"You have retrieved the contract? How did you do that? I mean it is impossible that the iceberg, Jackson will easily give you the contract," Catherine said with a mixture of surprise and confusion. She could not understand why Jackson who has failed to get seduced will give her best friend the contract she wanted.

"Of course it is possible. I would have loved to show you the contract but I had no choice but to hand over the contract to Lizzy since it was almost near the deadline...,"

"What did you give in exchange for the contract? Don't lie to me that your seducing mission worked at the dying minute because I will not believe you," Catherine still squatting said as she stares into her best friend eyeballs.

"He did not ask for your body in exchange right? Jasmine tell me you didn't have sex with him just to get the contract?" Catherine said with pleading eyes.

"I also thought that was what he wanted but he proved to be different from every other man. For the first time in five years he proved my opinion about men wrong," Jasmine said in a serious tone

"What did he ask for then if not to have sex with you?" Catherine asked as she stood up and sat beside Jasmine.

"He asked for the most ridiculous thing you can ever think of. I mean apart from the fact that I hated his first condition, Catherine I was damn shocked when he told me his first condition," Jasmine said smiling when she recalled how Jackson asked her to be his chef for six months.

"Jasmine, stop keeping me in suspense and tell me the ridiculous conditions he told you," Catherine said. Her eyes glitter in anticipation.

"His first condition was that I should cook him dinner for six months. Can you believe it, Cat?" Jasmine asked.

"His condition is just as strange as he is. I mean almost all men would have opted for sex or ask you to be his wife but all he could ask you was to cook for him? This shows just how weird he is," Catherine said without any excitement.

"You are right about that...,"

"Then what was his second condition?" Catherine could not wait to hear what the second condition was.

"He said he is in love with a lady...,"

"What does that have to do with you? I mean whether or not he loves someone does not concern you, that is his business so why did he tell you he was in love with someone?" Catherine asked sounding slightly irritated.

"Maybe because he wants me to keep a distance from him. I mean which guy would not be scared if a beautiful lady like me flirts with him so often as I did to him? And also you did not let me conclude what I wanted to say," Jasmine said in a meek tone.

"His second condition was that I should teach him how to woo, date and please a woman," Jasmine revealed as she waited to see what Catherine's reaction will be. Just like she expected Catherine wasn't cool with this particular condition.

"He told you to do what? Does one need to learn how to please a woman? Why would he bring up such an absurd condition?" Catherine asked angrily.

"Cat, be honest with me what lady in her right senses will fall in with that Ice block of a guy?" Jasmine asked in a serious tone.

"I guess he has realised that it is impossible for the lady he loves to reciprocate his feelings if he continues acting that way which is why he wants to change himself...."

"He wants to pretend to be what he is not? How is his relationship gonna last if he pretends to be who he is not? Shouldn't he wait for a lady who will love him for who is? If you love someone and that person loves you back he/she would never ask you to change anything about yourself, isn't that how it should be?" Catherine asked sounding a bit confused.

"Why do you talk like an experience love expert? Don't tell me you have secretly fallen in love with someone that is why you know so much about relationships?" Jasmine asked playfully just to tease Catherine.

"Hey, what are you talking... talking about? How could I ever fall in love," Catherine quickly denied as she looked away? Her stuttering made her look suspicious.

"Really? Then why are you blushing so hard?" Jasmine teased as she smiled broadly.

"Jasmine stop teasing me already, after what you went through. I don't think I will ever be able to fall in love. I mean how could I ever bring myself to fall in love with any man when all men are unfaithful?" Catherine asked in a serious tone.

"Cat, I might have failed in love. I was broken by love but that doesn't mean you should stop believing in love just because of what I went through then. And I also thought that all men were unfaithful scumbags who never deserve the love and devotion of any woman. I even became a villain just to prove my points right but I don't agree anymore that all men are unfaithful. I mean just take Ice Prince as an example, he is willing to change himself just for a woman he loves, isn't that beautiful?" Jasmine asked as she smiled. Catherine could see how insincere her smile was. She could tell that she was saying all these things to change her opinion about men.

"Do you really believe what you said or you are just saying all these to change my mind?" Catherine asked as she stares at her best friend. Seeing how hard she was trying to hide her pains made Catherine feel terrible. She regretted bringing up the topic about the past Jasmine has been struggling to forget.

"Whether or not I believe it does not matter but you shouldn't shut the door to your heart just because of me. Love has to do with meeting the right person and unfortunately for me, I choose the wrong guy back then but I believe yours will be different. You will definitely meet the right guy and live happily ever after," Jasmine said as she forces on a smile.

"And Cat, if ever you fall in love with someone, don't relent to tell me. As your best friend, I will make sure I examine the guy for you to make sure you are not making the wrong choice and also I will throw a grand wedding party for you, trust me," Jasmine said trying to sound funny but her words lacked humour.

"What about you? Are you never gonna attempt to fall in love again? Are you gonna keep tormenting yourself like you are doing? Won't you given yourself the opportunity to be happy just like that jerk is?" Catherine asked in a calm but painful tone.

"Cat, why are we talking about me? When and how did we arrive at this topic?" Jasmine quickly changed the topic.

"Jasmine, don't try to evade the question....,"

"Cat, I don't want to talk about this and you know just how much I hate talking about that incident so don't try to force answers out of me because you won't get the answer you want?" Jasmine said in annoyance.

"Whatever your decision just know that I will protect you like I have been doing for years now. I will make sure no man takes advantage of you or your emotions...,"

"Any man who tries to take advantage of me or my emotions must have a death wish. He should write his will before he messes around with me because he is gonna end up dead if he is not careful," Jasmine said confidently. The office went quiet after Jasmine finished speaking.

"So what are you gonna do about his conditions? Since the contract is in your hands you can choose whether or not to stick to his conditions so what will you do?" Catherine asked after the long silence.

"I wish I had a choice but I have already signed his contract so I have no other option but to do what his condition states?" Jasmine asked with a fallen expression.

Jackson's conditions were quite simple but the problem was how to carry the task out, especially his first condition about cooking his dinner. She normally closes from the office late but because of his condition, she will have to reschedule her time for closing. What frustrates her most was how to cook the food. She could still recall the taste of the pasta she prepared for him, how could she prepare something of such quality for him every day?

"You signed a contract with him?" Catherine who never expected this asked in surprise.

"Yes, he would never have given me the contract if I did not sign a contract with him in return. That is to show you how cruel he is?" Jasmine said in an unhappy tone.

I know Jackson has always been a weird guy but out of all the awesome things, he could ask why did he go through all those troubles just to ask Jasmine to cook his meal and also tutor him on how to please a lady? What is the purpose of asking Jasmine for these two things? Does he perhaps have ulterior motives towards her or am I being paranoid and overly sensitive?

Catherine thought looking so confused.

(Hello dearest readers, we are in 320 cheers now)