Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 10

Jasmine

Jasmine stepped into the familiar warmth of the coffee shop, the scent of freshly brewed espresso mingling with the hum of quiet conversation. It was a morning ritual she cherished—just a brief moment of peace before heading to the bookstore. As she waited in line to place her order, her eyes scanned the room, taking in the usual crowd of patrons, until she spotted a familiar face seated by the window.

Reece.

He sat alone, sipping coffee, a book propped open in front of him. The sight of him made her heart skip a beat. There was something about his presence that drew her in, even though she still didn't quite understand why someone as successful as him seemed to be interested in someone like her. But he was here, in her coffee shop, and that made her smile.

Her coffee could wait.

Jasmine approached his table with a small wave, her voice soft but excited. "Good morning, Reece."

Reece looked up from his book, his intense blue eyes warming as he met her gaze. He gave her a smile that made her blush before she even knew why. "Morning, Jasmine," he said smoothly, gesturing for her to sit down. "Fancy seeing you here. I was just thinking about you."

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, but she managed to laugh it off as she sat down across from him. "Were you really?"

Reece leaned back in his chair, folding his arms casually. "Well, maybe not directly. But I was reading this romance novel, and it reminded me of our conversation at brunch." He tapped the book with his finger, drawing her attention to the cover—something soft and pastel, with a couple in an embrace.

"A romance novel?" Jasmine blinked, a little surprised. She couldn't imagine him reading something like that.

Reece smirked slightly, sensing her surprise. "Yeah, I thought I'd see what all the fuss is about. You did mention you're a fan of happy endings."

Jasmine smiled, nodding. "I am. So... what do you think of it so far?"

He raised an eyebrow and leaned in, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "It's got some steamy scenes. A little more... intense than I expected." His eyes locked onto hers, and Jasmine felt her cheeks burn as she realized what he meant.

Her heart raced, and she fidgeted slightly, unsure of how to respond. "Oh... I see."

Reece chuckled softly at her reaction, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. "It's interesting to see how these characters interact—how they build chemistry." He paused, his gaze lingering on her just a bit too long. "It makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

Jasmine didn't quite know what to say, her mind swirling with the implications of his words. She was saved by the barista calling out her name, announcing that her coffee was ready. She stood quickly, a little relieved for the distraction.

When she returned to the table with her cup in hand, Reece smiled up at her, his expression softer now. "I'd love to keep chatting, but I've got to head to work soon."

"Oh, right, of course," Jasmine said, feeling a little disappointed, though she tried not to show it.

Reece stood, adjusting the collar of his jacket as he prepared to leave. "You should come visit me at work someday. Have lunch with me. My company has a beautiful cafeteria—great view of the city. You'd like it." He reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a business card. She took it and gave the beautiful black card a once over.

Reece Scott

CEO & Founder

Vanguard Technologies

Innovating the Future

Jasmine blinked in surprise. "Really? I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be intruding," Reece said smoothly, his tone making it clear he wanted her to come. "I'd love the company."

She hesitated, unsure. But his invitation was so genuine, so kind, that she couldn't bring herself to say no. "I'll try to come one day," she said, offering him a small smile. "Thank you for the invite."

Reece smiled, his eyes glinting. "Anytime, Jasmine." He stepped closer, just enough to make her pulse quicken again, and added, "It was nice running into you today."

Before she could say anything else, Reece gave her a quick nod and turned to leave, slipping out of the coffee shop with the same smooth grace that seemed to define him. Jasmine stood there for a moment, her coffee growing cold in her hand, feeling both flustered and excited.

As she headed to work, her thoughts kept drifting back to Reece—his smile, his invitation, the way he'd made her blush with just a few well-placed words. There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled her in deeper each time they met. She felt a thrill at the thought of seeing him again, even though a part of her wondered what it would be like to visit his world—a world so different from her own.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

Reece didn't head to work. As soon as he stepped out of the coffee shop, his smile faded, replaced by the cold, calculating expression that few ever saw. His morning had gone exactly as planned—another perfectly executed encounter with Jasmine. Her reactions, her blushes, her flustered glances—everything was falling into place.

Instead of heading toward his office, Reece moved toward a nearby alley, his steps quiet and deliberate. He watched from the shadows as Jasmine continued on her way to the bookstore, unaware that his eyes followed her every movement.

When she finally disappeared into the small shop where she worked, Reece made his way down the street, careful to stay out of sight. The familiar thrill of control surged through him as he approached the bookstore, positioning himself across the street, hidden behind a row of parked cars.

From this vantage point, he could see through the large glass windows, where Jasmine moved gracefully between the shelves, rearranging books and greeting customers. She was so unaware, so innocent in her routine. Watching her was a quiet pleasure—an indulgence he allowed himself more and more as his obsession deepened.

Reece stood in the shadows for hours, his mind already planning the next move, the next carefully orchestrated step to draw her closer. He didn't need to be at his office. His empire ran itself, and besides, there were far more important matters on his mind. Jasmine was his focus now, and his plan to make her fully his was advancing perfectly.

She didn't know it yet, but every part of her life was slowly being shaped by his influence. The flowers, the chance encounters, the invitations—each step was carefully calculated to ensnare her, to bind her to him in ways she couldn't escape.