The next day she ended up being late to the church, because she had a few errands her dad had asked her to do for him. She knew she had the rest of her life with Derek so she could wait a couple of hours to run away with him. She knew he’d wait for her. She was confident in their relationship.
She got to the church and was surprised he wasn’t there but figured he’d gotten busy like her. She waited and then waited some more. She sat there all afternoon until she finally accepted he wasn’t coming as the sun started to set in the sky.
She’d dragged herself home, crying the entire way. When she walked into the house and her father saw her, he’d taken her into his arms and asked her what was wrong. She’d cried against him and finally told him Derek hadn’t shown up.
He continued to stroke her back and tell her everything was okay. He’d explained to her he never trusted the boy and that’s why he’d been so overprotective. She never suspected her father had anything to do with Derek not arriving.
Derek left the hotel and was thinking back to that summer as well but his memories were far different from those of Jasmine’s. He had so much bitterness about that day but if he really thought back to it that’s what shaped him into the man he was now.
He’d fallen head over heels for the girl. He’d never thought he was worthy of dating someone as amazing as her but he was determined to make himself so. When he ended up helping her with her school work and found a connection together, he was unable to stay away from her.
He thought she was so different from the other kids who had money. Her family was the richest in town and her father reveled in that fact. He walked around in his custom made suits and drove his expensive cars. Hell, the man’s house was a showpiece so all the people lower than him could worship at his doorstep.
When he and Jasmine made love for the first time and he’d realized she’d given him her most sacred gift, he was overwhelmed. He proposed right away and decided to run away with her, to do the right thing.
He planned on heading to the city and making something of himself so he could continue to give her all the things she was used to. He wanted to make sure she never went without anything. He wanted to place her on a throne and spoil her rotten. He’d do or give her anything she wanted.
He’d shown up at the church full of naïve teenager dreams and one bag. When he heard approaching steps he’d turned in anticipation. His heart sunk at the sight of her father. The man approached with a sympathetic smile plastered on his face.
“Derek, I’m sorry but Jasmine asked me to come and speak with you,” David had stated. Derek didn’t understand why she’d send her father. “Jasmine said she couldn’t face you but she didn’t want to leave here. I have some cash here to help you on your way. She said you planned to go to the city and I want to help you get there,” he said with that same smile on his face.
Derek felt like his world was falling out underneath him. The man pulled out an envelope loaded with hundred dollar bills. He held it out towards Derek. David was trying to pay him off. It was as if he was saying, thanks for entertaining my daughter but your services are no longer needed.
“I don’t want your money,” Derek spat at him. David continued holding the envelope out, like he couldn’t believe the kid from the wrong side of town wouldn’t jump at having that much cash.
“Jasmine was hoping this would appease your feelings and help you get on with your life,” David had the gall to say.
“Tell Jasmine no thank you,” Derek growled at him and then turned and walked away. He never looked back. He’d been pissed when David had offered to pay him off but when he found out it was Jasmine’s idea he saw red.
He couldn’t believe how wrong he’d been about her. The thing that made him even angrier was the grief coursing through him at knowing he wouldn’t see her again. As he walked back towards his childhood home he vowed someday he’d have her begging him to take her back and then he’d be the one to walk away.
He’d made his way home, told his father goodbye and then left for the city. He worked night and day until he purchased his first company. He was excellent at his job. He found companies that were on the verge of bankruptcy, bought them and divided them up, making huge sums of money. His first takeover had led to many, many more. He was now worth far more than Jasmine ever had been and he was about to exact his revenge.
He downed a scotch and then went to bed. His day was a full one tomorrow and he wanted to be well rested for what was to come. He’d finally have Jasmine at his mercy, when her daddy no longer had any money left.