Chapter 4

Jasmine knew she needed to find an opportunity to ask Neville about this person's character and family background.

Even if Melina had changed, she was still the sister she'd grown up with. Jasmine couldn’t just stand by and watch her drift further down the wrong path.

The next day, Jasmine reported to her new position right on time. Although she had been hired as a personal secretary, she had only just started, so for now she was handling miscellaneous tasks under Drake's direction.

While organizing files, thoughts of Melina weighed on her, drawing a quiet sigh. She checked the time, then quickly moved to prepare coffee before heading toward the CEO's office.

"Mr. Cooper, your coffee." Jasmine set the cup carefully on the solid wooden desk.

The rich coffee aroma drifted upward, carrying with it a faint trace of crisp, seductive iris flower scent. Elusive yet intoxicating, it instantly reminded him of that night's intimacy.

Neville's Adam's apple bobbed. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to the woman beside him.

It was her.

Neville's eyes darkened as they settled on Jasmine, his gaze intense and unrelenting. Under such scrutiny, Jasmine felt a prickle run across her scalp. Add to that the fact she'd fooled around with this man that night, and her guilty conscience kicked in.

Jasmine lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze. "Mr. Cooper, is there anything else you need?"

"You can leave and organize all the design department proposals..." Neville began automatically, then paused. "Actually, stay. Organize them here in the office."

He couldn't quite explain why he'd suddenly changed his mind—he just instinctively wanted to keep that iris flower scent close.

Jasmine hesitated for a moment, puzzled, but she knew better than to question her boss. Whatever he said, she would follow.

Jasmine quietly stayed and began organizing the proposals, focused and efficient, without making unnecessary conversation.

The office fell into a comfortable silence, the air lightly scented with iris. Neville felt refreshed, staring at Jasmine's focused profile, his eyes darkening for a moment.

She was far more captivating than he had initially thought.

Before long, the morning slipped away.

Drake came by once, standing respectfully before Neville's desk. "Mr. Cooper, Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Would you like me to arrange a gift?”

Neville cleared his throat softly. After a moment's hesitation, his gaze fell on Jasmine beside him.

"Jasmine." His voice was low as he instructed, "Go prepare a gift. No budget limit.”

"Alright." Jasmine replied. A flicker of disappointment passed through her, accompanied by an inexplicable tightness in her chest.

So Neville already had a girlfriend?

For him to spend so lavishly, she must be someone extraordinary.

Then that night between her and Neville...

Jasmine's face flushed before quickly paling. She became even more determined to bury what happened that night.

Just then, her phone lit up with an incoming call.

It was Simon Baker, her neighbor, a few years older than her. Back when she and Melina had nowhere else to go, the Baker family had taken them in for a time. In her heart, she'd long since considered Simon like a brother.

Jasmine quickly grabbed her phone and, after asking Neville for permission, stepped outside to answer the call.

At first, Neville forced himself to focus on the documents in front of him. But before long, his attention drifted, his gaze unconsciously falling on Jasmine.

Through the glass door, he could clearly see the happy smile on Jasmine's face. It was genuine joy from the heart. The kind of expression that revealed complete trust in the person on the other end.

In front of him, Jasmine had never been so relaxed.

Neville's expression turned cold, his lips pressing into a thin line.

He remembered Jasmine mentioning that she had a boyfriend and their relationship was stable, he felt vaguely displeased.

Was the person on the phone her boyfriend?

When he had chosen Jasmine as his personal secretary, one of the reasons had been precisely because she already had a boyfriend, but now this advantage somehow seemed irritating to him.

Neville abruptly set the documents aside. Only when Jasmine returned and that faint iris scent followed her back into the room, did the tension in his chest ease slightly.

"There's a dinner tonight,” Neville said, his tone firm. “You’ll come with me.”

Jasmine blinked, caught off guard. "Mr. Cooper, you mean me?"

Neville said flatly, “Do you see anyone else in this office?”

Jasmine instinctively looked around, only then realizing Drake had left at some point. She gave an awkward smile and had no choice but to accept this assignment.

That evening, at the banquet hall, Neville appeared in a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit. Broad-shouldered and long-legged, he cut an imposing figure.

His features were sharp, his gaze cold as ice. With just a single indifferent glance, an invisible pressure seemed to settle over the room, and the once-lively crowd gradually quieted.

Jasmine quietly followed beside Neville, her steps measured. Every so often, she couldn’t help stealing a glance at the man beside her.

"Well, well, what a rare guest."

A flippant, amused voice rang out. Jasmine looked toward the sound to see a rakish-looking man strolling toward them, his teasing eyes sparkling with endless charm.

Lance Hunter gently swirled the champagne in his hand, flashing Neville a mischievous smile. "Neville, what brings you here today?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Jasmine, a playful edge entering his tone. "First time I've seen you bring a woman along. Hmm... pretty down-to-earth choice."

His words were clearly mocking her plain appearance.

Neville's expression didn’t change. Normally reserved and aloof, his voice now carried a faint chill. “My newly hired secretary. This type puts my mind at ease."

He paused briefly, then added flatly, "She can block drinks for me."

So Neville brought her along just to block drinks?

Jasmine stiffened, momentarily stunned. Thinking of the high salary Neville was paying her,she swallowed her frustration and said nothing.

Lance burst out laughing. He didn't dare force drinks on Neville, but he had no such restraint with Jasmine.

He kept pressing drinks into her hand, and as his secretary, Jasmine had little room to refuse.

Before long, a soft flush crept across her cheeks. She shifted uncomfortably as Lance offered yet another drink.

Just as she gritted her teeth to accept the glass, a well-defined hand intercepted the glass midair.

Neville's fingers tapped the glass lightly as he looked down at her. "How's your alcohol tolerance? Feeling drunk already?”

At the mention of being drunk, and faced with Neville’s piercing look, Jasmine was instantly reminded of the last time she’d lost consciousness after drinking.

Her cheeks reddened further, her eyes darting away, not daring to meet Neville's gaze directly.

Neville narrowed his eyes slightly. Jasmine was clearly avoiding him, yet instead of stepping back, he found himself moving closer.

The iris flower scent swirled around his nose. Neville’s chest tightened almost imperceptibly. Before he could stop himself, he asked, "Jasmine, have we met before?"

Jasmine’s heart slammed against her ribs. She swallowed quietly, forcing her expression to remain composed. "Mr. Cooper, I was just a small intern before this. It’s unlikely we would have crossed paths.”

"Is that so?" Neville took the glass from her hand and straightened, putting a deliberate distance between them, his gaze dark and inscrutable as he looked at Jasmine.

Jasmine nodded quickly, a little too quickly, afraid of raising his suspicions.

Fortunately, Neville seemed to let it go. After one last indifferent glance, he turned away and resumed speaking with the other guests.

The banquet eventually came to an end.

Jasmine followed the driver as they helped Neville back home. Neville hadn't let her block any more drinks after that, but he'd drunk quite a bit himself and was clearly somewhat intoxicated.

Jasmine had no choice but to help the driver support him into the bedroom.

Meanwhile, Melina had been waiting anxiously in the guest room. At the sound of movement, her eyes lit up. She quickly slipped off her robe, revealing the sexy lingerie underneath, and sauntered toward the master bedroom door.

She worked hard to strike her most alluring pose, raising her hand to knock, only to catch sight of Jasmine inside!

Melina's face changed drastically.

If Jasmine found out Neville was the new boyfriend she'd mentioned, then wouldn't her identity theft be exposed?