coffee, his next move played out with precision. He "accidentally" knocked the cup from her hand, sending it tumbling to the floor, the lid popping off as the liquid spilled across the tiled floor.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry," Reece said, quickly bending down to retrieve the cup, though it was already empty. Jasmine looked at the mess, her expression apologetic despite it being his fault.

"It's okay!" She said. "I can just get another—"

"I insist," Reece cut in smoothly. "Let me buy you a new one. It's the least I can do."

Jasmine hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Well, thank you. That's really nice of you."

Reece waved the barista over, ordering another coffee for her while they stood together at the counter. "So, you work nearby?" He asked casually.

"Yeah, just a few blocks down, at the bookstore on Maple," Jasmine replied, glancing down at her phone for a moment. Her face shifted slightly as she realized the time. "Oh, shoot! I'm actually running a little late for my shift."

The new cup of coffee arrived, and Jasmine accepted it gratefully, flashing him another smile. "Thanks again, Reece. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime," he said, his eyes lingering on her as she turned to leave. "I'll see you around, I'm sure."

She waved goodbye as she hurried out the door, unaware that his gaze followed her every step until she disappeared down the street.

But Reece wasn't done with her yet.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

Jasmine's apartment was only a short walk from the café, nestled in a quiet neighborhood of the city. Reece knew every detail about her route home, having memorized it from the reports his assistant had provided. He kept a distance as she made her way home after her shift, careful not to be seen. His plan was already in motion, a gift waiting for her just as she arrived.

From across the street, Reece watched as Jasmine climbed the steps to her apartment. Her steps faltered slightly when she noticed something—roses, a bouquet of deep red roses, placed neatly on her doorstep. She paused, glancing around for a moment as though searching for the person who had left them. Her eyes scanned the street, but Reece stayed well-hidden, blending into the background.

She bent down, picking up the bouquet. There was a card tucked among the flowers. Her lips moved slightly as she read it, though Reece couldn't hear what she said. A small smile appeared on her face as she stood, clutching the roses tightly. Then, with one last look around, she unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside, the flowers cradled in her arms.

Reece's heart raced. He knew the message on the card, though it was unsigned.

For someone who brightens every day, even without knowing it.

It was a small gesture, but one that set the stage for what was to come. Jasmine would start to notice him more, perhaps even wonder who had left the flowers, who was thinking of her. Soon, she wouldn't be able to escape the invisible thread drawing her closer to him.

This was only the beginning. And as Reece turned to leave, he knew that soon enough, Jasmine Vaughn's world would revolve around him—just as his had begun to revolve around her.