Page 69 of The Sweetest Surrender

Everyone laughed as Selena broke through their moment to steal a look at Luke’s present.

“Oh damn,” Selena said.

The trinity necklace held a mixture of white, yellow, and pink gold. The 18-carat jewel twinkled through and through, sending a wave of excitement, lust, and all that in-between over Jasmine.

“Let me put it on you,” his thick voice drummed.

Jasmine turned her back to him, holding her hair so he could connect the jewelry. She was speechless, hadn’t said so much as a thank you, and all the women in the room were waiting. When the clasp was sealed, Jasmine turned back to Luke and tossed her arms around his neck, almost jumping into his arms. Luke hugged her back, slipping his arms up and down her body in an efficient caress that charred her skin and sent her nerves on a rumpus.

Watching them from the side, Octavia leaned in to whisper in Selena’s ear, “So, are you going to let that bimbo Madison steal your man or are you going to get him?”

Octavia must have seen the same article that was splashed all over the daily gossip magazine; pictures of Jordan smiling down at Madison outside of Frank’s Steakhouse. In some frames, Madison’s face was aglow; others were of Jordan’s Porsche speeding down the boulevard with the two inside.

Selena had definitely seen the pictures earlier that morning when she first arrived at S & M Financial. Initially, she fumed, but knowing the man Jordan was, Selena decided to believe that nothing had come of that interaction. At least that’s what she was hoping. Getting the bouquet of red roses endorsed with Jordan’s language of love only solidified Selena’s assumption.

When Selena didn’t respond, Octavia added, “I remember when I was dating Jonathon—”

“Okay, I get it, I’ve got to get my ass in gear!”

Everyone turned at Selena’s outburst, including Luke and Jasmine.

“I’ve got to go, you guys, sorry to cut and run!” Selena fled the room, giving no one the opportunity to stop her. First, she wanted to run home so she could transform into a fashionista before she made her way across town to Jordan. She was halfway there when an incoming call redirected her efforts.

“Mom?” she answered.

“Hey, baby, your father is here, too.”

Selena sighed but didn’t say anything.

“We wanted to talk to you, sweetheart, together, as a family.”

“Oh God, you know what, right now is really not a good time. Is there any other day of the week that you guys could possibly ruin my day?”

The phone became silent, and Selena recognized that she was being a bitch for saying it. She sighed again.

“Okay, tell me where you are, and I’m on my way.”

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