Hope

by Tia Wylder

  “Aw, hell. You don’t belong in a place like this. Unless you’re some hooker looking to score some blow. I mean that in more means than one,” the man said with a small measure of scorn.

  “Do I look like a prostitute?” Jasmine demanded angrily, leaving out the part where she was considering that very profession as it stood. The young man resting his chin in his hand, reaching out to take her money.

  “Not one to judge, lady. You see many people come to this place. Some good, some bad. All with their share of stories,” he paused, smiling cryptically before grabbing a room key from behind the counter. “Your room is on the second story. I hope you find it… acceptable,” he said with brief hesitation. She could only wonder what the interior of the room looked like, but she had very little time to waste with high hopes.

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket again just as she stepped through the door of her room, and she grabbed it with a sigh. Sixty messages, all from Mark. How long had the thing been going off without her noticing? It was of little consequence. She skimmed over the messages, seeing much of the same old thing until she got to the last message. It seemed much more remorseful than the other texts, simply offering to pay her the sixty thousand dollars she was owed. Mark promised that after the fact, she would never have to lay eyes on him again.

  It wasn’t what she might have expected from the man. It seemed even more likely that he would cut contact with her and keep his cash safely tucked in his bulging wallet. Of course, that wasn’t the only bulge on her mind. As much as she cursed herself for it, she still felt some lingering feeling for the man who had hurt her. It was too soon to be entirely absolved of such feelings, she supposed.

  Sending back a brief message agreeing to meet with him, for the strict purposes of receiving her check, Jasmine informed Mark where she was staying. She had her doubts that the man would make a trip out of his way into such a scummy part of town, but he simply replied that he was on his way. Glancing into her motel room for the evening, she decided the longer she could put off crawling into that bed, the better. She closed the door, meandering back down the stairs and ignoring the stares of the young man at the front desk.

  It probably seemed as if she were going to wait for some client, but if Mark paid her what he’d agreed, perhaps she could take prostitution off the table. She chuckled bitterly at the thought, pausing at the front desk for a moment.

  “You got a cigarette?” She inquired softly. The young man quirked a brow, grabbing a crushed pack out of his pocket and handing over a menthol cigarette. She placed it between her lips, and he reached out to light it.

  “Dirty habit, y’know. It’ll kill ya,” he said with a sly smile. She rolled her eyes, smiling genuinely before slipping out the front entrance. She lingered near the entryway, not wanting to simply leave herself in the open where anyone could see her.

  When Mark’s familiar car pulled up, she took a long drag off the cigarette before exhaling the smoke and stomping the butt underfoot. The familiar face of the man was twisted with anguish, and as he stepped closer, she could see two distinct tracks going down either cheek. He had been crying, she realized. The man who had turned out to be the ultimate scum was crying over her. She figured that she should have felt vaguely victorious, but the only thing she could think was how it didn’t seem to fit the mold laid out for him.

  He approached her carefully, moving as if to reach out to her. He stopped himself, curling his fingers in as he drew his hand towards his chest.

  “The money?” Jasmine inquired brusquely, though there was so much more she wanted to say. Mark met her gaze, holding it for a beat before forcing his eyes away. He reached into his pocket, withdrawing a check for sixty thousand bucks, as they’d agreed upon. He placed it in her hand, smiling sadly as she considered the note.

  “I know I told you that you’d never have to see me again. I plan to keep my word. I just can’t leave without telling you how much you mean to me. What my wife told you was true. When I first saw your online profile, I fully intended for you to be another conquest. I never expected to fall for you,” he trailed off, and Jasmine watched him with shock in her gaze. “If you give me another chance, I can prove how much you mean to me. I can… there has to be some way,” he cried out pleadingly. His heart was all but exposed on his sleeve, and despite the knowledge that she should level him with a share of cruelty, she couldn’t find it within herself.

  “...Give me some time to think, Mark. I don’t know what to believe at this point. I want to believe you actually care about me, but you can see how I would have some hesitance...,” she trailed off, meeting his gaze. There was a deep sorrow in his eyes, but at her words, there was also the slightest glimmer of hope. She wondered if he saw it reflected in her own gaze.

  “Alright. Take all the time you need. You know where to find me,” Mark said with an air of finality. Jasmine watched the man as he slipped back into his car and drove away.

  Was she willing to put herself in such a vulnerable position again? It seemed foolish. Maybe she was just a fool, then.

  Chapter Nine

  Jasmine woke early the next morning, a sense of relief washing over her when she realized she wasn’t in the crummy hotel. She’d been able to get a small amount from the check immediately upon deposit, and she had used that to slip away to a nicer hotel. She left the young man at the desk of the motel a hefty tip before leaving, telling him to find someone nice for himself. He’d been taken aback by her kindness, but she felt a certain lightness in her chest immediately after talking to Mark. With every moment that passed, she grew surer and surer that he wasn’t the cold and callous man his wife painted him out to be. Certainly, he had made mistakes, but he had fessed up to that. He was willing to prove himself to Jasmine, and that went a long way. She knew she had to give him a chance.

  Still wearing the vaguely damp clothes from the night previous, she slipped out of the cozy hotel bed. It wasn’t anything extravagant, and it certainly wasn’t pristine enough for her to sleep in the nude. All the same, she felt well rested. She considered her reflection in the mirror, vaguely taken aback by how awful she looked. There were dark bags under her eyes, and perhaps because she’d slept so well, she had a severe case of bedhead.

  “I can’t let him see me like this,” she muttered, wanting to make a good impression despite herself. The night prior was in the past, and though she knew she had looked like a drowned cat then, she didn’t want a repeat performance that day. She hadn’t wanted to blow through the check Mark had given her, but at the very least she thought she deserved a new, dry set of clothes. Maybe a makeover while she was at it. A haircut, a dab of makeup, and she would look so gorgeous he would be entirely unable to resist her. It was a shallow thought, but she thought that perhaps, even if he had been insincere, she could win his heart with her looks alone. It was a longshot, but she had very little to lose.

  As she stepped out of the hotel, she hailed a cab to the nearest beauty boutique. She knew of a lovely place that sold designer clothes with a beautician on hand as well and directed the cab driver to the store. His eyes widened at her instruction, and she shrunk back a bit. Perhaps it was unwise to flaunt the amount of money she had stashed away. More likely, however, was the chance that she looked far beneath the typical clientele of the boutique. The cab driver took her to her destination all the same, and she swiped her card to pay him before slipping out of the car.

  She stepped into the boutique, and immediately all eyes were upon her.

  “Can I… help you?” One of the workers inquired in a haughty tone. Jasmine forced a smile, gesturing to the clothing side of the boutique.

  “I just received a hefty sum of money, and I have to win a wealthy man’s heart. Do you suppose you could help me?” She inquired. The women seemed startled, but were immediately on their feet, rushing towards them.

  “Oh, honey, of course. Let’s get you out of those old, dirty clothes. I have something just right for the job,” an older woman, maybe in h
er forties, smiled. It was clear that the women were gripped by the potential drama behind Jasmine’s story, as well as the payout they stood to make. Jasmine smiled with a more sincere expression this time and allowed the older woman to guide her to the dressing room. The woman grabbed several outfits as they walked, pushing Jasmine into the dressing room with the pile of clothes. “Try them on. They should all be a perfect fit, and you’ll look glamorous in any number of them,” the woman called from the other side of the dressing room door.

  Jasmine shuffled around in the pile of clothes, grabbing a dress that was woven with dark strands of maroon. Thinking it would go well with her complexion, she shimmied out of her damp clothes and pulled the dress on. She looked in the mirror, stricken by love at first sight. The dress fit her form perfectly, was the perfect shade to bring out both her eyes and the highlights of her hair. She knew she wasn’t looking at the finished project, but she thought if the beautician were as talented as she expected, there would be no trouble sealing the deal. Stepping out of the dressing room, she was met with wide eyes and delighted expressions.

  “Oh, darling, it’s perfect for you. Just as I suspected. Come, come along. I imagine there’s little time to waste,” the older woman crooned, dragging Jasmine to the beautician’s chair. The makeup artist considered her with a pensive expression, tapping her finger on her chin.

  “Ah, yes! Yes, I know just the thing. Michele, start working on her hair,” she ordered with a grin. Jasmine was soon surrounded by women who moved at breakneck speeds to prepare her for her meeting with Mark. She couldn’t see her own reflection, only feeling the tug of someone combing her hair, and the vaguely ticklish of eyeshadow being artfully applied.

  “Stop!” A woman shouted abruptly, what seemed mere seconds later. Jasmine looked up, uncertainty creeping up on her. Was there nothing they could do for her? Was she beyond help? One of the women turned the chair to face the mirror on the wall, and Jasmine felt certain she would faint. She scarcely recognized the woman who stared back at her, though it was clearly herself. It was just a glamorous version of herself that she hadn’t indulged even when she’d been living with Mark.

  “I’m… beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Vain,” another woman said drily, before erupting in giggles. “No, but of course you’re beautiful, darling. We had quite the wonderful canvas to work with,” she added with a smile. Jasmine looked at each woman with appreciation shining in her gaze. She made quick work of paying off the charges, shouting her thanks to the women as she slipped out of the boutique. Immediately, she heard a wolf whistle from across the street. She flushed, flagging down another cab.

  When the taxi stopped, she slid carefully inside as not to ruin her look. The cab driver was, surprisingly, the same who had brought her to the boutique.

  “Damn, lady, you clean up real nice,” he said gruffly.

  “Thanks. I hope Mark thinks so,” she said shyly. He chuckled, taking her directions to said man’s house and occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror.

  “He’d be a fool not to. Jesus Christ, is this the place? Of course, it is, look at you,” the driver said as they pulled up to Mark’s house. His voice sounded awe, and Jasmine laughed a bit airily as she stepped out of the car. She swiped her card again, resting her hand on the cab driver’s shoulder. “Good luck, kid,” he murmured.

  “Thanks. I’ll need it,” she admitted. He rolled his eyes, guffawing as he backed out of the long and winding driveway.

  Alone with her thoughts, Jasmine wondered if she had been too wrapped up in impressing Mark. He was the one who was supposed to prove himself, yet she had gone through such lengths to see that she looked as if she belonged to him. She supposed love made you do crazy things. Despite his actions, she had no doubt that what she felt for Mark was love, simple. Except it wasn’t entirely pure, nor entirely simple. She chuckled to herself at the thought.

  As she looked towards the estate, she realized there was a vaguely familiar car pulled close to the porch. Recognizing it as Deborah’s car, Jasmine could only wonder what Mark’s ex-wife was doing there. Perhaps she should have called before she arrived, though she had intended to catch Mark off guard. Caught up in self-doubt, she jolted as a feminine shout sounded from the back lawn of the estate. Curious, Jasmine slipped around the side of the massive home, towards the back yard. Large shrubs obscured her vision, but as she heard what sounded like an argument, she remained hidden behind a particularly thick one. She peeked out, surprised to see Mark in Deborah’s arms. The other woman’s lips were pressed against Mark’s, and for a moment, Jasmine felt as if her world had come crashing down. However, Mark shoved Deborah away with something akin to disgust in his gaze, wiping his lips angrily.

  “What the hell, Deborah? First, you ruin things with Jasmine, convince her what a piece of crap I am, then you start crawling all over me?” He demanded, anger lacing his tone. Deborah grinned a smarmy little grin, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

  “I saw the way you looked at Jasmine, Mark. I saw the way you treated her. Don’t think I didn’t notice. You’ve changed. That girl changed you, in a way that can only be for the better. When I saw how in love you were, what could I do but push her away? You know we belong together,” Deborah purred. Jasmine’s eyes widened, and she swallowed a gasp, desperate to keep hidden from the confrontation. Mark’s expression swam with anger, and his hands were curled into tightly clenched fists at his side.

  “You pushed her away… because you wanted to get back together? After all that we’ve put each other through, after how attached Jenny had grown to Jasmine? Although you know I’m in love with her!? How could you be so selfish?” He demanded, taking a step back. Deborah met every step back with a step forward of her own, capturing his chin in her grip and smiling wickedly.

  “Oh, Mark. I just want us to be a family again. That’s all Jenny would want, I’m sure. You know I’m twice the woman that Jasmine tramp could ever be. You belong to me-- with me! You belong with me,” the ex-wife cooed, drawing her lips towards Mark’s once more. He shoved her away, and she stumbled back, hitting the ground on her rear. She bared her teeth almost animalistically, but Mark met her gaze with equal fury.

  “You ruined my one chance at happiness. I never loved you, Deborah. I never have and never will. I looked for love outside of our marriage because there was a void inside me that… that I just had to fill. I know I went about things in the wrong way, but you see I’ve changed. Why would you harm such an innocent girl? The one girl I’ve ever truly felt love for,” he hissed, his voice growing louder and breaking towards the end. Deborah struggled to get to her feet, and Jasmine had to try and calm her breathing as the two stepped towards each other. It looked as if they were ready to break out into a brawl, and Jasmine was startled to see the man’s ex-wife throw a wild left hook towards his face. He caught her fist in his hand, narrowing his eyes upon her. “I won’t get physical with you, Deb. You need to leave. I’m hoping to hear from Jasmine today, and even if she doesn’t make that call… I don’t want you,” he muttered.

  Jasmine’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to process what she’d seen, but she could think of little but how earnest Mark looked as he confessed his feelings for her. Sure, it wasn’t a confession made to her, but he stood behind it just the same. She resolved that when Deborah took the hint and left, she would step into the clearing as if she’d seen nothing.

  “She’s not coming back, Mark. Why would she want you? You’re cruel, manipulative, and there’s nothing you can do to make her come back to you. I made sure of that. Without me, you’ll die alone, and Jenny will never know the love of a mother,” the man’s ex-wife said softly. Mark stared at her for a long moment, anger shining in his gaze. But abruptly, that anger broke and shifted to despair. He turned his back upon Deborah, unable to look at her any longer.

  “You’re probably right. But I must at least try. What more can a man do?” He choked out. Jasmine hesitated a moment longer before rea
lizing that Deborah wouldn’t leave until she had her claws locked in Mark, or until she was forced to leave. If the younger woman had her way, it would certainly be the latter. Steeling herself, Jasmine inhaled a quaking breath before stepping out from behind the shrub.

  Chapter Ten

  As she stepped out into the open lawn, Deborah’s eyes fell upon her immediately. Jasmine was certain she had never seen such venom turned upon her in the entirety of her life.

  “Get out of here, you little whore,” the older woman screamed, launching herself at her. Jasmine sidestepped, giving her a slight shove as she passed to knock her off balance. Mark was looking at her with shock in his gaze, and she rushed forward to pull him into an embrace.

  “I heard everything. Do… do you really love me?” She inquired softly. If she expected him to be embarrassed, she was surprised by the warmth he considered her with.

  “With my entire heart,” he confessed. Her eyes pricked with tears, but he wiped them away as he caressed her cheek. When she met his gaze, she could see nothing but sincerity and adoration reflected at her. The fact that Deborah was even there faded away as Jasmine slowly closed the distance between them. She pressed her lips against Mark’s, feeling as if fireworks were exploding beneath her breast. She clung tightly to him, tears streaming down both of their cheeks as they realized how foolish they had been.