Chapter 6

• Cory got to the Brown Links headquarters very early, he was told Mr. Grant was not around, but he had assigned him to a staff. Cory was briefed on his new job, and given a Suit, a licensed Pistol, and other paraphernalia of his office. He left the office, with a determination to succeed at his new job. He felt like the future of his students at the martial arts school depended on him now. He went into the elevator and his heart almost stopped beating at the sight that greeted him. Jasmine all by herself, standing and drinking from a bottle of energy drink.
• “Hi” she greeted and he nodded in reply, unsure of what to say in reply. The lift vibrated as it continued its descent down, suddenly it started moving grudgingly, like an enraged cow it ambled down a few metres and it stopped suddenly!
• “ Oh my Goodness!” Jasmine screamed out in anger, and called security.
• “What is going on, I am stuck in the elevator, and I have got to get home before it's late, I have got my Cat to feed,” she said cooly.
• “Sorry ma’am, we are trying to fix it, you should be out in a minute,” the security man said assuringly.
• Twenty minutes later they were still stuck, and Jasmine was frustrated. Cory kept his cool, he tried to figure out what it was, an electrical problem, a glitch, an engine mal-function. He watched Jasmine try calling again, she was told they could not figure out what the problem was, so they would have to call the Maintenance team. That meant, they were officially stuck and would have to wait. Cory pulled off his suit and his tie.
• “Are you not hot in that jacket?” he asked her and she pulled off her jacket. It was obvious, she was not used to being in the heat.
• “Is this also your first time being stuck in an elevator ?” she asked him.
• “This is my first time being in a lift,” he said.
• “Wow really!” Jasmine was shocked.
• “What part of the state are you from?” She asked him and she asked him why he was helping his mom. He knew it was just to pass the time, so he entertained her with the pathetic story of his life. He was born just after his father had died, killed in a Martial arts competition by evil men. As he spoke, he watched her demeanor change into affection for him. She told him about her life too, how she had lost her mum to cancer when she was 7, about her boyfriend whom she loved dearly, and about her dreams to be a fashion mogul in the coming years. As they talked, they became enraptured in each other’s stories. Jasmine held his hands affectionately and suddenly, as if on cue, the elevator came back to life. “Thank God!’’ Jasmine shouted like a child and pulled Cory out.
• “My baby-faced bodyguard!” she screamed and dashed away like a horse. Cory knew it, he saw it in her brown eyes. She loved him and he loved her.
• Jasmine felt like a teenager once, she felt butterflies in her bellies and head were screaming like banshees. She was not used to “teenage flames” as her eldest cousin would call them. She felt inundated by the vibe this Cory guy was giving. He was way better looking than her boyfriend, and he had the perfect curves every lady wanted. She, for a moment, imagined him licking her back, his strong hands holding her as he sensitized her with his tongue. She felt numb and quickly shifted her concentration elsewhere.
• On Hi-chat she had over two hundred messages she had yet to reply to. Her media team had suggested a media handler but she had refused, nobody had the right to thrust into her privacy and that was that about that, they had invaded her space already with the whole CEO protocol thing and that was as far as they could go.
• She was free, the day was a Saturday and she had plans to host Josh. Thinking of Josh fills her with some sort of fright that she resents. Josh though with a fiery temperament gave her a joy that came with a fulfillment of some sort. He was cool, social, famous, and was friends with many celebrities.
• Jasmine ambled towards the colossal fridge housing her expensive drinks, and she grabbed a bottle of Petrus Pomerol and two glasses. On the dining table laid huge chunks of grilled fish, oysters, prawns, and vegetables.
• Soon enough Josh came in, racing his Ferrari like a freak. He climbed out of his car looking important. His Versace designer jacket accentuated his fine cut shape, he had on him a dark shade, and on his comely feet were overly designed shoes.