Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 18

Jasmine

Jasmine's alarm blared through the quiet room, pulling her from the depths of sleep. With a groan, she reached over to silence it and blinked groggily at the unfamiliar surroundings. The luxurious bedroom, the soft sheets, the sprawling view of the city—it all reminded her of where she was. Reece's penthouse. Her new reality.

For a moment, she lay there, letting the events of the past few days sink in, but the thought of work quickly pulled her back to the present. She couldn't be late. She slipped out of bed and quickly showered, pulling on one of the new dresses Reece had gifted her—a simple but elegant floral dress that made her feel put together even on rushed mornings like this.

Jasmine usually loved starting her day at her favorite coffee shop, but today, there was no time. She glanced at the clock and frowned. If she went for coffee, she'd be late for work. With a sigh, she pushed the thought aside and headed toward the kitchen.

To her surprise, the delicious aroma of food greeted her before she even stepped inside. As she entered, she found a cook at the stove, skillfully preparing breakfast—eggs, toast, and fresh fruit neatly arranged on the counter. A wave of gratitude washed over her; she wasn't used to this kind of luxury, but it was hard not to appreciate the small comforts Reece had provided.

Reece was already there, leaning casually against the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in hand. His suit was perfectly tailored, as always, but his expression was slightly rushed—something Jasmine wasn't used to seeing.

"Good morning," he said with a brief smile as their eyes met.

"Good morning," Jasmine replied, surprised to see him. "I didn't expect breakfast."

Reece chuckled, taking a final sip of his coffee. "I had it prepared for you. Make sure you eat before you go. I'm running late myself," he added, glancing at his watch.

Before she could say much more, Reece pushed away from the counter and moved toward the door. He paused briefly, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual.

"Lock up with the key I gave you when you leave," he said, his voice calm but firm. "And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

Jasmine nodded, her heart fluttering slightly. "Thanks, Reece. Have a good day."

With a final nod, he left the penthouse, his footsteps fading down the hall as he headed to work. Jasmine stood in the kitchen for a moment, still adjusting to the fact that this was her life now—being taken care of in ways she had never imagined.

She sat down to eat the breakfast prepared for her, trying to push away the nagging thoughts of how much Reece had done for her already. She told herself she'd find a way to repay him, even though she wasn't sure how. After finishing her meal, she grabbed her things and headed to the front door, the new key cold and unfamiliar in her hand.

Jasmine locked the door behind her, feeling a strange sense of responsibility as she did. The penthouse was hers to return to now, a new reality that was starting to feel more permanent by the day.

In the lobby, she expected to see Vincent waiting for her, but instead, another man stood by the entrance—polished, professional, and already holding the car door open for her.

"Miss Vaughn," he said with a courteous nod. "I'll be driving you today."

Jasmine hesitated for only a second before smiling gratefully and stepping into the car. "Thank you."

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ 🎕 ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

The drive to the bookstore was quick, the city bustling with the early morning rush. But when she arrived and stepped out of the car, something felt off. The usually quiet shopfront looked different today. There were boxes everywhere, and some of the shelves inside were bare. Her heart sank with confusion as she walked toward the door, the bell chiming as she entered.

Inside, Jasmine's confusion deepened. Her grumpy boss, Angelia, was bustling around the store, packing books into boxes with a strange sense of purpose. The normally moody woman was smiling—a rare sight—and humming softly to herself.

"Angelia?" Jasmine asked hesitantly as she approached. "What's going on?"

Angelia's face lit up when she saw Jasmine, her usual sharp demeanor softened. "Jasmine! There you are! I've been waiting for you."

Jasmine glanced around at the half-packed shelves, the empty spots where books used to be. "What... what's happening?"

Angelia chuckled and leaned against one of the boxes, wiping her hands. "Well, the building's been sold. New owner's paying me a fortune to demolish it and build some fancy apartment complex."

Jasmine's heart skipped a beat. "The bookstore is... closing?"

Angelia nodded, but instead of the bitterness Jasmine expected, she seemed almost relieved. "Yep. It's time. I've been wanting to get out for years, but this deal made it easy."

Jasmine felt the weight of the moment sinking in. The bookstore—her job, her routine, the place she'd loved working—was gone. Just like that. "So... what does that mean for me?"

With a smile, Angelia slid an envelope across the counter, thick with cash. "It means you don't have to work for me anymore, kid. This is your severance pay. I've had a good run, but now I can finally relax."

Jasmine stared at the envelope, shocked by its weight. When she opened it, she saw more money than she'd ever expected—enough to last her for months. "Angelia, this is... this is too much."

Angelia waved her off. "It's the least I can do. You've been a good worker, and honestly, I'm just glad I don't have to deal with this place anymore."

Before Jasmine could protest, Angelia pulled her into a quick, tight hug. It was the first time her boss had ever shown any sort of affection, and it left Jasmine stunned. "You take care of yourself, okay? And don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

They exchanged a few more words, but Jasmine's mind was racing, trying to process the sudden change. The store—her job, her stability—was gone. And Angelia seemed almost relieved to be rid of it.

As they said their final goodbyes at the door, Angelia flipped the sign to "closed" and locked the door behind her. The click of the lock echoed in Jasmine's mind, a sound that signaled the end of one chapter and the uncertain start of another.

She stood on the sidewalk, the envelope of money clutched tightly in her hand, still processing the whirlwind of emotions. Her routine was gone. Her job was gone. And now, she had to figure out what came next.

The city bustled around her, but for the first time in a long time, Jasmine felt untethered—both free and unsure of what lay ahead.