My hard boss

Chapter 10- The best things to say

Edmund knew he was in for trouble the moment he saw Jasmine. It was almost as if she were breathing fire. He ran his hands through his hair and exhaled.

He was not surprised when Jasmine began chasing Sally around the room. Sally kept trying to explain, but Jasmine wouldn't listen. It looked as though all Jasmine wanted was to scratch Sally's eyes out.

"Sally is wearing the shirt I bought for you last week! I will rip her face off," Jasmine said as she ran after Sally.

"I did not know you bought it for him, Miss Jasmine. Please, let me explain." When Sally noticed Jasmine wouldn't give up, she spoke to Edmund, "Save me from this mess! She is like an angry dog!"

Jasmine gasped. "Did you just call me a dog? You seduce my boyfriend, I catch you in the act, and you call me a dog? Now I am even angrier."

"It is not what it looks like, Jasmine. Take a chill pill," Edmund tried to intervene. He was the only one standing still while the two women ran around the room.

"Yes, Jasmine. I do not like your boyfriend one bit. For all I care, you can keep him," Sally said, hoping to calm Jasmine down.

Edmund felt a stab in his heart. How could she say she did not like him after all the signals she had given him?

"Oh yeah? Then explain why I found you half-naked in his room! This was not the dress you came to the party in, you w***e!" Jasmine spat.

Edmund decided to end the drama. He rushed to Jasmine and grabbed both her hands. "You need to stop this, Jasmine. Nothing happened. I will explain everything, I promise."

He looked at Sally. "Everything you need is in that bag. Take it to the bathroom and clean up."

Sally did as she was told.

Edmund turned Jasmine to face him, and she hugged him, beginning to weep. "Why, Edmund? Why did you choose her? She isn't half as beautiful as I am. She has zero class. Why does it have to be her?"

"Be calm, dear. Nothing happened. She happened to be on her period and rushed inside to change. I met her here coincidentally. She had no idea this was my room. Jasmine, believe me," Edmund explained.

"Really?" Jasmine asked, looking into his eyes.

"Yes, dear. Everything you heard is correct," Edmund said, smiling.

"So, you were just helping her?" Jasmine asked, her voice becoming more hopeful.

"You are such a smart girl. You are right," Edmund answered.

"Well, she better get changed and get lost," Jasmine uttered as she walked to the bathroom door and banged on it. "Hey, you! Change and get lost! Do you hear me? My boyfriend has helped you enough. Leave before you get any wild thoughts about seducing him. I will never let that happen."

A maid interrupted them. She knocked on the door, and Edmund answered, "Come in."

The maid smiled. "Thank goodness, Miss Jasmine. I have been looking for you everywhere. Madam Elizabeth would like to see you."

"Right now?" Jasmine didn't want to leave.

"Don't worry, Jasmine. I will handle everything. Go meet Grandma. Maybe she has something important to discuss with you." Edmund's persuasion worked, and Jasmine left.

A few minutes later, Sally walked out of the bathroom. The blue dress and heels fit her perfectly.

Edmund smiled. "I will take you home. I hope that's alright with you."

Sally considered. "I do not want to leave. Everyone will notice."

"You want to stay here longer?" he teased. Then his expression became serious. "No one knows you here. Besides, we can always use the back door."

"That makes sense. Happy to know your angry girlfriend is gone," Sally replied.

***

"I am not your driver. The least you can do is sit in the front with me," Edmund said. He did not really like the fact that she had insisted on not sitting by his side.

"You offered to drive me, and I thank you," she replied. She wouldn't give him the answer he wanted.

He sighed. "How did you like the things I got you?"

"They are good stuff, thank you," she responded with a calm tone of voice, but the truth was that she loved everything he had gotten her. The texture of the blue fabric felt like a million bucks. She would not ask the price because she knew she might be tempted to sell off the dress. He had gotten her the most expensive of everything. But she decided she would not show her excitement.

"Just a thank you? Is that all I get?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes, knowing he wouldn't see her. "I thought you did it for charity's sake," she said.

He laughed.

"I am glad you agree, sir. I appreciate your gesture," she said, dismissing the subject. He heard her intention in her tone of voice and said, "I thought you were one of those proud people who repaid every gesture. What happened to your pride?"

"On the contrary, I love free things. You give, and I happily collect. I have no pride. But I also believe I should be treated with dignity. So, I will let no one step on me," she replied.

"We are here," he said.

She looked out the window. They were at the block of apartments where she lived.

"How did you know my place?" she asked.

"You work in my company, and I have information about you. Does that make any sense?" he spoke slowly, as though he were explaining to someone extremely stupid.

She frowned and got out of the car. She walked away without saying a word.

"Sally," he called.

She turned.

"Come closer," he directed.

She sighed, wondering what he was up to. She didn't move.

He repeated himself, "I have a question to ask. Come closer."

She obeyed.

He beckoned her to bend so he could whisper the words in her ear.

She did, and he said, "Did you really like everything I got you? Including the underwear? I know the one you wore to the party got stained. Did it fit well? I guessed your size, and I was so right."