*THE HOLLEN SERIES 02*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 34👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 PERSONAL as-sISTANT👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Jasmine’s POV
“Can we plea-se have this to go? I’m not feeling
so good suddenly,” I lied.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Concern in his voice
as his eyebrows crea-sed on his forehead.
“I think I might be coming down with the cold
or something. Can we just go, like, right now?”
“Sure. Lets get you home.”
Shooting up from my seat, I took the lead and
walked out the cafe easily and unseen.
___________
“You can’t be serious! You’re doing exactly what
I told you not to do,” Zenia grilled me like I
was the younger one. I had told her what
transpired at the cafe. “You’re just lucky he
hadn’t seen you. You’re pla-ying with fire and
you’re going to get burned if you don’t settle
those flames. Just make up your mind and
st©p pla-ying games with those two men.
“It’s either you forgive br@dley completely and
accept him back in your life, or just tell Evan
everything and he could give you back the
money to refund br@dley, since you feel you
owe him so much, and then you can s£nd him
on his way and get him out of your life.”
“It’s not even that simple.”
“It is that simple; you’re ma-king it complicated.
Anyways, I have to get to work now. Have a
nice day.” She planted a quic-k k!sson my
cheek and ran out the door.
Mom had alre-ady left for her job before I got
back so I was home alone. It was July and I
was thankful for the day off. I was so
exhausted from that trip.
I put on the television and decided to look at
GSDC– Gossip and Sweet Drama Channel. Lo
and behold, Jessica Hills was being
interviewed and it peaked my interest, since I
had sle-pt with her ex.
“So Jessica, what’s this rumor about you and
Evan Hollen being engaged?” the interviewer
asked.
“Oh Patty, it’s not a rumor. It’s a fact, actually.”
“Why hasn’t it gone public yet?”
“Evan doesn’t want it to hit the fan just yet. His
parents don’t even know about it, so I’m only
saying this now because you’ve managed to
put me on the sp©t.” She answered and
giggled.
I scoffed as I drank some water.
“Jessica, I just want to congratulate you on
that, but something surfaced recently, and
that’s one of the main reasons we called you
to the show.”
“What’s that Patty?”
The monitor screen showed a picture of Evan
and me in the Bahamas. We were holding
hands walking throu-gh the h0tel lobby. I
choked on the water. I knew something like
this would happen.
Jessica laughed– a very nas-ty laugh. “Her? Oh
Patty, I thought it was something bigger than
that.”
“Do you know her?”
“Of course I know her. She’s his as-sistant.
Jasmine Blackman.”
“But don’t you think she’s looking a bit too
comfortable with your fiance?”
“Oh don’t you worry about that. Maybe I was
too friendly with her at his office so she got
the wrong impression about me. She’ll feel my
wrath for that little stunt she’s trying to pu-ll. I
think she’s just desperate and wants attention
or a sp©tlight…or a bonus!” she finished off
with another nas-ty laugh.
I felt sick. I turned the television off.
I had just started going out with Evan and it
had alre-ady started. I had a feeling more
attacks were absolutely coming my way. I felt
vulnerable, suddenly, and I was home alone.
I decided to scroll throu-gh my Instagram to
post a recent picture of me.
Even billionaires love trash.
She’s such a slut.
Leave the happy couple alone and find your
own man. Black trashcan!
It’s black women like you who gives the
decent black women like us a bad name.
Did he promised you a bonus if he ban-ged
you?
You’re very beautiful and I think you and
Hollen makes a lovely couple.
Girl, people are going to hate but you can’t
listen to them. You just do you.
I’ll like to see you and Evan Hollen get
married and shut Jessica Hills up.
You can tell Jessica Hills is bitter.
You and Evan Hollen would never last you
stupid bit-ch! I would help Jessica Hills beat
your as-s!
I wish he would actually fire you when he
comes to his s-en-ses.
I was right. The attacks were coming, and kept
on coming, and I was even threatened.
I texted Evan immediately. After five minutes,
my phone was ringing. He was calling.
“Hey baby. You sounded so upset,” he began.
“Because I am upset Evan. I’m being socially
attacked! And it all because of Jessica! She
went to GSDC and she… she said some awful
things… Then I checked Instagram and people
are saying all sort of stuff… and… and…” I
was frantic. I wasn’t even speaking fluently.
Tears were in my voice and a pain was
creasing onto my che-st. I hated that feeling.
“Baby. Baby, listen to me, plea-se, calm down.
Where are you?”
“I’m home and I’m alone. I’m scared honestly.
You didn’t see some of the comments people
were ma-king. I was threatened!” I cried.
“Okay. I’m coming to get you. We’ll spend the
day together at my mansion and I’ll have my
damage control team on this immediately.
Okay?”
“Okay,” I smiled throu-gh my tears.
“Stay put until I arrive. I’m coming to get you
right now.”
___________
Evan’s POV
I had just finished up my casual meeting with
my lawyers when I checked my phone and saw
a received text message from Jasmine. I
called her back immediately. She was scared
out of her mind. I knew she was crying. After
explaining, throu-gh tears, that Jessica had
gone on a gossip television show and tried to
bash her image, she was attacked by folks on
Instagram who had some terrible things to say
and even felt the nee-d to make threats towards
her.
I wasn’t about to leave her in that state without
even being by her side. She was new to this
and hadn’t adapted to it as yet. Molding her
and coaching her into this world of war was a
necessity if she was to have peace of mind
and be with me.
I hit the accelerator and arrived at her house in
twenty minutes. She opened the door and
threw herself in my arms instantly. I held her
n£¢k against my che-st.
“Shh, it’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here now, baby.
You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
I held her chin up so she was looking into my
eyes. Hers were red. She had been crying.
Without another word, I wra-pped my arm
around her w@!st and led her to my car. She
slide in easily and I got into my driver’s seat. I
drove us homeward.
On seeing my car, the gates were opened and
I drove up to the entrance of my mansion. I
opened the door. Taking her hand in mine, we
went upstairs to my master be-droom.
“Baby, are you alright?” I asked, placing her on
the be-d on her behind.
She nodded yes.
“You don’t have to be afraid of the attention
that other people are looking for. No one is
going to hurt you. They’re only empty vessels.
No one out there would have the ba-lls to even
think about hurting you.”
I placed a k!sson her forehead.
She gave me a smile. Then her eyes roamed
the be-droom.
I changed into something more comfortable
and at home while she drifted off to sleep in
my be-d made by Dr. O’Malley of Ireland.
I la-id down next to her and pu-ll-ed her against
my che-st. I k!$$£d herl-ips softly.
My poor baby.
After ten minutes, ma-king sure she was sound
asleep, I walked out the balcony and phoned
Jessica.
“What game are you really trying to pla-y,
Jessica?”
“Oh, I’m not pla-ying any games. I was saying
what our future would be like, because we’ll get
married eventually.”
“Ha! You have a crazy imagination.”
“Evan what I did, I did it for us.”
“Listen to me, there’s no us! And don’t ever try
to pu-ll such a stupid as-s stunt again or else
I’m going to sink you. You’re running a race
you’re not even qualified for. Just leave
Jasmine alone. And you could consider that a
warning, you know I don’t like repeating
myself.”
“She’s alre-ady cheating on you!” I heard her
yell from the other end before ending the call.
Jasmine would never!
Would she?
________
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 02*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 35👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 PERSONAL as-sISTANT👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Jasmine’s POV
It was quiet all around me as I was engulfed,
alone, in his comfortable be-d. One word
describe-d my mood. Happiness.
“Evan,” I said, softly, climbing out of the be-d
and looking around the be-droom.
My instincts took me throu-gh a door in front of
me. I walked along an aisle then pushed
throu-gh a pair of double doors. I peered over
banisters and saw maids and a security guard
moving about. I went back into the be-droom
for my cellphone.
“Hey baby,” I heard his voice behind me and I
was instantly pu-ll-ed against his powerful che-st.
“You’re finally up,” he whispered in my ear.
“Uh huh,” I let out throu-gh a breath that had
alre-ady been taken away.
This man would be the death of me.
“I have to ask you about something and I’m
only going to ask you this once,” he said,
turning me around so I was facing him. The
seriousness in his eyes made my heart skip a
beat or two from fear. “Are you and br@dley
involved?” he asked, getting straight to the
point. His eyes were almost in complete
darkness.
He saw us at the cafe? Did a picture leak with
br@dley and I?
“No we’re not. We’re just friends.” I regretted
adding that last statement because his whole
demeanor changed.
He stepped away from me. “Friends?” he
asked of the word, like it was an obscenity.
“Friends?”
I nodded yes.
“I don’t want you being friends with him. He
alre-ady had his chance with you and he fv¢ked
it up!” he laced.
“I know that, but I can’t just turn around and be
ungrateful to him. He paid–”
We were interrupted by the ringing of his
cellphone. He answered it.
“What’s up? No, why? Right now? Where are
you?” he spoke to the caller. He heaved a sigh
and c@m£ closer to me again and planted a
k!sson my forehead. “I have to go. My little
brother nee-ds me, but I’ll be back soon and
we’ll continue this conversation. The maids will
provide you with something to eat.”
“Actually, can you have someone take me
home? Zenia should be off work alre-ady so I
wouldn’t be alone.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded yes.
He wra-pped his arm around my shoulder and
we went to his garage. He instructed a security
guard to take his Bentley and get me home. He
took another car and left as well.
_______
Two days later
He was busy preparing the July Extravagance
Gala. It was a function he hosted for his
employees, but actors and actresses,
musicians, singers, other celebrities and
people of his group– the rich and powerful–
showed up as well. It was only one day away,
and I was lucky the last minute preparations
created a diversion between us. He wasn’t in
the office for the entire day and I received only
one text message from him.
I went about my duties as usual. Filing,
answering the phone and taking messages,
responding to emails and organizing his
schedule. Everyone would be having the day
off for the gala so they could prepare
themselves.
__________
The following evening
I had my sister get me a burgundy dress at the
boutique where she worked. I stepped out of
the shower, dried myself off, and got myself
re-ady for the gala with the help of my sister,
as always.
“I feel like I haven’t seen Mom in days,” I said
as she styled my hair.
“Well, she’s busy at work,” she answered.
“Hmm.”
It took thirty minutes to complete the overall
look. The dress hvgged my b©dy in all the
right places and it fit like a second skin. My
sister’s phone was b!owing up on the be-d. She
went to it while I looked in the mirror and
smiled to myself.
“Umm, Jas-sy,” my sister got my attention.
“Have you seen this?”
“Seen what?” I asked, fear coming into the pit
of the stomach again, instantly.
“This.” She handed me her phone.
There was a picture of Jessica in a pair of
un-derwear in Evan’s be-droom. She was sitting
on the be-d, ma-king a k!ssy face selfie to the
c@m£ra. She had posted it on Instagram and
captioned it
#AboutLastNight
#NightWithBae
#TheNextMrs.Hollen
#Forever
What the Fu**!
He was lying to me and was still having S-x
with Jessica behind my back!
“When was this?” I asked, sadness mixed with
anger in my voice.
“She posted it this morning. See the time
there?”
My br@in was taking a detour in my head.
“And she posted this one hour ago,” Zenia
added, handing me the phone again.
Jessica was dressed in an elegant white
dress.
#ToBae’sGala
#ANightForUs
“BUT HE SAID HE WASN’T INVITING HER!” I
screamed and stomped my feet. I tossed the
phone back to my sister and went out the
door. I had zero intention of waiting on one of
his drivers to come fetch me. I glanced down
at my wrist watch: 7:03 pm. The gala was
starting at 8:00 p.m. I boarded a 7:10 pm bus
to the gala.
I arrived at a large auditorium building. Gold
carpet, paparazzi and gossip columnist lined
the entrance. My name was being called from
the mas-sive and thick crowd with flashes of
light from the c@m£ras blinding me until I got
closer to the entrance and was ushered inside
the building with the help of two security
guards.
I walked throu-gh the room. A big chandelier
hung from the ceiling in all its delightful glory.
Tables and chairs designed with white and
gold cloths made me feel unworthy of even
being in here.
The place was swarming with people and I
was certain I had seen Beyonce and her
husband.
My eyes scanned the crowd for him.
I smiled politely as a waitress handed me a
flute of champagne. I drank it hastily to calm
my burning nerves and my anger. Then, I
sp©tted him in a far corner with Jessica
clinging onto his shoulder.
Oh hell no! He can’t be doing this to me!
“Hi there, beautiful,” a voice startled me. I
turned around and saw a smiling br@dley. His
eyes roamed my b©dy as he li-cked hisl-ips.
“Hi br@dley,” I answered coldly.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, stepping closer
to me and giving me a small hvg.
I stepped back from him as Evan’s words
echoed throu-gh my head. “I don’t want you
being friends with him!”
But why should I even listen to Evan when he
was very busy with Jessica in the corner, and
was even busier with her last night?
Maybe that’s why he didn’t bother to even call
me!
“I’m fine,” I answered, snatching another flute
of champagne from a pas-sing waiter.
After downing it in one gulp, I went to use the
washroom. I had to get myself together.
______________
Evan’s POV
“You wish to test me Jessica?” I asked as I
pushed her hands away from me for the
umpteenth time. She desperately wanted to
give that impression to the people here that
she and I were still a thing.
“Evan, are you serious about her?” she asked,
referring to Jasmine.
“Yes I am.”
“So it doesn’t bother you that she’s still
entertaining her ex-b©yfri£nd? Someone even
saw them together at Jem’s Cafe.”
“Jessica, I alre-ady told you to stay out of our
business! She’s not like you!”
I pushed pas-sed her and scanned the room for
my girlfriend. I had received a text from my
driver, who was supposed to pick her up,
saying she had alre-ady left when he got there.
And that was about half an hour ago. She
should be here anytime now.
“Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour,” a
sarcastic voice said behind me.
I turned on the heel of my leather shoes and
c@m£ at a close range with br@dley.
“What are you doing here? You weren’t invited!”
I semi-shouted.
“Oh I’m just here with my d@t£.”
“And who might that unlucky woman be?”
“Ha! It’s Jasmine. The one you’re trying to woo
but you’re failing miserably.”
My blood c@m£ to a boil. “Stay away from her
br@dley.”
“Are you going to st©p me, bro? It’s so funny
how you’re trying to follow exactly in your
father’s pathetic footsteps. You’re trying your
all to wife up another black woman because
your father married your low-budget mother!”
The punch he received s£nt him crashing over
a table and he hit the floor. Blood poured from
hisl-ips and my hand ached.
The entire room got quiet, even the music
from the live band c@m£ to a halt.
“What the hell!” I heard a female voice said as
she c@m£ over to br@dley’s side. She dropped
to his level and pu-ll-ed him to his feet. It was
when she turned and looked at me I saw it
was Jasmine. Her eyes flared at me.
“Don’t even tell me you’re about to take up for
this clown,” I said to her, studying the look on
her face.
“Why don’t you go back to your wife-to-be and
entertain her some more like what you were
doing last night!” she blasted.
“Jasmine, what are you even talking about?” I
asked but she moved over to br@dley and
shielded him with her arms. They took slow
steps away from me. “Jasmine, you’re not
leaving with him! If you take one more step
with that—”
“What are you going to do?” she said and
walked up to me like she was challenging me
to a fight. “Are you going to end us? Go ahead!
As far as I’m concerned we never even
started! And are you going to fire me? Don’t
even bother, because I QUIT!”
She turned on her heels and left with br@dley
on her arms.
_________________
*TO BE CONTINUED*