Chapter Seven
Stella’s eyes narrowed, and she opened her mouth to fire back, but Stefan quickly placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it gently. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice tight with warning. “We need this contract with Hexagon. Don’t mess this up.” Stella bit her tongue, glaring at the receptionist, but she stayed silent. Stefan continued to whisper urgently, “If we don’t get this contract, all our investments will be ruined. We’ll go bankrupt. My father assured me that Hexagon is one of his partners for electricity supply, so we should have an advantage. Don’t blow it.” Stella, still fuming, nodded reluctantly. Her bratty, spoiled nature made it hard for her to stay quiet, but she understood how high the stakes were. Without Hexagon, their entire financial future was in jeopardy. Two hours dragged by, and no one had attended to them. Stella’s patience finally snapped. She stood up abruptly and marched over to the receptionist’s desk, her face twisted with anger. “Where is the vice president? I’ve had enough of this! I demand to see her now!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the lobby. The receptionist, remaining professional despite Stella’s outburst, calmly replied, “The vice president is currently busy with a very important guest. You’ll need to wait or kindly reschedule your appointment. However, our next available slot is in six months.” That was the last straw. Stella’s face contorted in fury as she raised her hand and slapped the receptionist across the face. *smack!* The sound echoed through the lobby, and everyone around them went silent, shocked at Stella’s outrageous behaviour. The receptionist stumbled back, holding her cheek in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Before Stella could say another word, a voice interrupted from behind her. “Who gave you the audacity to slap and harass my staff?” Zara, the vice president of Hexagon, strode into the lobby, her sharp gaze locked on Stella. She had been watching the entire incident unfold from the corner, her arms crossed, her expression ice cold. Stella, who had no idea who Zara was, turned to face her with a sneer. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I’ll slap you too if you don’t mind your own business!” Stella snapped, her arrogance blinding her to the situation. Zara’s eyes darkened, and she took a step closer. “Watch your mouth and your filthy attitude,” she said sharply. “This is my building, and I won’t tolerate your behavior.” Stella was about to lunge at Zara when two security guards stepped in, grabbing Stella’s arms and holding her back. They looked at her with disdain. “How dare you attempt to harass our vice president?” one of them said sternly, his voice dripping with authority. Stella’s body went cold. She suddenly realized what she had done. Her legs began to shake, and her confidence vanished in an instant. “No… no, it can’t be,” she stammered, her voice weak and trembling. “She can’t be the vice president. She looks like an office whore!” Zara’s expression didn’t change, but her voice was calm and cutting as she replied, “Just because you don’t have the brain to recognize power when you see it, doesn’t mean others don’t. And with this disgusting attitude of yours, I’m afraid Hexagon won’t be working with your family’s company. Ever.” Stella’s face was drained of all colours. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her body felt like it was shutting down. In a matter of seconds, she had ruined everything. Stefan, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly stepped forward, his voice desperate. “Miss Zara, please, this is a personal matter. Stella was out of line, yes, but we’ve prepared an excellent proposal for the consortium. Could you at least review it before making a final decision?” Zara didn’t even look at him as she waved him off. “It doesn’t matter. The president isn’t interested in working with your companies anymore. Congratulations, you just lost over half a billion dollars in a matter of seconds.” Stella gasped, and her body went rigid. The blood drained from her face, and she felt lightheaded. “What?” she whispered, disbelief washing over her. Stefan, now visibly angry, turned on her. His face was red, his veins bulging as he shouted, “Shut the hell up, Stella! Can’t you see what you’ve done? You ruined everything! Not just for you, but for my family too! You’ve destroyed everything we worked for!” His voice shook with rage as he glared at her, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Stella’s lip trembled & she looked like she might cry, but Stefan’s harsh words hit her harder than any slap could. She had gone too far, & now they had lost everything. Zara watched them both with cool indifference. “Security,” she called, “please escort them out of the building. And don’t let them back in.” Stella and Stefan were led out of the building, their heads hanging in defeat. ***** Stella and Stefan entered their home. Faces pale filled with dread. When they stepped inside the mansion, they were met with their furious parents, who were pacing up and down the living room like caged animals. The air was thick with tension, & it was clear that a storm was about to break. Stefan’s father, Mr. Claxton, was the first to explode. His face was red with anger, his hands trembling as he pointed at the two of them. “What did you two idiots do?!” he shouted, his voice booming through the grand hall. “Do you know how long it took me to build my relationship with Hexagon? Years! And in a matter of minutes, you fools crumbled all my hard work!”Chapter Eight Stella’s father, Mr. Woods, sat on the couch, his face buried in his hands. He looked as though he was ready to break down at any moment. Grandmother Woods, however, was standing by the fireplace, her usual cold composure shattered. She looked like she was ready to explode as well. Stefan stammered, trying to explain. “It wasn’t our fault, Father! The vice president—she was unreasonable! Stella just lost her temper, but—” “I don’t care what excuses you have!” Mr. Claxton cut him off sharply, his voice rising with each word. “You slapped a member of their staff! You humiliated our family in front of the most powerful business consortium in the world. Do you even realise the damage you’ve done? Our entire future with Hexagon is gone, Stefan! Gone!” Stella, who had been standing silently, finally spoke up, her voice shaky with fear. “I didn’t know she was the vice president! How was I supposed to know? She looked so young, I thought she was just some employee—”
Chapter Nine “I’ve missed you,” he whispered softly, his heart full of warmth. He pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, his smile widening. “I feel like something wonderful is about to happen to you, Jasmine. You’re a good and kind soul, and the world will reward you.” Jasmine’s eyes welled up with tears, and she rested her head on Henry’s chest. “You always know what to say to make me feel better.” Henry kissed the top of her head, feeling more certain than ever that their lives were about to change for the better. But for now, he would keep his secret a little while longer, knowing that soon, Jasmine would get everything she deserved and more. Grandmother Woods sat at the head of the long mahogany table in the family’s lavish dining room, her hands trembling as she gripped her teacup. The news was playing on the large TV screen in front of her, but the words seemed to echo painfully in her mind. "Hexagon Consortium announces open slots for new companies to join in
Chapter Ten One by one, nearly every family member and executive raised their hand, eager to prove themselves and secure their position as the future leader of the empire. Everyone, that is, except Henry and Jasmine. Jasmine sat quietly beside Henry, her hands folded in her lap. She had always been shy and had never been taken seriously by her family. She had ideas, she had talents, but no one ever listened to her. And after everything that had happened recently, she felt even more unsure of herself. “Honey,” Henry whispered softly, turning to her. “You should participate. You’re so hardworking and talented. You could really make a difference.” Jasmine looked at him with wide eyes, filled with uncertainty. “I don’t know, Henry,” she whispered back. “No one ever takes me seriously. What if I embarrass myself?” “You won’t,” Henry reassured her, his voice filled with encouragement. “You’re smart, and I believe in you. Just raise your hand. Trust me.” Jasmine hesitated, her
Chapter Eleven Jasmine’s mother froze, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, she looked as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. But then, a slow, cruel smile spread across her face. It was the first time Henry had seen her smile in a long while. “Good,” she sneered. “I agree. Start packing your stuff, Henry, because I know my daughter. She’s too naive to win against real business sharks. You’ll be out of here soon enough.” With that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. The echo of the door reverberated through the house, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake. Jasmine, who had been sitting motionless the entire time, suddenly broke down. Tears streamed down her face as she sank to the floor, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “Why would you say that?” she cried, her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at Henry with wide, tear-filled eyes.Jasmine woke up before dawn, the room still bathed in the soft gray of early morning. Her hear
Chapter Twelve Jasmine walked away, the weight of Stella’s words pressing down on her. Her ruined documents felt heavy in her briefcase, a painful reminder of how far she still had to go. But as she wiped away a stray tear, she told herself she wouldn’t give up. Not today. Not ever. She would find a way, even if it meant starting over from scratch. “Look at you, with your stupid mouth! When was the last time this broke fool got you anything? A lollipop, maybe? You don’t even have any designer items like your sister, who always has the latest collection.” Jasmine’s anger flared even more. “Mom, he needs to leave. Now.” Damon, who had been watching the exchange with a smug smile, finally stood up, his movements deliberate and slow. He placed the box containing the diamond earrings on the table as if offering a final temptation. “Very well,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ll leave since you don’t want my help. But don’t come crying to anyone when you
Chapter Thirteen She slipped into the dress, the fabric clinging to her uncomfortably. Jasmine glanced at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her looked tired and defeated, but she straightened her shoulders, refusing to give in to the despair creeping in. She gathered her documents, placing them carefully in her old leather briefcase. The briefcase had seen better days—its once-smooth surface was now scratched and peeling, the corners frayed. It looked pitiful, but it was all she had to carry her hopes and dreams. As she descended the stairs, her younger sister Stella appeared, lounging on the couch like a queen. She was wrapped in a silk robe, sipping from a diamond-encrusted Stanley cup. Her eyes lit up with amusement the moment she saw Jasmine. “Oh, look who’s playing dress-up! Are you heading to the zoo, Jasmine?” Stella sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Or maybe the circus? You’d fit right in with the clowns.” Jasmine’s jaw tightened.
Chapter Fourteen Jasmine stood at the front of the room, her heart pounding. She could feel all the eyes on her, waiting. Her hands gripped the edge of the table as she glanced at Zara, the vice president of the Hexagon Consortium. Zara gave her a small, encouraging nod.“You can go on with the presentation, Jasmine,” Zara said calmly.Jasmine swallowed hard, her nerves taking over for a moment. She hadn’t expected to get this far, but now she was here. She had to push through. Slowly, she opened her laptop and started the slideshow. The first few words were shaky, almost a whisper, but as she continued, her voice grew stronger.At first, she stumbled over her words, feeling the pressure. But with every slide, she became more confident. Her passion for the project took over, and soon, she was speaking with energy, her hands moving as she explained each detail. The board members leaned in, their eyes focused on her as she brought her vision to life.“And this design,” Jasmine said
Chapter FifteenJasmine stepped out of the car after paying him her last 43 $ dollars and stood in front of her family’s house, the familiar walls towering over her like they always had. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but one stood out: she had done it. She had won the contract. As she approached the front door, she saw Stella, her sister, leaning against the doorframe with a smug grin plastered on her face. Her arms were crossed, and Jasmine could already sense the mockery brewing in her eyes.“Well, well, well,” Stella started, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Look who’s back from her little failed adventure. You really think you're ahead of yourself now, don’t you?” Stella snorted, her laugh cruel. “To think you had the guts to pitch your dirty little proposal to the Hexagon Consortium. Who do you think you are, Jasmine?”Jasmine sighed, refusing to let her sister’s sharp words penetrate the wall of confidence she had built today. Without responding to Stella’s insul