Josh was embarrassed.
That was his habit.
Once he had his eye on someone, Josh would exhaust his network to dig out everything about the person.
He could only emerge victorious by going in prepared.
“Any new gossip lately?”
Jasmine went for another tart after finishing one. She slid the box toward Josh, gesturing for him to eat.
Josh took up Jasmine’s offer and grabbed a cake, but he had trouble keeping the food down.
Like Zack, Josh was not fond of sweet stuff.
Taking the cake that he took a bite out of, Josh stealthily hid it under the table. With a smiling face, he answered, “Nothing much. There’s something in showbiz about a celebrity’s tarnished public image, but you’re not interested in that.”
The showbiz did not pique Jasmine’s interest. She and Serena would only catch on to the news after the whole world found out about these viral scandals.
“Do you have anything on the head of your household?”
Jasmine was dying to find out if cupid would strike an arrow at the head of the
Bucham household.
What kind of woman would turn the head of a resourceful man like Julian?
Josh pulled out a napkin and kept both hands under the table as he wrapped the cake with the napkin before throwing it into the trash can. Pretending like nothing ever happened, he wiped his hands and put them back on the table. Josh said, “Well, it won’t reach our ears even if there’s gossip about Julian.”
There was no way they could get dirt on Julian unless the latter leaked the information himself.
Curious, Jasmine remarked, “I wonder what type of woman would attract Julian.”
Josh murmured, “I’d like to know too.”
Ring, ring, ring…
With Jasmine’s phone ringing, she looked at the caller ID and said, “Keep it quiet. It’s Mother Superior calling.”
Josh was not impressed, to say the least. He had asked Jasmine out many times, but her parents still had no clue that he was pursuing their daughter.
Here Mrs. Sox thought Mr. Bucham was asking Drake out.
Josh was lost for words.
Jasmine took her mother’s call.
“Mom.”
Jasmine chirped, “What can I do for you, mother dearest?”
“Don’t act smart with me. Come home early tonight. We’re going to your aunt’s for dinner.”
Jasmine asked warily, “What’s the occasion since we’re having dinner at Aunt Rachel’s place?”
Mrs. Sox fell silent for a while before asking in a hushed tone, “Is Serena with you?”
“No.”
“Good. Shawn’s back but only for a couple of days. Your aunt has been missing him since he went to Havenmill. Mothers are all the same. We can’t stop worrying when our children are miles away. Now that Shawn’s back for a few days, your aunt wants to organize a get-together.”
Scowling, Jasmine glanced at Josh and relayed the question that had been bugging her. “Mom, is Shawn going to try anything?”
Zack and Serena were not in a good place right now. Jasmine hoped her lovestruck cousin would not see this as an opportunity to jump in, or things might end badly for him.
No matter what, Shawn was her cousin. Jasmine did not wish for anything to happen to him.
Aunt Rachel said they sent Shawn to work at the branch office in Havenmill. He was not to disclose that he was the heir of the Lowes, starting from the bottom up at the branch office. Shawn must not leave Havenmill and return to Wiltspoon without his parents’ permission.
Shawn’s bank account was frozen by his father. Left without any allowance or a car, Shawn had to work and earn his wages.
Since the branch office in Havenmill did not provide accommodation, Shawn had to rent a place and pay the rental, water, and electricity bills with his salary.
For someone who was born with a silver spoon, life now was tough for Shawn.
Nevertheless, his parents only did so to save him and Lowe Enterprise.
York Corporation had cut the Lowes some slack lately.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowe could breathe again, relieved that they made the right call.
Jasmine was grateful Zack got off her aunt and uncle’s backs.
It slipped Jasmine’s mind that she had Josh to thank for that.
Zack ceased fire out of respect for Josh and Jasmine, but mostly for Josh.
Josh was pursuing Jasmine after all. Jasmine’s close relationship with her aunt was a good enough reason for Zack to keep his hands off Lowe Enterprise. Zack and Josh should know when to quit since the Lowes went so far as to send Shawn to Havenmill, a city many miles away from Wiltspoon.
“I doubt Shawn would do anything.”`
Mrs. Sox sighed. “Your aunt told him that Serena is Mrs. York before he went to Havenmill. He lost all hope and went there. He hasn’t been in touch with his family.
“He has time now that his office is closed for the next two days. He got his wages to pay for the trip home.”
Mrs. Sox was surprised to hear that Shawn had a crush on Serena.
Alas, the love confession came too late.
Serena had belonged to another by then.
Mrs. Sox would not approve if Shawn continued to dwell on Serena.
What was the meaning of pestering a married woman?
“Oh, that reminds me. Your aunt found another nice man for you. You can meet the guy at tonight’s dinner. Your aunt said the guy doesn’t come from a wealthy family. She gave up on that criteria since you hate it so much.”
Truth be told, Mrs. Lowe knew her niece had kissed goodbye the notion of marrying a rich husband the moment Jasmine lay herself down on the floor at Mrs. Dawson’s birthday party. That was when Mrs. Lowe called it quits on playing the matchmaker.
After staying out of her niece’s business for a while, Mrs. Lowe was once again back to find a man for her niece.
Jasmine was twenty-six and single with no boyfriend in sight. Aunt Rachel was nervous for her niece who was not getting any younger.
The anxiousness was getting to Mrs. Sox too. The two ladies would always think about setting Jasmine up on dates whenever they got together.
“Your aunt said you’re meeting an executive working in their company. He’s been. with the company for many years, so your uncle knows him well. He had a girlfriend of eight years, but they split three months ago.
“Your uncle wanted to pair you two up.”
Jasmine replied, slightly baffled, “He broke up with a girlfriend of eight years. What’s the reason for the breakup?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.