CHAPTER 8: Tell me, what are you doing on my bed?

Asher walked inside his room with a calm countenance. His mother was long gone and leaving in her wake was a huge responsibility left on his shoulders.

Not only was he supposed to get married to her but to also have a child? Remembering the words of his mother, he couldn't help but wonder what was so special about the damned Steele's.

Why was he so clearly mandated to be family with the Steeles? Knowing his father, there had to have been something he was after. He didn't quite buy the idea of debt. He'd have to be a fool to believe that the sole reason for this clown show was to pay a debt.

Asher was suddenly very curious about the lady sprawled on his bed. As he drew nearer to her sleeping form, he caught a closer look at her face. She was bare faced and that came as a huge surprise.

He'd thought she'd be dolled up and placed for his satisfaction but with what he was seeing it was clear she was actually just…sleeping. Sleeping on his bed that is.

For some reason, he watched her like a stalker, half hoping she didn't wake up in order to have the time to actually take a good look at her.

She seemed like a decent looking person. innocent and docile. He didn't want to jump into conclusions but he prided himself as one who had an discerning eyes. after all, it was as a result of his good eyesight he'd managed to make great decisions for the greatness of the company. His company.

She was a sight for sore eyes. Beautiful and calm as she slept soundlessly. It wasn't so hard anymore. The whole Idea of having her bear his name didn't seem too bad. At least at the moment. He wasn't going to tell his mother though.

He remembered the words of his mother and his countenance hardened. He needed to be in check with his thoughts. This wasn't the right time.

He walked closer to her and the almost transparent material of her dress made him divert his eyes. Without a second glance, he pulled the bedding material over her, successfully covering her from further view.

Asher only realized what he's done afterwards and immediately jolted away from her like one stung by a bee. He couldn't afford to grow soft towards her. At least until he found out her motive. The motive behind everything was still quite unclear.

With his life history, he wasn't too keen on starting anything he couldn't finish. He had to be sure about everything before proceeding. There was no rush after all.

The familiar ringtone of Asher's phone jolted him out of his reverie. He immediately silenced the phone and stepped out of the room into a connecting balcony. He cleared his throat and picked up the call while overlooking the pool beneath him. It was Jason.

" Speak." Asher said immediately the call connected.

" Lots of news. I think you need to see this. I'm coming over now." An exasperated voice of Jason said and without a reply, Asher hung up, awaiting the arrival of his friend and aide.

*****

" Oh baby! I love you so much!"

Emma watched as the disturbing act took place before her eyes. How could she have been stupid not to realize she was being played? It was so clear.

" Lower your voice, she's in the other room." Colton said as he dived into her.

" I don't care! She can listen all she wants. You are mine anyways! She's just a peasant." Talia said with a devious smile as she saw the standing figure of Emma. Colton, who was too occupied, firing on her didn't notice the person standing behind him.

" Yes! Yes! Keep your voice down." He said with a groan.

" No! Tell me you love me. Say it aloud and maybe I'll consider it." She cajoled, trying to get him to say it. It didn't take long for Emma to understand what she wanted to do. She wanted to prove to her that he belonged to her. Stake her claim.

If Emma felt bad about the horrendous scene happening before her, she was about to feel ten times worse.

" I love you, Talia! Always have, always will. Happy?" He said, stilling within her for a while and as though trying to be clear before thrusting even more vigorously within her.

Much to the utter pain and devastation of Emma who was stunned to a silence by the door.

" And what about Emma? What happens to her?" She asked, boring into Emma's eyes with a devilish smirk.

" You know I don't love her. I have a lot of sympathy towards her though. So enough about her, she isn't important." He said hastily, not liking the feeling of being hindered by otherwise silly questions.

" You heard that, didn't you? You don't matter! " Talia said loudly, drawing the attention of Colton to a whimpering Emma.

" Emma! Wait! " He screamed upon seeing her dash out of their sight while he tried gathering himself.

Emma hurried out of the apartment holding back tears which in time spilled out of her eyes. It wasn't the cheating itself that struck her. She had always known him to be quite fond of women. But the fact that he'd so carelessly belittled her in the face of Talia was a deal breaker.

The stark reality of the fact that he chose her sister over her was her greatest fall. A fact that she believed Talia to be very aware of which prompted the unnecessary presentation.

She thought back to the scene and hot tears trickled down her face. It was true after all.

Emma was jolted out of sleep by the shutting of a door. Still groggy from sleep, she tried opening her eyes but the shining lights turned what was supposed to be a full glance to a squint.

As she attempted adjusting to the imposing lights, she sat up and tried recollecting herself. Within a few seconds, it was clear to her that her surroundings were unfamiliar.

" Where am I? " She thought fearfully, still having a hard time remembering how she arrived here. The last thing she remembered was being thrown into the dungeon. She couldn't seem to understand why though.

Why she felt like there was something she was missing out on, the reason for her weird dreams and how she got into this room.

The beddings were so soft and enchanting. Making her mourn the loss of contact the moment her feet touched the ground. She got up from the bed and a migraine headache bombarded her, making her regret every decision since she woke up.

In the middle of the episode, she remembered. She remembered everything. Everything up until the moment she was forced to unconsciousness and bundled up.

Talia was engaged to Colton! The internal pricking of her heart finally made sense. Her disturbing dream made sense alongside her waking up in a… nice place?

Now, that, she didn't quite still understand.

" Are you done muttering underneath your breath or are you finally going to acknowledge me?"

A stern voice from behind her said, startling her out of her skin.

" W-who are you? Why are you here? " She asked, immediately feeling very conscious of herself. How could she not? She was in the most revealing and seductive nightie known to mankind.

The most fearful part of it was the fact she didn't put it on. She didn't even own such a thing to begin with! But here she was, in a luxurious room with a strange man, and in clothes that could best be described as…ugh!

" Y-you! What are you?! How dare you?! How dare you do t-this?!" She bellowed angrily as she put everything together.

She couldn't believe it! How could they be so heartless? How could he be so heartless? Taking advantage of an unconscious and defenseless girl? Of course it had to be her. How could one be so unlucky all through the course of her life?

Emma felt like curling up and bawling her eyes out. She felt her rights and dignity had been taken away from her and what was left were thin shreds of nothing. She was barely even covered.

" Are you done with your very rude questions or do you need more time to act even crazier." Asher said with his jaws ticking. No doubt he was getting angry.

Who gave her the rights to assume such evils about him? How dare she speak so rudely? Asher thought and withdrew his thoughts of her being pretty. Her beauty vanished the moment she opened her mouth.

Who raised her?

Emma placed her fingertips at the bridge of her nose, trying to control her emotions.

" How did I get here?" She asked, trying her very best not to rip his head off.

" I should be asking you that. Since I met you on my bed. So tell me? What are you doing on my bed?"