by Bell, Olivia
“Even though you didn't know her, you're right about that. She's the one who taught me to be strong. She was the one to make sure that I learned the values in life and to go after what I want.” Jasmine smiled, she hadn't smiled thinking about her mother at the same time. It was the first time for her and it made her feel good knowing that she could talk about her mother without crying about her. She really missed her but she knew that her mother was in her heart and would always be there.
“Well it's getting late and I'm sure that you want to go to sleep. You sound like you're already tired. Make sure you get some sleep tonight and I hope that the bed is comfortable enough for you.” He smiled, two weeks ago felt like years ago. He had helped her pick out the bed and they even test tried it before he bought it.
Jasmine had tried to convince him to let her pay for it, but he wouldn't allow her to. He wanted her to spend the money that he had given to her on clothing and whatever else she might need. The simple things. He knew that he was doing the right thing and he knew spending money on her wasn't going to her head, like it would have with plenty of other women.
They talked for a few more minutes and then they hung up, neither one of them wanting to say goodnight. Jasmine sighed heavily as she put the phone down on its cradle and sighed with a smile on her face as she sank into the bed and pulled the blankets up over her chin. No matter what, she had to sleep with a blanket on whether it was the summer or the fall, she still had to have it. It was a habit that she had gained when she was little and she never quite grew out of it.
Devon laid down on the couch that night, putting his hands behind his head and looking up at the ceiling; he had fallen asleep worried about what tomorrow might bring. He didn't want to think about the dating show, he didn't want to think about some woman that was dressed up like she was the best thing ever, showing off her body and he knew at that point he had changed when it came to the way women dressed for him.
For years that was all that Devon wanted, he wanted the women who looked easy in their tight dresses with no panties on. He thrived on that and now he didn't want any of that. He wanted to settle down and have a family now. He knew that the right woman was out there and it was Jasmine, it had always been Jasmine, since the day that he met her. He remembered that he was going to his office and she was in there cleaning for him, making sure that his desk shined for him when he showed up to sit behind it.
“Man, I wish that you had changed your mind, Jasmine, I had tried holding onto that tenth spot for you until it was too late,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head back and forth as his eyes started getting heavy. Little by little, his eyes began closing even though he didn't want them to. He wanted to stay up thinking about Jasmine, but his eyes and body wouldn't let him.
Devon had been working for two weeks straight with no time to himself. Between the dates they had split back up, but to two once a week, and he was tired. The reason why Ken stopped doing it once a night was because Devon looked tired when he walked in for his dates. He didn't want Devon being burnt out of the dates or the cameras.
He tossed and turned that night, worried about what the next day was going to be. He had a dream that there was this woman all over him, trying to tear his clothes off and he was pushing her away, letting her know that he had changed and he didn't want her, he didn't want anyone, only the woman that was in the back of his mind. The woman was mad at him, glaring at him, she had slapped him across the face, he woke up in a sweat and put his hand to his cheek as if it had happened to him for real.
The sun was coming up just as he sat up on the couch, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was his first nightmare in a long time. He couldn't remember the last time he had a nightmare but he knew it had been a while ago.
“I knew this was going to bite me in the ass later, I just knew it. God, please help me out here. Give me something that I can work with,” Devon muttered, looking up at the ceiling and letting God know that he was talking to him.
“Please, just make today go smoothly. It's the last night of the dating show and I don't even want to be there.” Devon groaned, turning his eyes away from the ceiling and slowly getting up to take his morning shower and get some coffee from the kitchen before he headed out for the day.
Chapter 5
Devon was trying to find ways to waste him time, he felt jittery as the hours ticked by. He had never gone shopping for anyone, but the more he shopped for Jasmine's house, the easier it got for him. He had a big U-Haul truck and he drove it himself to her house.
It had a few things in it like a writing desk for studying, a lamp to work by, and a lot of other things that she could use in the house. They were things she didn't need but things that he knew she would want, things that made her happy but that she could use at the same time.
Devon moved the stuff into the house himself, he had made up an extra key in case she was going to call him for help or wanted him to come over and she didn't want to get up; he could just walk into the house, making sure that he punched in the number so that the alarm wouldn't go off. He was happy that he could get things into the house without her knowing, since she was in school she would be surprised when she walked into the house for the night. He hoped that she would call him as soon as she got out of school, even if it meant that she bothered him on his date. He would still answer it, no matter who it made mad.
Looking at his watch, he saw that it was three-thirty, and he knew that Jasmine would be home soon if she stopped in there first. He didn't want to be caught coming out of her house, so he quickly left and made sure that he dropped the U-Haul off at the company and paid for it before he took his car and rushed to the studio because he didn't want to be late like he had been the other day. He didn't want to get Ken mad at him; he was already on the verge of making Ken so mad that he wanted to yell at him.
When Devon looked at the clock on the dashboard, he saw that he was fifteen minutes late, he ran his hands through his hair and figured that Ken was going to yell at him this time when he walked in through the doors.
The second Devon got into the building he saw that Ken was walking really fast back and forth on the studio floor. When he looked up at Devon, he could see that Ken was really pissed off and he thought it was all about him being late.
“I don't understand why you're so late,” Ken grunted, staring at him and slowing down with his pace.
“There's something more going on with you tonight. It's the last episode and you're upset that there aren't more.” Devon glared at him seeing that Ken was trying to take it out on him and him alone. But in a way, he guessed that it was all his fault that he hadn't been on time and that was his fault and he should have apologized, but before he could, he could see that Ken was getting ready to talk again.
“Your date is almost a half hour late, I don't know what to do and that really burns me up inside.” Ken ran both his hands through his hair again and walked away from him.
Devon sighed heavily, he was actually happy that the woman was late. He hoped that she didn't show up at all but when it had been twenty minutes before, Ken came back out with a smile on his face until he saw the time. They were supposed to be on the air five minutes ago, he wiped his face and neck with a washcloth before they sat down for their last episode.
Calvin gave them a nod of his head and gave them a tiny smile. Both men once again put on a big smile for the last show. Ken was already thinking about getting another billionaire to get on the show. He wanted to keep it going and he knew that Devon wasn't going to be the one on the show. Not this time.
“This is the tenth date and the last date for Mr. Sager, let’s hope that he enjoys this one. He doesn't know who’s behind that door behind us. He isn't going to know until she walks out in front of him. Since it's the last show, we want to keep the suspense going. I hope that you're ready at home because we are ready here at the studio. Please let the last date come on out and introduce themselves to Mr. Sager.” Ken clapped his hands and hoped that t
he last one would be able to come out on her own instead of having to go in and get her.
Jasmine knew that was her cue, and as she walked out of the door, Ken put a huge smile on his face. Nodding his head, she knew what she was doing in the green dress and high heels that she had decided on before she got there.
Devon closed his eyes so that he couldn't see who it was and mainly because he didn't want another date that he knew wasn't going anywhere.
“Open your eyes, Devon, your date is here!” Ken called out, getting up from his chair and clapping as he took a good look at her, he thought she had looked amazing and he knew that Devon was going to think so too.
Devon opened his eyes and when he saw that it was Jasmine, he couldn't believe it. He had to rub his eyes to make sure that she was in front of him.
Devon didn't know what to say as he wrapped his arms around her tightly, and she laughed at him, giving him a hug and putting her chin on his shoulder.
“Now we can start a life together, Devon, I'm so glad that I signed up. You're all mine now,” Jasmine whispered into his ear and kissed him on the cheek.
“I think that Devon might have found the one he wants to be with, but I can't speak for him. We will watch and see how the date goes and tomorrow night he will be back to let everyone know who he picked. But that doesn't mean it's over. I have some news for everyone here, after Devon ships off to happily ever after I want all of you to know that I am going to keep the show going. We are going to be looking for one lucky girl to take her pick of the billionaires that she's going to be dating. For all of you are hooked to this show, you are going to want to see the next one,” Ken stated, lifting his hand and hoping that everyone was happy with it.
When Devon and Ken made eye contact, he saw Ken give him a wink. That was when he knew that Ken had done him a really big favor. He had done what any friend would do to make their pal happy, knowing that the only way he was going to be happy was if he got the right girl, the girl that he had wanted since the first time he had met her.
“Let’s not keep them waiting, tonight's last day will go on as usual.” Ken got out of the way so that Devon and Jasmine walked out the door.
Devon had done this numerous times before, but this time he was doing it with the one that he was falling for. He knew that they were going to be having a good night with one another as he put his arm around her waist and guided her to the limo that he had used numerous times before. He knew that this time everything was different because he was going on a date with the woman that was meant for him.