FORBIDDEN

Chapter three

Chapter three

jasmine*

My alarm blared for the fourth time and I jumped out of bed. I wouldn’t want to be late for class. Being in my final year in college, we were expected to go on an internship program according to our fields of study.

As a business administration student, I have already submitted the three companies I would love to work with for my internship.

None of the companies was as good as Sebastian’s company but I would be foolish to add his company to my list. That will mean going back to being trapped in the name of protection, not when I have been so desperate to be out of his reach as much as possible.

My boyfriend Jake and I already submitted the same choices, and hopefully we will be posted to the same company. There I’d have more time and freedom to be with him without Sebastian ever finding out.

Jake is a guy I admire and love so much. We’ve been dating for two years now and throughout that time, we never consummated our relationship, he said he’ll wait for me till after marriage and that’s so sweet though I wanted him to touch me but it’s fine. When the time is right, I’ll introduce him to my parents.

The thought of seeing Jake today made me blush hard.

I got to school and I saw Lisa at the entrance looking sad and downcast.

“What’s happening?” I asked Lisa who looked like she had just been through hell.

She heaved a sad smile with an eye roll, “ I was posted to Z technologies,” she said and I understood why she was sad.

Since high school, Lisa has always had a crush on sabastian but he hardly ever notices her. Probably because she was a little too chubby for him. He likes slim, model- like girls.

She had submitted to her company, hoping she’d be posted there, but she wasn’t. I felt sorry for her. This was the only opportunity she had to be close to him for at least six hours daily for the next three months. But she missed it.

“I’m so sorry babe.” I said, pulling her in for a hug, “Did you see mine? Where was I posted to?” I asked pulling her toward the information board.

She wasn’t saying anything and I wondered why. The Lisa I know would have already told me where I was posted, even before I got the chance to see it for myself. But I ignored her. She was still probably sad about her posting.

My eyes eagerly scanned the long list pasted on the board and the first name I looked for was Jake’s. He was posted to X corporation.

I nervously searched for my name, praying to God that I’d also be posted to X corporation but I paused abruptly when I saw my name.

“No…. This must be a mistake.” I said with wide eyes and trembling hands. “How… did it happen”

My heart drummed in my chest and I felt my head spinning as I tried to grasp what was going on.

How the hell was I posted to Peak Corporation??

My stepbrother’s company.

____________________________________

“Mum please, you don’t understand. I can’t live with Sebastian I don’t want to,” I pleaded with my mum, who paid little or no attention to me as she ordered the maids to make sure to pack everything I’d need for the next three months.

I had tried all I could to get the school to place me at my place of choice but they said there was nothing they could do about it.

With his influence, Sebastian made sure the school posted me to his company by all means.

Peak corporation is four hours away from home and my parents decided it would be best to stay with Sebastian throughout my internship program since we only need to report to school once every week- on Fridays.

So I had to stay at Sebastian’s house from Sundays to Thursdays. I had to endure him for that long. I hadn’t even gotten over the trauma of when I was trapped in the house.

What happens to my boyfriend Jake? I can’t call, text, or reach out to him without Sebastian knowing.

“Mum?” I called softly and my mum finally gave me her attention.

“Honey,” she cooed, looking at me with tender love in her green eyes that mirrored mine,” you will visit us every weekend. Before you blink twice, your internship program will come to an end and you’ll return to your mother’s warm embrace again!” She said with excitement.

She thinks this is about her? She never listens to me.

It was Friday afternoon and despite my pleas to leave on Sunday instead, my parents insisted I leave today so I could settle in properly before Monday.

Goodness! The universe was making my life miserable.