Chapter 14
1091 Words
Jasmine
Jasmine woke to the soft, unfamiliar silence of Reece’s penthouse. The luxury of her surroundings still felt surreal, like a dream she hadn’t fully woken from. Sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting warm golden beams across the room. For a moment, she lay there, letting herself feel the comfort of the oversized bed beneath her. But her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since the night before, and the lingering ache of hunger pulled her from bed.
Wrapping herself in the robe again, she made her way down the hall, her bare feet silent against the cool marble floors. As she entered the kitchen, she paused, surprised to see Reece already there, sitting at the large dining table with a tablet in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
He looked up as she approached, his sharp features softening slightly with a smile. “Morning, Jasmine. Hungry?”
She hesitated, feeling a little self-conscious, but nodded. “Yeah, a little.”
Reece set the tablet down, gesturing to the spread on the table. “My cook made breakfast. You’re free to join me.”
Jasmine’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the food—fresh fruit, eggs, toast, and even a selection of pastries, all laid out with meticulous precision. She hadn’t expected such extravagance, but her hunger got the better of her, and she sat across from Reece, feeling a little awkward in the oversized robe as she reached for a slice of toast.
They ate together in a comfortable silence, though Jasmine couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place. Every bite of food felt like a reminder of how much her life had changed in the last 24 hours. The fire, the loss of her apartment, and now, this—the world of Reece Scott, a world so far removed from her own that she wasn’t sure how to navigate it.
As if reading her thoughts, Reece spoke, his tone casual. “Your clothes were delivered this morning.”
Jasmine blinked, looking up from her plate. “My clothes?”
He nodded. “I had some things ordered for you. Thought you might want a fresh start.”
After breakfast, curiosity tugged at her, and Jasmine made her way to the living room. The moment she stepped inside, her breath caught. Piles of new clothes—elegant dresses, stylish jeans, soft sweaters—were spread out across the room, along with boxes of shoes. Each piece looked expensive, far beyond anything she could afford, and the thought that these were hers made her heart race with both gratitude and unease.
She walked closer, picking up one of the dresses and running her fingers over the fabric. It was beautiful—delicate, light, and perfect for her. But as she glanced over the neatly arranged piles, a question nagged at her.
How had Reece known her sizes?
She turned to find him leaning casually against the doorway, watching her with that same easy smile. “I… I don’t even know how to thank you, Reece. This is too much,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “I’ll pay you back for everything, no matter how long it takes.”
Reece chuckled softly, his gray eyes glinting as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, black credit card. “Pay me back?” He stepped closer, holding the card out to her. “Jasmine, if you don’t like the clothes I picked out, you can use this to buy whatever you want. Consider it an invitation to shop for yourself.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she took a step back, her eyes widening. “Reece, I couldn’t possibly… this is too much.”
He tilted his head slightly, his smile never wavering. “Your house is gone, Jasmine. Everything you owned is gone. You’ll need clothes, shoes, and a lot more soon enough. Let me help. You shouldn’t have to worry about these things right now.”
Jasmine stared at the card for a long moment, her mind racing. The thought of accepting something like this from Reece felt overwhelming, like she was crossing a line she hadn’t even known existed. But at the same time, he was right. Her apartment, her belongings, everything she had was gone. How could she refuse?
Her fingers trembled as she reluctantly took the card, the cool weight of it feeling strange in her hand. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I’ll pay you back. Somehow. I promise.”
Reece chuckled again, stepping closer and brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear with a gentle touch. “There’s no need for that,” he said, his voice low. “Consider it a gift. From me to you.”
Jasmine swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of his gaze. She forced a smile, not wanting to seem ungrateful. “Thank you,” she whispered again, before turning her attention back to the clothes.
She began picking up the clothes and shoes, carrying them to the guest bedroom one armful at a time. Each item felt luxurious, perfectly chosen, and it was clear that Reece had spared no expense. But no matter how much she admired the new wardrobe, she couldn’t shake the lingering question of how he knew so much about her—her sizes, her preferences.
As she placed the last box of shoes in the bedroom, Jasmine took a deep breath, trying to push aside her unease. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful. After all, Reece had been nothing but kind to her, especially after everything she’d lost. But there was something about his generosity that made her feel as if the ground beneath her was slowly shifting.
She couldn’t deny how indebted she felt to him now. She was living in his home, wearing clothes he had bought, and holding a credit card with his name on it. It felt like she was slipping into a world that wasn’t her own—a world that Reece controlled.
Jasmine tried to shake off the feeling as she picked out one of the new dresses and went to get changed. But as she stood in front of the mirror, admiring the way the fabric hugged her body, the thought lingered in the back of her mind.
She was falling deeper into Reece’s world.
And she wasn’t sure if she’d ever find her way out.
- Writer
