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
Olivia lies in bed, looking at the ceiling. Asher hadn't called her till now. Maybe he meant tomorrow, as in tomorrow itself. But Olivia is restless, she has such a bad feeling since the whole fight, and it's getting worse tonight.* * * * * * * * * * *Paul asked everyone to gather in the living room at 11 at night. Everyone is present except Asher. He hasn't seen the man since lunch. He was not present for dinner as well."Has anyone seen Asher?" He asked, hoping to get any info on the mob boss."No, why?" Adam answers."I haven't seen him all evening, And I can't find him anywhere," Paul informed all of them."Wasn't he supposed to meet with one of our allies not far from our headquarters?" Steve steps in, and he says, "I remember him mentioning something about Nicolas, but he didn't expand on it." he shrugs."I tried to call his driver, but nothing," Paul says. "This idiot shouldn't be working.""F*ck, can you locate him, Steve," Adam asks, turning to Steven.Steven, who was busy o
"Don't f*cking say that," Adam pulls Steven by his collar angrily. "He could have died or be taken away if his driver hadn't been there."Walter pulls both of them apart. "But he is fine now, Adam. Calm down. His injuries weren't worsened, and he didn't hit his head" He tries to calm both of them lightly."Yeah, I know he is, But still...." Adam huffs."Don't worry, guys. I'll try to talk to him when he wakes up," Paul says, rubbing his forehead."Paul, please do talk to him because the boss won't listen to any of us, but maybe he will listen if his brother talks to him. He always comes to you," Adam pedals, looking like a lost puppy. Asher was the one who saved his life and gave him a new identity to continue living. He is all Adam had in his life. He can't lose him. Never.Paul, who knew, understood the unsaid words in Adam's sentence and nodded his head in assurance. "I'll do my best. If not, someone else can try to help," he says."Who?" Walter asks."Ohh, True," Steve covers his
Unknown Number: Hello OliviaUnknown Number: I just wanted to give you some newsUnknown Number: Ash is fine. He fainted but was immediately driven to our doctor. He should be up by tomorrowOlivia: dsfeUnknown Number: What?Unknown Number: ??Unknown Number: -_-Olivia: I was sleeping. I passed outOlivia: What do you mean he fainted?Unknown Number: Exactly what I just saidOlivia: Is he really all right?Unknown Number: Well, he's not worse, so there is that, and hopefully, he'll take that as a sign that he needs to restOlivia: He is such an idiotUnknown Number: He is, but at least he is a sleeping idiot nowOlivia: Speaking off, going back to bedOlivia: Can youUnknown Number: What?Olivia: Nothing, Goodbye* * * * * * * * * *Olivia: Annoyed fact of the night/morning: Resting because you got stabbed, and a shot won't kill you. Working and walking around, however, mayOlivia went to bed at 9 AM, and when she got up, it was 7.30 in the evening. She was surprised that she slept
Ash: Olivia Ash: Are you awake? Olivia opens the message with a shaking hand. Olivia: Hello Olivia: Yes, I am Ash: I didn't think you'd be Olivia: Brain too loud Olivia: Why? Ash: Can we talk? Olivia: Sure Ash: You can tell me if you don't want to or are too tired Olivia: I'm not tired Olivia: And I want to Ash: Okay Ash: Then Ash: Where to start Olivia: What you did was an a**hole move Olivia: After all that happened with the fight and sh*t, you just left me alone Olivia: You can't do that Olivia: You should not have done that Ash: I didn't mean to Olivia: Yet you did Ash: So, did you, however, don't pin all of this on me when even after I tried, you didn't Olivia: What?? Olivia: What do you mean I didn't try? Are you f*cking kidding me? Ash: I didn't suddenly leave you alone, I took some distance, yes, but I wasn't entirely gone Olivia: Then we have very different visions of this because, to me, it felt like the opposite Ash: You never contacted me Ash: Or
Ash: What's your favorite color? Olivia: Depends on my mood Olivia: I love red when I'm naughty, black when I want to be intimidating, and pink when I'm feeling soft and happy Ash: How about pink, then? for yes Olivia: What about no? Ash: What do you think about Ink? Olivia: Why Ink? Ash: Because it came to my mind Olivia: Okay Olivia: Pink for yes, and Ink for no Ash: Yes, that Olivia: I like it Ash: Me too Ash: Want to answer my earlier question now? Olivia: I do Ash: What is the reply? Olivia: Pink... Ash: Really? Olivia: Yes, Pink Ash: Good Olivia: ... Olivia: Why is it good Ash: Because you said yes in the end Olivia: Oh Olivia: I did Ash: You did Ash: And you were honest, right? Olivia: I was Olivia: So, it's good? Ash: It is Olivia Olivia likes that so much. She likes the praises from Asher so much that she starts to think if something is wrong with her. It feels nice to hear. Olivia: What about you? Ash: What about me? Olivia: I’m asking the sam
Olivia just hopes that Asher will forget about what she said now that he has left. She regrets saying that because now, if Asher asks again, what does she even say? But before she could take a relieved breath, Asher's message came. He's back. Oh god, it would make things awkward if she was honest, but Olivia doesn't want to lie, and she wants to tell the truth, but... She doesn't know what she has to do. It's not even important Ash: My friends are being noisy Ash: I was eating with them Ash: And I left because of something, So there are disturbing me Ash: Have you eaten yet? Olivia: No, not yet Ash: You should eat Olivia: I will soon. I'm not really hungry right now Ash: All right Ash: What's the other thing you liked? Olivia: Forget about it Ash: I don't really want to Olivia: You are pushing Ash: A little, yes Ash: Can I know? It's okay if not Olivia: Why are you so nice Ash: I'm just myself. I'm not being especially nice or mean Olivia: It feels like you are espec
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