Chapter 3

Olivia was waiting for the reply, but she smiled when it didn't come. "I have talked to him for ten seconds, and he is already put off by me. Great" 

Just when Olivia was about to do a little victory dance, her phone buzzed with a notification.

Never mind, the devil is back.

Mob Boss????: I have a few questions.

Olivia: Sure.

Olivia: I have some, too. I'll start.

Olivia: Are you Ash?

Mob Boss: Ash??

Olivia: Yeah, the mob boss or gang leader or whatever it is that Ash does.

Olivia: Is your real name Asher Simon by the way?

Olivia: If the answer to both questions is yes: why the f*ck would you use your real name if you're a mob boss??

Olivia: Isn't it stupid?

Olivia: I'm not saying you are stupid.

Olivia: Although I kind of am, sorry, but you have to admit that it'd be a stupid thing to do.

Mob Boss????: One moment.

Asher looks at the text sent by Olivia and gets confused. How does she know?

Group Chat Babies <3

Ash: Everybody gather in the office.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Asher looks at the crowd and asks in a serious tone, “How come Olivia Francis knows who I am?”

“ What? What do you mean, who knows who you are?” Steven asks first with confusion.

Asher shows them the messages he received from Olivia.

“What the f*ck.”

"How is that possible?" Paul asks Asher, "F*ck, someone must be raving their mouth too loudly." Paul looks around angrily.

Paul, even though he is not blood-related to Asher, he is very protective of his younger brother, who saved him from his father’s clutch. And if he knows anyone is trying to hurt Asher, he doesn’t even blink to kill that person.

Walter rubs his hands nervously. "Sh*t, huh" Everyone looks at him, "I think I know how. This is my fault. I'm sorry. It's just connecting now."

"What is?" Adam asks.

"Mia mentioned a friend several times, but she never told me her name. All I know is that she is a wolf hybrid," Walter informed the group.

Asher asked, "The Northwestern one?"

"Yeah," Walter nodded.

Adam lifted his hands in the air. "Great. So, the boss' safety is compromised because of your f*cktoy."

"Nothing is compromised. Who would believe her if she told anyone?" Walter defended. "it's slightly a bit more, a bit more precarious."

"You better get rid of that Mia girl," Adam said with a huff.

"That's never gonna happen," Walter said seriously.

"So, Mia told Olivia," Asher asked Walter.

"Yes, probably. She saw your face Ash," Walter reminded Asher.

"I see" Asher nodded.

"This is why I said not to use an actual photo of you, boss," Adam said to Asher.

"It doesn't really matter. I don't risk much by doing so. In the worst-case scenario, we can bribe the AAH to keep them silent, and Steven can erase everything online." Asher said with a look of regret, "My only problem is that I wanted to keep our actual activities away from the hybrid's knowledge. I doubt she will accept now."

"You might never know. She might accept once you tell her everything" Steven looked at Asher with expectation.

"Now that she knows who you are, she doesn't really have a choice anymore," Paul said seriously. "Either she accepts, or she refuses, and we will have to silence her one way or another"

Paul thought for a while. "Both options are not much pleasant for her no matter what; if we want to succeed in our endeavor, we need to do this."

"But she seems to be our best shot so far," Steven says quietly. "The others weren't competent enough, but she might be with her job and the experience she acquired from it."

"That's what I have been thinking, too," Asher agrees. "I'll talk to her and explain why we need her from the get-to-go since she already knows who I am."

"You won't even try to deny it, Boss?" Adam asks.

"It's of no use," Asher disagrees.

"Okay. Tell us how it goes," Adam says.

Asher turns to Walter. "Next time, be careful with your significant other. We can't afford mishaps like that again."

"It won't," Walter nodes his head.

* * * * * * * * * *

Mob Boss????: Are you here?

Olivia: Yeah. You didn't reply.

Mob Boss????: Yes.

Olivia: ???

Olivia: Yes, to what?

Mob Boss????: Yes, to both of your questions.

Olivia: So, you are Ash, aka the mob boss?

Mob Boss????: Yes.

Olivia: And you used your real name and photo of yourself?

Mob Boss????: Yes.

Olivia: Are you f*cking dumb

Olivia: It's like putting a bold red target on your forehead. Why not use a fake name and photo

Olivia: I can't believe you have done that

Mob Boss????: Why do you sound so upset?

Olivia: I'm not upset. I'm surprised.

Olivia: Befuddled

Olivia: Bamboozled

Olivia: Blissfully shocked at how inane that is. Aren't you supposed to be some sort of evil genius???

Mob Boss????: I can be.

Olivia: Can we drop the formality with the dots and stuff? It's kinda intimidating when you dot me, Mob boss Ash.

Mob Boss????: You do not believe me, aren't you?

Olivia: Do you really think I'd believe you're a mob boss?? You're probably one of Mia's friends pulling an elaborate prank on me.

Mob Boss????: I'm not lying

Olivia: Prove it.

Mob Boss????: How am I supposed to prove something like that?

Olivia: I don't know. You are the mob boss.

Mob Boss????: Okay, have you heard of ABS' CEO's corruption mayhem?

Olivia: I have. Why?

Mob Boss????: My associates and I were behind it. I can’t disclose much, but you can look at the provided video online. If you watch it correctly, you will know whom you are talking to and what type of man I am

Mob Boss????: You must know I’m not really a good man. I can easily find out where you live. And I’m not really giving you an option you’ll accept my proposal. Or else

Olivia: You'd know where I live but not where I'd actually be. I spend half of my time in the forest, so good luck finding me.

Olivia: I would like to see what else you could do…

Asher looked at the message and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Jesus."

Asher looked at the others in the room and said, "That wolf hybrid is something else." He turned to Steven and said, "I had to share some information regarding what we did with ABS, nothing major, just enough for her to believe me."

"Something else in a good or bad way?" Steven asked with a smile.

"Mostly Good way," Asher says with a blank face.

"Wait, what do you mean to believe you?" Paul asked Asher from where he was sitting.

"She doesn't believe I'm Ash and thinks it's all a joke," Asher told them all.

"We've been taking so many risks for that one hybrid" Adam looked unconvinced.

"We have to. I'll be missing from the action until the hybrid replies to me. In the meantime," Asher turned to Paul, "I need you to contact the Altar and try to charm them into letting their hybrid participate, which will make for one less threat."

"On it," Paul agreed and left the room.

"Adam and Steven, a group intercepted our own earlier this week during the trade. Find out who and why they tried to steal our shipment. I'll be working on that as well, so call me whenever you find out something" Asher assigned the task to everyone.

Adam and Steven nodded and exited the room.

"Walter, we need to talk" Asher turned to Walter.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sometime later

Olivia has gone through the reports and online videos about ABS corruption. Her head started to spin from the information she was looking at.

Oh, my f*cking god.

“Mia, you won't believe me,” Olivia bragged into Mia’s room.

Mia, who was sleeping, was stirred awake by the noise. “What is it this time?”

Olivia was freaking out. “I have been talking to a mob boss this whole time; oh my god.”

Mia was still half asleep “what?”

Olivia “Oh, wake up; my potential adopter is Ash, The mob boss.”

Mia blinked back the tears as she yawned. “I know. I told you before. That the man in the picture was Ash. The mob boss. I thought you believed me when I told you.”

Olivia screamed, “HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE YOU.”

Mia said angrily, “Because I've been your friend for more than 15 years? Why would I joke about that?”

Olivia stays silent for a while before she starts ranting, "Mia, you won't believe me. I talked to Ash. The ASH."

"He's that dark legend no one can touch. No wonder he didn't give a damn about sharing his name and face just like that." Olivia was pacing in the room now.

Mia listened to her words and asked, "what suddenly changed your mind, though? I thought you believed me from the beginning."

"He told me to check online about all the things about the ABS mess, and there's no way he could have gotten all that info if he wasn't involved firsthand, and it's also not lies either. Jesus," Olivia started to panic.

"What the f*ck do I do? I sassed the mob boss. I called him stupid several times at that" Olivia was on the wage of crying.

"You what?" Mia screamed in alarm.

"Mia, I f*cked up. What if he sends someone to kill me? Not that I'd care that much, it'd bring some action to my boring life," Olivia started to pace.

"But what if... the season 3 for the Witcher isn't out? I can't die yet."

Mia was speechless "you're only scared of dying because of that?? Are you serious, Oly?"

"Among other things, like some video games release. What am I supposed to do? Mia can your boyfriends help me" Olivia asked Mia.

Mia sighed. "My boyfriend kind of got castigated by his boss. I messed up when I told you about him."

"Sh*t. I didn't think of that. Is he okay?" Olivia was worried because of her Walter was in trouble.

"He's fine, just upset. Ash had every right to be mad at him, Walter took a risk by telling me, and he trusted me not to share that with anyone, and I broke that trust," Mia said sadly. It was all her fault for disclosing the secret.

"You didn't, of course, you had to tell me after seeing Ash's face, and I'm sure your boyfriend and Ash understand that. It's not your fault Mia. Don't blame yourself," Olivia consoled Mia.

"This is all a mess. What exactly does Ash want with you?" Mia asked with frustration.

"I don't know yet since I didn't believe him. I'll talk to him and see what this is all about," Olivia said with a defeated sigh.

"Okay." 

"Everything will be fine, Mia, don’t worry. I’ll update you about everything I talk to Ash," Olivia said, consoling Mia.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Olivia: I read everything. Can we talk?

Ash(?!): Do you believe me yet?

Olivia: You reply quickly

Ash(?!): Ah, yes

Ash(?!): what a great invention of notifications; incredible what it can grant, right?

Olivia: oh, f*ck off

Olivia looked at the message she sent and couldn't help but think, "What is wrong with me? Do I actively want to die!!! Where is my sense of self-preservation? f*ck, I need to shut up."

Whereas Asher looked at the message and was dumbfounded, he had never been spoken to like that. He couldn't help but feel delighted?? Surprised?? or was it curiosity?? "it's a nice change, right?"

Olivia texted him back, trying to make some damage control

Olivia: Oh, sorry, please don't send someone to kill me because I was rude to you, hahaha

Seriously this is the best she could think of…

Ash(?!): I'm not that kind of mobster

Olivia: Are you more of a Lobster

Olivia: Sorry, ignore me. My humor is a bit broken

Olivia: It's a defense mechanism because I'm slightly freaking out and a lot lost and confused because why am I talking to a mob boss on a Wednesday afternoon

Ash(?!): Let me explain

Olivia: Yes, that would be nice. What do you want from me? Why do you want to adopt me?

Ash(?!): Do you trust AAH?

Olivia: No

Ash(?!): Why?

Olivia: Call it a gut instinct and my experience at one of their shelters.

Ash(?!): So, you wouldn't be opposed to working against them?

Olivia: I wouldn't. What does that work entail?

Ash(?!): We entered that area where I ask the questions, you reply, and only after can you ask your own questions depending on your answers

Ash(?!): As I said, I am busy. The reason why I contacted you is urgent and one I cannot delay by entertaining you.

Ash(?!): Is that clear?

Olivia looked at the clear instruction given by the mob boss. His stern tone in the message made something twist in her stomach. Yeah, he definitely is a mob boss. Olivia came to this conclusion after looking at the message.

Olivia: Yes

Ash(?!): Good

Ash(?!): Let's continue

Ash(?!): Are you satisfied with how hybrids are treated?

Olivia: F*ck, no

Ash(?!): Do you feel Free?

Olivia couldn't help but think what Asher was thinking. Why is he asking about her feeling free? But still, she replied honestly.

Olivia: No

Ash(?!): Good. How far would you be willing to go to gain great freedom?

How far will I go? All I want is the freedom I have been looking for the same all these years, Olivia thought before replying.

Olivia: Pretty far? I don't know. I never thought about it in great detail.

Ash(?!): If you were to work for me and I ordered you to kill someone, would you do it?

Olivia: I never thought about killing people before, you know, not your daily daydreaming thing

Ash(?!): That doesn't answer my question

Olivia: Depends on who it is, I guess, and what they have done

Ash(?!): Okay, regarding your hybrid counterpart, how well can you control it?

Olivia: I spend a lot of time in my wolf form. I like it. So, I'd say pretty well.

Ash(?!): You are a fitness and taekwondo trainer, correct?

Olivia: Yeah, it makes controlling my wolf even easier

Ash(?!): Would you say you'd make a competent fighter?

Olivia looked at the question and couldn't help but think about where Ash was going with all these questions. She thought about asking Mia to consult Walter to know the answer but immediately thought against it.

She can't bring more problems to Mia and Walter to satisfy her curiosity.

Olivia: Yes, I would

Ash(?!): You sound confident

Olivia: I have been learning taekwondo and other martial arts since I was a kid

Olivia: I have been taking boxing lessons for the past couple of years, so I know how to give, dodge, and receive a proper punch

Ash(?!): God, you're perfect for this

Olivia: At least get on one knee and ask for my hand before anything else

Ash(?!): I don't have to bend a knee to ask for your hand

Olivia was scolding herself for acting like that with the mob boss. She needs to stop being a brat in front of a mob boss. But a smile played on her mouth 'he didn't say no, though.'

Ash(?!): Not that I would, but moving back to our discussion

Ash(?!): Another question would you be willing to fight for me in a specific environment?

Olivia: I know I'm not supposed to ask questions, but you're being vague.

Olivia: I don't even know what kind of environment you are talking about

Ash(?!): An underground tournament