The Helper

Chapter 3: Grocery Shopping Problems

The Helper: Chapter 3- Grocery Shopping Problems

"Turn here." Alex quickly turned the signal on and made the right hand turn; getting angry horns blown at him in the process.

"Do you not know that you are suppose to give people time to complete a turn? You just cannot tell me turn here when I am on top of the turn."

She flinched back at his anger and in a low voice apologized, " I am sorry. I am not good at giving directions. To be honest on am not good at doing much."

"Jasmine, I am sorry, I just don't want to cause an accident and don't sell yourself short. From what I can tell you are amazing. Who else would help a complete stranger?"

Her checks turned pink and she glanced out the window. Did she not realize how truly amazing she was? He looked out in front of him Buffalo had changed a great deal in the last 200 years. He hadn't been back since 1814 when he watched his family perish to death without being able to help them.

"Hello, Alex, are you listening to me?" Jasmine brought him back to present day. " Are you okay?"

He looked at Jasmine and noticed the worried look on her face, " yes, I am sorry, I was thinking about something. What were you saying?"

" I asked you what kind of food do you like?"

"Oh, I love all kinds of food. I love spicy foods though and I love to cook. What about you?"

" I love all kinds of food but haven't tried too many different things but I like spicy as well however I am a terrible cook."

Alex couldn't help but to think about the past again. Sara had been a wonderful cook and took great pleasure and making sure he always had dinner waiting for him when he came home. He loved her as much as he could without her being his soul mate and even fathered a baby with her. His heart felt so much pain when he thought about his beautiful Mary. Women have changed so much since that time back then all women were taught to cook when they were young.

"So, why don't you join me for dinner tonight? As my way of saying thank you."

" I don't know if that would be a good idea." She opened the car door.

"Why not? I could use the company and maybe you could too." He asked as he was getting out of the car.

She didn't answer them as they started walking towards the grocery store. He knew how to grocery shop and most of the time his mother would send him to the grocery store when he was at home. He just wanted to be close to Jasmine. He glanced over at her. She had her hands wrapped around her as if she was protecting herself. Alex linked to his brother Demetri,

"What kind of food is Jasmine's favorite?"

"She loves spaghetti, salad and garlic bread a traditional dinner. Why?"

"I am trying to get her to have dinner with me."

"Are you serious? I haven't had your cooking in a long time. Am I invited?"

"Um, no I am on an assignment. Maybe I will come home next week and cook. Will you still be there?"

"Unless, I have an assignment."

Alex closed the mind link between him and his brother, "I am going to make spaghetti and meatballs."

Jasmine's mouth dropped open, "I love spaghetti and meatballs with just a little bit of extra spicy added in."

He winked at her, " I can add all the spice that you like."

She smiled at him then playfully hit his upper arm, " stop that kind of talk Alexander. I will be more than happy to join you for dinner if you do."

"Great, let's get these groceries and get home so I can put them away."

Three hours later and they were still not finished. Man for someone that did not cook this girl could shop. He was sure he had every possible spice in the world including two different curries, two different types of saffron and four different salts. Not to mention the fruits and vegetables that they bought and no they couldn't be bought at a regular grocery store they had to be bought at a farm's market or a mom and pop fruit stand.

"Jasmine, there is no way I am going to be able to eat all of this food before it spoils. I insist that you take at least half of it."

She blushed, " I am sorry, I love shopping and sometimes I get carried away if I know there isn't a limit to what I can buy. Which wasn't to often. I could only buy what was on the list."

He felt bad because her blush had turned into a frown and the fear showed in her eyes again. "It is fine sweetheart, take all that you like even if they rot."

Her eyes filled with a child like happiness again as she practically skipped down the aisle leaving him to push what seemed like an eighty-pound grocery cart. He was really going to have to read those files. Usually his assignments didn't come with anything but a pat on the back and good luck. Sure he had saved many lives in the process but he lost many lives too. His heart ached at the thought of losing Jasmine. His brother's words came popping into his head "she plans on killing herself." Alex shook his head refusing to believe a wonderful girl like this would do such a thing to herself. He found Jasmine just standing in the middle of an aisle with a panicked look on her face.

"What's wrong sweetheart?"

"We have to leave before he sees me."

"Before who sees you?"

"Please, Alex I am begging you let's just go." She tugged on his hand.

"Jas, is that you?" Panic struck her face.

Alex looked up to see a tall man about the same age as Jasmine looking at them. Slowly Jasmine turned around backing into Alex without dropping his hand. Alex took the cue and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He could smell the fear on Jasmine. It was doing things to his mind and his inner demon was coming out. He read the other man's thoughts. This man abused Jasmine, his beautiful Jasmine and his demon was not happy.

"C'mon sweetheart, we don't have to worry about him."

"Excuse me, who do you think you are? I was talking to Jas not you." Jasmine looked up at Alex and gasped,

"Alex, your eyes they are turning a weird shade of blue."

Alex handed Jasmine his credit card, " Here baby, why don't you go pay for the groceries while I have a talk with this man."

Fear was written all over her face, "don't worry Jasmine, you have nothing to fear, I promise this man will never hurt you again. "

"What did that little bitch tell you? Did she tell you how lousy she is? She cannot cook, clean or do anything right for that matter. Hell, she couldn't even give me the baby...." The man had stopped in mid sentence and screamed out in pain while holding his head.

"Jasmine, please sweetheart go pay for the groceries. There is something I need to do and I don't want you to fear me like you fear this asshole."

Jasmine nodded her head while taking his card, and slowly pushed the grocery cart away. Alex turned his attention back to the guy staring directly into his eyes. "You will follow me into the back storage room without fighting do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Alex started to go into the back room with the guy following him. Once he reached a safe spot where no one and there were no cameras he turned around. "You will leave Jasmine alone, you will never speak to her again except for writing her a letter of apology since I am sure you do not know where she lives I want you to send the letter to P.O. BOX 150 Buffalo, NY. Are we clear?"

The man nodded his head. "Good, now if you somehow break this control because assholes have strong minds and are harder to control. I will be forced to do bodily harm to you do you understand?" The guy nodded his head again. "Great I am glad I was clear. Now I want you to go finish your shopping and leave this place. Once you are home write the letter and tell your girlfriend that you no longer want to be together. Tell her to get a fresh start and give her ten thousand dollars for the fresh start. Clear?" The guy nodded. With that Alex walked away to go find Jasmine.