“No, why”
“How can he not ask you on a date, Jason…”
“And I just met after a long time and it is really improper to rush things” Karen said
“I can’t believe you’re saying this, you’ve been waiting for him like forever”
She threw her a defensive glance “I’m waiting for the right one Anna, not whoever you think it is”
Annabel smiled “I get it”
“We exchanged contacts and address” She stood to lean on the work top
“Everyone does that Karen”
“Alright then, are you hungry?” Karen asked her
“As a matter of fact, I’m starving”
Karen laughed “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything but not those scary green thing I see”
“Okay come on let’s fix dinner or lunch, what do we call it?” She drew her from the stool
“Dunch” She replied, laughing
Karen was walking down the stairway of her hospital when a female nurse walked briskly to her, calling her attention
“I thought I should let you know that the man who was brought in about a week ago isn’t responding to treatments, we’ve tried our best” “Mr. Howard?”
“I think, he’s in a critical condition”
“Just have him taken to the I.C.U, we can run a few test and see what can be done.” She handed her a pile of file and continued walking as the other tagged along behind her.
“And tell Becky to see me in my office later in the day, I guess Mrs. Clarence has been discharged already”
“Yeah, we did that yesterday at noon”
“Good, you’d have to handle Mr. Howard’s, okay? Give the kid in the adjoining room some aspirin” She patted her shoulders, walking off briskly
She moved to see a patient on the ground floor but stopped when she saw Jason talking with the receptionist at the reception desk-she was smiling broadly, three nurses hovered around him, obviously trying to gain his attention.
Taking off her coat, she strolled to the desk “Any appointments?”
“You got it cancelled”
“Oh yeah, Iris, Hilda and um…Lucy, you should get back to work now”
“Yes ma’am” They chorused, already walking off
Jason walked by her side in the hall “Hey”
“I didn’t have you pegged as a ladies man”
He searched her face, smiling-hands in his pockets “Why do you sound that way?”
“I saw how poesy they were”
He laughed “Most women get poesy when they meet good looking guys”
She rolled her eyes “You should let other people compliment you”
He laughed again “Yeah, right?”
“Seems you’re never occupied” She said as they swerved toward the hall that led to her office
“That’s the great thing about being the boss” He drew his sleeves
“I’m the boss but I’ve never gotten a chance to goof-off”
“Well, that’s the bad thing about being the doctor kind of boss” He joked
She paused-“Thanks for coming”
“Come on, let’s get coffee, I wanna see how much you’ve changed”
Chuckling, she pushed the office door open “I haven’t, you’re the one acting all weird”
He sat on her desk looking at the paintings on the wall while she poured him coffee from the coffee machine
“Here, complimentary coffee” She handed it to him and perched beside him “So, I guess you’d like to make the best use of your stay here before you vanish into thin air…again”
“Did someone say I was going to vanish?”
She shrugged “That’s all you do, when you’re done with what you came for, you’ll leave right?”
“A man doesn’t come to a place for only one reason, if I can’t get what before it’s time to leave, I’d stay even longer”
She was confused “Now, you’re speaking in parables”
He laughed and didn’t say anything else
“When did you leave Thailand?” She asked”
“Um, some few months after I was done with college I was flown to Greece when I was in asphyxia”
Her brows rose “Really?”
“After a couple of months of treatments in a bunch of specialized hospitals, I was revived”
Her face lit up, she smiled- eyes flashing
“And I don’t know but whatever they did, the breathing problems weren’t just there anymore”
“Whoa. That’s great news”
“It’s more of a relief” He drank from the coffee
“Annabel freaked out when I told her we met”
He gave a short laugh “Did she?”
Just as they spoke, the door slid open as Annabel walked in, searching through her bag
“You should quit shutting your door Karen” Looking up, she screamed in excitement and hugged Jason, Karen was laughing
“I can’t believe my eyes; you’ve changed…a lot” She grinned broadly
“I know right? A lot has happened”
“Can I get you coffee, Anna?”
“Yes, thanks”
Karen handed her a brim filled cup of coffee
“So, how long will you be here?” Annabel asked Jason, eyes eager
“Couple of months, three or more” He leaned forward and drew his sleeves up
“Why don’t you stay longer?” She sipped the coffee slowly
He smiled “I can’t, or the company will suffer”
“What company?” She beamed “Oh my, I’m so happy for you”
She turned to Karen “Karen is equally doing crazy things, she has two establishments all over the country, child parenting forum and all that jazz”
“She might want to own an orphanage tomorrow” Annabel continued
Karen lowered her head as Jason gaze drifted to her.
“What are you?” Jason asked Annabel
“Oh, I’m a realtor”
“And a software buff” Karen added
He laughed-“Really”
“And I’m also working with Karen in her CPF nonsense” She poured herself another cup of coffee “She’s into this girl power stuff, you know, being feminist and all, she claims to be too busy and has refused to have a man in her life”
“Yikes” Karen winced in embarrassment. Jason stood abruptly
“I think I should get going”
“Yeah, it was great to see you, Jay” Annabel spoke
When he turned to Karen, she looked away. He walked off and shut the door after him.
She turned to face Annabel “What was that stunt you pulled, Anna”
“What stunt?” She grinned
“Don’t you smirk at me like I don’t know what I’m saying; I don’t get you Annabel, why do you keep doing this?”
She chuckled “I was playing a hunch, okay?”
“For the hundredth time, quit this, okay?”
“You’ll thank me later Karen”
“Do you realize how stupid you made me look?”
“Okay why are you taking this so serious? It’s just Jason” She smiled warmly, pushing her side “Alright, I’m sorry, okay?”
She gave a faint smile-“Fine”
16
There was a knock on Mr. Adams office that afternoon-it was the cop who had come earlier but was on casuals this time with two other policemen
“What took you so long?” He asked none of them in particular, he was ransacking through drawers
“We’re sorry about that; we searched all nooks and corners”
“So, did you get the bastard and my money?” He enquired impatiently
“We didn’t actually get him but some investigations we found out few details of where he might be”
“He was seen checking in a hotel in Texas last night with nothing on him but still has some connections with people who he might have worked with to achieve his plans” One of the policemen explained
<
br /> “I want my money back and you all aren’t making the best effort” Adams said, fist on the table
There was a prolonged silence-
“After much probing, we found out he still had some connection with the dowager of the Blackwell’s company, as a matter of fact they had a conversation last night” He continued softly
“Jasmine is her name” The other added
“What? Jasmine” His eyes twitched, darkening
“And there’s been some transaction going on between this two after the incidence, so did you by any chance have anything to do with her?”
“Jasmine, that bitch” Adams mumbled to himself
“We promise that we won’t leave any stoned unturned in finding him and of course getting you your money” The leader of the cops assured
His eyes were visibly red “Are you sure about Jasmine still working with that rat?”
“Quite sure, sir”
“She can’t do such a thing, how…”
“She’s been convicted twice to sold hard drugs and thrice after she was suspected to have committed murder”
“What?”
“So, we’re just going to go after them and…”
He stood up, almost staggering “Just find the goon, I’ll take care of Jasmine”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Just do as you’ve been told” He was infuriated
------------------
Karen could see Jason engage in a conversation with a waitress who seemed ready to go out of the roof in excitement.
Didn’t he know she was there? Karen looked their way and Jason met her gaze-she hoped he had not seen the jealousy in her eyes. She didn’t have the right to be and she knew
He had not made any advances toward her in the past week although he had introduced her as his girl to a friend in the park and when she asked him, he laughed and said it was to prevent him from making passes at her.
Someone called her name, she knew who it was and hated to hear the voice at that moment.
“Karen, is this you I see or do my eyes deceive me?”
“Quinton, stop” She told him when he reached out to touch her cheek-he was a noticeably handsome and perfectly tanned young man with a pierced ear and tattoos drawn down from his right arm to his wrist,
He cooled off a bit but still had a broad smile playing about his lips “Why have you been avoiding me?”
She saw Jason take a quick glance at them from the counter and for no reason she felt guilty “I hate people who keep their tabs on me”
She said it before she could stop herself but he did not seem offended
“Really”
Clutching her arms, she looked away-furious. “Yeah really, I can’t have you following me all over the place”
“Come on Karen, the last time I checked you were still single”
She didn’t hide her irritation “Pardon?”
He tousled his front hair “Annabel told me”
Jason walked up to them, hands thrust in his pockets
“Come on Karen someone as pretty as you shouldn’t be seen sitting alone in a restaurant”He continued
“Actually she isn’t alone” Jason stood by her, looking grim.
Quinton expression changed abruptly as his gaze drifted from Karen to Jason “I see you’ve gotten yourself a dashing dandy, Karen”
He stretched his hand for a shake “Jason Blackwell”
He hesitated before taking his hand roughly “Quinton”
“Nice to meet you Quinton”
“Wish I could say the same for you bro” He said between teeth and then gave a mirthless laugh
He walked away; Karen took a seat and rested her head on a fist-flustered
Jason gave a short laugh “Seemed you needed a little rescuing. Who is he?”
“Quinton, a dumb Latino Adonis I’ve known since I was little” She gave a droll look
“Why did he seem ready to pop a blood vessel” He looked at her with narrowed eyes “Because I’m here with you?”
She didn’t like the way he sounded “You shouldn’t worry about him, he’s just some spoilt rich guy I’ve known all my life”
“He thought otherwise about us” He leaned forward on the table “I don’t like people suspecting and assuming”
She raised a brow “I should have told him there’s nothing between us?” She gave a bleak laugh “I think it’s best if he just assumes, he’ll butt off knowing I’m not available”
“But you are” He told her, smiling. “Well, I just thought most ladies liked being stalked and chased”
“Like the waitress you’ve been speaking with?” She retorted
He looked displeased “Her? She used to be a cook in my home before I left for Thailand”
“I hate being stalked”
He smiled and poured himself a drink, filling hers too.
“I don’t want him around you either” His fingers brushed hers lightly, when she looked at him, his tender eyes held hers.
-----------------
She was packing her bags to leave the hospital when he stopped by on a Tuesday
“You’re here” She smiled cheerfully
“What doctor leaves her hospital at 2:45pm?”
“Don’t try to make an excuse for being late, you said 2pm” She continued packing
He walked behind her as made to lock the door “I think I’m on time, at least I get to walk you to your car”
She stared briefly at him “You said you hate suspicion and assumption but you’re actually doing things that raise them”
They ambled down the stair “If it’s with you, I don’t mind”
She shook her head, laughing “You’re hilarious”
“I’d be leaving for Vegas first thing tomorrow morning”
She chuckled low “You forgot to add you’ll be back in the next nine years”
“Come on. I’d be gone for only a few days” He glanced at her “I have to see my mother”
“Oh”
“You know your dad is also at Vegas, you might um…want to visit”
She sighed softly, shoving the keys on the reception desk “Let’s not start”
He smiled “You’re right”
Mr. Adams alighted from his car looking around the deserted suburb thatched cottage where Jasmine had said they’d meet. He took off his sun glasses
How far had he come?-far enough that he couldn’t see the end of the road. Why had Jasmine chosen such an awkward place for them tomeet?
It was quiet expect from the sounds made by squirrels and birds, he gazed around for the last time before walking in through the door which was almost falling apart from the wall where it hung loosely. He pushed open the second door on his left and met Jasmine sitting on a wooden chair with Steve standing beside her, he looked different with eyes dark-there was silence
“You said we needed to talk.” She finally said
“Yeah, but why did you ask me to such a slum?”
She leaned forward, expression grim “Do you have something you wanna say Adams?”
He took a seat “The cops have been investigating”
“And”
“They found out you still have connections and transactions with Richard”
She barked a belly laugh “Is that illegal?”
“Don’t act like you don’t understand what I’m trying to say”
Her smile went off “It’s not what you think”
He glanced at Steve who watched him in silence as if trying to remind him that he was warned
“We were supposed to be working together Jasmine and all you did was scheme? I’m not going to take it cool with you, I won’t” His rage doubled
“So what are you planning on doing? Have me thrown in jail?” She stood slowly, her expression obscuring
“Can you just hear yourself? You’re the criminal here Jasmine, is that too hard to understand?”
“How about you don’t call me a criminal cause I ca
n be one right now”
He let out an angry laugh “Really”
“We can talk things out Adams and I don’t give people choices, so you had better listen to me if you don’t want this to blow up in your face”
He stood from the chair “You’re the one without a choice here Jasmine, so you should be the one listening”
She grinned “I’m listening”
“I just want to let you know I’m about to blow up your covers and…”
She pulled out a double barreled pistol and pointed it at him “And I’m also about to blow your brain up”
He lifted his hands, moving back “I hope you’re not pointing a gun at me because that’s what it looks like right now”
She moved closer, eyes threatening “You’re also about to know what it feels like” She chuckled “Wait, who do you even think you are? No one dares stand up against Jasmine”
“You can’t possibly do this, you can’t” He said between his teeth, sweating and visibly shaken
“And if I do?”
“You do not know who you’re messing with; you would spend the rest of your miserable life in jail”
“I love challenges” She pulled the trigger
He fell to the floor, blood gushing out of his arm, his eyes were blood shot as he sprawled on the cold floor, she had the gun pointed to him
Someone barged in just then-
“Jason, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Someone texted, what are you doing with a gun, why is this man…mother!”
“I won’t let you get in my way boy, now move” She tried to pull a trigger
“Mom, stop this, okay? What the hell has come over you?” He yelled and made to take the gun from her
“Don’t you dare or you’ll regret this, now leave this instance”
He stood in her way “End this now, this man has passed out, just end this, okay?” His breathing heightened
“I’m running out of time Jason; don’t let me use this on you”
He stood adamant as he looked at the man on the floor with his eyes half shut and then at his mother with visible anger churning inside of her
“Why are you doing this mom?”
Steve looked around uneasily, searching frantically through his pockets
“I got no time for long talks Jason, just butt off” Her tone was warning but he stuck still
“Come on, point the gun at me, pull the trigger, shoot but I won’t watch you kill this guy”
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