Chapter 29: Pick A Side

Evan's POV

Friday came almost instantly.

I had just come back into my office from the boardroom meeting and I was in the best of moods. The company had made a net profit of ten million dollars from the five companies we've invested in, taken over, and developed on a wider scale in the last six months.

I can give my employees a raise and a respectable bonus at the end of the year.

I sat down in my chair while my mind went back to last night's special episode in my bedroom at my family's house. I wanted more of that. I needed more of that. I missed her presence in the office but I wanted her to be with her mother. Her mom would be finally coming home from the hospital after a successful lung transplant surgery. I would tell her the truth very soon.

She needs to know that I paid for the surgery and the outstanding medical bills.

I took my cellphone out my pocket and dialed Jasmine's number. "Hi," I spoke up as she answered her phone.

"Hi, how are you?"

"I'm okay. Just came from the meeting and I'm missing you. What are you doing?"

"Getting ready to go meet my mother at the hospital. She's waiting to be discharged by the doctors now."

"Do you want me to come and get you? I can take you to the hospital."

"No no no, I'm not going to put you through that trouble. Stay at the office. I can handle this."

"Okay. I miss you."

"Miss you too."

"Call me when you get back?"

"Sure."

I ended the call and a smile came across my face.

"WE NEED TO TALK!" another voice blurted out, startling me and removing me from my mood, shaking Jasmine's images from my thoughts.

"What is it Jessica?" I asked.

"How can you do this to me, Evan? You're really going out with that assistant of yours while we're dating?" She walked up to my desk.

"Oh, is that what we're doing?" I asked.

"YES!" she hovered over my desk and gave me an awful look, making me laugh. "Am I funny to you Evan?"

"Yes you are," I answered.

"Eva--"

"Don't start this bullshit with me, Jessica. Today really isn't the day to get me on the other side. Which is the side you'll never like to see. You and I are not official, we never were. Maybe you let that ring go to your head, but that isn't an engagement ring, and you damn well know that. It's the ring you lost when I took you on the hiking trip eight years ago. I felt like it was my fault you lost it, and I promised to replace it, but when I actually wanted to you disappeared.

"I don't break my promises and I don't forget them; hence, the new and replaced ring on your finger. So you can stop pretending like we're engaged and we're a thing, because we're not. I found someone else."

A stack of papers met my face.

Did she just throw paper at me? That delusional nut job!

"YOU'RE NOT BREAKING UP WITH ME!" she screamed and sounded much like the others.

"We were never a couple Jessica. I may have strung you along when you popped up out of the blue, but I don't want you in my life. You're crazy, unstable and overly possessive. and lets not forget that embarrassing moment when you came in here with dick pills."

"Evan, please don't do this. I love you."

"Well I don't love you so get out of my office and out of my building before I call security. And, by the way, here you are." I handed her a white rose.

Tears rolled down her face and, with the pride she had left, she turned around and walked out my office.

Good riddance.

*********

Jasmine's POV

I locked my apartment and ran downstairs. Fetching a bus, I went directly to the hospital.

"Miss Blackman!" Dr. Shannon called as I entered the ward. She had been expecting me.

"How's my mom?" I asked immediately.

"Ready to be discharged. I've been waiting on your arrival before doing so."

I followed her to my mother's assigned room. Mom was sitting up on the bed-- a big smile on her face and the color of her skin looked so polished. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she pulled me into a big bear hug.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her, wiping at my tears of joy.

"I'm fantastic," she replied, sounding like her old self again.

I embraced her even tighter, daring anyone to interrupt this moment.

"Miss Susan Blackman, I must say, it was very scary being your appointed doctor. It would have haunted me if I had to ever pull that plug and take you away from your beautiful ladies. But God was looking out for you and he sent forth that person to save you. I wish you all the best in life and happiness," Dr. Shannon said to my mother as she was being discharged.

"Thank you doctor. For everything," mom said, shaking hands with Dr. Shannon.

I was still holding onto my mother.

We finally broke apart and, together, we walked out of the hospital. I hoped I never had to be in a situation like this again. I hated hospitals with a passion.



I unlocked my apartment door and ushered mom inside.

"It's good to be back home," she said, throwing up her hands in the air like she had won a victory. Well, she did, actually. She beat death and she won.

"It's good to have you back mom."

"Where's Zenia?"

"She's at work. She got a summer job at Las Chicas Boutique. You know her and fashion are best of friends."

"Yes. I'm happy she's doing something very constructive with her life."

Mom sat down on the couch. I went to the kitchen and brought her back a glass of water.

"Thank you sweetie," she said before twisting the cap and bringing it to her lips. "I've been meaning to ask you this, do you know who paid for my lung transplant?"

"Yeah," I answered.

"Who?"

"Why you want to know that? The only thing that matters is that it's already done and you're not six feet under the ground."

"I want to know because I want to thank that person, Jasmine. You don't have to sass me."

"Bradley."

"What?"

"Bradley Pittsburg from college. My ex boyfriend. He paid for it. I told him about your condition and he paid for it."

"You let that boy pay for my transplant?!"

"You see! That's why I didn't want to tell you anything because I know you would snap like this. He did a good thing, mom. What he did in the past, I can't change that, but he's sorry for what he did. He went out of his way to pay over seven hundred thousand dollars for YOU! Be grateful and stop holding grudges for what he did to me because I already forgave him. So who are you to keep on hating him?"

"Why are you talking to me like this? And picking sides?" My mother was hurt by my words.

"Mom, I'm not picking any sides because there are none. Just stop this. You're home and you're alive. Lets just have something to eat and enjoy you being back."

She nodded.

"I'm sorry mom if my tone and words offended you," I apologized.

Life is short and I didn't want my mom to waste hers holding onto a grudge, or grudges, against everyone who had hurt me throughout my lifetime. I was a better person and I had learnt to let the past go. So why couldn't she?

Bradley did hurt me. He hurt me beyond what my heart could handle, but he made it up by doing something no one else would have done at that time for me, mom and Zenia. I had forgiven him and I knew he wouldn't do anything so stupid again. I believed he learned his lesson.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

1 New Message
Sender: Mr. Hollen

I think I'm falling for you. Can't wait to see you again and hold you in my arms.

A smile came to my lips.

My phone buzzed again.



1 New Message
Sender: Bradley Pittsburg

I can't stop thinking about you. I miss you and I'm dying to see you. I love you Jasmine. I want us back together.



I heaved a sigh as I raked my hand through my hair and placed my phone on the kitchen island.

Who exactly should I settle for ?