mango_latte

When Jasmine’s car collides with Antonio’s, she expects nothing more than an accident report and a headache. But from the moment he lays eyes on her, Antonio is captivated—her beauty, her presence, the quiet fire in her eyes. She’s been hurt before, and love is not something she’s searching for. All she wants is peace, warmth, and a place where she feels safe.

But Antonio is not a man who walks away from what he wants. And from the moment he sees her, he knows—he wants her.

HIS ENDEAVORS

Jasmine adjusted the notepad in her lap, her fingers tracing the edge of the paper as she waited. Isabella De Luca was running five minutes late, which wasn't unusual for new clients, but something about this session felt... different.

She had spent the morning preparing, going over potential approaches, but no matter how much she tried to treat this like any other appointment, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Isabella's presence than just therapy.

A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, sitting up straighter.

The door opened, and Isabella stepped inside, exuding effortless confidence. She wore a sleek black dress, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes held something—curiosity, maybe even amusement.

Jasmine gestured toward the chair across from her. "Please, have a seat."

Isabella moved gracefully, settling into the chair with an air of ease. She crossed her legs and studied Jasmine for a moment before speaking.

"You seemed surprised to see my name on your client list," she said.

Jasmine kept her expression neutral. "It's not every day someone I meet at an event books an appointment."

Isabella smirked. "I suppose that's fair." She tilted her head slightly. "Though, I imagine you've already guessed this isn't a coincidence."

Jasmine's fingers tightened slightly around her pen. "Why don't you tell me why you're here?"

Isabella let out a soft hum, as if considering how much to reveal. "I thought it would be... interesting to speak with you."

"Interesting?" Jasmine repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." Isabella's gaze was sharp, calculated. "You and I have someone in common, after all."

Jasmine kept her posture relaxed, refusing to let Isabella rattle her. "Therapy is meant to be about you, not someone else."

Isabella smiled, as if she had expected that response. "Of course. But you see, I know Antonio very well. And if he's taken an interest in you, that means you're different."

Jasmine's heartbeat quickened, but she didn't let it show. "Antonio's personal life isn't relevant to this session."

Isabella studied her for a moment before leaning forward slightly. "You're not like the others," she said softly. "That's why he's drawn to you."

Jasmine's grip on the pen tightened, but she forced herself to remain composed. "If you're here to talk about Antonio, this won't be a productive session."

Isabella chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Relax, Jasmine. I'm not here to scare you away. I'm here because I'm curious. About you. About what makes you so... intriguing to a man who doesn't let people in."

Jasmine took a slow breath, choosing her words carefully. "If you want to continue therapy, we focus on you. Not Antonio. Not me. Just you."

Isabella held her gaze for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright, Jasmine. Let's talk about me."

But as the session went on, Jasmine couldn't shake the feeling that Isabella wasn't here to be helped.

And Jasmine wasn't sure if she had passed or failed.

Meanwhile, across town, Antonio stood in his office, staring at his phone.

Vincent had just sent him a message.

He had expected this, but that didn't mean he liked it.

He knew Isabella. And he knew she never did anything without a reason.

Whatever she had said to Jasmine, it wasn't meaningless.

And that meant Antonio needed to act—before things got out of his control.

Chapter Fourteen