Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Antonio sat in his office, his fingers pressed together as he stared at the message Vincent had sent.

Isabella's with her now.

It was only a matter of time before she made her move.

Isabella De Luca wasn't just someone from his past—she was a reminder of the life he had left behind. A woman he had once trusted, only to learn that trust was nothing more than a currency she used to her advantage.

She was dangerous—not in the way his enemies were, but in a far more insidious way. She was manipulative, intelligent, and she knew how to get under people's skin.

That's why he didn't want her anywhere near Jasmine.

Jasmine was different. She wasn't part of his world, and she didn't play by the same rules. She was honest, straightforward—she didn't deceive or manipulate to get what she wanted.

And that made her vulnerable.

Antonio exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening.

He needed to find out exactly what Isabella had said to her.

But for now, he would have to wait.

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Jasmine & Penelope's Night Out

Jasmine swirled the drink in her glass, exhaling a soft laugh as Penelope dramatically recounted her latest work disaster.

"I'm telling you, Jasmine, if one more bride walks into my boutique with a five-dollar budget and million-dollar expectations, I'm quitting."

Jasmine smirked, taking a sip of her drink. "No, you won't."

Penelope groaned. "You're right. But I'll complain about it forever."

The bar was lively but not overwhelming. It was a place they had been to a handful of times before—upscale enough to be comfortable, but not so exclusive that it felt pretentious.

Jasmine had needed this. After the session with Isabella, her mind had been spinning, and Penelope had been the perfect distraction.

But just as she was starting to relax, she felt it.

The sensation of being watched.

She turned her head slightly, and that's when she saw him.

A man stood near the bar, casually sipping a drink, his gaze locked onto her. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with an easy confidence that immediately put her on edge.

His piercing blue eyes met hers, and a slow smirk tugged at his lips.

Penelope followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, do you know him?"

Before Jasmine could answer, the man pushed off the bar and made his way toward them.

The closer he got, the more she noticed—the roughness of his knuckles, the slight scar near his jaw, the way he moved like he was always ready for a fight.

He stopped just short of their table, his smirk never fading.

"Ladies," he greeted smoothly. Then, his gaze settled on Jasmine. "You must be Jasmine."

Jasmine frowned. "And you are?"

He extended a hand, which she didn't take. That only seemed to amuse him further.

"Konrad Conner," he introduced. "I work with Antonio."

Jasmine's stomach twisted slightly. Of course he did.

Penelope's eyes widened slightly as she glanced between them. "Antonio? As in—"

"Yes," Konrad said before she could finish. Then, he turned his attention back to Jasmine. "I've been wanting to meet you."

Jasmine crossed her arms. "Why?"

Konrad chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Because I like to know the people who catch Antonio's interest."

Jasmine's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not sure that's any of your business."

He tilted his head slightly, as if studying her. "Maybe not. But Antonio keeps his world very... contained. People don't just walk into it. So, naturally, I'm curious."

Jasmine didn't like the way he said that. It made her feel like she had stepped into something she hadn't even realized she was a part of.

Penelope, sensing the tension, cleared her throat. "Well, this has been fun, but we were actually having a girls' night."

Konrad smirked. "Of course. I didn't mean to interrupt." He set his drink down on the table and looked at Jasmine once more. "Just wanted to introduce myself. We'll be seeing each other again, I'm sure."

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd like he had never been there in the first place.

Penelope let out a breath. "Okay. That was intense."

Jasmine exhaled slowly, trying to shake the unease settling in her stomach.

She had a feeling Konrad was right.

This wouldn't be the last time she saw him.

And something told her this was only the beginning.

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