Chapter Four

Jasmine took a deep breath as she pushed the business card into the bottom of her bag, trying to push away the thoughts swirling in her mind. The last thing she needed was to get wrapped up in the life of a mafia boss, no matter how calm and collected Antonio Romano seemed.

She was a therapist, after all. Her job was to help people heal, not get involved in something dangerous and beyond her control. The whole situation with the accident had been a fluke, a one-time thing. She needed to focus on what she knew best: helping her patients and doing the work she was passionate about.

With that thought in mind, Jasmine squared her shoulders and walked into the clinic, immediately greeted by the familiar scent of lavender and chamomile filling the air. It was her safe space, her professional sanctuary—no mafia bosses, no dangerous men. Just people who needed healing.

"Good morning, Lana," Jasmine said, offering a small smile to the receptionist as she approached the desk.

Lana, a cheerful young woman in her mid-20s, looked up from her computer and gave a bright smile. "Good morning, Dr. Harrington! Your first patient's here, and everything's on schedule today."

Jasmine nodded. "Great, thanks. I'll be in my office."

As she walked down the hallway, she could hear the soft murmur of conversations from other therapists' offices, the steady rhythm of work beginning for the day. She took a quiet moment to herself as she entered her office, sitting behind her desk and taking a deep breath.

A soft knock on the door broke the silence.

"Come in," Jasmine called out, looking up.

Caleb Whitman, her colleague, stepped inside, giving her a small wave.

"Hey, Jasmine. You good?" he asked, his friendly tone laced with concern. Caleb, at 26, was one of the newest therapists at the clinic, and though he was still finding his footing, he had quickly become a valued part of their team.

Jasmine nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just a little distracted this morning. You know how it goes."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something was off, but he didn't push. Caleb wasn't the type to invade her space, so he just gave her a soft smile and said, "Well, if you need anything, let me know. I'm here."

"Thanks, Caleb," she said gratefully.

He lingered for a moment longer before heading out, leaving Jasmine to gather herself. She tried to let go of the lingering unease, focusing on the files in front of her. A few minutes later, she was back in her groove, reading over a new patient's history and preparing for the first of her many appointments that day.

Her boss, Dr. Meera Chapel, had always told her to keep her personal life separate from her work. It was easier said than done, but it was the key to keeping everything running smoothly.

The clock ticked on as patients came and went. Jasmine felt her mind begin to drift, but she reminded herself to stay focused. For once, the act of helping others, listening, and offering guidance felt like the only thing that mattered. She had done this for years, and it was where she found her sense of purpose.

As the day wore on, the building tension inside of her slowly faded. No thoughts of Antonio Romano, no lingering curiosity about the man she had crashed into.

Just patients, just work.

At least, that's how she tried to keep it.

Around midday, Dr. Meera Chapel stepped into her office, her presence commanding as always. At 54, Meera was the head of the clinic—a brilliant, no-nonsense therapist with decades of experience. Her sharp, insightful mind and direct approach made her an excellent boss, but sometimes, Jasmine couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by her.

"Jasmine," Dr. Chapel began, her voice low and professional, "how are things going today? We've had a slight change in the schedule. One of your patients had to reschedule."

Jasmine nodded, making a quick note in her planner. "Everything's going smoothly. I'm just adjusting for the changes."

Dr. Chapel eyed her closely for a moment. "You seem distracted. Is everything okay?"

Jasmine forced a smile. "Just a bit of a rough start to the morning. But I'm good now. Don't worry."

Dr. Chapel didn't seem entirely convinced, but she didn't press the matter. "Alright, let me know if you need anything. If you're ready, I'll have Caleb cover your next break. You deserve it."

Jasmine gave a polite nod as Dr. Chapel left her office.

It was a quiet afternoon, and though the temptation to look at Antonio's business card lingered, Jasmine did her best to ignore it. One day at a time. One patient at a time.

By the time the clinic's doors closed for the day, she had managed to push the thought of the accident and the mysterious mafia boss completely out of her mind.

She had a routine, a life that had nothing to do with danger or power.

For now, that was enough.