Owned by the Don

Everything Falls Apart

Jasmine POV:

Six hours later, I was done with classes for the day and could finally leave for work. But just as I was about to get into a cab, my phone began to vibrate. I pulled it out and checked the caller ID. It was my boss, Veronica. I frowned in confusion. She never called—if she wanted to talk, she’d text me on w******p or send an email.

Sliding my finger across the screen, I put the phone to my ear. “Good afternoon, Veronica. I just finished classes for the day. I’m on my way to work now.”

“Jasmine, I don’t know how to tell you this… I’m afraid I’m gonna have to let you go,” she began.

I froze on the spot, my heart dropping like a stone. Fired? On the phone?

“I… I’m sorry, but I’m having trouble understanding. Letting me go? What did I do?” I asked, my voice shaky, my free hand gripping the strap of my bag so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“I find your work ethics to be very poor, and I’ve excused you on multiple occasions. You’re constantly late for work, you mix up the invoices, and if I’m being honest, you’re just not qualified enough to work at Imax Fashions,” she replied bluntly.

“Work ethics? But I don’t understand—why are you firing me? I need this job. I’m in danger of being evicted,” I pleaded, my throat tightening as panic rose in my chest.

“I’m sorry, Jasmine, but my decision is final. I’ll send you your paycheck for Monday to Thursday. Thank you and goodbye.”

And just like that, she was gone.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I stood there on the sidewalk, staring at my phone in disbelief. I had been fired. I had no other source of income, and I had rent to pay. I had fifteen hundred dollars saved up, but that wasn’t enough to cover this month’s rent. I was screwed.

Deciding the only thing left to do was ask Marcus for an extra thousand dollars, I hailed a taxi to Greenpoint.

On the drive over, I texted Riley and asked her to meet me at my apartment in an hour. If worse came to worst and I couldn’t pay rent in time, I might have to crash with her tonight. The drive to Marcus’s condo took forever, but we eventually reached it. I quickly paid the cab and stepped out.

I had a key to the place, so I didn’t need to knock. Marcus had given me permission to enter whenever I wanted. I walked up the stairs to his bedroom, where he’d most likely be playing games on his Xbox. Walking soundlessly down the carpeted hallway, I reached his bedroom and was about to call out his name when I heard the sound of a woman giggling.

My hand froze on the doorknob. I pressed my ear to the door and listened carefully. Loud moans reached my ears, and a sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The sight before me made my heart sink.

Marcus was lying in bed, shirtless, with his pants discarded on the floor next to a pair of bright red panties. The woman beneath him had her legs tightly wrapped around his waist, her back arched in pleasure. The amorous moans coming from her mouth left no doubt that she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

As was Marcus… the so-called love of my life.

Tears stung my eyes. I stumbled backward, knocking a vase to the floor with a loud crash. The sound made Marcus and the woman whip their heads around. Marcus’s eyes widened in shock when he saw me.

“Jas, what are you doing here? I said come over at 7. You’re supposed to be at work,” he said, his voice sharp with surprise.

Hearing his words, a rush of anger flared up inside me. “I came here and saw my boyfriend cheating on me with another woman, and all you have to say is ‘I’m supposed to be at work’?!” I shot back, my voice rising, fists clenched at my sides.

Marcus flung the covers over the woman, quickly pulled on his pants, and stood up, facing me with not a trace of guilt in his eyes. “Jasmine, I’m sorry. I wanted us to do this over dinner, but since you’ve already seen it, I guess there’s no point in delaying the inevitable.”

I already knew what he was going to say. I was just waiting for him to say the actual words.

“I’m in love with someone else, Jasmine. Sally and I have been in love for the longest while. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how. I’m really sorry, Jas, but we’re done.”

There it was. The breakup. The heart-clenching breakup.

I wanted to run down the stairs and go home crying, but I wasn’t about to let him see how much he had hurt me. So I straightened my jacket, pushed my hair out of my face, and smiled at him.

“Goodbye, Marcus. I hope you have a happy life.”

My composure was calm on the outside, but inside I was a broken mess. He looked surprised by my words. I guess he’d expected a more hysterical reaction. He’d never get it.

Not waiting for anything else, I turned and walked out of the room and out of Marcus’s life forever.

Let’s assess the situation, shall we?

I’ve been fired. My land lady is kicking me out of my apartment this evening. And my boyfriend just dumped me. I waited on the sidewalk for about five minutes before a taxi came. I got in and asked the driver to drop me off at my apartment. On the drive over, I had just one thought going through my mind.

Life’s a b***h.