"Jasmine, we really don’t have to wait—" Elisha started, trying to pull away subtly.
"Kiss me," she demanded softly.
Before Elisha could say another word, Jasmine leaned up and pressed her lips forcefully against his. Terrified of starting an argument or making her suspicious, Elisha closed his eyes and kissed her back, completely unaware of the audience behind him.
Henry felt something tighten in his chest as he watched the man he had just been with kissing someone else so easily in his own living room. He let the feeling pass, forcing his expression into a calm, unreadable mask as he continued down the stairs, his slippers brushing softly against the marble.
Hearing the footsteps, Jasmine broke the kiss with a dramatic, breathless gasp. "Oh! Henry!"
Elisha’s blood ran cold. He spun around instantly, his eyes widening in horror as he met Henry’s blank stare.
"Good morning, Henry," Jasmine chirped, offering a sickly-sweet, apologetic smile. "I’m so sorry you had to watch that. Your best friend just loves me so much, he simply won’t let me be."
Hearing the smugness in Jasmine’s tone, Henry refused to just let her have her moment. He looked at her, his face completely devoid of emotion. "It’s fine, Jasmine. Elisha is just like that toward the people he loves. He simply can’t let them be, and he comes running the second they need him."
That response hit Jasmine harder than she expected. Tilting her head and refusing to back down, she cleared her throat, her tone dripping with fake sympathy. "Elisha said you weren’t feeling well last night. How do you feel now?"
Henry’s gaze shifted slowly from Jasmine’s face to Elisha’s pale, terrified one. The silence stretched between them for a suffocating second.
"I’m fine, Jasmine," Henry said. He turned toward the dining area, adding, "I came downstairs to have breakfast because I need to meet up with a client soon." He looked back at them. "Would you like to join me?"
Seeing that she wasn’t winning the exchange, Jasmine shook her head. "We’re actually just about to leave. Besides, your friend said he wants to spend the day with me."
Elisha shot her a panicked look, wanting to ask when he had ever said any such thing. But Henry spoke before he could get a word out.
"Then you should leave early and enjoy your day together. I have several multi-million-dollar contracts to sign today. I can’t afford to be late for the office."
Sensing the cold edge in Henry’s tone, Elisha looked at Jasmine urgently. "Let’s leave now."
Jasmine scoffed, walking away to grab her purse and the bag of clothes she had brought for Elisha. While she was gone, Elisha tried to catch Henry’s eye to say something, but Henry simply rolled his eyes and looked away. When Jasmine returned to his side, Henry offered a polite wave goodbye. Jasmine smiled back, and both of them finally left.
As the heavy oak door clicked shut behind them, Henry muttered, "Who does she think she is, trying to talk to me in that tone?" He pulled out a chair and sat down as his maid immediately stepped forward to serve his breakfast.
Meanwhile, inside the car, as the driver pulled away from the estate, Jasmine leaned closer to Elisha.
"Babe."
"Hmm?" Elisha murmured.
Jasmine took a slow breath before speaking. "Henry doesn’t seem like a very nice friend, Eli. If we get married one day, I think it would be better if you kept your distance from him. Being around him all the time will make people think otherwise. I know you’ve been friends since you were children, but you’re both adults now. He’s engaged, and soon you’ll be taking me to meet your parents. I think it’s time you two started keeping some distance."
She wrapped her arm around Elisha and looked up at him through her lashes. "What do you think?"
Elisha didn’t hesitate. He stared at her, unable to believe what he had just heard.
"I think you need to heal and stop being jealous of a family friend, Jasmine. Henry isn’t just a friend; he’s like family to me. Are you seriously asking me to keep my distance from someone who is not only my friend but also like family to me, and someone I work on billion-dollar contracts with, just because of your insecurity?"
"No, I’m not," Jasmine quickly backpedaled. "You can do business with him. You just don’t have to be that close."
"Can you stop saying things like that, Jasmine? I can’t imagine myself being with a woman who wants me to distance myself from the people who are important to me, especially when they were in my life long before she was." Elisha’s voice hardened. "If you’re not okay with Henry, then maybe we should just break—"
"Fine! It’s fine. I understand. You don’t have to finish that sentence," Jasmine interrupted, her eyes widening in panic.
"Henry isn’t only important to me. His family is close to mine. They’ve been close long before we were even born, and you know that. Don’t ever say things like that again," Elisha warned.
"I understand. I promise I won’t talk about him like that again."
"I hope you keep that promise this time," Elisha said coldly.
Inside, however, Jasmine was boiling with anger.
God, I hate Henry, she thought bitterly. I won’t just sit back and let him keep stealing all the attention I deserve. I’ll find a way to separate him from my man. He can’t keep taking away the happiness and attention that should be mine. Never. I won’t let that happen.
Keeping her true feelings hidden, she wrapped her hands tightly around Elisha’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder as the car moved toward Elisha’s mansion.
The rest of the morning passed quietly. By the time Elisha arrived home, he and Jasmine went their separate ways to get ready for the day. Henry, meanwhile, returned to his office and buried himself in work, refusing to let the morning’s events distract him.
By early afternoon, around lunchtime, Cyrus knocked once before walking into Henry’s office with a folder of documents and an update for his boss.
Henry was sitting behind his desk, intensely focused on his laptop screen.
"Boss, Prince Raphael is here to see you," Cyrus announced, placing the folder on the desk. "These are the Harrington Group documents. They just need your review and signature before we send them to Edmund Global for their final signature."
Henry looked up and pulled the documents closer. "First, tell Prince Raphael to come inside. Leave these with me. I’ll look them over and call you when I’m done."
"All right, sir." Cyrus bowed respectfully before leaving his office.
Moments later, Prince Raphael stepped inside.
Henry stood immediately and offered him a polite nod. "Your Highness, you came all the way here? You could have simply asked me to come to you."
"It’s fine, Henry. I wanted to come myself," Raphael replied with a warm, easy smile.
Henry led him to the seating area, and they both sat down.
"Are you very busy?" Raphael asked, leaning back.
"Not really," Henry answered. "What brings you here? I thought you would have headed back to the palace by now."
"Not yet. You know how hectic things get once I’m back at the palace, so I’m taking my time. But I’ll be heading back tomorrow morning."
Henry nodded. "I see."
"Since you’re busy working during lunch, let me buy you something to eat. I’m sure you haven’t eaten yet."
"I haven’t, but you really didn’t have to go through the trouble and..."
"It’s okay." Raphael shook his head slightly, his expression turning more serious. "I’m not here because I like you in that way. You’ve already explained everything to me, and I understand. I’m here willingly, as your friend. But, Henry..." He paused for a moment. "I’ve been thinking about everything you told me before. I know you mentioned that there’s someone you truly care about, and that you’re engaged."
Henry stiffened slightly and gave a slow nod. "Yes..."
"I know I shouldn’t pry, and I apologize, but I can’t help being curious," Raphael said gently. "There’s something I want to ask you."
Henry swallowed hard. "Go ahead, Your Highness."
"You said you’re engaged, and there’s someone in your heart," Raphael continued, watching him closely. "Is the person you’re engaged to the same person who holds your heart?"
Henry froze. For a terrifying second, his mind went completely blank.
"She... she is the one," he stammered.
Raphael gave a quiet, knowing smile. "From the way you answered, it sounds quite clear that she isn’t the one in your heart at all."
"It’s complicated, Your Highness," Henry muttered, looking away.
Raphael paused, studying Henry’s guarded expression. "Is the person in your heart... Elisha?"
Henry snapped his head back toward him, completely stunned. He couldn’t find his voice to deny it.
Raphael took the heavy silence as confirmation. A faint, understanding look crossed his face.
"I understand," he said softly. "Well then... shall we go for lunch?"
Henry let out a slow, heavy breath and stood up from the sofa. "Let me grab my phone and wallet."
"Take your time," Raphael replied.
Henry walked over to his desk and picked up his phone and wallet. A few minutes later, he left the office with Raphael to have lunch.
It didn’t take long before they arrived at a luxurious restaurant just a short drive from Henry’s company. A waitress led them to a private corner where they settled into a secluded table. They placed their orders and began having a quiet conversation while they waited.
The restaurant wasn’t very crowded. As Raphael casually looked around, his attention suddenly landed on a man sitting alone at another table. He was wearing a black suit and glasses, quietly eating his meal.
For some reason, Raphael couldn’t stop looking at him.
Henry noticed his gaze and followed it until he saw the man Raphael was staring at.
"Are you interested in him?" Henry asked.
"Not only interested," Raphael replied, his eyes still fixed on the man. "I want to know him."
Henry smiled. "Why not give it a try, Your Highness?"
Raphael called one of his bodyguards over and quietly instructed him. The guard bowed before walking toward the man, who happened to be Frank.
When the guard reached Frank’s table...