Unfinished Conversations
Jasmine Carter wasn't expecting to run into him again.
Not so soon.
Not at a café just down the street from her office.
Not when she was still trying to convince herself he didn't matter.
But there he was.
Asher Donovan.
Sitting near the window, coffee in hand, flipping through a newspaper like he had all the time in the world.
Like he hadn't been lingering in her thoughts for the past two days.
Her first instinct was to turn around and walk out.
But then, as if he could sense her, he looked up.
Their eyes met.
And then, he smirked.
Jasmine's stomach flipped.
This was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
---
A Seat Taken, A Challenge Issued
"Are you following me?" Asher asked, voice smooth as silk.
Jasmine scoffed. "You wish."
He leaned back in his chair, clearly amused. "Then what a coincidence."
Jasmine hesitated, then sighed. She wasn't about to let him think he had some kind of effect on her.
So she sat down.
Asher raised an eyebrow. "Bold move."
She shrugged. "I figured I'd at least hear why a judge spends his mornings sitting in a café instead of ruining people's lives in court."
He chuckled. "Ah, so you did your research."
Jasmine met his gaze, unflinching. "I didn't have to. People talk."
His smirk deepened. "And what did they say about me?"
"That you're rich, ruthless, and impossible to read," she said smoothly.
He tilted his head, studying her. "And what do you think?"
Jasmine paused, pretending to consider it.
Then she leaned forward slightly, a teasing smile on her lips.
"I think… you enjoy being a mystery."
Asher's eyes darkened with something unreadable.
"And you?" he murmured. "Do you enjoy figuring people out?"
Jasmine didn't answer.
Because the truth was—she did.
---
A Shift in the Air
The conversation drifted into safer topics—books, coffee, how terrible the city's traffic had been lately.
Jasmine almost forgot who she was talking to.
Almost.
But then Asher leaned in slightly, voice dropping just a fraction.
"Tell me something, Jasmine."
She swallowed. "What?"
He studied her, gaze unwavering. "Why were you at that club the other night?"
Jasmine's heart skipped a beat.
He wasn't asking casually.
He wanted the truth.
She considered lying. Brushing it off.
But something about the way he watched her made her say—
"To forget."
Asher nodded, like he understood. "Did it work?"
Jasmine forced a small smile. "Not really."
Another pause.
Then—
"I take it he was there?"
Jasmine stiffened.
He didn't need to say Luke's name for her to know exactly who he meant.
She nodded. "Yeah."
"And?"
"And what?"
Asher leaned back, taking a sip of his coffee. "And how did it feel?"
Jasmine exhaled sharply. "Why do you care?"
He smirked. "Curiosity."
She studied him for a long moment.
Then, finally—
"It felt… like I was still waiting for something."
Asher's expression didn't change. But something in his eyes did.
Like he understood exactly what she meant.
---
An Unfinished Goodbye
After a while, Jasmine checked the time and sighed.
"I should go."
Asher nodded. "Duty calls?"
"Unfortunately."
She stood up, hesitating for just a second.
Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she said—
"I'll see you around, Asher."
His lips curled slightly.
"Looking forward to it, Jasmine."
She turned and walked out.
And as she stepped into the bustling street, she realized something.
She was no longer just thinking about Asher Donovan.
She was intrigued.
And that?
That was dangerous .
A Taste of Freedom
Jasmine Carter walked into her office, dropped her bag on the desk, and collapsed into her chair with a sigh.
She had too much on her mind.
Seeing Asher Donovan again had thrown her off balance.
It wasn't just his presence—it was the way he looked at her, as if he could see right through the walls she'd spent years building.
The way he spoke, careful but teasing, like he knew she was waiting for a challenge.
And worst of all?
The fact that she liked it.
Jasmine scowled, rubbing her temples.
She didn't need another distraction.
She needed control.
But control was the last thing she had these days.
Because despite her best efforts, Luke Caldwell still haunted her.
And no matter how many times she told herself she was over him…
She wasn't.
---
The Weight of the Past
Her phone buzzed.
Rita.
Jasmine picked up immediately. "Hey."
Her sister's voice came through, sharp and urgent. "You busy?"
Jasmine sighed. "I should be, but my brain isn't cooperating."
"Perfect. I need you to come out with me."
Jasmine frowned. "Where?"
Rita hesitated. "A divorce lawyer."
Jasmine's stomach dropped.
For a moment, she couldn't find her voice.
Then—
"Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack," Rita muttered. "Are you coming or not?"
Jasmine didn't hesitate. "Of course, I'm coming."
---
Sisters, Scars, and Strength
By the time Jasmine arrived, Rita was already pacing outside the lawyer's office.
Her sister looked tired.
Not just physically—but exhausted in a way that made Jasmine's chest ache.
Rita used to be fearless. Loud. Unapologetic.
But Adrian Hayes had dimmed her.
Jasmine took a steadying breath before walking over.
"You sure about this?" she asked softly.
Rita nodded. "I should've been sure the first time he raised his hand."
Jasmine's jaw clenched. "You should've told me."
Rita gave her a sharp look. "Would you have listened if it were you?"
Jasmine fell silent.
They both knew the answer.
Rita sighed. "I didn't want to be that woman, Jasmine. The one who stays, hoping things get better."
"But you stayed anyway," Jasmine murmured.
Rita exhaled, rubbing her arms. "Yeah. And I hate that I did."
Jasmine reached out, squeezing her sister's hand.
"You're leaving now. That's what matters."
For the first time, Rita's lips quirked into a sad smile.
"Yeah," she whispered. "It is."
---
A Familiar Shadow
As the lawyer explained the legal process, Jasmine's mind wandered.
This felt… too close.
Watching her sister walk away from a man who never deserved her felt eerily similar to her own situation.
Except she wasn't free yet.
Luke still lingered in her life like a ghost.
And deep down, she knew—
Until she truly let him go, she would never be free.
But the problem was…
She didn't know how.
---
The Unwanted Reminder
Later that evening, Jasmine returned home, drained but relieved.
Then, her phone rang.
Her stomach clenched at the name flashing on the screen.
Luke.
She should've ignored it.
But her fingers moved on their own, pressing accept.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, finally—
"Jasmine."
Her throat tightened. "What do you want?"
Luke exhaled. "I need to see you."
Her pulse quickened. "Why?"
"I just… I need to talk to you."
Jasmine closed her eyes.
She should say no.
She should hang up.
But instead, she whispered—
"Fine."
And just like that, she realized something terrifying.
Luke still had a hold on her.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to break free.