Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 32

The rain was relentless, pounding against the windows of the car as it sped through the city streets. Jasmine sat in the backseat, her clothes soaked through from her hurried walk to the car, but she didn't care. The rain had done nothing to cool the fire raging inside her. Reece had kept secrets from her—important secrets—and the betrayal sat heavy in her chest, mingling with confusion and hurt.

Her mind raced as she instructed the driver to take her to Reece's company, her voice sharp with urgency. She didn't wait for his usual polite acknowledgment, staring out the window as raindrops streaked down the glass. Her fingers gripped the edge of the seat, knuckles white, as she replayed her conversation with Angelia over and over again.

Why didn't he tell me? The question echoed in her mind, each repetition making the knot of emotions in her chest tighten. He had bought the bookstore—the one place that had been hers, where she had built a life before him. And yet, he hadn't said a word.

The driver pulled up to the entrance of Reece's company, and Jasmine wasted no time getting out of the car, ignoring the cold sting of the rain as it soaked her further. She marched through the revolving doors and straight to the reception desk, dripping water on the pristine floor. The receptionist, who normally had a bored expression and monotone voice, perked up immediately upon seeing Jasmine. Her smile brightened, her tone suddenly professional and welcoming.

"Miss Vaughn," the receptionist greeted her, "how can I help you today?"

Jasmine barely managed to return the smile, too focused on her mission. "I need to see Reece."

The receptionist hesitated, her eyes flicking briefly to the clock on the wall. "Mr. Scott has a meeting soon, but he should be in his office right now."

Without another word, Jasmine made her way to the elevator, her shoes squelching with every step. Her pulse quickened as the elevator doors slid shut, the quiet hum of the lift doing nothing to calm her racing thoughts. By the time she reached Reece's office floor, her heart was pounding in her chest, a mix of anger and anxiety fueling her every move.

She burst into Reece's office without knocking, but instead of finding Reece behind his desk, she was met with Vincent's calm, steady presence. He looked up from a file he had been reading, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight of her—soaked to the bone, her expression hard and determined.

"Miss Vaughn," Vincent said, standing up slowly, concern flickering across his face. "You're soaking wet. What's going on?"

Jasmine barely registered his words as she scanned the room for any sign of Reece. "Where is he?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

Vincent moved closer, his brow furrowing. "Mr. Scott is in an important meeting. He won't be available for at least forty-five minutes."

Jasmine crossed her arms, her frustration building with each passing second. "I'll wait," she said, her tone clipped.

Vincent studied her for a moment, noticing the tension in her posture and the anger in her eyes. He could tell something was wrong—something more than just the rain-soaked clothes and her sudden appearance at the office. "What's wrong?" he asked cautiously.

Jasmine met his gaze, her expression a mix of hurt and anger. "How much is Reece hiding from me, Vincent? I just found out he bought the bookstore where I worked, and he didn't tell me. What else is he keeping from me?"

Vincent's eyes flickered with unease, and he hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing his options. His loyalty to Reece was unshakable, but he could see how deeply this revelation had affected Jasmine. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice low and careful.

"There's a reason for everything Reece does," Vincent began, his tone almost apologetic. "He's been through things—things that shaped him into the man he is now."

Jasmine's frustration flared. "That's not an excuse to keep secrets from me. We're supposed to be partners, Vincent. If he loved me, he would be honest with me."

Vincent nodded, his expression softening. "I understand. But you need to know that Reece... he's been carrying a lot of pain for a long time. After his parents died in the plane crash, he was forced to grow up quickly, and it changed him. It made him... afraid of losing the people he cares about."

Jasmine's anger wavered for a moment as she processed Vincent's words, but it wasn't enough to calm her completely. "That's still no excuse," she said, her voice quieter now, though the hurt still lingered in her tone.

Vincent's gaze remained steady, and after another long pause, he spoke again, this time more hesitantly. "There was someone else before you, Jasmine. A woman Reece loved deeply. They were planning to start a life together, but she died... during a robbery at a bank. It was senseless, tragic, and it broke him. After that, Reece vowed never to let something like that happen again. He needs to feel in control to protect the people he cares about. It's his way of coping."

Jasmine's heart softened slightly at the story, her chest tightening with sympathy for the pain Reece had endured. But despite understanding the reasons behind his actions, the sting of his secrecy still lingered. She crossed her arms tighter around herself, her voice barely a whisper when she spoke again.

"I get that he's been hurt. I do. But that doesn't mean he can hide things from me—important things. He can't just control everything in my life because he's afraid."

Vincent met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I agree, Miss Vaughn. But Reece has his reasons, and it's not my place to reveal more than I already have. His trust is important to him."

Jasmine's frustration reignited, the flicker of sympathy drowned out by the walls Vincent was putting up. "So what else is he hiding from me, Vincent?" she demanded, her voice rising with anger. "You know, don't you? What else is there?"

Vincent's face remained calm, though she could see the conflict in his eyes. "I can't tell you," he said softly. "It's not my secret to share."

Jasmine's hands balled into fists at her sides, her pulse pounding in her ears. "So you're just going to keep protecting him? Keeping his secrets while I'm left in the dark?"

Vincent remained silent, his loyalty to Reece unwavering. He knew Jasmine's anger was justified, but he couldn't betray the man who had entrusted him with so much.

Jasmine stared at him, her heart racing with a mix of anger and hurt. She felt like the walls were closing in around her, like she was trapped in a web of secrets she didn't even know existed.

"I'll find out for myself," she said, her voice cold and determined as she turned on her heel, storming out of the office.

Vincent watched her leave, his chest tight with worry. He had seen the cracks forming between Reece and Jasmine, and now, they were beginning to widen. He could only hope that when the truth finally came out, it wouldn't be too late to mend the damage.