Chapter 74 Discreet
Jasmine walked back over to Richelle slowly, like her body needed permission to move. The front door had just closed behind Damien, and the echo of it still seemed to linger in the house. Richelle was already waiting for her with open arms.
Jasmine didn’t hesitate this time.
She stepped straight into Richelle’s embrace, pressing her face into her shoulder. Richelle wrapped her arms around her firmly, one hand rubbing slow, soothing circles up and down Jasmine’s back.
“How are you?” Richelle murmured into her hair.
Jasmine inhaled shakily and pulled back just enough to nod.
“I’m fine,” she said, though the words didn’t carry much weight. Her eyes were still clouded, her lips trembling faintly.
Richelle studied her face, seeing right through the brave little answer. The worry hadn’t left Jasmine’s eyes; it had only settled deeper. Richelle decided not to push.
Instead, she reached for Jasmine’s hand.
“Come on,” she said gently. “Let’s get my things upstairs before I forget what I packed.”
Jasmine allowed herself to be led. Their fingers stayed linked as they climbed the stairs together. The house felt quieter now, emptier somehow.
When they reached the hallway, Jasmine grabbed Richelle’s rolling suitcase and tugged it into the bedroom.
Richelle dropped onto Jasmine’s bed with a dramatic sigh, landing on her stomach and propping her chin up in her hands. Jasmine dragged the suitcase closer and set it on the bed, unzipping it slowly. Clothes spilled out in careful folds.
Jasmine began arranging them into the wardrobe, one piece at a time. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she lifted a silk blouse.
“These are so beautiful,” she said quietly. “I’m definitely stealing some of them before you leave.”
Richelle snorted. “You already do.”
Jasmine laughed faintly and continued hanging dresses, smoothing out creases with her palms.
Richelle watched her in silence, her eyes narrowed in thought. Something about the way Jasmine moved—careful, distracted—made Richelle uneasy.
After a long moment, Richelle broke the silence.
“So,” she said casually, “have you and Damien said you love each other yet?”
Jasmine froze.
Her fingers tightened around the shirt in her hand. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Richelle.
Richelle met her gaze without blinking, waiting.
Jasmine swallowed and turned back to the wardrobe. “Don’t be silly, Richelle. Damien doesn’t love me.”
Richelle pushed herself up on her elbows. “You’re kidding, right?”
Jasmine shook her head. “I’m serious. He doesn’t.”
Richelle folded her arms. “Girl, the man literally pointed a gun at someone because he kissed you. If that doesn’t scream ‘I am deeply in love and possibly unhinged about you,’ then I don’t know what does.”
Jasmine didn’t answer right away. She stared at the wardrobe door, her hands resting on the edge of the suitcase now.
Richelle slid off the bed and sat beside the suitcase, close to Jasmine. “You didn’t say you don’t love him.”
Jasmine’s breath hitched. Her voice came out small. “I… I don’t know if I love him.”
The words sounded fragile, like glass.
Richelle softened instantly. She reached for Jasmine’s hand and squeezed it gently. “That’s okay,” she said. “You don’t have to know yet.”
Jasmine looked down at their joined hands. “Everything feels so fragile and scary.”
Richelle smiled. “You will. Soon.”
Jasmine nodded, though uncertainty still lived in her eyes.
~
Seven hours later, I landed.
The moment my feet touched the ground, exhaustion slammed into me. It settled into my bones like weight. I turned on my phone, and her face filled the screen—Jasmine, asleep, curled into my pillow.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
I already missed her.
I checked the time. 3 p.m. It would be 6 p.m. in New York. My gaze lifted to a man standing near the exit, dressed in an all-black suit. He held a small black card in his hand. His face was hard, unreadable.
Discreet.
Marco followed behind me, pulling my suitcase. I walked up to the man and stopped in front of him.
“Blackwood,” I said simply.
He nodded once and gestured toward the waiting car outside—a black, tinted McLaren. I slid into the back seat. The engine purred to life.
“My name is Gustavo,” the man said. “Boss says I will drive you to the location at ten tonight. Until then, you will stay at his hotel.”
I grunted in acknowledgment and looked down at my phone again. My thumb hovered over Jasmine’s name.
Not yet.
I decided to call Richelle first. The line rang twice before she answered. “Hello, lover boy.”
I rolled my eyes, but a smirk betrayed me. “Do not start. How is she?”
There was movement on Richelle’s end, then the sound of a door closing. “She’s alright. Taking a shower at the moment.”
“Have you arrived?”
“Yes. On my way to Dominic’s hotel.”
A pause. “Is that really the best decision?”
I stared out the tinted window. “It’s the only one.”
Richelle sighed. “She’ll want to call you as soon as she’s done.”
“I’ll call her first.”
“Good,” Richelle said softly. “Stay safe, Damien.”
“Thank you, Richelle.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”
I ended the call and sat back as the city blurred past.
Then I dialed her number. It rang once, twice.
“Damien?” Her voice filled the car, and something in my chest loosened.
“Tesoro.”
“I was just about to call you,” she said. “Did you land?”
“Yes. I just arrived.”
There was relief in her breath. “Thank goodness.”
I closed my eyes briefly. “How are you?”
“I’m… okay,” she said. “Richelle’s unpacking. The house feels quiet without you.”
My jaw tightened. “It does here too.”
She hesitated. “Are you tired?”
“Only a little. Hearing your voice helps.”
I heard her smile through the phone. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I miss you.”
There was silence for a second. Then, softly, “I miss you too.”
The words sank into me like warmth.
“Did you eat?” she asked.
“I will soon. Did you?”
“Yes. But it didn’t taste the same without you stealing from my plate.”
I chuckled. “I will make it up to you when I return.”
Her voice dropped. “Be careful, Damien.”
“I will.”
“I mean it,” she said. “Call me when you get to the hotel. And before you sleep.”
“I promise.”
Another pause. Then she whispered, “Come back to me.”
My throat tightened. “Always, tesoro.”
They stayed on the line a little longer, breathing together through miles of distance, until neither wanted to be the first to hang up.