25

Jennifer.
After everything that happened, especially that awful nightmare, I could see how deeply worried Tomas was. His concern made me feel a strange sort of happiness, a warmth that wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. Yet, despite his caring nature, I couldn’t shake the nagging doubts that crept into my mind. It was as if my brain was sending me signals that this was more than just a nightmare. The memory lingered, particularly when I was taking my shower.
One of the maids caught my attention as she stared curiously at my neck. “What is this, Miss?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. I turned to look in the mirror and felt my heart drop. There it was-a fingerprint, not ink, but a vivid red mark, as if a hand had been pressed against my neck with great force. I was shocked, my mind racing with questions.
But deep down, I knew Tomas wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. His protective nature reassured me, reminding me that no one could breach the fortress of security surrounding this house. It seemed absurd to consider that someone would try to harm me. Why would anyone want to? Those thoughts whirled in my head, but I also entertained the idea that perhaps it was a ghost, or maybe I had somehow done this to myself in my sleep, lost in the depths of my bad dream.
While I wrestled with these thoughts, a different feeling emerged. Tomas had shown me so much affection the previous night that I began to wonder if I was more than just his assistant. Maybe I was becoming something more significant in his life. I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions, and focused on the glass of water in front of me, its fullness a reminder of the present moment.
I slipped into my clothes-his clothes, actually. The oversized shirt felt like a protective shield against my worries. I had never mentioned that the robe was too big, but wearing his shirt wrapped me in a sense of safety. The scent of him lingered on the fabric, making me feel more secure than I had anticipated. It was as if his essence was imbued in the cloth, and with it came a wave of comfort.
When Tomas came to check on me, I was surprised to see he had prepared my bag. The sight made me blush a little, and I felt a playful urge to tease him, to provoke a hint of jealousy. “What if I traveled like this, just your shirt and maybe a hot pair of shorts?” I suggested with a mischievous glint in my eyes.
His reaction was immediate; he looked furious, not just jealous. Part of me thrilled at his possessiveness, even as I felt a twinge of fear. Tomas had a way of being so intense, and I was unsure how to navigate this newfound dynamic between us. He kissed me fiercely, and I felt a rush of sensation that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. But just as suddenly, I pushed him away, wanting to regain some semblance of control over the situation.
“What, Jennifer?” he asked, surprise flickering across his face at my sudden move.
“I am not yours, Tomas!” I yelled, trying to sound defiant.
His frustration boiled over, and he slammed his hand against the wall. “No, Jennifer! You are mine! Accept it! No one will ever take you from me! No one will ever look at you! You have no choice now!” His voice was deep, reverberating with intensity.
“What do you mean? You didn’t buy me or something?” I said, stepping back toward the bed, trying to distance myself from his overwhelming presence.
He pulled me into his chest, his grip firm but not painful. “You’ve made me fall in love with you, Jennifer! You are the reason for my life now! You can’t run away from me. I will never let you go! Do you understand?” His voice was steady, but the emotion behind it was palpable.
I raised my eyebrows, feeling a mix of confusion and something else-was it excitement? “Oh, I should be happy now? For forcing myself into this situation? Or for confessing that you love me? Because I am confused, Tomas!” I murmured, feeling the weight of his words.
He kissed the back of my hand gently. “You’re under my protection now. I will never let anything bad happen to you. I know I can be a bit rude, even heartless, but you’ve changed me, or at least I’m trying to change for you, Jennifer!”
“Well, a little rude? You’re the most heartless, rude person on Earth, Mr. Tomas!” I retorted, my voice playful despite my serious tone.
He moved closer, our faces inches apart. I could feel his breath against my skin, warm and inviting. I leaned back slightly, clearing my throat. “Well, Tomas, I think you need to take a shower and get dressed. We’re not going on vacation; it’s work time after all, right?” I smiled, attempting to lighten the mood.
He turned his back to me, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “Oh, right, Jennifer! I guess I’m not the only heartless person in this room. The air is thick with ego!”
“What?! I am not, Tomas! You’re so mean!” I yelled, narrowing my eyes at him.
In a swift motion, he lifted me off the ground. “Yes, Miss Jennifer, my beautiful fiancee. I think you should help me with my shower. I don’t trust you not to run away and break my heart,” he grinned, sauntering toward the washroom.
I planted my legs against the door, desperate to prevent him from dragging me in with him, but he was too strong, laughing as he locked the door behind us. I watched in disbelief as he began to take off his shirt, revealing his toned physique. I quickly covered my eyes with my hands, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement.
“What are you doing, Tomas?!” I gasped, turning my back to him.
He continued to laugh, teasing me. “You’re not my pretend fiancee anymore! Not after this!”
“What?!” I exclaimed, my heart racing.
“How many times do I need to tell you? You are mine! Repeat that after me,” he insisted, his tone light yet commanding as he turned on the shower.
For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of his sculpted body, his six-pack abs glistening with water. I couldn’t help but admire him. No wonder so many women were drawn to him; he was incredibly handsome. I quickly looked away, feeling flustered.
Once he finished his shower, he turned to me, dripping wet. “Give me that towel, sweetheart,” he commanded.
I handed him the towel, my gaze averted as I helped him dry off. He caught my hand and kissed it softly. “I like your scent, Jennifer. I enjoy your sweet touch. But you’re still hiding something about your life, and that makes me mad. I’m waiting for you to tell me everything,” he said, his voice more serious now.
I stepped back, not ready to reveal my secrets. He dressed quickly and then pulled me close, opening the door. “Now, Jennifer, wear some blue jeans. Keep your body safe from other eyes. I want you innocent; I’m not looking for a distraction like Maya!” he declared.
I chuckled, slipping into my jeans as we made our way downstairs to the car to meet Maya. The time had come to head to the island, and excitement bubbled within me.
As we entered the limo, I noticed the drivers and security guards waiting for us. Mr. Carl, our ever-watchful guardian, said goodbye, which surprised me. I thought he would join us for this work trip. He must have been ordered to stay behind and manage things.
Once we settled into the limo, Maya called to check if we were ready. We assured her we needed just ten more minutes before we could leave. The anticipation was palpable as we finally arrived at the airport, where the private jet awaited us. To my astonishment, I spotted Maya and Mark, and then-oh my god! It was Jack, the famous singer!
I was taken aback as I stepped out of the limo with Tomas and approached Maya, shaking her hand. “Why are you here, Jack?” I asked, my surprise evident.
Jack looked just as startled as I felt. “What, Jennifer? I thought you’d be happy to see me!” he replied, his voice tinged with confusion.
I widened my eyes at Maya, then turned back to Jack, crossing my arms defensively. “Well, Jack, I guess I would be happy if you had informed me beforehand. I thought we were close friends!” I said, trying to mask my discomfort.
Tomas stepped in closer, his presence radiating authority. “Jack, you weren’t invited by me but by my partner, Maya. This was her decision,” he explained, his tone firm but calm.
Jack shook his head, attempting to clarify. “Thank you, Mr. Tomas. After you left last night, Maya talked to me and asked if I was a close friend of Jennifer’s. I said yes, and she suggested it would be nice for me to join you all, especially since she wanted me to sing at a special event,” Jack said, glancing nervously between us.
“Sing? Oh! So it’s a work offer! I guess I don’t have the option to disagree,” Tomas remarked, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Tomas leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on my cheek. “Honey, welcome your close friend,” he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
I smiled at Jack, leaning in to kiss his cheek. However, Tomas, standing between us, shot me an angry look. “No, sweetheart, no kisses, no handshakes with anyone ever-not even a dog or a newborn,” he warned, his voice low and serious.
I cleared my throat, glancing at the floor, feeling a little ashamed. “Um, okay, I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I muttered.
“Welcome, Jack,” I said, forcing a smile. Everyone around us seemed to be watching closely, especially Maya and Mark.
Tomas draped his arm over my shoulder, kissing my forehead. “Let’s go, honey,” he said, guiding me toward the plane. The others followed closely behind, their eyes glued to us.
We settled into our seats, as always, side by side. Maya soon asked if we wanted a drink.
“Double black label, please, Maya,” Tomas replied without hesitation.
She turned to me. “And you, Jennifer?”
I was about to respond, but Tomas cut me off. “No, Maya, my sweetheart doesn’t drink. Just give her fresh orange juice,” he instructed.
I noticed Maya’s expression change; her mouth hung open in disbelief as she fought to mask her anger. It was clear she was frustrated, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she had feelings for Tomas. Her jealousy was palpable, and I sensed she was trying to undermine my relationship with him.
Jack, meanwhile, seemed uneasy. I couldn’t understand why a famous singer would be nervous around me. Any other girl would be thrilled to be friends with someone so well-known, but I felt anything but excitement.
Maya huffed from a distance, climbing into a separate limo without waiting for us. We took our own limo, and the driver followed the others.
“Where are we headed, Tomas? A mall? A hotel? A company? The beach?” I asked eagerly, my excitement bubbling over.
“Stop it, Jennifer. Too many questions. You’ll see,” he replied playfully, kissing me softly.
Finally, we reached our destination-a castle. My jaw dropped in awe. “Oh wow, it’s huge and amazing! But I thought this was an island! I want to see the beach, swim, and wear my sexy bikini!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the lavish surroundings.
Tomas pulled me close, his expression serious. “What bikini, Jennifer? You said you don’t have one,” he reminded me.
“Yes, but I plan to buy one! You told me I could get anything I wanted, right?” I replied, my excitement bubbling.
“Yes, but not a bikini, Jennifer! Not anything that shows your body! Your body belongs to me,” he said, his tone shifting to one of authority.
I widened my eyes, raising my eyebrows in disbelief. “Then how am I supposed to swim? In shorts and a shirt?” I pouted, trying to make my point.
“Well, a one-piece swimsuit would be acceptable!” he countered, a smile breaking through his serious demeanor.