LOUIS’ POV

"What the hell was that yesterday?" My father asked me. I sat across his desk in his office at the Carrington HQ.

He a grave expression on his face. After the trip to Redwood 3 days ago my father requested to see immediately. I had ignored his calls and texts on the way to Redwood and even lied about being sick. A sacrifice I was willing to make if I could prioritise Jasmine’s safety. I was ready to face the consequences so I wouldn’t cower in front of my father.

"Well?!" he asked again he was fuming.

"I went to help Jasmine," I answered keeping it short and to the point.

His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at me. "I hear the Chairman is dead," he told me in a small voice that told me he was at a loss for words.

"Yes," I answered slowly.

"Louis, this relationship with Chairman Acland’s wife has proven to be quite disruptive and imposing if I do say so myself. Now there’s murder involved this has become more serious than it needed to be. What if you had died!" he yelled out.

"I apologize, fath--" I started but he quickly interrupted me.

"--No you’re not. Clearly," he snapped at me.

There are rumors spreading about the two of you that I am far from comfortable hearing," he complained. "I didn’t want to step step in but at this point if you’re going to behanve eratically I won’t allow you to trave

"If you’re upset with me for lying to you, I apologize. However, I will not end my relationship with Jasmine just because you told me to.

"Louis," he called my name.

"I already told you before father. If you don’t then you simply remove me from the position of acting CEO."

His eyes narrowed as they looked at me.

"Just because I need you at the HQ doesn’t mean you can fool around and push things to the limit," he said annoyed.

"I wasn’t trying to father," I said earnestly. He put in this position out of the blue. I didn’t ask him for it.

"You still have plenty of work to do," he spat out but you see he wasn’t happy. "Leave seeing you is pissing me off. "

Looks like he wasn’t firing me after all he needed me. Not gthat I was trying to sound cocky. I turned away and made to leave his office.

"You and Robert, both my sons. It always something." I heard him mutter under his breath.

I ignored as I placed my hand on the door handle.

"Wait," he suddenly called out to me. My hand paused on the handle. I turned back to face him."How is Jasmine?" he asked.

My eyebrows sprang up skeptically. Why was he asking?

"She’s fine just has some injuries she’s healing from," I informed him.

I finally left his office and headed for my office.

The police had officially reported and now it was sinking that the nightmare was over.

****************

That evening I went to Jasmine’s apartment. Until Keith funeral and Marco’s custody situation was sorted they would be staying together at her home.

So I would be the one going to her home. She was also not working for me anymore. I would like to have Jasmine as my assistant again but now that I’m stationed at the Carrington HQ it would be difficult.

"Did it go well?" she asked as soon as she laid eyes on me, upon enetering her bedroom.

She was sat on a chair in her seating area. I didn’t

"Yes, he let me off the hook," I told her. "Though, I barely made it."

She gave me a sypathetic look and I knew she was about to say she feels bad.

"I told you it was fine. So don’t apologize," I assured her.

I made the decision on my own I didn’t want her to feel responsible for choosing to help her.

I wrapped my arms around her as I stood behind her. I kissed her head and then her neck.

"Alright," she accepted and giggled. She turned her head and I kissed her lips gently. When we came apart I was met with her green eyes.

In them I saw sadness, and tiredness.

After the day in Redwood I didn’t ask Jasmine or Marco and Tony any more questions. They were all visibly shaken and I didn’t want to overwhelm them.

My eyes lingered on some of the bruising on her body I saw through her t-shirt. It reminded me just how easily I could have lost her that day. I was so nervous when Keith refused for me to help him execute his plan to trick Kolton and save Jasmine and Tony.

There was nothing worse than feeling helpless when someone is in trouble but being unable to help them. When I ran into the Lolton’s house after the police had taken control of the situation I feared the worst.

"Have you eaten?" she asked me bringing me out of my thoughts.

"No," I answered as I shook my head.

"Then let’s go eat I have a casserole in the oven," she said as she stood up from her seat. "I’ll call the boys."

I helped her prepare dinner in the kitchen. Whilst the boys set the table. They laughing and making jokes Marco and Tony seemed like really close friends.

Despite the tense mood everyone was in it felt reasuring seeing had been so long since It had been so long since

After dinner we

She had very quickly set things up for him in the apartment.

"So what are you going to do about Marco?" I asked her as we made our way back to her room.

I don’t what it is but Jasmine has been a little off since. Of course, I understood it she almost died. Something like that would be traumatising. Not to mention Keith died. Although she But it felt like she wanted to say something but couldn’t say it.

I knew a part her cared for him despite all the trouble he gave her but the same time.

***********

At the funeral I felt so awkward. Everyone was staring at Jasmine, the boys and I. But I felt they were staring at me more so and Marco. For starters Keith’s Mother was not happy to see me at all. Obviously her son and Keith’s were.