Chapter 48

Elodre was still sitting on the sofa when Jasmine came into the room to carry the dishes.

"Did you enjoy the sauce, ma'am?" Jasmine smiled.

"Yeah, I did," Elodre said. "I love the vegetable sauce… I'd like to have it for dinner."

"Alright, ma'am," Jasmine said.

As she lifted the tray, she felt sharp excruciating pain in her arm and she winced, unconsciously dropping back the tray on the table.

"Is it the injury?" Elodre asked.

"Y…yes, ma'am," Jasmine managed to steady her voice. Her left hand was placed on the clothes wrapped around her injured arm.

Studying the arm, Elodre said, "But, what really happened?"

With tears rolling down her eyes, Jasmine swallowed hard. "I'm… I'm sorry I… I… didn't wanna tell you…what happened." She sobbed. "It was Mr. Brooks' mother that stabbed me…"

Gasping, Elodre's eyes widened. "What?!!" She assessed Jasmine. "You mean, Bianca stabbed you?! Why?"

"B…because she knew I went to tell Mr. Brooks about what she did."

"Oh my God!!" Elodre said. "I'm so sorry about that, Jasmine."

"Thank you, ma'am. I… I…never thought she saw me." Jasmine sobbed. "She said she was standing by her window when I left."

Elodre shook her head slightly and sighed. "That woman's pure evil. How can she do such a nasty thing to you?" She couldn't help but feel sorry for Jasmine. Jasmine was badly hurt. "Have you told my husband??"

"N…no, ma'am," Jasmine shook her head slightly, facing downward.

"Why not?" Elodre asked.

"I… I…dunno if…if…I… I…can, ma'am," Jasmine stuttered.

Brows furrowed, Elodre hesitated and said, " Of course you can! He won't bite. You know he cares so much about y'all…especially you. He does. Find a way to tell him, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jasmine said. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Tell him so that he takes care of the injury."

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Laying her head on Weston's chest, he was cuddling her tightly. She lifted her gaze upon him and he looked at her. But she lowered her gaze again. "Love to travel, diamond?

That question surprised her but, " Yes!"

"Where do you wish to chill in?" He asked softly, gazing down at her.

"I've always wished to visit Paris," She said.

"Paris?" He said. "Alright, my love." He arranged her hair.

"Would also love to visit Africa," She smiled. "Their rich culture and ebony skin are fascinating! They're so beautiful and natural."

"Sure," Weston said. "I love Africans too. They're so warm and homey. I have many black friends…and they're fun to hang out with. I swear. Have you ever left California?"

"Not at all," She said. "I'm just a dreamer." She chuckled. "Never had any black friends either…cause my parents were full-time racist like hell."

"Oh," He said. "Then we're first traveling to Africa, diamond."

"Heard their sun so hot," She said and he chuckled softly.

"Africans don't have a special sun, diamond." Laughter was gleaming in his eyes. "There's only one sun, okay? Just wait for it."

"I know you travel frequently," Jigyasa said.

"Yeah," He said. "They're just a few places I'm yet to visit."

"Wow!" She was smiling.

"Don't worry, baby," He said. "When I'm done with the project I'm working on, we'll travel to Africa."

"Aww!" She blushed. Lifting herself a bit, she kissed him. She was studying him and he noticed it.

"Diamond," He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Wanna say something to me? What is it?"

Her mouth opened to speak but no words came out, then she lowered her gaze. She looked a bit bothered.

Holding her gently, he sat up on the bed. He doubled two huge pillows and rested his back on them. She was lying on his lap and he was gazing down at her, arranging her hair. "I know you wish to tell me something, my baby."

"Y…yes," She said unsteadily.

"And what's that, diamond?" His voice was so soft. "Tell me. Feel free, my love. I'm all ears."

"I… I…" Stuttering, she railed off and wanted to lower her gaze…

But he gently held her chin and said, "Look at me, diamond." His soft voice was laced with concern. "Talk to me, baby. Talk to me, my darling. I'm here." He bent to kiss her soft lips.

He held her still, gazing directly into her emerald-green eyes. He won't let go.

"I…I…just wanted t..to talk about…" She railed off again.

"You just wanted to talk about what, diamond? Tell me."

"B…Bradley…" She stuttered.

"Bradley??" He echoed her softly even though that surprised him. "Baby, go ahead. I'm all ears."

"I…j…just thought of pleading on his behalf…"

Raising a brow, he studied her for a while and said, "Plead who on his behalf?"

"You," She said. "No reason though. I…I just feel pity for him."

Weston's eyes were intense upon her…and she felt shy.

"I…I was just saying," She lowered her gaze.

He chuckled softly and said, "Love him?"

"No, I don't!!" She shot a gaze at him. "How can you say that?!!"

"Say what?" He asked softly. "That was just a question."

"That's why I said no reason." She said, "I dunno…I just know that you've been dealing with him…so…"

That amused him. He was studying her closely. "So you don't want me to hurt him anymore?"

"Yes," She said. "Sure he won't be dim-witted enough to misbehave a second time."

Nah, he wasn't done with Bradley yet. Weston leaned back on the pillows and cupped his face with his hands. He blew out heavily and dropped his hands, drumming his fingers on the bed.

Her gaze was fixed on him as he contemplated, biting his lower lip. "I… 'm sorry, Weston, I…I was just saying."

He gazed down at her. A smile pulled one side of his lips and he shook his head slightly. "You see, my love," His smile faded, yet he spoke softly. "I'm ain't done with that son of a bitch, yet. I'm ain't done teaching him a fuckin lesson." Exhaling, he looked away and licked his lower lip.

He gazed down at her again. "But," He hesitated. "Look baby, this has never happened before." His countenance was stern. "I've never changed my mind when taking care of motherfuckers until I'm done with their miserable lives. And they know it. Bradley knows me very well. He wouldn't have even dared to employ you if he'd known you're my girl. He'd have run away for his life! I swear."

The vigor with which he spoke was fierce. Jigyasa thought. Her man is so powerful. Maybe if she'd known this she wouldn't have dared to mention Bradley to him. At least he's not mad at her.

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