An Arrangement of Love Read Online Free PDF

other classmates going through this? I doubted it. They came from rich families and had their careers planned out well before they started high school. Most of their families owned successful businesses. The ones that didn’t possessed major contacts in politics or big industries. Would Chase have tried this mess with a girl from a powerful family? No way. I gripped my glass hard and hoped it wouldn’t shatter into pieces.
    How dare he get my hopes up high and then shove them back down.
    I’d dealt with his kind before. Ever since I was a kid, a weird man crept around, spied my defenseless situation, and tried to take advantage of me. But I always escaped them. Survival of the fittest. I had to be clear, maintain distance, and whatever happens, don’t tell Troy.My fingers shook. My eyes watered. Soon I would have to be excused so I could go in a stall to mope and cry like a spineless creature.
    “Jasmine?” the bastard said. And I immediately hated my name on his tongue.
    What is he going to do now? Pull it out and ask me to touch it?
    “I apologize for being so crass,” he finally said once the next song played.
    “That’s okay,” I muttered. At least my resume was current. A few companies hadn’t called back. I could maybe contact them on Monday and see if they were still interested.
    “Jasmine? Please look at me,” Chase said.
    Sighing, I turned his way.
    “I’m a man who’s used to immediately receiving things I desire from women as soon as I ask for it. You look upset and I didn’t want that to happen. Too many people say yes to me, so I’m a bit lazy when it comes to asking for something. I’m truly sorry. Do you forgive me?”
    “Sure.” I turned back to the balcony.
    “You’re lying.” He touched my arm. I moved it away.
    “Jasmine, I usually don’t humble myself to say sorry to someone. Trust me when I say this. I won’t disrespect you again.”
    Benny had told me I should apply to graduate school. I’ll look at some programs tomorrow morning. Anything was better than a spoiled rich boy who thought he could talk to me any way he pleased. What was I supposed to do tonight? Melt in grateful appreciation that a man of his caliber wanted me, jump down on my knees, and give him a blow job? I am your god, he’d said. You are an asshole! I’d had it right the first time.
    “Are you planning on coming into work this Monday?” he asked. The word Monday sounded strained. I directed my attention to him. Tension etched the edge of his eyes. He tapped the arm of the chair over and over. Definitely a nervous habit.
    “Are you planning on asking me to have sex with you again?” I chewed the inside of my cheek.
    “I read your record. You have no tolerance for sexual harassment.”
    But that isn’t a clear yes or no.
    So he knew about my complaint against the Dean of Management Studies at Harvard. I’d gathered two other students who had also been sexually harassed by the dean. We were all poor girls on an academic scholarship who worked as teaching assistants their senior years. The professor had a lot of notoriety and didn’t want anyone discovering the complaints. So he ended up paying for the rest of my and the other girls’ expenses. I still didn’t want to take away the complaint, but the girls had peer-pressured me into dropping it. As far as I knew, the entire affair had been a huge secret. Who did Chase talk to, in order to get all of that information?
    “If truth be told, I need you to be my assistant. Your resume, background, and personality are perfect for the job. You’re different too. I like that a lot. You won’t just take my crap. I somewhat like that too.” He grabbed another glass from a waiter. “I need an assistant who can stand up for herself and get the job done.”
    Again, he tapped the chair with his finger. “Your background investigation surprised me. I learned that you volunteered in South End all the time, from assisting with the day care at a Baptist church