When the Night Falls
Chapter 22

JASMINE

I paced back and forth, with many thoughts running in my mind..

It had been a week since Theodore had taken me to the other side of the wing where there was a huge dining hall connected to the kitchen.

Later, Sherry had informed me that we had been gathered in the west wing, where we hadn’t been allowed to enter before.

I had been in shock when I saw the men and women wearing classic black clothes with their hands clasped in front. They’d even bowed their heads in respect.

For a week, I couldn’t talk with anyone. It was too much to handle, and I needed a break. The power Theodore held over everyone had shaken me to the core.

“Jasmine…” I stopped pacing and turned to him. I had been ignoring him, and today he’d decided to kidnap me to his room.

He hadn’t even given me an intimation that he was going to make our relationship public. Heck, I hadn’t even known that this mansion was named Miele Palace.

When he’d called me Madame Miele, I was confused, trying to understand why he’d called me Madame.

The way their eyes had widened before they bowed down to me-I had never witnessed that, except in the movies.

“Why did you call me Madame Miele? I’m not Madame Miele,” I asked him.

He didn’t say anything, but just sat on the wing chair with his legs crossed, his chin leaning on his palm, and his eyes fixed on me.

“And why did you guys sound so-“I tried to find the correct word.

“French,” I said. I honestly knew nothing about the Jeffersons or Theodore. I’d tried to search for them on the internet but got nothing except information about their business in the United States.

Theodore had a house in the United States. The information about him was that he had moved to the United States and his business had grown.

I had been in shock when I saw the men and women wearing classic black clothes with their hands clasped in front. They’d even bowed their heads in respect.

For a week, I couldn’t talk with anyone. It was too much to handle, and I needed a break. The power Theodore held over everyone had shaken me to the core..

“Jasmine…” I stopped pacing and turned to him. I had been ignoring him, and today he’d decided to kidnap me to his room.

He hadn’t even given me an intimation that he was going to make our relationship public. Heck, I hadn’t even known that this mansion was named Miele Palace.

When he’d called me Madame Miele, I was confused, trying to understand why he’d called me

Madame.

The way their eyes had widened before they bowed down to me-I had never witnessed that, except in the movies.

“Why did you call me Madame Miele? I’m not Madame Miele,” I asked him.

He didn’t say anything, but just sat on the wing chair with his legs crossed, his chin leaning on his palm, and his eyes fixed on me.

“And why did you guys sound so-“I tried to find the correct word.

“French,” I said. I honestly knew nothing about the Jeffersons or Theodore. I’d tried to search for them on the internet but got nothing except information about their business in the United States.

Theodore had a house in the United States. The information about him was that he had moved to the United States and his business had grown.

There was no result about his family or anything relating to his personal life. Clearly, they didn’t know that he was in the United Kingdom.

Nor did they know about this mansion. I was really curious to know about him. I needed

answers.

“Answer me.”

“Why were you ignoring me?” he asked in return.

“I asked the question first.”

“I will answer your questions if you tell me why you were ignoring me.” I stared at him blankly, and he did the same before I exhaled, shaking my head.

and you know

Because you confuse me so much. I-I feel like I know nothing about you, everything about me. I don’t even get why they were bowing their heads to you like you are their dam n king.

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“They sounded French because I’m from France. They bowed and treated me like royalty because I’m a descendant of the Capetian dynasty.”

I looked at him in shock. I sucked at history, and I didn’t know about French kings or French history. “Does that mean your father is a prince?”

He rolled his eyes. “My mother was a princess before she married my dad, who is an American.”

“Why didn’t I know about this? Like I should’ve known, right, If you are royalty.” I said, but more to myself.

“That’s because you are not from here.” I nodded my head in agreement. True, I wasn’t from here. Heck, I was born and raised in Canada before I moved to London because of my family.

my job and

This would be my second year staying in London. I had never cared about the present British monarchy, so why would I have cared about the French?

“So that’s the reason they were showing so much respect. But what about cooking in front of everyone? I don’t understand…”

He took a long pause, looking at me with his dark eyes.

“When I called you my lady, did you really think I was joking? I’m serious about you, and in the Jefferson family, we do a ritual.

“The male cooks a meal for the female he loves and is serious about. If the ritual is done, then it means he’s officially announced that he is bound to the female.”

My eyes widened, and I could feel my heart beating against my ribcage. He’d admitted that he loved me. I blinked my eyes and stayed quiet.

“You fell in love with me in two months?” I asked him. It wasn’t that I didn’t love him.

I’d fallen for him harder than I’d thought I would, and now I wanted him to accept me first before I accepted him.

It kind of felt too soon, but you can’t really help but fall in love when you meet the man of your

dreams.

“What do you want to hear, the truth or a lie?”

I frowned in confusion. “Truth?” It came out as a question. Even Theodore looked like he wasn’t sure about telling it.

He looked away, taking his time to open his mouth. “I have known you for six years.”

My jaw dropped as I looked at him with wide. eyes. “What?”

He rubbed his face, shuffling in his seat. “Don’t ask any questions after this. I saw you in Canada

first. It’s not two months; it’s about six years.”

He stood up from his chair and walked over to me, pulling me into his arms.

“Don’t. I know you have many questions, but don’t ask. I’m not ready to answer them all. I will answer when the time comes; just trust me.”

I didn’t say anything, but just stood in shock while he hugged my b*dy. I needed a drink. I needed alcohol in my b*dy.

“I want to go to the pub,” I whispered.

“I will take you to the pub.”

“No, I will go with Sherry. I just want to have a drink alone or with Sherry.”

“No.”

“Yes!”

“No.”

“Yes!” I hissed. pulling away.

“I will go crazy, and this is too much to take in. I just need this one night to understand everything. I won’t do anything stup i d, and Sherry will be with me.”

He took time, looking down at me, while I looked up at him.

“Fine, I will allow you to go.” I gave him a tight smile before stepping away. I stopped when he wrapped his hand around my wrist. I turned around in confusion.

“If her words made you cry, then my actions should mean something to you.”

I blinked my eyes. Nodding my head, I left. Theodore and I had always been S*xually intense, but we weren’t free with words or expressing things.

Now that our relationship had become public, his opening up was too intense to handle.

“Slow down, girl. You downed four shots,” Sherry said, standing beside me..

“I just wanna get drunk and dance my as s off.”

“I understand, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel jealous that day.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the vodka slide down my throat. “Jealous? Why would you feel that?”

She laughed, shaking her head.

17:42 Wed, 28 Feb

I closed my eyes, feeling the vodka slide down my throat. “Jealous? Why would you feel that?”

She laughed, shaking her head.

“Every lady who was present felt it. Mr. Jefferson, without yelling or beating anyone, showed what you are to him, and the respect he showed you is what made others feel so jealous of you.

“Every lady wants her man to respect her the utmost. She wants him to be proud of her.

“That coming from Mr. Jefferson, the person who doesn’t show emotions, who is feared by everyone, showing you to everyone proudly is something that can’t be explained.”

I listened to her every word. “And I know you are scared that it’s been only two months since you met Mr. Jefferson.

“Everything seems to be moving fast, but trust me, that man fell for you and is sure of you. That’s the reason he announced you whesitation as Madame Micle, which is crazy.”

I nodded my head, looking around. The place was vibrating with drunken bodies dancing their souls out. The pub was full. I saw mostly young people, who must have been college students.

“I don’t know, Sherry. I mean, I love the man, and I’m pretty sure that I can’t leave him, but the thing is I don’t know about his past or about Thea’s mother..

I flinched as the thought crossed my mind. I had never thought much about Thea’s mother, but when Theodore had made things serious, things crossed my mind.

“Darling, you are thinking too much. Things happen and people break up. If he was already in a relationship with whoever the lady is, he would never approach you.

“Mr. Jefferson is a man of values and morals. You shouldn’t let those negative thoughts ruin what you have with him. Just give him some time to open up, and embrace the happiness, girl.

“It’s hard to find a hottie with morals these days.”

That made me laugh, and I nodded my head. “Yeah… You are right. I guess I’m thinking too

much.”

I finished my shot before pulling Sherry to the dance floor. She was tall compared to me, beautiful, with curves and long legs.

but

I giggled, holding her hands as we moved our hips in rhythm to the tune. Men approached us, but Sherry shoved them away, saying I was her girlfriend.

I played along because it was fun. “F u c k!” I said, feeling so light and happy.

The alcohol in my b*dy surely helped, and even Sherry seemed comfortable. After a while, we moved to a booth and ordered food.

“So, you are not from the United Kingdom?” Sherry asked.

17:42 Wed, 28 Feb

“Nah, born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Moved here two years ago because of job and family issues.”

“Vancouver? Mic k and I went there for our training before we got deployed here. Initially, we were meant to protect Mrs. Jefferson but ended up here.”

My eyes twitched, and I stopped eating. “Mrs. Jefferson?” I asked.

“Your man’s mother. Don’t worry,” she said, chuckling.

“Oh, so you are from Canada?” I asked her.

“Nope, Brazil. My parents served the country, and I was fascinated by defense and combat. That’s how I ended up becoming a b*dyguard. I love my job, though.”

I nodded my head in understanding. “What about you? How did you end up here as a nutritionist?” she asked.

We’d never gotten the chance to speak openly in the mansion. Now that we were here with alcohol in our bodies, we were talking without any worries.

I loved this, and having Sherry with me was like having a friend.

“Long story short, my parents are Orthodox. My father is a priest, and Mum is a dedicated. housewife. I don’t have any siblings, so they were always on my back, giving me no freedom at all.

“Everywhere I went, Dad would make Mum tag along. I didn’t step out of the city or province. for my education. My schooling and college were done in Vancouver.

“When they decided to drop the marriage bomb, I left home to pursue my career.”

“Sorry to say this, but your parents sound shi t. Like, you marry when you want to; why force you?”

“Yeah, I’m better off, but I miss them sometimes.”

“I understand,” she said, nodding her head. I ate my chicken, then took a sip of my gin.

“But you know what? Theodore dropped a bomb this morning,” I said after a while.

“What? Did he ask you to marry him?” My eyes went wide, while she laughed loudly.

“Chill, babe. I’m joking. What did he say?”

“He said he saw me six years ago in Canada. Like, I asked him if he fell in love with me in two months, and he said, ‘I saw you six years ago.

I shrugged my shoulders, gulping down the rest of the drink.

17:42 Wed, 28 Feb

I shrugged my shoulders, gulping down the rest of the drink.

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“F***, sis. Mr. Jefferson must’ve secretly loved you for years before he decided to man up and meet you,” she said, drinking hers.

“I mean, that makes sense. Like, see, you got a call from Iris about the job, and he knew you would turn down a job babysitting, so he paid you a million dollars.

“He pulled his strings, and thankfully, you two met.”

Now that she’d said that, I thought about it. It was true. Everything made sense now. He’d known me for years; that was the reason he’d chosen me.

Or else how would a nutritionist be qualified for babysitting?

“Girl, don’t push him away. Maybe he’s got a past, but that doesn’t mean he is bad for the future. He may not talk or express feelings for you, but his actions speak a lot to us.

“I saw how Mr. Jefferson would look at you, and we had doubts, though. Anyway, don’t let the past that isn’t going to come back ruin your present and future.

“Keep that man wrapped around you and adore him. He is a rare kind of species.”

I smiled cheekily, nodding my head. Yes. Theodore is rare and all mine.

“Yes! I’m a lucky bitc h, ain’t I? Theodore is mine… I mean all mine!” I yelled with happiness.

“Yes, all yours, sister!”

I was drunk, and I knew it when I started seeing three Sherrys sitting in front of me. I leaned back in my seat.

“What about Mic k?” I asked her lazily. She started typing something on her phone.

“What about him?”

“What-what do you feel about him?” She leaned back, thinking about him, I guessed.

While she thought, I looked at the table to find something to eat. I took ate them, waiting for her to talk.

the chicken loll*pops and

“I have been his partner for two years now. We trained together and deployed to the same place. He is good-looking and hot sometimes, but I don’t know what I feel about him.”

“He’s got a crush on you. I even asked him once,” I said, lifting my finger.

“Ha ha ha…” I didn’t say anything, but just leaned back in my seat. I was done with the drinks, and I just wanted to sleep. I closed my eyes as sleep took over.

“Jasmine, don’t sleep. They will be here in five minutes, I guess.” I heard Sherry say.

17:42 Wed, 28 Feb

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I WAS UIUIIN, HHU I NILY IL WIILIL I Muli

gune anen iya anung ii nomi uI THE, I TEHNICA

back in my seat.

“What about Mic k?” I asked her lazily. She started typing something on her phone.

“What about him?”

“What-what do you feel about him?” She leaned back, thinking about him, I guessed.

While she thought, I looked at the table to find something to cat. I took the chicken loll*pops and ate them, waiting for her to talk.

“I have been his partner for two years now. We trained together and deployed to the same place. He is good-looking and hot sometimes, but I don’t know what I feel about him.”

“He’s got a crush on you. I even asked him once,” I said, lifting my finger.

“Ha ha ha. “I didn

say anything, but just leaned back in my seat. I was done with the drinks, and I just wanted to sleep. I closed my eyes as sleep took over.

“Jasmine, don’t sleep. They will be here in five minutes, I guess.” I heard Sherry say.

“Hmm…,” I hummed.

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