Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 16

Jasmine

Jasmine let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as she carefully closed the trunk of the car, cramming in the last of her shopping bags. The sheer number of items she had picked up throughout the day left her both excited and slightly overwhelmed. Dresses, shoes, and most importantly—books—filled every inch of the trunk space.

Sliding into the backseat of the car, she leaned her head back against the soft leather, feeling the weight of her purchases settle in. The day had been longer than expected, but in a good way. Shopping had been a welcome distraction from the chaos of the past few days, and for the first time since the fire, she felt a sense of normalcy creeping back into her life.

Vincent glanced at her in the rearview mirror before starting the car. "I trust you found everything you needed, Miss Vaughn?"

Jasmine smiled, though a hint of guilt tugged at her. "More than enough," she said softly. "Thank you for today, Vincent. I really appreciate it."

He gave her a polite nod before turning his attention back to the road. As they began the drive back to the penthouse, Jasmine allowed herself to relax, the city lights flashing by outside the window, creating a peaceful rhythm.

Her phone buzzed in her lap, pulling her out of her thoughts. Glancing at the screen, her heart did a small flip as she saw Reece's name pop up. She answered quickly, her voice shy but warm.

"Hi, Reece."

"Hey, Jasmine," came his smooth reply. "How's the shopping going?"

Jasmine smiled, though the slight twinge of guilt returned. "It's been good... maybe a little too good," she admitted with a small laugh. "I think I may have spent more on books than clothes."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by the sound of Reece chuckling softly. "I know. I saw the notification."

Jasmine's heart sank slightly, guilt flooding through her. Of course, Reece would have seen the charges on his card. She hadn't even thought about how much she'd spent, and now she felt like she'd taken advantage of his generosity.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, her voice a bit more anxious than she intended. "I didn't mean to spend so much. I'll pay you back, I promise."

Reece's voice was calm and reassuring. "It's fine, Jasmine. Don't worry about it."

But before she could apologize again, he added with a teasing edge, "If you're really set on paying me back, how about dinner? You and I, tonight."

Jasmine blinked, surprised by the suggestion. "Dinner? Like... a date?"

There was a pause, followed by the warmth of his smile in his voice. "Exactly. Consider it part of the repayment plan."

A small smile crept onto Jasmine's face, her heart fluttering at the idea. "I think I can manage that."

"Good," Reece replied, sounding pleased. "I have some paperwork to finish, but I'll be back at the penthouse in a couple of hours. I'll make sure everything's ready for us."

Jasmine's pulse quickened at the thought of the evening ahead. She nodded, though he couldn't see her. "I'll get ready then."

"I look forward to it," Reece said smoothly. "See you soon."

They hung up, and Jasmine found herself sitting in the backseat with a smile tugging at her lips. The guilt from earlier had faded, replaced by the thrill of the unexpected dinner date. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of happiness bloom inside her, as though everything might actually be falling into place.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

By the time they reached the penthouse, dusk had begun to settle over the city, casting a warm glow over the skyline. Vincent pulled up to the private entrance, and Jasmine stepped out, her arms full of shopping bags. She hadn't realized how much she'd bought until she was trying to carry it all back inside.

Vincent quickly came to her aid, picking up the remaining bags with ease. "Allow me, Miss Vaughn."

"Thank you, Vincent," Jasmine said gratefully, feeling a little embarrassed by the sheer number of bags he had to carry.

They made their way into the penthouse, and Jasmine led Vincent to the guest bedroom, where he carefully placed the bags on the floor. The room was beginning to feel more like her space now, with clothes hanging neatly in the closet and books stacked on the bedside table.

After Vincent excused himself with a polite nod, Jasmine sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing with thoughts of the dinner with Reece. She still felt slightly nervous around him—his confidence, his wealth, the way he seemed to have everything under control. But there was something about him that made her want to be close to him, even if she didn't fully understand why.

Standing up, she began to sort through her new clothes, trying to decide what to wear. Everything she had bought today felt more luxurious than her usual wardrobe, but that seemed fitting for dinner with Reece. Eventually, she settled on a dress—elegant but simple, in a soft shade of blue that reminded her of the sky just before sunset.

After slipping into the dress, Jasmine took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her—someone who seemed more confident, more polished than she felt. But as the evening drew closer, she felt a thrill of anticipation building inside her.

This wasn't just dinner. This was a turning point.

By the time Jasmine was ready, the penthouse was bathed in the soft light of the evening, the city below glittering like stars. She stepped out of the guest bedroom and made her way to the living room, her heart pounding with excitement.

And as she waited for Reece, she couldn't help but wonder what the night would bring, and how far she was willing to let herself fall into his world.