"Nicolas? Who's Nicolas?" Olivia wonders as she hits the break, that name not echoing with any of the characters she has heard from Asher so far."A rival now. Unimportant," Asher dismisses and opens his door, stepping out of the vehicle.Olivia mirrors him but not without removing any papers or belongings she has left inside the car, having an inkling that she won't see the car again any time soon, if ever.Olivia thrusts all of the documents in her pockets and trudges to where Asher is propped on the hood of the car. She limps in her walk at the ache spasming from her ribs and outward.A klaxon startles Olivia, and she swivels around, a black car speeding toward them before it halts some feet away, the window rolling down to reveal Mia behind the steering wheel. "Come in!"Olivia rushes to Asher's side, aiding him to his feet and leading them both to their friends. Similar to earlier, she helps the mob boss inside and then hurries next to him. The seat belts are forgotten when Mia d
When Olivia enters her apartment, she wants to tell Asher about what she heard, but she refuses to, for now.The mob boss needs her care. Olivia locks the door behind herself and scurries to Asher. "You need to sit down. You're about to pass out," Olivia uselessly comments.She guides them to the left and grabs a chair on her way that she tucks against the column linked to her small American-styled kitchen. Asher sits down."Can I remove your shirt so I can take a look at your wounds?" Olivia questions, and Asher nods, the latter growing more and more out of it at each second that elapses.Olivia gently pulls Asher toward her, enough to slide down the coat from the shoulders and lower them to the elbows before entirely removing it."I'll cut your shirt off, okay? It'll be easier this way and less painful for you." Olivia asks and proceeds to look for the scissors. She has yet to get a response.Olivia realizes that at this point, she's blabbering, Asher not even hearing her, but she h
When Olivia comes back to herself, it is to the sound of her front door closing, footsteps echoing right after.Olivia's blurry gaze darts up, falling on the couple discussing matters that her sluggish brain cannot comprehend just yet. "What's up? How's the idiot?" she slurs."He's showering," Mia says and deposits some plastic bags on the kitchen counter. "We went and grabbed some food. You two need to eat.""Oh f*ck yeah," Olivia downright moans, and it would be embarrassing if she did care."I'm starving." Olivia hoists herself up and takes a minute to even out her breathing when the pain aches anew. She stands, walking toward her bathroom.A few limped steps later, she knocked on the door, a grunt answering her. "Mob Boss Ash? I need to take a piss.""Wait." Comes the muffled response."Are you naked?" Olivia stupidly asks."I am in the shower, Olivia. What do you think?"Olivia hates being disapproved, even when prompted by her idiocy. Still, she decides to be merciful this time
The rest of the dinner passes rather peacefully, Olivia on the verge of falling asleep at any chewing now that her stomach is full, the comatose state often following a good meal overtaking her.Mia and Walter are conversing about a matter Olivia is not bothered enough to listen to until Walter mentions Asher's name.Olivia peers at Asher then, noticing the knitted brows and twisted lips, along with the fatigue evident in the slow blink of his eyes."What's wrong, Asher?" Olivia asks, concerned."Everything went to sh*t," Asher spits. Olivia is surprised at the scorn the boss is still able to muster. Asher exhales, elbows on the table, and he rubs at his face only to let his hands push his hair backward, the frown deepening."I should have been more careful," Asher resumes with a twitch of his lips and then clicks his tongue, his fist clenching and unclenching. "I f*cked up. I should've listened to you when you told me to bring bodyguards.""What?" Olivia says, lost to the unexpected
A few minutes later...Olivia jolts awake, her heart racing in her chest and a frozen shiver creeping on her back.She cannot recall the dream or a nightmare she had if it was one, but the agitations are there, mingling with the loneliness that wraps around her now that she’s faced with the absence of noise in her apartment.It’s when cuddled up in her bed, alone and in a paralyzing silence, that all that occurred on Valentine’s Day downs on Olivia.The fear from earlier rises inside her, its cold tendrils coiling around her throat, and she parts her lips to breathe out, the darkness of the night she usually basks in suffocating now.Olivia rolls on her back, a whined curse trailing the movement when it jostles her ribs.There’s a knock on her door, distracting her from her growing anxiety.“Olivia?” Someone says that Olivia recognizes as the mob boss. “I heard some noises. Everything okay?” a low voice comes from the other side of the door.Olivia hums, trying to level her respiratio
Eight days later...Olivia hasn't heard from Asher since he left that day, he hasn't replied to any of Olivia’s texts for the past week, and Olivia only knows that Asher didn't die in his sleep because Mia and Walter had mentioned it to her during their conversation.Olivia is so f*cking angry right now that she wants to kill him she he comes in front of her. She doesn’t f*cking care if he is all right, alive or dead.Olivia looks at her phone while having her breakfast, only to see a message notification from the Mob Boss.Ash: I’ll send your clothes back later todayOlivia scoffs. So, he knows she is still alive on this earth.Olivia: No need, toss them outAsh: Sure?Olivia: YesAsh: All rightOlivia looks at his curt reply as her anger rises to its peak. The stupid dumb Mob boss has the cheek to text her back after ignoring her for a week all this time and acts as if nothing has happened between both of them.And Olivia is not going to accept that.Olivia: Really? That’s all you h
Asher was sitting in his office working. He hasn’t left the cabin, and the atmosphere is tense because of his rusty behavior.Paul enters the cabin to talk to Asher, and Asher glares at him for disturbing his work. Paul completely ignores him as he asks, “You have been sulking all day long,” as he sits in front of Asher.“I’m not sulking.”“Oh, don’t lie on my face. I know as though I birthed you,” Paul scolded Asher.“Don’t say that. It’s disgusting,” Asher protests.“Now tell me what’s happening?” Paul asks, hiding a smile at Asher’s exaggerated reaction.“Nothing,” Asher schools his expression as he resumes back to his work, ignoring Paul.Paul snorts. “For someone who hates lying, you tend to do fall back into the bad habit of doing so whenever your feelings are concerned.”“It doesn’t matter,” Asher avoids answering.“And? Come on, talk to me” Paul nudges Asher’s legs below the desk.Asher pursues his lips. “It’s just about Olivia and what happened on Valentine’s Day,” he says.“
"Mia, he said tomorrow night, but I don't know if he meant today or actually tomorrow," Olivia whines, looking at her mobile."Oh, right, you're supposed to speak with him?" Mia asks."Yeah, I just hope it'll go well," Olivia sighs, falling back on the mattress."I'm sure it will," Mia says, looking thoughtful."Hmm, will see," Olivia replies absentmindedly.* * * * * * * * * *Mia: Baby, can I have Ash's phone number?Walter: What? Why?Mia: I need to talk to himWalter: Wait, I'll call youMia: Don'tMia: Oly is hereWalter: What happened?Mia: It's about Olivia, I'm kinda tired of Ash's bullsh*t and him hurting Olivia's feelingsWalter: He means wellMia: Does he?Mia: Olivia is distrustful, but she can also be very susceptible. She would give anyone she enjoys being with the benefit of the doubt even if they hurt herMia: She doesn't have any other friends or family except for me, and she seems to get along well with Ash.Mia: I'm worried about her getting her hopes up with someon
Group chatAsh: Is everyone here?Ash: We need to talk about the tournament nowAsh: Olivia received the invitationAJ: What?PS: You received yours as well Asher?Ash: I didn'tSL: You're not even her adopter yetAJ: That's weirdAsh: It may be because of NicolasAsh: Either way it happened and Olivia is participating in the tournamentAsh: I need everyone to be here so we can talk about itAsh: Olivia got the letter along with her keycard and a phoneWG: What did the letter say?OF: A summary of what TSM is and the rules about itOF: The fact that they kept using 'it' while talking about the hybrids pissed me offOF: F*cking a*sholesAsh: Hybrids are nothing to them aside from a source of money and entertainmentWG: What's TSM?Ash: The name of the tournament aka The Scarlet Masquerade, TSM for shortAsh: As I said previously TSM is a match to death with, more often than not, only one survivorAsh: It's brutal and unforgiving and no one ever comes out unscathed from itMC: Are you s
Ash: Olivia??Ash: What's happening?Ash: OliviaAsh: Members of the clan are on the wayAsh: They'll be there in less than thirty minutesOlivia: No Don'tOlivia: Call them backOlivia: I'm fineAsh: What the fuck do you mean you're fineOlivia: I made it sound worse than what it actually was and then I lost track of time dancingAsh: You'reOlivia: Don't be mean worried AsherAsh: I need a minuteOlivia: SorryOlivia: I should have sent another text to say I'm fine but it slipped my mindAsh: I thought something bad happened to you OliviaAsh: You can't do shit like thatAsh: Fucking hellAsh: I was a moment away from upturning the cityOlivia: I'm sorry...Olivia: I just wanted to distract myself from the creepy letter I gotAsh: A letter?Ash: This is what it's about?Olivia: YeahOlivia: There was a letter in my mailbox but the very creepy kindOlivia: There isn't even a returning or my own address on itAsh: Does it have a logo on it?Olivia: YesAsh: Red?Olivia: YesOlivia: Ho
Both stare at each other silently. Asher’s words ring in the silent room. His face is filled with uncertainty and hesitation but also assurance. He is willing to do that only if Olivia will accompany him during those nights.Olivia without even hearing his words understands the turmoil in Asher’s heart. “Of course, Asher. we can call, facetime, or text whenever there's one. I’ll always be there with you”“Thank you.” Asher’s face breaks into a smile.The genuine smile makes Olivia’s heart tingle “We'll make a bunch of good memories about storms so that the bad ones are gone.” She says with a smile.Asher looks surprised and delighted with the suggestion “I'd love that.”“Me too.”Olivia looks at Asher and suddenly she remembers something “Also, I'm learning how to bake.”“What? Why?” Asher looks confused and surprised.“I was supposed to give you a gift some time ago but it slipped my mind with all the mess that had been happening. And now I changed the present I want to give you.” Ol
They both go silent after that, looking at each other's faces not knowing what to say."What?” Olivia starts, she was offended by the silence from Asher “Did I say something wrong?" she asks Asher with a smile.Asher’s face lit up and he shook his head "No, not at all."His answer made Olivia satisfied, she nodded her head with a happy smile on her face. "Was there a thunder on your side?""Yeah, something like that." Asher’s face dims remembering the situation he was trying to ignore.Olivia notices and asks with a soft voice "Do you want to talk about it?"Asher looks startled "About what?" he asks with confusion."Why you're scared of storms."Asher peruses his lips and goes silent. His tongue comes out to lick his dry lips. He shifts on his bed curling on to himself "There's nothing much to say.""I'm still listening if you want to share." Olivia doesn’t prob, but still tries to talk to him.Asher is not someone who opens up to someone about his shortcomings. He has been trained t
Oly: What bad blood?Mia: I don’t know and Walter doesn’t know eitherOly: That’s weirdMia: A little yesMia: Plus he seems to really antagonize me for some reasonsOly: I seeMia: You’re starting to speak like himOly: Who?Mia: Ash -.-Oly: That’s because we’re rubbing off on each other :(Oly: I like him so much Mia he’s amazingOly: He has trouble understanding feelings and emotions and human relationships but he tries to despite everything he went throughOly: He could have given up, you know?Oly: If I were in his place I would have and I wouldn’t care about understandingMia: He’s an intelligent manOly: He isOly: I really like him a lotMia: Have you been testing the waters?Oly: A little? I don’t know how to do thatOly: I don’t flirt MiaOly: But maybeMia: Maybe?Oly: Maybe he likes me tooOly: MaybeOly: We’ll seeMia: That’s progress it’s okayMia: Anyway, I have to studyOly: Yes, yes, good luck and/or have funMia: Bye, will talk to you later* * * * * * * * * * * *A
Mia: He is a human Olivia, he's not a hybridMia was so confused about how did Olivia even got that thought in her pea-sized brain. She was still contemplating when Olivia replied to her message.Oly: What if he's just hiding it?Mia: He can adopt a hybridMia: Hybrids can't adopt another hybridMia tries to talk sense into Olivia who is very stubborn to listen to any of her explanations.Oly: Unless they falsified their documents and make themselves pass as a humanOly: Steve could have done thatMia: This is insaneOly: You didn't see him the way I didMia: Is it bothering you?Mia: Is this what it's about?Olivia is quick to rejectOly: NoOly: It's about how he behaved and the fact that I know he's hiding a secret from meOly: Which is fineOly: But I can't stop myself from wondering, my mind keeps circling back to thisMia: Olivia that'sMia: OkayMia: Let's say that hypothetically Ash is a hybrid, what would he be?Oly: I'm not sureOly: A predator one I guess?Mia: Hypothetical
Olivia: Are you being an a*shole or genuinely asking?Ash: The latterOlivia: Because I like the idea of us having matching pics and contact nameAsh: Why is that?Olivia: Because It's hmmOlivia: It's comforting?Olivia: And it's a little intimate and just usOlivia: Which I like a lotAsh: [Picture attached]Ash: Like that?Olivia: ...Olivia: I'm okay it's making me feel weird to actually see itAsh: Do you like it?Olivia: I doAsh: How do you feel seeing it?Olivia: HappyOlivia: Very happyOlivia: And then it is ticking inside my chestOlivia: [Picture attached]Olivia: How do you feel?Ash: The same as you, I like it a lotOlivia: Me too but we can barely see the heart because of the dark mode :(Olivia: AnywayOlivia: I suppose you have work to doAsh: I'll be busy until later tonightAsh: You've nothing planned today?Olivia: Nothing at allAsh: MC will also be freeOlivia: What about her?Ash: It's time to talk about the tournament and it'll happen tonightAsh: Everyone wil
“I could live in this car.” Olivia sighs into the leather seat.“I don’t think Mini would appreciate that,” Asher says from where he’s bent over, his arms propped on the edge of the rolled-down window.“Good point. She’s tiny but needs a lot of space, a bit like Steve.” Olivia snickers at her own joke, two duffle bags brimming with Asher’s clothes thrown over the seat next to where she’s installed at the back of the car.“I’ll tell him you say that.”“Go ahead, I’ve been meaning to fight him after Airhead.”“Brat.”Olivia peers up at Asher, catching the fond smile on the boss’ lips. “Thank you for the date.”“You’re welcome, and thank you too,” Asher says, his face close to Olivia. “You enjoyed yourself?”“Mhm, the most,” Olivia grins as she fastens her belt when the driver enters the vehicle“Me too,” Asher whispers, and with his index, he brushes a strand of hair away from Olivia’s forehead. “I won’t be able to text you much today, but I’ll do what I can to try.”“It’s fine, don’t w
When Olivia wakes up a few hours later, it’s to an empty bed, Asher’s side on the mattress tidied up, the phone and iPad on the nightstand gone.It doesn’t take long for Olivia to figure out where the mob boss went when, and after relieving herself in the restroom, she climbs down the stairs to make her way to the dining room.Asher is seated at the end of the table installed in the corner of the bay windows and Olivia trudges up to the mob boss.Hands shoved in her pants pockets, Olivia knocks her foot on the leg of the chair Adam is occupying, the one directly on Asher’s left.“Move,” Olivia orders when Adam does not budge.Adam swivels around. “Say that again, GaintDog?”“That’s my seat. Move.”“How about you f*ck off before I shoot you in the knee?” Adam snaps when Olivia kicks the chair again. “It’s no one’s seat, however right now it’s mine because my a*s is on it.”“Adam, come on,” Walter intervenes from where he’s lounged further down the table, Mia by his sides. “They’re in t