I was completely taken aback by Bela's words. It felt like something straight out of a Hollywood movie. With a flick of her finger on my forehead, she shouted, "Get a hold of yourself, Jasmine!" Her tone was stern, but I could tell there was care in it, even if it was mixed with frustration.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy to win Raymond back, especially after what I'd put him through. After firing him, choosing Bela over our relationship, and making him feel miserable there was no way this would be simple. But I couldn't back down. My feet dragged as I walked toward him, each step feeling like I was being pulled by an invisible force.
When I finally reached where he was sitting, I could see the tension in his face and the way he clenched his jaw as I approached. I sat beside him, but he didn't acknowledge me, still glued to the television as if I wasn't there. I grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, tugging on it lightly, trying to get his attention.
Clearing my throat, I hesitated, unsure how to start. "I am…" Before I could even finish my apology, he pulled me into his arms, cutting me off. "What took you so long, Jasmine?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't think I could've lasted another day without you."
I blinked, surprised by how easy it was, especially after how badly I'd hurt him. I had expected him to be distant, angry maybe even vengeful. But there he was, holding me like nothing had happened.
I leaned back slightly, pulling away just enough to look into his eyes. "Have you forgiven me?" I asked softly. He smiled, his grip tightening as he whispered back, "Yes."
It felt too easy, and I wasn't sure I could believe it. So, I decided to bring Bela into the conversation. I went to my office and asked her to join us. When she walked in, I turned to Raymond, asking, "Can you repeat what you just said?"
Raymond turned to her, his voice calm yet full of sincerity. "Bela, she doesn't believe me when I say I've forgiven her. She thinks it's too easy after everything she did to me. Jasmine, I love you, and all I wanted was for you to accept me and come back to me. And now that you have, I don't see any reason to hold a grudge. You made my wish come true."
Bela looked at him, her brows furrowed in disbelief. "Raymond, how can she believe you when she was awful to you? She chose her best friend over you, over your relationship. I wouldn't have accepted her back if I were you. You're a good man for doing this."
I turned to her, exasperated. "Bela, I thought you were here to support me."
Bela shook her head, her voice firm. "I am supporting you. But I'm also telling you the truth. Jasmine, you need to understand that you can't sacrifice your happiness for anyone, not even your best friend. If someone makes you feel guilty for choosing your happiness, they're not a real friend. You should've explained everything to me instead of acting guilty. I love you, Jasmine, and I don't want to be the reason you lose your happiness."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I had never seen her speak so passionately, and it made me realize just how much I'd taken her friendship for granted. It was no wonder she won all her cases in court, she had a way with words, a way of cutting through the clutter to speak the truth.
I needed to do something to celebrate, so I went out to buy beer and chicken. Even though my father had passed away only a few days ago, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how things had turned around. It felt like I had died and been reborn, a miracle I hadn't imagined possible. Bela had forgiven me, Raymond had accepted my apology, and somehow, we were all still standing.
Despite everything, I knew I couldn't have Raymond as my secretary anymore. It would be too complicated for both of us. He had a degree in Human Resource Management, and I wanted to offer him a managerial position, but he insisted on starting from scratch to avoid any future complications.
"We'll keep it quiet," he agreed. "Let's just make sure work doesn't know about us yet. It's for the best."
That evening, after work, I picked him up and took him to a Mercedes-Benz dealership. I was ready to spoil him, but when I offered to buy him a new car, he refused. "What is it with men and their pride?" I asked myself, frustrated but amused.
To make up for my mistake and show my gratitude, I decided to order a blue Lamborghini Huracan Evo. It was my way of thanking her for being such a great friend. But there was a catch, I wasn't going to let Raymond continue taking my car for work. I pulled him aside, my tone firm.
"Raymond, you're not using my car to get to work anymore. You can either accept the car I'm buying for you, or you'll be back to taking taxis," I said, with no room for negotiation.
He stood there, looking at me like I was joking, but I repeated the statement, my voice now laced with seriousness and a hint of anger.
The realization hit him hard, and with a resigned sigh, he finally chose the Mercedes-Benz GLS. As we left the dealership, I couldn't help but laugh.
"You wouldn't have picked it if I wasn't serious," I teased. "Why do men always have pride? What's mine is yours, so don't act like that with me."
The next morning, I woke up to find Raymond standing outside my door, a towel draped around his neck. Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What are you doing here so early?"
He shot me a seductive look, his tongue rolling over his lips in a way that made me think he was possessed. I smacked his forehead lightly, hoping to snap him out of it.
"Ouch, Jasmine! What was that for?" he complained.
"Are you possessed or something?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," he smirked. "I just thought we could have a morning bath together."
It was funny how he danced around the idea when he could have just asked directly. I laughed, rubbed his forehead affectionately, and invited him inside. The rest of the morning, well, that's a story for another time.
With my mind occupied with personal matters, I hired a private investigator to look into my biological parents. Using the details my father gave me on his deathbed, I wanted to know if they were still alive and, if given the chance, ask them a few questions.
Although I didn't miss Raymond at his usual post too much, my new personal assistant was very competent, quiet, and disciplined but there were still moments when I thought of him.
One evening, as Bela and I sat together in the lounge, Raymond came back from the hospital looking exhausted. Without a word, he collapsed onto me, using my body like a mattress.
I couldn't resist teasing him. "You know, my new personal assistant is doing a better job than you ever did," I said, smirking.
He ignored my playful jab, his lips trailing over my neck. I thought he was tired, but it didn't stop him from being affectionate. I leaned in to kiss him, but before our lips could meet, Bela's voice rang out.
"Get a room, you two!" she shouted, making us both laugh.
I made my way to work the next day, and as soon as I entered the hospital, I could feel something was off. Everyone was staring at me, whispers rippling through the halls. I had no idea what was going on.
"Madam, we have a problem," my assistant said, looking concerned as he handed me a tabloid.
I froze when I saw the headline: "CEO Who Sleeps with Her Employees", accompanied by a picture of me.