Jazmyn

She couldn't believe what just happened. She glanced at the business card on her table.

"Jaz, what was that all about? You know Shawn Ryder?" Kiyona asked, settling down on the chair next to her.

"No, Kay, I don't. I thought he was here to get an engagement ring for his girlfriend, then he asked me what kind of ring I'd pick if I was getting engaged. I thought it was a joke and that he only needed my opinion as a lady, for what's best for his girlfriend, I was telling him my pick, and he just blurted the words out. That was humiliating, Kay." She said.

"It's not. We're talking about Shawn Ryder here, Jaz."

"Whoever the hell he is. Like I care, I don't even know him. What is he…some God ?" She sighed, carrying the boxes back to the shelf room.

"He's a billionaire, he's like the celebrity of New York, Jaz. You're lucky." Kay said with much excitement in her voice.

She rolled her eyes. "If you're going to be useful, at least, help me put these boxes back on the shelf for the love of God. I carried these boxes, weighing a lot to meet him, he didn't even take a look at any." She said.

"And for the love of God, Jaz, stop complaining if you're not going to accept his proposal." Kay sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Whatever are you doing, Kay?" She asked, watching Kay put on one of her rings.

"Testing the ring, see if it fits. It's a pink diamond, aw, they're cute." Kay said.

"Put them back, Kay. That's not a pink star, it's a cullinan diamond, now please, put it back in its set, would you?"

"Jazzy, Jazzy Jaz-" Kay stared at her with bubbly eyes.

"No. Don't do that, Kay. No. Don't look at me, Ky, I'm not gonna fall for those bubbly nitwits of an eyeball. Drop it." Jaz said.

"Jazzie….please…."

"Kiyona Anderson! Put the ring back in it's set!"

She sighed, rolling her eyes as she took the ring off. "Are you immune to my charms?" She asked, closing the box.

"By charms, you mean the bubbly nitwits?" Jaz asked.

"That's it. I'm done. Now to you, Jaz, what's going on in your head?"

"I don't know, I think he's cute. His proposal, I don't really need it. Maybe I can accept his proposal just to get close to him. Not that I like him or anything, Ky." She chuckled. "I just want to know this billionaire."

Kay stared at her blankly for a while before bursting out in laughter. "You're love struck, honey."

"I'm not. I don't…. I just want to know him, that's all."

Kay shook her head, sniffing in. "Mm hmm." She mumbled. "That's how we put a ring on the finger." She muttered.

"What, Kay?" She chuckled. "I'm not into Mr. love at first sight, okay?" She adjusted the box on the shelf.

"Oh…we're calling him names now. Not long until she becomes Ms. Ryder." Kay said, rolling her eyes.

"Kay… I'm just gonna head out now. Out…. I need to lock up." She said, holding the door knob.

"I'll be your bridesmaid," Kay walked out.

She raked her fingers through her hair, leaning against a shelf, smiling to herself. She couldn't get the picture of Shawn out of her head. Her phone buzzed, drawing her attention back to reality. She sighed and walked out of the room, shutting and locking the door behind her.

"Henley, pack up and close the store once you're done. I'm heading out now, and I won't be back until tomorrow morning." She said, packing her things from her desk, before leaving the store.

Kiyona had already ordered her a ride, and it was waiting in front of the store for her. She hopped in, leaning her back against the seat, trying to get comfortable, she pulled out Shawn's credit card from her bag. She went through the details before returning it into her bag.

The car pulled up in front of a cozy fancy restaurant.

"You don't have to wait. I'd be long." She shut the door after her.

The words Delacroix's were emblazoned boldly in front of the restaurant, with golden neon lights to offer readability even in the dark.

She settled down at an empty table, going through the menu when the waiter walks up to her.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Welcome to Delacroix's, I'm Alan, and I'm your waiter for today. For starters, what would you like for dessert?" He asked, holding on to a metal tray.

She scanned the menu. "For starters? I'm only here for starters. I'd like a steak of spicy grilled meat with a bottle of sparkling water to go. That and only that." She crossed her legs, scanning through some documents in her possession when Kiyona's call came in.

"Jaz, it's your mom, it's urgent. I'll paste you the location, please, hurry." Kay hung up.

She sighed. "She's such a drama queen. What has this old lady done now?" She signalled for Alan, ordered her meal to be packed for take away, then she grabbed her purse and left the restaurant.

She pulled out her phone to call Kay to order a ride when her previous ride stopped in front of her.

"I need you to get my order from the restaurant. I ordered a steak of spicy grilled meat with sparkling water. I'll be waiting. I'll pay you twice. Please, hurry." She said.

"A steak of spicy grilled meat with sparkling water, coming right up." He dashed into the restaurant.

She helped herself into the car as she waited for him to come in.

The thought of what happened earlier enveloped her mind once more as a smile played on her lips.

"It's such a happy day, I know. Smile more, makes you age slower. Your order." He hands her a plastic bag and the smile escapes her lips immediately. She cleared her throat, did some minor adjustments to her hair, shoulders high, face up and legs crossed.

She arrived at the hospital not long after.

"Thanks for the ride," Kay rushed out to meet her.

"What now, Kay? What's wrong with the drama queen?"

She walked into the room, to see her mom, lying helplessly on the bed.

"Mom," Her eyes glistened, her voice breaking as she lowered herself to her mother's level, taking her hands in hers.

"Jazmyn," She reached for her face, caressing it as a faint smile played on her lips. "The doctors say I'mma die soon, honey." She smiled, a teardrop rolled down her cheek.

"Wait." She sobered up. "I hope this isn't one of your drama, mom?"

"Drama? Honey, I'm no drama queen. The doctors say I'mma die soon. You just be good, okay?" She smiled.

She stormed out of the room.

"Yes, Ms Cooper. Your mom is in a critical condition, and we need to treat her right away. We've commenced treatments, but to advance to a higher one, you need to pay for the one we've already started alongside the ones that are yet to commence." The doctor said, handing her the bill for the treatment.

She stared at the bill, crumpling it as her fists balled. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her brows furrowed, as she tried to suppress an overflow of tears. The bill was her year's net worth, and she couldn't pay installmentally.

"They say it's seven million dollars, Kay. Where am I going to get that? She doesn't have long, we don't have long."

"I'm so sorry, Jaz. No, I really am, I wish I could help you. But I guess, you've got it figured out already. You know what to do, Jaz. Stop fighting it." She walked out.