Obsession - Erotic love story

Chapter 34

Jasmine stood in front of the mirror, her reflection a haunting reminder of the day's events. Her eyes were red and swollen, her nose raw from hours of crying. She had cried until there were no tears left, the ache in her chest gnawing at her until she was numb. Her hair hung damp and limp around her shoulders, still wet from the shower she had taken in a futile attempt to feel human again.

She wore a simple tank top and shorts, her body trembling slightly from both the cold and the emotional exhaustion. Her mind felt disconnected from the reality she was living, unable to fully comprehend that she had become a prisoner in Reece's penthouse. The man she had fallen in love with was not who she thought he was, and now she was trapped, with no way out.

Her phone was gone, left in the back seat of the driver's car when she had rushed to Reece's company earlier in a storm of rage and confusion. But even if she had it, what would she do? The police wouldn't help—Reece had made sure of that. There was no one she could trust, no one to turn to.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared at the closed door. She had pleaded with him, begged him to let her out, but Reece hadn't come back for her. She had spent hours alone, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down on her chest like an invisible chain.

Later that evening, just as the light outside began to fade into dusk, there was a knock on the door.

Her heart lurched in her chest as the door creaked open, and Reece stepped inside. His presence filled the room, and yet, he seemed disturbingly calm—composed in a way that made her stomach turn. He didn't look like a man who had just locked someone in a room for hours, but instead like someone who was in complete control of every situation, even this one.

"Come eat," he said quietly, his tone devoid of any warmth.

Jasmine hesitated, her body tense as she stood up from the bed. She followed him cautiously, every step feeling like she was walking deeper into his web. He led her to the kitchen, where a simple meal was set out on the table. The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, but it made her nauseous rather than hungry.

Reece gestured for her to sit, taking the seat across from her. He began eating calmly, each bite deliberate and methodical, as if this were any other ordinary night.

Jasmine stared at him, her hands gripping the edge of the table, her heart racing with confusion and fear. How could he be so calm? How could he sit there, eating as if nothing was wrong, when she was scared, broken, and held prisoner?

He looked up at her, his gaze as steady as ever. "Eat," he said, his tone carrying a quiet authority.

"I'm not hungry," Jasmine whispered, her voice barely above a breath. Her stomach twisted in knots at the thought of food. "I don't want to eat. I just... I just want answers."

Reece sighed softly, as if he had anticipated this. He set down his fork, leaning back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "Fine," he said slowly. "I'll give you three questions. Choose them wisely."

Jasmine's heart pounded as she considered his offer. Three questions. She needed to choose them carefully, needed to understand just how deep his deception ran.

She took a deep breath, the first question burning on her tongue. "How long have you been watching me?"

Reece's expression remained neutral, his gaze sharp. "Weeks," he said evenly. "After our first encounter. The ice cream incident."

Jasmine felt a chill run down her spine. From that day forward, he had been watching her, orchestrating every moment without her knowledge.

Her second question came without hesitation, her voice shaking slightly as she asked, "Why are you so obsessed with me?"

Reece tilted his head slightly, his eyes studying her as if trying to decide how much to reveal. "Because you're different, Jasmine," he said quietly. "You're not like the other women I've been surrounded by—self-centered, greedy, obsessed with wealth and status. You're beautiful, but more than that, you're real. You care about things that actually matter. You don't care about diamonds and money. That's why."

Jasmine swallowed hard, her throat tight. The way he spoke was so sincere, so disarming, and yet it terrified her. His obsession was rooted in something deeper, something he had twisted into love, but it wasn't love—it was control.

For her final question, Jasmine's voice trembled as she asked the one thing she couldn't shake. "Why won't you let me go? You can have anyone you want. Why me?"

Reece's gaze darkened slightly, a shadow passing over his face as he leaned forward, his voice firm. "Because I want you," he said. "And I refuse to lose anyone else. I've lost too much, and I won't let that happen again."

Jasmine's heart ached at his words, the possessiveness in his voice sending a shiver of fear through her. "It's not your decision to make," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "You don't own me. You don't get to decide who I am or what I do."

Reece's expression hardened, the warmth in his eyes replaced by something cold, something frightening. "It is my decision," he said softly but dangerously. "Because I always get what I want."

Jasmine's breath caught in her throat, the realization hitting her like a tidal wave. She was trapped, not just physically, but emotionally. Reece wasn't going to let her go. He wasn't going to stop.

The room felt suffocating, the weight of his words pressing down on her as she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "I can't do this," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't stay here like this."

Reece watched her, his gaze unwavering. "You don't have a choice."

Fear surged through Jasmine, the walls of the penthouse closing in around her. She turned on her heel, her heart racing, and bolted back to her room. She needed to escape, needed to find a way out.

But before she could react, Reece was behind her, his hand grabbing her wrist in a vice-like grip. He pulled her back, forcing her into the room, his expression calm but unyielding.

"Stay here," he said coldly. "You'll come out when you've calmed down."

Jasmine fought against him, panic rising in her chest, but he was too strong. He pushed her into the room and slammed the door behind her, locking it from the outside.

Her hands pounded against the door, her voice hoarse with desperation. "Reece! Let me out! Please!"

But there was no answer, only the fading sound of his footsteps as he walked away, leaving her alone in the suffocating silence once again.

Jasmine sank to the floor, her body shaking with sobs. She was a prisoner in his world, and the man she had thought she loved had become her captor.