She wasn't saying anything, and I wondered why. The Celia 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 probably still sad about her posting.
My eyes eagerly scanned the long list pasted on the board, and the first name I looked out for was Cory's. He was posted to Plush Technologies.
I nervously searched for my name, praying to the Moon Goddess that I'd also be posted to Plush Tech, but I paused abruptly when I saw my name.
"No... This must be a mistake." I said with wide eyes and trembling hands. "How..."
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 Clinton Technologies?
My stepbrother's company
JASMINE'S POV.
"Mum, please, you don't understand. I can't live with Alaric. I don't want to," I pleaded with my mum, who paid little 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 make the school post me to my place of choice but they said there was nothing they could do about it.
With his influence, Alaric had made sure the school posted me to his company by all means.
Clinton Tech is three hours away from home, and my parents decided that it would be best to stay with Alaric throughout my internship program since we only need to report to school once every week - on Fridays.
So, I had to stay at Alaric's from Sundays to Thursdays. I had to endure him for that long. I hadn't even gotten over the fact that he killed someone because of me. It's been almost two weeks now, and we have never spoken about it after that night. Neither could I even muster the courage to tell anyone about it.
What happens to Cory? I can't call, text, or reach out to him without Alaric knowing. And now, it would only get worse.
Although I had secretly gotten another phone, which I used in communicating with Cory but... What if Alaric finds out?
"Mum?" I called softly, and my mom 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 doesn't listen. She never does.
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.
Goddess! The universe was making my life miserable.
I was so nervous, and I didn't know why. I only visited Alaric twice, and that's because he always comes home during the weekends. So, there was almost no need to go to visit him.
His house was huge, with just a few guards. He always mentioned that he didn't have a live-in maid. They all came in the morning, attended to their chores, and left immediately. So, I was all alone in the big house.
I took my things upstairs to the room he described as mine via a text. It was next to a room which I prayed earnestly not to be his room.
Our house was big and beautiful, but it was nothing compared to what I was seeing here.
The furnishing, interior, everything screamed luxury.
I texted Cory to tell him I had arrived, and he texted back. Although he was sad and disappointed about the distance between us, we promised to keep in touch and meet once weekly in school.
I'll have to come up with other opportunities for us to meet even here... Probably whenever Alaric isn't around. I am certain he wouldn't always always be at home. He should have parties, go on business trips, visit and spend time with Deline, and so on.
I didn't know when I slept off, but I woke up hungry. I hurried to the bathroom and freshened up. I quickly slid into my casual shorts and crop top and rushed to the kitchen.
It was already past six in the evening, and I knew Alaric would be home at any moment. I don't intend to see him when he returns.
Okay. Okay. Maybe I'd just say a quick 'hi' to him as curtsey demands since I just arrived at his house, but that would be all. And I'd say 'hi' to him peeping from my room just before he enters his.
Perfect.
'Hurry up! Hurry up!' I told myself as I prepared the quickest meal I could lay my hands on - Omelette and toasted bread. I didn't want to be caught in the kitchen.
Just as I finished arranging my meal on a salver, I hurried to the refrigerator to get some juice when the door to the kitchen opened, revealing a certain tall, broad-shouldered, deep, green-eyed figure I didn't wish to see just yet.
Alaric.
A gasp escaped my lips as I flinched, making the juice I had poured into a glass drop from my hand with a shattering sound.
My heart raced uncontrollably when we locked gazes. My throat went instantly dry.
How did I go from loving my stepbrother to dreading him? We used to be so close, but right now, it seems we are nothing but distant strangers.
It saddened me. But I guess people grow up. People change. He had changed so much that I hardly even recognized him.
"Hi... Alaric?"
Alaric's POV.
I tried. I swear, I did.
I tried to resist the temptation of influencing her posting, but, typical me... I couldn't. I knew she'd be upset, but I did it anyway.
Now, the thought of having her stay with me for the next three months both thrilled and scared me.
I don't want any harm to come near her. That's why I do all the things I do for her. But she'd never understand.
She might see it as me being overly intrusive in her personal life, but I don't fucking care. I could do anything to make sure she was safe.
Fuck, I had even taken a life because of her. That was how far I could go to make sure she was safe.
She had grown to dislike me, but it was okay. As long as she remains a good girl and does as I always say, we are cool.
I stepped into the house, hoping to see her somewhere in the living room, probably watching one of her boring movies, but she wasn't there. The whole place seemed a bit too organized, which was strange. Not when someone like Jasmine was around.
She was used to misplacing the TV remotes and leaving an almost empty glass of juice on the table after watching a movie. Seeing how organized the whole place was, it only meant she had been in her room all day.
The smell of freshly made Omelette caught my attention, and I traced it to the kitchen. As soon as I opened the door, every nerve in my body came to life.