1 Jasmine Paxton

"Congratulations!"

As soon as Jasmine stepped outside her office door, she was showered with confetti.

A set of hands then tightly wrapped around her body.

Maya, one of Jasmine's coworkers, had been waiting for her to leave her room as soon as the office hours ended.

"Are you looking forward to the weekend?" Maya inquired, her face bright. As she smiled, her eyes crinkled into a crescent moon shape, and a dimple appeared on her left cheek.

"What are you congratulating me for?" Jasmine pulled herself from Maya's embrace and asked shyly.

"I know you were waiting for 'The Day'," Maya teased, while emphasising the two words with her fingers.

She rolled her eyes when she saw Jasmine fake ignorant about what her congratulatory for.

As her fake ignorance was easily blown by Maya, Jasmine flashed a smile that brightened her entire face.

Her shoulders rose and shivered, expressing her excitement for what was coming on the weekend.

"Are you already leaving? Have you found out where you're going?" asked Maya.

She locked their arms together and moved closer to Jasmine until there was no space between them. Jasmine could feel Maya's big melons colliding with the side of her arm.

Yesterday, Jasmine had asked Maya to accompany her to the mall to buy a few essential items that she needed to pack for her weekend getaway.

Being a busybody friend, Maya had probed Jasmine to tell her where she was going, however Jasmine shook her head, telling Maya it was a surprise.

Jasmine pulled her arms out of Maya's hold. This friend of hers was really fond of skinship. Maya would invade Jasmine's personal space, lock their arms together, hug her, and even peck on Jasmine's cheeks when she got a chance to do it.

It had happened so many times.

"I'm going to see Director Vince," replied Jasmine in a deadpan tone, and showed the file she was holding.

Hearing the name, Maya's eye lit up like a bulb was switched on inside her head.

"How lucky! You got to see Director Vince's handsome face!" said Maya with dreamy eyes.

Jasmine was recently promoted to be the department manager after winning a big project. She was placed directly under the most popular director of the company, Director Vince.

Maya stopped Jasmine from walking forward, and narrowed her eyes to scrutinise Jasmine, "you know, there is a new rumour spreading out around the company," said Maya.

Jasmine just gave a puzzled look to Maya, "really? So what? I'm not interested to know," she said nonchalantly, and resumed walking.

Maya followed Jasmine, "the rumours are about you and Director Vince," she said, making Jasmine's steps halted.

Jasmine blinked her eyes that had become widened after hearing what Maya said.

"About me and Director Vince?" Jasmine asked for surety. She gave a look asking Maya for an explanation.

"Someone spread rumours that you seduced Director Vince," Maya said.

Jasmine scoffed, and rolled her eyes, "what nonsense!"

"I know you said that!" Maya snapped her fingers and pointed it at Jasmine.

"Imagine being asked out by Director Vince. He is an eye candy for every woman in this building," Maya's eyes sparkled, imagining Manager Vince's handsome face in front of her.

Vince Heinrich was a fine man, with a good look and respectable mannerism. He was a gentleman and had a good upbringing. Vince was perfect in every ways and was said to be the dream man for many women.

Jasmine would probably swoon after Director Vince too, if not for someone who already occupied her beating heart.

Joshua Jones, her longtime boyfriend who she met in high school and had been together since they were 15.

The four chambers of her heart were already filled with her love for Joshua. And Jasmine was sure that Joshua was feeling the same way too towards her.

They had been together for almost 10 years.

During their first anniversary, Joshua told his intention to marry Jasmine if their relationship ever reached a decade.

Ten years of relationship.

Their 10th anniversary would be tomorrow, and Jasmine expected Joshua to ask her hand in marriage during the trip that Joshua had suddenly sprung on her.

Thinking about Joshua and their future made Jasmine's lips stretched into a beautiful smile, and her cheek powdered with a pink blushed.

Jasmine patted her cheeks, trying to dispel her daydreams.

"Who started the rumour?" Maya mumbled. Jasmine heard Maya's mumbling and furrowed her brow, Jasmine wondered about the same question.

Everyone in the office knew she already had a steady boyfriend, although they never saw Joshua. However, some people just loved to talk badly about others. What can Jasmine do about them? She just ignored it.

Remembering that she needed to see Director Vince to pass the weekly report, she dismissed Maya, and headed towards the elevator to ascend to Vince's office floor.

When she arrived on the floor, Jasmine was puzzled, seeing it was empty.

There were no other souls beside her on that floor.

"Where's everyone? Did everyone already leave?" she pondered to herself.

Looking at the watch that strapped on her wrist, "ah, it's already time to get off work. No wonder no one's here."

Jasmine didn't notice that, other than Maya, no one was also present on her office floor.

It was Friday, and everyone was looking forward to resting on the weekend. Thus, everyone had clocked out as soon as the clock hit six.

"I need to pass this to him quickly," Jasmine remembered that she had to get home too, as Joshua had told her he had a surprise waiting for her at home.

Jasmine headed toward Vince's room. She glanced at Vince's secretary's desk and saw that even the sexy secretary who always gave her the stinky eyes was not present there.

She stood in front of the door of Vince's office and wondered if even the director had also left the office.

After contemplating on what to do, she turned around to leave the floor.

She decided to pass the document to Director Vince next week.

Suddenly, Jasmine heard loud crashing sounds coming from inside the room.

Afraid something terrible might happen to Director Vince, Jasmine turned back and dashed toward the room.

Her hands extended forward to reach for the knob. She quickly twisted it, pushed the door opened and barged in.

A loud gasp escaped her mouth, and her eyes widened in surprise.