Chapter 47
Engrossed in the stunning art piece, Jasmine walked, eager to take a closer look. The gallery’s atmosphere was filled with a
symphony of colors and textures, each stroke on the canvas telling a story. The soft hum of conversations from the sophisticated
crowd added to the ambiance.
In that moment, she collided with a man briskly walking by. The glass she held sl*pped from her hand, and losing her balance,
she bumped into a waiter, creating a cacophony of shattering glasses. The delicate notes of a piano playing in the background
seemed to freeze. momentarily.
“Oh no no,” she cried out in horror, her voice a soft melody in the gallery’s space.
Im so sorry, ma’am,” the waiter apologized with genuine concern, but people barely paid her any attention. The gallery patrons,
engrossed in the exquisite artwork, were oblivious to the small disruption.
“Are you okay?” Axel asked guiltily. Hurrying to carry out Ethan’s instructions of arranging a private space for him and an
important man to discuss, Axel had bumped into Jasmine, they had both been distracted. The air was filled with the scent of the
red wine. “No!” She yelled, her voice carrying a hint of frustration and embarrassment, turning red from the demeaning and pitiful
glances.l she got from the servers positioned there and some other gallery patrons passing by. The gallery’s lighting accentuated
the hues of her flushed checks. She turned around and left immediately, leaving behind a lingering trail of her favorite floral
perfume.
Axel adjusted his glasses, watching her retreating back as she made her way through the crowd. The gallery walls adorned with
masterpieces created an artistic backdrop to this unexpected encounter. Something about her struck at him. She was so familiar,
and when his arms had brushed her, he’d felt a tingling sensation he couldn’t understand-a burst of heat against his cold skin.
The air-conditioned gallery seemed to have a calming effect on the patrons, creating a comfortable space to appreciate art
He blinked, taking off his glasses that now had spots of wine, cleaning them, and putting them back on. As he took a step, he felt
looked cheap. He’d stepped on it and broken it. With a sigh, he picked it up, discarding it in the trash as he walked by. The.
gallery’s pristine environment, with its immaculate white walls, emphasized Axel’s obsession and need for orderliness.
Then he walked off, having important things to do. The echo of his footsteps reverberated in the gallery, adding a rhythmic
undertone to the ambient sounds.
Sighting Dr. Gomez making his entrance, Axel walked up to him.
This way, sir, he directed the older man to the room where Ethan waited. Unknown to Jasmine, she had just missed him, the very
reason she had camped close to the servers had made his way passed there the moment she left.
Few minutes later. Jasmine exited the bathroom in a frenzy. The bathroom, adorned with minimalist decor, provided a stark
contrast to the vibrant artworks outside. While scrubbing at her clothes, she had glanced at her reflection, spotting her bare neck,
She instantly became alarmed touching her neck and searching the floor in panic. Still, she couldn’t find her necklace, and she
was nearly losing her mind in fear and panic. The reflection of her distressed expression reflected in the sleek mirrors.
She rushed back to the main hall, which was almost empty as the guests had moved into the inner room for the exhibition. The
dimming lights and the soft hum of conversations. created an intimate atmosphere. Jasmine’s hurried footsteps added a staccato
beat to the background music.
“Excuse me,” she called the attention of a server, her voice resonating in the spa c i o u s hall. “Did you happen to see a
necklace?” she asked anxiously, her eyes searching the faces of the few remaining ushers. The gallery’s grandeur now felt
somewhat haunting in its emptiness. “It fell. I believe that man picked it, the one you bumped into,” an usher observed, his voice
echoing in the now-hushed surroundings. Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief; she just had to find him and retrieve it.
She walked around finally spotting him standing at the door of an exclusive room. “Hello, excuse me, she called out to Axel, her
voice carrying a mix of urgency and desperation. I believe you have my necklace. She was breathing heavily.
“What necklace?” Axel asked in a low voice, his response blending into the subdued murmurs of the few remaining guests that
walked past.
“Oh, that. That was yours? It’s in the trash,” Axel said carelessly. Her face fell instantly, a moment frozen in time within the
gallery’s walls.
“What?!” She yelled, her voice breaking the quiet elegance that lingered in the air.
“Which one?” She yelled once more, her voice filling the now-vacant hall. Axel watched in shock as she dug her hand into the
almost-empty trash, the sounds of her desperation echoing through the gallery’s vast space..
“What are you doing?” He asked in disdain, his voice clashing with the previous tranquility. “It was old and cheap anyway,” he
uttered taken aback with her reaction. Jasmine only glared at him then turned away, still concentrating on her search. Axel
watched in astonishment at the strange behavior of the woman. It was an extremely cheap necklace, one he was sure she could
easily replace. That part of the hall was now almost empty, so there were no weird looks, and even if there were onlookers, she
still wouldn’t have cared.
“Ouch!” She shrieked in pain, her cry shattering the stillness of the gallery. Bringing out her hand, her finger was now bloodied
from being cut by a champagne glass that had been thrown in. She braced herself, ready to plunge into it once more when Axel
snapped. “Stop it this instant!” Axel yelled, his commanding voice echoed within the gallery’s hushed surroundings, his footsteps
echoing as he reached out and yanked her to her feet when she was about to continue her search. The sudden tension in the air
was palpable, adding a dramatic element to the gallery’s atmosphere. Jasmine yanked her hand out of his immediately ignoring
the wave of warmth his palm brought.
“Here, just get a new one, he offered calmly pulling out his wallet, the crinkling sound of bills curting through the lingering
echoes.
“You won’t find it anyway; the trash can might have been emptied,” he informed, his words a stark contrast to the refined
surroundings. Her face fell once more, becoming cloudy.
Don’t bother. I don’t need your money!” She spat, her words a sharp contrast to the sophisticated ambiance. Sniffing back tears.
Axel stared at her sorry state, her makeup and hair now messy, with a small patch where a glass of wine had been spilled on her
along with her bloodied finger dripping blood all over the floor. Jasmine knew she looked pathetic and she felt like she would
break down into tears. She held it in, sniffing, her nose had turned red. The gallery’s pristine beauty now bore witness to her
transient moment of chaos and vulnerability. She felt as miserable as she looked, her night had just taken a turn for the worst
thanks to this proper and serene looking man in front of her.