Chapter 43

After a long moment of pondering, Jasmine said, "I'm… I'm going to Mr. Brook's office."

"What?!!!" The girls chorused.

"I should take the risk," Jasmine said.

"Wait," Mia said. "You mean you wanna report Bianca to him?"

"How can you report his mother to him?!" Vera said. "You might get fired."

"Do I have a choice?" Jasmine said, wiping her tears. "I know it might cost me a whole lot. But it's better I tell him and go to hell…than for him to find out 'cause I wouldn't have what to say against Bianca."

"And Bianca might even do worse," Leah said.

"I wonder how long she'd stay here," Zaria said. "Can't wait for her to leave."

"Which is impossible," Rosa said. "She's not visited Mr. Brooks for a couple of years now…and trust me she'd take advantage of the time being."

The girls sighed.

****

"Jasmine?!" Kate exclaimed when Jasmine approached her desk. "What are you doing here?!"

"Kate!" Jasmine forced a nervous smile. "B…been a while."

"Of course!" Kate smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Mr. Brooks."

"Mr. Brooks?" Kate raised a brow and assessed her. "For?"

"Y…yeah," Jasmine was trembling.

"What's going on with you?" Kate asked. "You okay?"

"I'm not, Kate." Jasmine placed her trembling hands on Kate's desk. "Oh, god!"

"What's wrong?" Kate asked. "How did you get to know Mr. Brooks?"

"I work for him," Jasmine said, gazing at Kate.

Kate gasped in surprise. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah," Jasmine said. "Is he occupied?"

"Yeah," Kate said.

"Oh, good Lord." Jasmine quivered. "Could I wait?"

With a shrug, Kate said, "If you can be patient enough. Have a seat, please." She pointed at a chair across from her.

***

In a couple of hours, a black-haired tall man in a suit emerged from Cayden's office. He was holding a file. Shortly, Kate went into Cayden's office and emerged after a few minutes. Gazing expectantly, Jasmine was all nervous and curious. Her heart was pounding violently in her chest.

Kate nodded at Jasmine, gesturing to the door. "Good luck!!" She winked.

**

Cayden was expecting someone…but not her! He raised a brow in astonishment upon seeing her. "Lady Jasmine?!"

"G…g…good d…day, M…Mr. Brooks…" She was quivering. "I… I…" She railed off, all trembling and Cayden's brows furrowed.

"Jasmine?" He was gazing curiously at her. "Sit down."

"T…thank you M…Mr. B…Brooks."

For the life of him, this is the first time he's ever seen her like this. She's been working under him for many years now, even before he got married. What on earth could bring her to his office?! Wait. Was it Elodre? He wondered. Or was it his mother?!

"I…I'm…s…so sorry," She whimpered. "F…for coming t…to your office. I'm sorry."

He was studying her closely. "Jasmine?"

"Y…yes, Mr. Brooks." She was all sweaty.

"Deep breath." He said and she exhaled. "Again."

She inhaled deeply and exhaled. "I…"

"Sshh." He cut her off. He studied her for a long while and sighed. "Jasmine?"

"Yes, M…Mr. Brooks." He's helped lessen her panic attacks to some extent though her heart was still thumping in her throat.

"Deep breath." He said and she exhaled again. "Now tell me why you're here. Calmly." Leaning forward, he placed his lower arms on his table to listen to her. "Look at me."

She lifted her watery gaze upon him and wiped her tears.

"Speak." He said.

"I…I'm sorry…"

"No more apologies," He said. "Just go straight to the point."

She swallowed hard and said, "M…my mistress starved yesterday."

"My wife?" He raised a brow.

"Y…yes." Jasmine stuttered.

"Why?" He asked.

"Y…your mother…"

Wait. What?!! His brows furrowed. "My mother?!" He contemplated briefly and said, "What happened?! What did she do?!"

Her thighs were twitching hard as excitement was pricking all over her. "She refrained me from serving my mistress…even this morning."

"What?!!!" Cayden said angrily, his blue ice blazing fiercely.

"She…she blocked the stairs and didn't let me pass. She asked me to return th…the food to the kitchen…and…and…that was after she'd gone upstairs, yelling at my mistress."

Wait. "She yelled at my wife when I left??!!" His voice was thick with rage.

"Y…yes."

"Fuck!!" He slammed his fist against the table and Jasmine jerked. "So she had the guts to starve my wife?! Damnit!!! Fuckin damnit!! Shit!!" He thought as much! He knew something must have happened for his wife to cry like that on the phone. He knew his fuckin mother! He knew her so well!! How dare she?!

Poking his fingers into his hair, he was facing down, huffing in rage. Damnit!!! He cursed.

"I…I'm so sorry, M…Mr…"

"Jasmine you have nothing to apologize for." His voice was rough. "I could have punished you severely if you'd not told me this!"

In a few seconds, he sprang up from his chair, gritting his teeth. Fuck!! His mom is a motherfucker!! Jasmine was gazing curiously at him.

"Let's go!" He said, walking toward the door, and she got up instantly.

Her whole body was on fire.

****

He permitted her to get in his car. This is the first time she's ever got in his luxurious car. It was ice-cold in here. They were both in the back seat as his driver drove.

*****

Cayden stormed into the living room and glanced around but his mom wasn't there. Engulfed in fright, Jasmine quietly shut the door behind her and exhaled.

"Elo…" He railed off when he saw his wife whimpering on the floor. His wide eyes were fierce as he gazed down at her. She was so pale. Oh, my god!! "Sit up." He said.

Wiping her tears, she sat up but didn't look at him even though she was astonished at seeing him.

Oh, my wife! He was gazing compassionately at her.

He got out of the room and returned in a short while with her breakfast in a tray. He kept it on the little glass table and glanced at her.

"Come here," He spoke softly, taking her trembling hands in his. Gently, he pulled her up and…