Chapter 4 FATE

Jasmine's POV

When I walked away from the woman, an anxious knot formed in my stomach, causing a sense of unease. She looked hopeless, convinced in her thoughts that I was her child. I tried to reassure her by telling her that I wasn't who she assumed, yet my attempts seemed to increase her frustration.

I took my phone out of my bag and contacted the police department. As I described the situation to the receiver, I rubbed my forehead in frustration, trying to maintain my calm, even though my anxiety was escalating.

The receiver asked, "Can you please remain with the woman until our team gets there, ma'am?"

I paused, unsure of the right decision to make. The woman's desperate eyes stirred a sympathy in me I couldn't overlook. I stayed with her, trying to assure her that all would be fine. She did not look like anybody; the jewellery on her neck made her look influential.

The wait for the police to arrive felt endless. After a long wait, they came and approached the woman and tried to calm her down. An officer pulled out a notebook and began asking me questions.

'What happened?' he wanted to know.

I cleared my throat and started recounting the event, starting with our surprise meeting and moving on to her behaviour, which led me to doubt her mental stability.

I glimpsed a man in a suit approaching us from the side of my vision. He examined the area with a furrowed brow until he focused on the woman.

He rushed to her side and called out, "Grandma!"

With excitement in her eyes, the elderly woman stretched out her hand towards him and shouted, "Cole!"

The young man, Cole, turned to me and offered his apologies. "I apologize for the time my grandma has caused you, and I apologize for any trouble this may have caused. My grandma has dementia, which leads to moments of confusion for her."

I flashed a smile that showed my concern for the matter. "I get it, and I'm fine with that. It doesn't bother me that much." His affection for his grandma was clear, and I found that to be quite heartwarming.

Cole nodded at me again and paired it with a genuine smile of appreciation.

He turned his eyes back to a police officer who stood nearby. While watching him, I noticed how organized and composed he looked. He wore a fitted business suit and styled his hair. He looked like a person who always had everything under control.

While dialling a number on his phone, anger appeared in his eyes. "What do you mean by saying you lost sight of her? She is not just anyone, she is my grandma! Susan, you need to be very cautious around her!"

I figured he must be speaking to someone responsible for looking after his grandma. I felt sympathy for him, knowing how hard it must be to care for a loved one with dementia.

Cole continued to scold the person on the phone. I took it as my cue to go. After all, my work here had been done.

I stood up and wiped the dirt from my dress. I headed for the door, and at that moment, his conversation with another person on the phone piqued my curiosity. "What are you saying about the company's data being attacked?" Cole questioned, his tone growing anxious.

I felt my head spinning. A company data attack? That sounded like a serious security breach. I wondered what kind of company Cole's grandma owned.

Cole ended the call and faced me. "I am so sorry again for the inconvenience. Thank you for staying with my grandma. How can I return the favour to you? Compensate you maybe?" He raised a brow.

I smiled and declined his offer. "It was no trouble at all. You don't owe me anything, but I have to ask, though, what kind of company does your grandma own?"

Cole's eyes narrowed. "She owns a security company. Why did you ask?"

I knew how dangerous it would be if a security company's data were leaked. It would mean that all the clients were at risk.

At first, I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Cole's expression instilled a sense of trust in me. "I have some experience with cybersecurity," I said. "If you are dealing with a data attack, I might help."

Cole's eyes grew wide with astonishment. "Really? What makes you think you can help?"

I smiled, feeling a sense of confidence that I hadn't felt in a long time. "Let us just say I have some skills that might be useful."

I braced myself for his disbelieving stare, but he just looked thoughtful. "Okay, I will take you up on that offer. Could you please show me proof of it first?

I rushed to cover up my surprise. Ethan would mock me every time I tried to help. I took out my phone. "Give me a minute."

I worked my magic with Cole, gazing at me in disbelief. "How could you do that?" he questioned, his gaze full of awe.

My lips curled into a smile. "It is just something I am good at."

Upon finishing, I noticed that Cole's expression had turned serious. He made a dramatic clap that caused me to chuckle and wave it off as nothing.

"I think you might be what we need. I would like to offer you a job at our company."

My heart skipped a beat as I considered the offer. It seemed unbelievable. But as I looked into Cole's eyes, I saw something there that made me trust him.

"Okay," I replied, my voice above a whisper. "Tell me more about this offer. I think I might be interested in it."

Cole beamed with a wide grin. "Alright then. Let me introduce myself. I am Cole Anderson." he stated, holding out his hand.

I shook it, feeling a flicker of excitement. Ethan hadn't allowed me to work while we were married. I'd depended on his charity for everything. That was about to change. With this job, I could bring up my child with no one's help.