Not Done With You

The sound of Jasmine and Ava's laughter filled the receptionist's desk while they munch on chips.

"You seriously need to see the look on his face. I think he thought I would just take him back, no questions asked.. He cheated on me and still got the nerve to tell me that he loves me. Hahaha, jokes on him," Ava said. She was narrating her break up with her boyfriend to Jasmine and recalling it now made it funnier.

As they were talking and laughing, a commotion was heard outside the hotel. The ladies were crushing and fantasizing while the men couldn't help but be awed at how handsome the man was.

Just then, the reception door was opened and Clyde walked in in all his glory. His black tuxedo suit perfectly matched his aura and cold nature. His long legs marched noiselessly as he walked with P.A Ivan trailing behind him while still reporting meetings to him.

"Cancel all the meetings and reschedule the important ones. Put a call across Investigator Fox and tell him to call me in the next fifteen minutes," he said with no emotion.

"Noted," P.A Ivan replied and walked past him towards the reception desk to check-in. His eyes rested on Jasmine for a while and he took a sneak peek at Clyde.

Jasmine held her breath as she walked past Clyde, hoping he wouldn't notice her. She made it to the staff room without incident, and let out a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind her. It must be tough on Ava right now.

Ava on the other hand, kept her cool and maintained a professional demeanor. Even though she knew that Clyde was the most powerful and influential CEO in the city, thanks to her family background, she didn't let that affect her work. She was polite and attentive until he left her desk and went to his presidential suite. As soon as he was out of sight, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Grrrrrrr. 

Just as Jasmine was trying to calm her racing heart, the intercom in the staff room buzzed. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and answered the call with a professional tone. "This is Jasmine, how may I help you?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't betray her anxiety.

"Oh, thank goodness it's you," the manager said in a booming voice. "We have a VVIP guest in the presidential suite 3, and you've been assigned to take care of their needs. It's very important that you do everything you can to make them happy, so please be on your very best behavior." Jasmine felt her stomach twist into knots. The VVIPs were always the most demanding and difficult guests to deal with. But she took a deep breath and told herself she could do this. 

"Noted," Jasmine replied, rather calmly. And the call ended.

There were three presidential suites in the hotel and as the room number increases, the wealthier the guest is. She silently prayed that it wouldn't be Clyde's suite as she walked out, towards the receptionist's desk.

"I was just about to give you a call, Jas." Ava started as soon as she saw Jasmine. "The guest in Presidential Suite 3 just asked for the best drink we have and requested that you bring it up," Ava said, emphasizing on the "you". Jasmine nodded and went towards the bar for the drink.

In the Presidential Suite, Clyde was on a call with Investigator Fox.

"CEO Clyde, that's how much I know about her. Any other information might be given from her, but I don't think she's the girl you're looking for. Jasmine was adopted by the Andersons when she was eight, after she lost her parents in an accident that she survived." Investigator Fox reported, inwardly glad that Jasmine wasn't the girl Clyde was looking for.

Clyde exhaled a cloud of smoke from the cigarette he was smoking, his gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the windows of the suite; his brow furrowed in concentration. 

"In that case, stop the investigation. P.A Ivan will contact you anytime I need you." He said.

"Does that mean you're no longer interested in Jasmine since she's not Janice," Investigator Fox asked curiously.

Clyde chuckled wickedly. How could she let go of the woman who has caught his interest just because she's not Janice. His mood dampened lightly at the thoughts of Janice, he could still vividly picture her face like it was just yesterday. Her smile. 

He ended the call and opened his phone's gallery and looked at the last portrait he drew when he was just fourteen and the memories he had tried to suppress came rushing back.

"I'm sorry, Janice" he apologized like Janice was there with him. This is the only moment he'd let his emotions out.

"Room service," Jasmine's voice at the door interrupted his moment. He had actually forgotten that he requested for a drink. He steadied his emotions before walking to open the door. 

He opened the door and Jasmine was shocked. What the heck? Ava didn't tell her. She swallowed hard and he shifted for her to walk in.

"Do you mind making the bed, I'm going to shower." He said as he headed towards the bathroom.

'Do I mind? Hahahaha, that's what I'm paid for, duh' she thought. Few minutes later, the sound of running water was heard in the bathroom and Jasmine got into action.

Just as she dragged the bedspread out, something fell off. A wristwatch. She bent down, picked it up and her heart dropped. The air-conditioned room became too hot for her.

As she held the wristwatch in her hand, she noticed that the screen was cracked. A wave of panic washed over her. From the look of it, even if she's to sell herself, she would never be able to pay for it. How could she be this careless? 

As if on cue, the bathroom door opened and Clyde walked out, wearing a bathrobe. His damp hair clinging on his forehead. He stood in the doorway, surveying the room with his piercing gaze. Jasmine was standing there, sweating under the air-conditioning. She couldn't help but feel like he was sizing her up and finding her wanting. 

She swallowed hard and with trembling hands she raised the wristwatch to eye level, her heart pounding in her chest. His face darkened. He strode towards her, his expression unreadable, and grabbed the watch from her, only then did he notice the crack on the glass.

"I'm…I'm sorry," Jasmine stammered, unable to face his cold eyes. "It wasn't intentional, I promise. I didn't know it was on the bed. I will pay you back. Please don't tell the manager. I don't want to be sacked. I will do anything, Please." Jasmine begged like her life depended on the job. 

Who is she fooling? Can she even be able to pay it back even if she's given a lifetime? She felt like she was drowning, trapped in a sea of panic and fear.

"Really?" Clyde's cold voice made her shiver slightly. "you will repair it, hmm?" He asked, walking closely towards her while she moved back, his icy face scaring her. She couldn't help but feel small and insignificant next to him, like a mouse cornered by a cat.

"I…. Please, Sir'' she begged while moving backwards as he approached. As she stumbled backwards, her calf hit the bedside table, and she lost her balance causing her to fall back but before she could fall, she felt a strong hand on her waist, steadying her. He had caught her out of impulse, without thinking.

He leaned in close to her, so close that she could feel his breath on her skin, and she instinctively closed her eyes unsure of what to expect. And then, she felt his lips brush lightly against her ear.

"You have forty-eight hours to fix it and return it to me. Here." he said, his hot breath tickling Jasmine's neck. He released her, and she fell back onto the bed. He dropped the watch on the covers next to her.

Jasmine scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She smoothed out the spot on the bed where she had fallen, as if trying to erase the evidence of what had just happened. Then she turned and hurried out of the room, desperate to put some distance between herself and him.

"Wait," she heard him say just as her hand touched the doorknob, his voice commanding and authoritative. "I'm not done with you yet."