CHAPTER 45
ALEXIA P.O.V
An uncomfortable silence filled the car.
The tension between us was thick enough to choke on.
Asher suddenly grabbed my wrist gently, his thumb brushing against the graze left by one of the bullets. The wound had already begun healing, though slower than usual.
"What's this?"
"It's nothing serious."
I quickly pulled my sleeve down, trying to hide it, but his eyes darkened.
Without warning, he tightened his grip directly over the injury.
Pain shot through my arm instantly.
"Ah!" I winced. "Asher!"
"Now tell me what happened."
"It was an ambush, okay?!" I snapped, trying to pull away. "Let go, it hurts."
The moment he realized he was actually hurting me, his grip loosened immediately.
"I'm sorry," he muttered. "Who did it?"
"I don't know. The assassin mentioned some woman who apparently wants me dead by all means necessary. I got injured defending myself."
His jaw clenched dangerously.
"And where is the assassin now?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Seriously? You're more concerned about the assassin than me? Unbelievable."
I turned away angrily and stared out the window.
The next second, I was suddenly pulled onto his lap.
"Asher!"
I struggled to move, but one of his arms locked tightly around my waist, trapping me against his chest.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly against my neck. "I'm sorry for what happened to you… and I'm even more sorry I wasn't there."
His warm breath brushed my skin as he nuzzled my neck gently, and despite myself, some of my anger melted away.
"Hm." I folded my arms stubbornly. "Apology not accepted. You'll have to make it up to me."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You already have something in mind, don't you?"
I nodded before turning slightly to face him.
"I need you to have your assistant send an official email to my personal account. Something stating your disappointment in our company and how you'll no longer be working with us."
His eyes narrowed immediately.
"You're trying to flush out a rat."
"Yes. Whoever it is has access to my personal information… maybe even control over some of it."
"Alright. Felix will handle it."
His fingers played lazily with my hair before he tilted his head slightly.
"So… have you forgiven me now?"
"Mhm." I paused before pointing outside. "You can drop me off here."
His expression instantly changed.
"Why? I thought you were coming back with me. And this isn't even your house."
"I still have important things to do here. Then I need to visit somewhere else."
Silence.
Then—
"So what you're saying is… you're not coming back with me?"
I shook my head.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the cooler in my hands.
"What's in there?"
I nearly froze.
"Oh… just sushi," I lied quickly. "I'm planning to eat it later. And don't even think about asking for some because I'm not sharing this time."
I pouted dramatically while he chuckled softly.
"Alright then," he said. "I'll come with you."
"No."
His brows furrowed.
"I need to do this alone."
"It's dangerous, Alexia. Someone is actively trying to kill you."
"But—"
"No." His voice hardened slightly. "Your life is on the line right now. Can you stop being stubborn for once?"
The silence between us turned heavy.
Then finally, I sighed.
"Well, Asher…" I murmured while opening the car door, "you'll just have to get used to me being stubborn."
And with that, I bolted.
I darted through narrow alleyways, weaving through the dark streets while trying to shake off anyone following me. I could hear footsteps chasing after me for a while, but eventually they disappeared.
Once I was certain I wasn't being followed, I cautiously entered an abandoned warehouse.
A few of my people were already waiting inside.
"Where's the man?" I asked immediately.
"He's back at the base beneath one of the torture houses," one of them answered. "He refused to speak. We placed him inside the cold vault to stop his head from exploding."
I nodded slowly.
"Smart."
I quickly handed them a metallic device.
"When you get back, strap this around his head. It should neutralize the poison affecting his brain and stabilize him enough for proper interrogation."
"And if it works?"
"I'll come personally when I get the chance. But for now, keep him alive."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Goodbye."
I turned and rushed out immediately.
But the second I entered another alleyway, I slammed directly into someone solid.
Before I could react, I was suddenly thrown over a shoulder.
"What the hell?!" I shouted furiously. "Put me down!"
"I deeply apologize, Miss Alexia," Felix said calmly while carrying me like a sack of potatoes, "but Sir instructed me to bring you back."
"Well, I'm pretty sure he didn't ask you to carry me like this!"
"I cannot guarantee you won't run away again if I let you walk."
"Felix!"
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing all the time. I hate it."
"...I'm sorry."
I groaned loudly.
Soon we reached the car, and Felix finally placed me down carefully.
Asher stood beside the vehicle with his arms crossed, staring absolute daggers at me.
I frowned stubbornly and deliberately avoided eye contact.
The drive back to the mansion was painfully silent.
The second the car stopped, I immediately jumped out and stormed inside before Felix could even open the door for me.
I headed straight to the room.
Thankfully, Asher respected my space and didn't follow me inside.
After staying alone for a while, I eventually got restless and wandered outside into the yard.
The cool night breeze brushed gently against my skin.
I sighed softly.
"I miss Snowy…"
ASHER P.O.V
I genuinely didn't understand why Alexia insisted on being so stubborn.
She admitted someone wanted her dead, yet she still ran off alone like nothing happened.
After returning to the mansion, I gave her space and headed toward my office instead.
"Sir," Felix spoke cautiously, "I normally wouldn't interfere… but earlier, I caught the scent of blood coming from the container Miss Alexia was carrying."
"You're not wrong," I replied calmly. "I smelled it too."
His eyes widened slightly.
"But," I continued, "I've decided to let her tell me things in her own time. I won't force answers out of her."
"Of course, Sir."
"That doesn't mean I won't investigate on my own."
Felix immediately straightened.
"Did you see where she ran off to earlier?"
"No, Sir. Though personally, I believe she was merely throwing a tantr—"
I slowly looked at him.
Felix instantly paled.
"I mean," he corrected nervously, "I unfortunately failed to see where she went. My apologies for the incompetence."
"Worry about fixing your incompetence instead of making assumptions."
"Yes, Sir."
"You're dismissed."
Felix quickly disappeared.
The mansion felt unusually quiet afterward.
Too quiet.
Even from this distance, I could normally hear Alexia moving around upstairs.
But now?
Nothing.
I frowned.
"Where did she go?"
Closing my eyes briefly, I focused on sensing her presence throughout the estate.
Seconds later, I found her.
Outside.
I immediately headed toward the yard.
And the moment I saw her sitting there beneath the moonlight, my chest tightened.
Her long black hair flowed around her like silk, framing her delicate face perfectly. Her sapphire-blue eyes looked even brighter beneath the night sky, while her pale skin practically glowed in the darkness.
Beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
She looked unreal.
I sat beside her quietly, enjoying both the cold breeze and her silent company.
"Asher…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yes?"
"D… do you promise never to leave me?"
The vulnerability in her voice caught me off guard.
I turned toward her slowly.
For the first time since meeting her, Alexia looked fragile.
Broken.
"I promise," I answered immediately.
Her eyes lowered.
"E-even if you learn about my past?"
Pain.
There was so much pain hidden behind those words.
Whatever happened to her before me… it damaged her deeply.
But I wasn't leaving.
Not now.
Not ever.
"I don't care about your past," I said quietly. "What matters to me is who you are now… and the future we'll have."
"But—"
I pulled her gently into my arms before she could continue.
"I don't know what you've been through, Alexia. But I know the woman standing beside me now. And whatever made you this guarded must've hurt you badly."
I tightened my hold around her slightly.
"So I'll wait. Until you're ready to tell me everything yourself."
She nodded slowly before resting against me.
Not long after, her breathing became soft and steady.
She had fallen asleep.
Carefully, I carried her back inside.
ALEXIA P.O.V
The next morning, I woke up to find Asher staring at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're beautiful."
My face instantly turned red.
I quickly buried myself beneath the blanket while his deep laughter filled the room.
"You're adorable when you're shy."
"I'm not shy," I mumbled from beneath the sheets.
"Of course you aren't."
I slowly peeked at him.
"Y-you're not mad at me anymore?"
"I was."
"What about now?"
He stared at me for a moment before sighing softly.
"I believe you have your reasons."
"I do." I sat up slightly. "And Asher?"
"Hm?"
"I need you to respect my decisions… even when they seem dangerous. Because I'm not someone who likes being controlled or restrained."
He watched me silently before finally nodding.
"Fine. I'll respect that."
Relief washed over me.
"But," he continued, "you'll tell me where you're going, who you're with, and when you'll return."
"Fair enough."
"I'm not done yet."
I blinked.
"Move in with me."
"…What?"
"I know what happened to your house. Your location has already been exposed. This place is safer."
My heart skipped violently.
"Don't you think that's moving too fast? People might misunderstand. I haven't even told your sister we're together yet—and wait…" My eyes widened. "She's still in the hospital! Oh my gosh, I'm such a terrible friend."
"Alexia, breathe," he chuckled softly. "We'll visit her together. And I don't care what people think. I only care about keeping you safe."
"B-but we're not married or anything…"
"If that makes you comfortable, we can get married tomorrow."
"What?!"
He burst out laughing at my horrified expression.
"Relax. I'm kidding."
"You scared me!"
"Did I?" His eyes gleamed teasingly. "Or did you secretly like the idea?"
My cheeks burned hotter.
"Mr. Robot, you're a bully."
"Mhm."
Before I could say anything else, he pulled me into a deep kiss.
His hand slid behind my neck while the other wrapped around my waist, holding me closer.
And honestly?
I wasn't complaining at all.
Then suddenly—
KNOCK KNOCK.
Asher froze.
The irritation on his face was immediate.
"Who is it?" he snapped.
"I-I'm sorry, Sir—"
"Save it. What do you want?"
"It's your father," Felix answered nervously. "He demands to see you."
Everything changed instantly.
The warmth disappeared from Asher's face.
His expression became disturbingly calm.
Cold.
Empty.
The atmosphere in the room shifted so suddenly that chills crawled down my spine.
What's the deal between him and his father?
Even hearing about the man completely changed him.
"Asher?"
I reached toward him instinctively, but he avoided my touch and got out of bed.
"Felix will drive you wherever you need to go," he said flatly. "See you later."
Then he walked out.
Just like that.
I remained frozen in confusion until another knock interrupted my thoughts.
A petite girl entered carrying a tray of breakfast.
"Miss, your breakfast."
"Oh… thanks, but I suddenly lost my appetite."
She tilted her head knowingly.
"Something's bothering you."
I blinked.
"How did you know?"
"Because you never reject food. Ever."
I gasped dramatically.
"So everyone here thinks I'm a foodie?"
She laughed softly.
"Sadly, you are."
I crossed my arms and pouted while she smiled warmly.
"Now tell me," she said gently, "what's wrong?"
I hesitated nervously.
"I probably shouldn't say this…"
"I promise I won't repeat anything."
"Not even to your master?"
"Not even to him."
I studied her carefully.
"Why are you nice to me?" I finally asked. "Your coworkers clearly dislike me for being close to Asher. Why are you different?"
She went quiet briefly before answering honestly.
"They're chasing fantasies. I'm realistic."
I frowned slightly.
"I admire Sir not because he's handsome, but because of his strength and judgment. He may seem harsh, but he's genuinely a good person." She smiled softly. "And I think you're similar."
My expression faltered.
"You don't know that."
If only she knew the things I'd done…
The blood on my hands.
"I do," she said firmly.
Not wanting to argue further, I changed the subject.
"So… I feel like Asher really hates his father."
"He loathes him," she answered instantly.
I stared at her in shock.
"Do you know why?"
"No. But everyone here avoids mentioning Mr. Slade around Sir. It's… safer that way."
I slowly nodded.
So that's how bad it was.
"Thanks, Maddy."
"You're welcome." She pushed the breakfast tray toward me again. "Now eat."
I stared at the food for a few seconds before sighing dramatically.
"Fine. I refuse to let perfectly good food go to waste."