Page 5 of Elusive Promise

The man nodded, and they were escorted through the crowded room, into the hallway, and past a guard posted at the bottom of the grand staircase.

They made their way up to the third floor and into a luxurious bedroom. At first impression, everything seemed white or pink, from the king-sized bed with a dozen soft pink and lavender pillows, to a white love seat by the window with more pillows, an ornate dresser with matching silver mirror, and thick plush carpeting.

As the door closed behind them, with the guards on the other side, Jasmine blew out a breath of relief and sat down on the couch, then moved an overnight duffel bag from the sofa to the coffee table so Parisa could sit next to her.

"This is actually a nice break," Jasmine said.

She suddenly realized that there was more stress in Jasmine's eyes than joy. "Are you all right, Jasmine?"

"All of this is—it's a lot. When I saw how many people were here, I almost couldn't breathe. And this ring…" Jasmine held up her hand. "Ever since Westley put this on my finger, I've felt like my world is spinning."

She leaned in to take a closer look. The blue diamond was sheer perfection: the rectangular cut, the clarity, the sparkle. "I've never seen a diamond this big or this blue."

"It's one of a kind. It has been in the Larimer family for two hundred years."

"That's a long time."

Jasmine licked her lips. "Westley's mother Grace told me I should refuse to take it. She said it's cursed, and that Westley's grandmother, who wore the ring at her wedding, died in childbirth a year later. Apparently, there were other tragedies before that. Grace told Phillip she'd never wear it, so it's been sitting in a vault for a very long time."

"I'm sure that sad event didn't have anything to do with the ring."

"That's what Westley told me. He said it's silly for this magnificent diamond to be hidden away, and that he wants it to be a symbol of how big our love is. How could I say no to such a romantic gesture?"

She smiled. "You couldn't."

"I know. I'm acting crazy. I'll only be wearing it a few times a year. Westley is having a much smaller, but still beautiful, diamond ring made for me to wear every day. Anyway, enough about rings. How are you, Parisa?"

"I'm great."

"I had no idea you were here in New York."

"I'm not actually here. I came for the party."

"Oh…I guess I didn't understand. You work for the state department, though, right? You followed in your stepfather's footsteps."

"Yes. I'm putting my language skills to good use. What about you?" She was more eager to learn about Jasmine than to talk about herself.

"I'm a professor of economics at Everly College, or at least, I was—I quit at the end of the fall semester. Once Westley asked me to marry him, I realized how many events he has to go to, and how much traveling he does for work. Westley is a vice president at Larimer Enterprises. He needs a wife who can travel with him and help him entertain and truly be his partner. I wouldn't be able to do that with a full-time job."

"That makes sense."

A shadow passed through Jasmine's eyes. "Does it? Sometimes I wonder if I'm giving up who I am to be a part of who Westley is. Am I surrendering my life for his? I guess that's what marriage is. My mother certainly became my father's most ardent supporter. He has changed jobs many times, and she has always been there to do whatever he needed her to do. And they're happy, at least, most of the time."

She didn't really know what to say. She was surprised to hear the doubts in Jasmine's voice. "I'm not an expert on relationships or marriage, so I'm not in a position to hand out advice, but I think you should talk to Westley about your concerns. I'm sure he wants to make you happy as much as you want to make him happy."

"He is very devoted. I never really thought anyone could love me as much as he does, but he tells me all the time how wonderful I am. He truly swept me off my feet." She paused. "Is there a man in your life, Parisa?"

"Not at the moment."

Jasmine gave her a disbelieving look. "I can't believe that. Look at you. Are you too picky?"

"Quite possibly," she said with a laugh. "I also work a lot. I travel. I'm busy. And I'm happy."

"That's good. I've thought of you often over the years. We never really got to say a formal good-bye—at least not in person. The letters were great, but they weren't the same. Anika and I both missed you terribly after you had to leave. We were so excited when we heard you wanted to reconnect tonight."

She blinked in confusion as Jasmine's words echoed those her sister had said earlier. "What do you mean?"

Before Jasmine could reply, a heavy scent blew into the room.

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