Chapter 13 First Day Part 1
JASMINE
Panic surged through me as I stood on the sidewalk, scanning the street desperately.
No taxis.
Of course.
I waved my arm frantically, trying to flag one down, but none slowed. My phone buzzed uselessly in my hand as unanswered calls stacked up.
I groaned in frustration.
Then, out of nowhere, a navy blue Mercedes-Benz pulled up smoothly in front of me, the engine purring like a beast being held on a leash.
I froze.
The driver’s window rolled down, revealing Raymond behind the wheel, black aviator sunglasses perched on his nose. He turned his head toward me, his gaze dipping briefly—far too briefly—to take me in.
“Get in the car, Jasmine,” he said firmly. “You’re late. Damien hates tardiness.”
My heart skipped.
I snapped out of my daze and rushed around to the passenger side, opening the door and hopping in, careful not to trap my leg as I pulled it shut.
“Thanks,” I said, offering him a small, grateful smile.
“Sure thing,” he replied, starting the engine. “Trust me, you don’t want to get yelled at on your first day.”
He chuckled lightly as the car roared to life and we sped off.
Yelled at?
My stomach twisted into knots.
I gulped nervously, twisting a strand of my hair around my finger as I stared out the window, trying—and failing—to distract myself from the terrifying scenarios playing in my head.
First day.
New job.
Damien Black.
I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
~
“It’d be better if he was mute.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them, and then I was laughing—really laughing. The kind that bubbles up from your chest and refuses to be contained.
I doubled over slightly, one hand clutching my stomach as giggles spilled from my lips. My shoulders shook, my breaths coming out in uneven bursts.
Tears pricked my eyes.
God, it had been so long since I’d laughed like this. Not the polite, restrained kind. Not the forced smiles meant to keep people comfortable.
This was raw, uncontrollable laughter—the kind that left your cheeks aching and your lungs burning.
“You’re serious?” I croaked out between breaths, wiping at the corner of my eyes. “You honestly think he’d be better if he didn’t talk?”
“Very,” Raymond replied without missing a beat. “You’re really going to have your hands full with him.”
Something in his tone—too flat, too genuine—made my laughter die abruptly.
I stopped walking.
Just… stopped.
Raymond took a few more steps forward before realizing I wasn’t beside him anymore. He turned back, confusion flickering across his face as he noticed me frozen in place.
I stared at him, blinking slowly, my mind scrambling to find the punchline.
There was none.
I searched his face for even the slightest hint of humor. A twitch of his lips. A glimmer in his eyes. Anything.
Nothing.
My chest tightened.
“Jess, breathe!”
Suddenly his hands were on me—firm, grounding—gripping my forearms as he shook me gently but insistently. The world snapped back into focus, sounds rushing in all at once like I’d been underwater.
“Jess,” he said again, worry clearly etched across his features. “Are you okay?”
I dropped my gaze, blinking rapidly as I fought to regain control. My heart was racing, pounding so hard it felt like it might tear through my ribs. My palms were clammy. My throat tight.
A panic attack.
Not now.
Not here.
I sucked in a deep breath through my nose, then let it out slowly through my mouth. Again. And again.
The hallway around us felt too bright, too open, like the walls were closing in even though they weren’t moving at all.
“I-I’m fine,” I murmured finally, though my voice betrayed me. I sighed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear in a weak attempt to look composed.
“You sure?” Raymond asked gently, his grip loosening but not fully letting go.
“I’m sure,” I said, forcing a small smile onto my lips.
I stepped back subtly, only then realizing his hands were still resting on my arms. He seemed to notice at the same time, straightening abruptly and smoothing down his navy-blue suit with a slightly awkward cough.
“Come on,” he said, clearing his throat. “We’re almost there.”
He turned and walked ahead, pointedly avoiding my gaze.
I sighed quietly and followed him, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
The hallways we moved through were massive—wide, open, and impossibly elegant.
The ceiling lights cast a warm glow that bounced off the pristine marble walls, illuminating everything in shades of white and gold. I slowed my pace slightly, taking it all in.
How did I miss this the first time?
Every detail felt deliberate. The sleek designs. The subtle patterns etched into the marble tiles. The quiet hum of power and money that seemed to live within the walls themselves. It felt unreal—like stepping into a carefully curated world that existed far beyond my reach.
Heavenly.
That was the only word that came to mind.
We entered a different sector of the building, one I hadn’t been in before. The atmosphere shifted subtly, becoming quieter, more private.
Raymond stopped in front of a sleek, modern elevator.
He pulled out a key card and slid it into a panel beside the doors.
With a soft chime, the elevator doors parted smoothly.
We stepped inside.
The doors closed behind us, sealing us into a tight, enclosed space filled with silence so thick it felt tangible. I shifted my weight uncomfortably, suddenly hyper-aware of everything—my breathing, the soft hum of the elevator, the faint scent of his cologne.
My fingers tingled at my sides, my heart rate picking up again.
“So… where are we going?” I asked, mostly just to fill the silence.
Did I really need to know?
No.
Was the quiet making me incredibly uncomfortable?
Absolutely.
Raymond didn’t look at me as he answered. “We’re heading to the floor where everything you’ll need is located. Your office. The canteen. A few other departments. We’ll be meeting Richelle there.”
“Richelle?” I turned toward him, brows furrowing in confusion.
“Yes. Richelle,” he explained. “She’ll brief you on everything you need to do for Damien. His schedule will already be on your laptop—it’s been prepared for you. You’ll be responsible for organizing his meetings, setting appropriate times, confirming locations. All of it.”
I swallowed hard.
That sounded like… a lot.