"Ok, I will try it out and see whether it will work," Jackson opted for their suggestion.

"That is nice, so when are you taking her out, today or tomorrow?" Jeff asked with an excitement-filled tone.

"I would have loved to schedule it for tomorrow but because of the anniversary party which is tomorrow, I will have to schedule it for today dinner," Jackson replied in a more relaxed tone. His earlier miserable expression brighten up.

"Yeah, talking about the anniversary, I almost forgot about it. Did you invite her for the anniversary?" Jeff asked curiously. The anxiety on his face made Steve doubts his reason for asking that question.

"Why do you look even more anxious than Jack? Are you this concern for Jack's sake or your sake?" Steve asked suspiciously before Jackson could answer Jeff's question.

"What do you mean?" Jeff asked pretending as though he did not know what Steve meant.

"I know you are worried that your new lover will not attend the anniversary if Jasmine does not attend the party....,"

"What are you saying? That is not true....,"

"Will you guys stop bickering in my ears if you don't want to be violently thrown out of my office," Jackson threatened fiercely as he glare daggers at the two of them.

"Your noises are messing with my head," Jackson added as he rested his back against the couch.

"Are you worried that she will refuse to attend the event? I can ask her on your behalf if you are scared she will reject you," Steve quickly suggested when he saw the worried look on his face.

"You guys aren't in a relationship and she is already treating you this way. I wonder what she will do if she becomes your girlfriend. Will she starve you of intimacy or will she ordered you to sleep on the floor during the period of your misunderstandings?" Jeff mumbled not knowing that Jackson and Steve heard his words.

"Do you wanna die?" Jackson asked as he threw Jeff a murderous glance.

"Sorry, it was a slip of tongue and thought?" Jeff blurted out to the amusement of Steve.

"Slip of thought? This is the first time I am hearing that," Steve chuckled. He could not believe that Jeff would spout nonsense out of fear of Jackson.

"If you let your tongue and thought slip just one more time here, then I will make sure you won't be able to use your mouth and head ever again," Jackson said menacingly before he closed his eyes.

What the heck did Jasmine say to JK to make him go back to his former self? Whatever she did to him, she should quickly undo it because my best friend's mood is scarier than that of a monster now.

Jeff thought his gaze focused on Jackson whose eyes were still closed.

"Jack let's go out for lunch. I am sure taking some fresh air outside will make you feel better," Steve sitting beside him said as he tapped his right hand.

"I don't have an appetite," Jackson replied firmly still not opening his eyes.

"Jack, stop doing this to yourself. She only said she doesn't want to get close to you as she did in the past but she didn't say she doesn't want to see you...,"

"What is the difference between seeing me and not talking to me? Although I saw her yesterday, she did not talk to me nor smile at me like she normally did. She was like a different person and this is all because of her old man...,"

"Mr Avans has a hand in this?" Steve asked in surprise. He and Jeff exchanged puzzled glances.

"If Mr Avans has a hand in why Jasmine is treating you like this then this is more serious than we think...,"

"Yeah, the old man is scary. He is scarier than my dad when he is angry. The way he slapped Jasmine on our first meeting makes me wonder whether he is her real dad," Steve interrupted Jeff abruptly.

"I guess he is the reason why Jasmine always acts tough. I am sure he must have trained them as soldiers," Jeff added feeling sorry for Jackson. Before their encounter with Mr Avans that day in Jasmine's home, he believed that Mr Avans was a very gentle person but his opinion of him changed the moment he slapped Jasmine.

"She hates doing what her old man tells her so I am sure that his plan to separate me from her won't work. Jasmine will start talking to me normally again," Jackson said sternly as he opened his eyes.

"I wish you are right about that," Jeff remarked knowing that nothing was certain.

On seeing that Jackson's mood wasn't improving, the two of them quickly changed the subject but despite trying so many tricks to brightened his mood, his expression remained unchanged. They had no choice but to leave when they realised that they had left their office for a long time.

After they left Jackson called Jasmine to tell her about the dinner date and true to his naughty friends' words, she did not reject his proposal. His mood lightens up a bit after his conversation with her. He was able to concentrate on his work after that.

Thirty minutes to the time of their date, Jackson left the office. He did not want to be a minute late for his first date with her. Because he left pretty early he arrived there fifteen minutes early.

"If it is for her then waiting isn't a problem. I can wait for her even until the end of the world," Jackson mumbled before he brought out his phone from his pocket. He began playing with his cellphone with the hope of time running by quickly but to his surprise when he checked his wristwatch he realised that only five minutes had passed. It was as if the time has refused to move quickly because it did not want his date with Jasmine to happen.

After checking the time twice and realise that it was still slow, Jackson promised himself not to check the time again. He was afraid he will die of anxiety if he keeps on checking his wristwatch.

(Hello darling readers, please don't forget the goals for this month. I have begun doing my part of the bargain so that if you achieve the goal the chapters will be ready. I am beginning to prepare for the mass release early because I don't want to give excuses so please don't forget to do your part of the bargain too. If you guys are against the goals please do tell me so that I will know what to do.)