At Governor Maxwell's House
Jasmine was baffled. She had dialled Loney's number and sent countless messages. The calls went to voicemail and her text messages were never delivered. Despite Loney's warning, she still couldn't stay away. If she could just hear his voice, she would be fine. It was a weekend and she didn't know his house, so she would have paid him a surprise visit.
She did a few checks through her father's contacts and realized that Loney had been checking in and out of hotels but all the hotels he previously checked in had no record of him since the previous day. Her heart tightened in her chest as she lay on her bed staring into space. She heard a knock on her door. It must be one of the maids coming to clean her room. She hasn't stepped out since she woke up.
"Come in," she yelled in agitation. Her father had gone on a trip and she had refused to join Barbie, Linsay and Jane on the shopping spree. All she wanted was Loney. She didn't care about money. She already had enough of it. She stared at the necklace he gave her. It wasn't an everyday kind of necklace. It was too sophisticated, so she couldn't wear it now.
"Your boyfriend is here to see you," the maid bowed her head and said. Jasmine's eyes popped like balloons. She lifted herself abruptly from the bed, removed her night things and put on a casual but attractive dress, short and seductive. Perhaps, Loney has begun missing her as well. Her heart fluttered at the thought, she left her room, descended the stairs only to be met with awe.
Tyron was seated on the cream luxury sofa in the living room. Her heart ached with dismay, the light in her eyes dimmed, her face drained of colour, her blood pressure rising. Anger surged through her. "Oh, it's you." She tried to control her rage, as disappointment shot through her voice.
"Do you hate me that much?" Tyron's voice was surprisingly gentle and calm, as he stood from the sofa and ambled towards her. He was casually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. His dark brown hair combed to the side, his hazel eyes saddened. He couldn't comprehend that Jasmine will detest him this much.
They used to be love birds but she never let him into their house. Tyron could guess the only reason the security and maids let him in was the fact that he introduced himself as her boyfriend. Most probably, they mistook him for Loney.
"No, I don't hate you but we broke up. My boyfriend would not be happy seeing you here," her voice was calm but her eyes spoke dismissal. She didn't want to see him. Tyron was saddened.
"What did I do to you, Jasmine? You woke up one day and called it to quit. You never loved me did you?" His voice broke as he spoke. He brought another girl to her party to make her jealous and try to work things out but was disappointed when Loney showed up.
He tried to prove that he was best for her just for Loney to cause him so much embarrassment but none of it mattered because it wasn't enough to wash the love he felt for her.
"Look, it was fun while it lasted okay? The only man I love is Loney," Jasmine crossed her hands over her chest indifferently.
Tyron's eyes darkened. He tried to touch Jasmine by the shoulder but missed it when she took a step back, avoiding the contact. Tyron swallowed, "but he doesn't love you." Jasmine turned white to Tyron's words but she tried to hide it. "Who said so? He loves me."
Tyron saw through her quick defensiveness and said, "I'm a man Jasmine and I know it when a man loves a woman. If he loved you, he would have been the first to arrive at your birthday party."
"He is just busy. He is an engineer and a CEO at that. There is so much on his shoulders, unlike you," she indifferently said. She already knew that Loney didn't love her but she intended to make him.
"So what stopped him from waiting till the party was over or taking you with him when he was leaving? If he loved you, you wouldn't have been the one to kiss him. Even when he tried to fake a kiss, he couldn't and plastered it on your cheek," Tyron deciphered. However, Jasmine was too stubborn to give up. "You misunderstand him. Every man is different," she defended.
"Yes but love is the same everywhere, it only communicates in one language, which is care. Ever since the party, he hasn't tried to see you again. Right now, his phone is switched off. Come on, Jasmine, don't you think you deserve better?" Tyron asked carefully, his eyes trained on her. His voice was masculine but gentle. Jasmine's face contoured into a frown. She didn't think that anyone would detect there wasn't a connection but Tyron did.
Embarrassment assaulted her because most men chased after her therefore, she couldn't understand her reason for doing the chasing when it came to Loney.
Danica's heart leapt at his words but she couldn't stop the tears. However, she felt too shy or perhaps, ashamed to make her demands. Yet, in a small teary voice, she said. "A promise is a promise. Today is the last. I don't want you to hold back."
Loney understood that she was referring to their last intimate session. He wanted to let her know that today will only be the last if the test showed she was pregnant. Even with that, whether or not she accepted him, he had no intention of letting her go.
He knew that she loved him but she wasn't ready to commit. However, he was determined to win her over completely. He remained quiet, even as the words were forced to come out of him. Instead, he stood up and held her up.
Danica was so ashamed at her words, she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. Loney hadn't said anything after that, which appalled her. How did he perceive her? Did she cross the line? They went back to the elevator and Loney pressed a button. It went up and they got to a door. When he opened it, it didn't lead to the garage as they had come from. Danica feared. "Where are we?" She asked, a little shakily.
"We're going to my room," He responded as he opened the door and they were met with lots of clothes. "Sorry you have to walk on your knees," Loney said as he bent and began trudging. She couldn't understand but just followed. After escaping the clothes, Loney stood up and pulled her up. "You might see it as a mansion but it's still a safe house. There are so many exits and entrances."
Everything made sense. The door led to his closet. She could make her way out from there so naturally, she walked to the bedroom with Loney following closely behind. "About what you said, are you sure about that? I'm a man with high demands," Loney carefully said, hoping that Danica would change her mind, even though he wanted her more than she did.
"I mean it," Danica said and turned her back to him. Loney understood that she wanted him to unzip her dress therefore, the rest of his words stuck in his throat. He didn't unzip her dress immediately. Rather, he held the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. Danica heard the unbuckling sound of a belt. Her heart thumped.
She recalled the last time this happened. She was so drained she couldn't wake up the next day but she still wanted it. She wanted him. She was about to turn around when she felt his hand on her back. Goosebumps cascaded her like waves, as her zip was pulled down.
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