Chapter 3 - THE EMERALD NOOSE
The silence in the ballroom was absolute. It was a heavy, suffocating quiet, broken only by the sharp clack-clack of Jasmine’s sensible black pumps as she walked toward the stage.
Sebastian’s face had drained of all color. His mouth hung open, his eyes darting frantically between Richard Vance and the woman he had treated like dirt for eight years. Natasha was frozen, her hand still hovering in the air where Sebastian’s leg had been just a second ago.
"This is a joke," Patricia’s shrill voice pierced the silence from a few tables away. She stood up, her face flushed with indignant rage. "That is my daughter-in-law! She’s an art teacher! She doesn't have two pennies to rub together!"
Richard Vance didn't even blink. He signaled to the security guards flanking the stage. Two massive men in black suits stepped forward, gently but firmly blocking Patricia from advancing.
Jasmine reached the podium. Vance stepped aside, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of profound respect.
Jasmine looked out at the sea of faces. She saw the confusion, the shock, and finally, the dawning horror on her husband's face.
"Good evening," Jasmine said, her voice steady and clear, amplified by the microphone. "As Mr. Vance said, my family has owned the Southside district for decades. We value integrity, vision, and above all, character."
She locked eyes with Sebastian. He was trembling now, trying to arrange his features into a desperate, pleading smile.
"I have reviewed the proposals," Jasmine continued. "Including the aggressive bid from Vanguard Real Estate, led by Sebastian Cole."
Sebastian puffed his chest out slightly, a flicker of delusional hope igniting in his eyes. He nudged Natasha. See? his gesture seemed to say. She's going to give it to me. She loves me.
"Vanguard Real Estate," Jasmine said coldly, "is over-leveraged, built on toxic debt, and run by a man who lacks basic human decency. Not only is Vanguard’s bid rejected, but as of this morning, Sterling Equity has purchased all of Vanguard’s outstanding commercial loans."
The room gasped.
Sebastian shot up from his chair. "Jasmine, wait, what are you saying?!"
"I am saying, Sebastian," Jasmine replied, her tone turning to ice, "that I am your bank now. And I am calling in your debts. All forty-two million dollars of them. You have thirty days to pay, or I will seize every asset you possess."
"You can't do this!" Natasha shrieked, jumping to her feet, the emerald silk clinging to her. "Half of those assets are in my name!"
Jasmine offered a small, terrifying smile. "Are they? You might want to check the fine print on those deeds, Natasha. Sebastian didn't transfer ownership to you. He transferred the liability. When he goes down, he’s taking you with him."
Natasha whipped her head toward Sebastian, her face twisting in fury. "Is that true?! Did you put the debt in my name?!"
"I—I was going to fix it!" Sebastian stammered, backing away from his mistress.
Jasmine didn't stay to watch the lovers quarrel. She turned and walked off the stage, disappearing through a velvet-draped side door where Vance was waiting.
"Brilliantly executed, Ms. Sterling," Vance said, handing her a sleek leather folder. "Your car is waiting in the alley. The penthouse is fully staffed and ready."
"Thank you, Richard." Jasmine took the folder. "Did you secure the item?"
Vance nodded. "It took some digging, but we found it. She pawned it three days ago to pay off a gambling debt."
Jasmine opened the folder. Inside, nestled on black velvet, was her mother’s silver locket. The one Monica had stolen. Jasmine traced the cool metal with her thumb, a tear slipping down her cheek. She snapped the folder shut.
When Jasmine arrived at the Sterling Tower penthouse, the sheer scale of her new reality finally hit her. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering skyline. It was silent. No Patricia barking orders. No Sebastian degrading her. Just peace.
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number.
You think you've won? You don't know the half of what Sebastian has done. Meet me at the old harbor at midnight. Come alone.
Jasmine stared at the screen. The area code was local, but the phrasing felt entirely wrong. Sebastian was a coward; he wouldn't demand a meeting like this.
She turned the phone over in her hands, her eyes catching the reflection of a framed photograph Vance had placed on the entryway table. It was a picture of her grandfather. But in the background, standing in the shadows behind him, was a man she recognized instantly.
Sebastian's father. The man who supposedly died twenty years ago.
May you like
Jasmine’s breath hitched. She zoomed in on the photo with her phone. The man in the background was wearing a very specific, custom-engraved gold watch.
The exact same watch Sebastian had worn to the gala tonight.
