Chapter 8

**Author's POV**

Jasmine stared into Asher's expectant eyes and couldn't reject them. She demanded something he couldn't offer: "I want a month of holiday!"

His eyes widened, and it took him a few seconds, but then he smiled, nodding. "Fine."

This is her time to be shocked, but then she composed herself and demanded more. "It should be paid leave."

He nodded his head and said, with the same smile, "Fine."

Jasmine couldn't believe his words. She took a step closer and looked into Asher's eyes, thinking, "What the hell is wrong with him?! Why did he agree to such a crazy demand?! Did he really forget that I am in charge of those projects?! If I took a week off, then it might turn everything crazy as no one is involved other than me!"

"I don't want to receive even a single call in my time of leave regarding work!" She demanded something he couldn't afford. He won't sacrifice all of his other projects just because of this, right?

"Fine," he said with a smile, and continued, "As long as you work hard and get this project, I will do everything you have demanded!"

"Are you stupid?! Why the hell are you sacrificing all the other projects just for this?!" she asked, almost shouting and continuing, "We are not even 100 percent sure that he will give us the contract!"

"I know... but I trust. I trust that you will get us the contract, so please work on that, and about other projects, just do the main work and leave that to me. I will make others do those works, and for the next 2 months, you won't have any other projects, so you can take a break and rest with Cece!" He said it with a bright smile covering his face.

Jasmine was shocked but then looked at his face for a few minutes and then nodded her head, saying, "Fine!". She took a sigh and smiled, thinking, "If he is ready to do all these things, then as a good friend. I should help him too".

"I might use this one month of time to take my Cece on a trip as she wants," Jasmine's smile widens as she thinks about her daughter.

"That's it?" He asked in confusion because he expected her to demand something more with the amount of disagreement she had with Mr. Danovan.

"Yes..." She whispered, finally letting it out and getting ready to face him for the last time. She promised herself that she would never cross his path again.

"Then come on, let's go out. We shouldn't let our guests wait for too long!" Asher said with a huge smile and walked out of the room as Jasmine followed back, pulling herself together.

Her heart rate increased at the mere mention of him. She took a sigh and walked into the meeting room, where Sabastian was talking with someone on the phone.

"I will be there soon; start the meeting," he replied before ending the call. Then he turned to look at both of them, not in a very polished look, but with his eyes only on Jasmine as he asked, "So what did you guys decide?"

"Our employee has agreed to work with you, sir. We can talk about further details." Asher replied with respect, as he didn't understand what was going on between them.

"She should report to me from tomorrow onwards and do everything until I am satisfied with the work. I might not select if I don't like it, so ask her to work hard." He informed her and walked away before giving Jasmine a dead look that sent a shiver down her spine.

It took a few seconds for her to even move, and after that, she smiled at Asher as if nothing had happened and moved on with her next work, but still, a corner of her heart is scared of everything.

She goes back to her cabin and calls the only person that she always goes to, her best friend.

"Stacy, I met him." Jasmine let out her frustration for the first time after composing herself for all those hours.

"Who?" Stacy asked normally with a smile, hearing her best friend's frustration, and sipped her coffee like it was a common thing.

"Sabastian! Him!" She almost shouted his name in frustration.

She chokes on the coffee and spits it out as soon as she hears the name. Stacy was shocked because it had been so many years.

"How?!" She asked, placing the coffee down and getting ready to hear the drama from her friend.

"You remember, I got so busy with this big project that Asher is trying to get?! Guess what?! This man is the investor in this project, and I should impress him with my designs this month to get them!" She lets out her frustration like a little child.

"Him! Why the hell did you agree?! You know he still doesn't believe you and thinks you cheated on him, right?!" Stacy lets out her side of frustration. She even tried to talk with Sabastian before, but seeing him go crazy at that time made her give up in a day.

"I didn't at all! But Asher asked me. You know, he trusted me from the start and helped me a lot. I don't want to say no to him when he is in need, so I agreed, but I am worried. How the hell am I supposed to spend the next whole month in his office?! He might make me do crazy things." She ends the last words with a whisper and bites her lips, thinking about the kiss. Even though it took her by surprise, she still longed for his lips on hers.

"Just don't worry and focus on your work. I'm pretty sure he can't do anything crazy! If he still tries to do something, then come to me. I will break his face!" She assured her like all the best friends do, and Jasmine smiled at that. It made her feel good just by pouring out all her frustrations on her.

"Thank you," Jasmine replied with a smile, still holding her phone in her ear.

"Any time, girl. I am always there for you." Stacy replied with a smile and gave kisses, asking in her baby voice, "Give me my kisses."

Jasmine laughed upon hearing that, but still kissed, saying, "I love you."

"I love you too, but not more than my Cece! How is my baby? I miss her soooo much." Stacy asked, thinking about Cece, as it's been a long time since they met.