Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas

“Listen up, everyone!”The sharp voice of Mr. Whitman, the manager of The Silver Holly, echoed through the restaurant as the staff gathered in the backroom. “Today’s not just any day, today's going to be hectic, and I want all of you on your toes. No mistakes, no delays. We’ve got some of the most influential high-profile clients in New York City dining with us, and if any of you screw this up, you’ll be out before the day ends. No excuses”Jasmine Withers adjusted her apron, suppressing a groan. It was the same speech every time high-profile guests were expected, but today Mr. Whitman seemed even more on edge.“The Silver Holly is known for its excellence,” he continued, pacing in front of the staff. “I don’t care if you’re serving water or a five-course meal—everything must be perfect. Got it?”“Yes, sir,” the team chorused.Jasmine Withers, standing at the back of the room, exchanged a glance with her co-worker, Lucy. “No pressure,” she whispered sarcastically.“Jasmine!” Mr. Whitm

Jasmine sat stiffly in the plush chair of an expansive dressing suite, feeling completely out of place amidst the whirlwind of luxury. Three stylists fluttered around her, debating colours and fabrics, while a makeup artist meticulously worked on her face."Chin up," the woman instructed, tilting Jasmine's face to the light.Jasmine complied, though her mind raced. How had her life gone from scraping together tips at the diner to this? The unusual transformation was almost laughable."Perfect," one of the stylists declared, stepping back to admire her work. "That gown will turn heads for sure.”Jasmine glanced down at the emerald silk dress they’d chosen, its sleek design hugging her figure with just the right amount of elegance. The plunging neckline and slit up the leg were bold, but not garish. For a moment, she felt like someone else entirely—a stranger in her own skin.Before she could dwell on it, the door opened, and Chad strode in.The room seemed to chill instantly as his pre

By the time the phone hung up, Mr Whitman's voice came from the other end of the room. Jasmine internally rolled her eyes. What was it she didn't do right this time? Mr Whitman came into view, his face etched with worry. “There's still a lot to be done before Christmas and you're here slacking off on a phone call?” The restaurant wasn't even crowded and most people would rather spend their Christmas holiday at some resort and ski trip, rather than a restaurant, but unfortunately, that was spoken inward, he would never understand. Jasmine braced herself for her announcement. “Mr. Whitman I'm going on a family vacation first thing tomorrow, I wanted to tell you but it…” she trailed looking for the best excuse. “.. slipped my mind.” Nice one, Jasmine Withers. Super believable. His brows shot up, his mouth opening in disbelief before he scoffed. “A family vacation? Tomorrow?” His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. “And you conveniently forgot to mention this to me earlier?”

The Swiss Alps came into view beneath them. It looked absolutely breathtaking with displays of snow-covered peaks and high mountains.The private jet landed smoothly over the mountains, and Chad took a quick glance at Jasmine. Her eyes were wide with awe and her face practically pressed against the window. Unlike New York, Switzerland was much colder, and winter had already settled in, turning the landscape into a pristine wonderland. "You act like you've never seen snow before," He remarked. She turned to him, a grin on her face. "Not like this," she admitted. "New York snow is just…dirty slush and cold misery. But this—" She gestured toward the scenery outside. "This is beautiful." Chad studied her for a moment, noting the genuine excitement in her eyes. He wasn’t sure why, but the sight of her so captivated by something so simple made him momentarily forget why they were even on this trip in the first place. The jet began its descent, and soon, they were taxiing toward a private

"At Silver Hollow restaurant," Jasmine finally said. She wasn't exactly lying, it was where she met him. Ava looked a little confused, though she still didn't believe it. "Interesting," she turned to Chad. "Care to briefly discuss it? To lighten the place up a little?" she ended it with a giggle. She knew Chad since forever and could easily detect when he wasn't being honest. What Chad did next made her freeze. He circled his hands round Jasmine's waist pulling her closer than before. "I had been there for dinner, trying to get some quiet after a long day. I didn’t expect she’d be there at the same time too. I bumped into a waitress who spilled my coffee, and some of it ended up on her.” The crowd laughed lightly and Jasmine looked at him intensively, trying to figure out where he was heading to. He continued. “ I spent the next few hours making this up to her and I guess from then…” He trailed, turning to look her in the eye, her breath hitched. “I just couldn't stop thinki