Chapter Two

Zara Howard

I iced my bruise as we sat in my room, wondering what we could possibly do about this situation.

I am convinced our living room has a mafia spell. It is getting out of hand now. Why else would these gangsters keep barging into our living room demanding stuff?

"We really need to do something about this situation. I'm scared to even step out of the house. I know for sure Victor show up at the restaurant and won't even bat an eye before kidnapping me. Oh god! The idea of being alone with Victor makes me so sick." Scarlett was clearly having a panic attack. I can't even blame her because Victor was pretty serious about taking matters in his own hands.

"We need someone who can scare Victor." Scarlett said.

Asher Lancaster.

"Someone who is more powerful than Victor." She added

Asher Lancaster.

"But at the same time, someone we can trust and doesn’t end up hurting us."

"Asher Lancaster." I said it aloud this time.

"Zara, no please what?" I could see the 'you can't be serious' look plastered on her face.

"He is the answer to all those questions. He is way more powerful than Victor. Victor might flee just at the mention of Asher's name. But most importantly, Asher won't do anything to hurt us. Quite the opposite actually. We both know we can trust him." I explained. Scarlett knew was I was right but the clouds of doubt were still looming over her head.

"He is already doing so much for us. I don't know how I feel about asking for any more help from him. It feels so wrong and-"

"Do you have any other solution?" I interrupted her before she could spiral into another monologue. I understand her dilemma but we have to be realistic about this. And more importantly, we have to be quick with whatever we do. Victor isn’t exactly one of the most rational men out there.

My question was answered by Scarlett’s silence and that was enough for both of us to know exactly what this means.

Asher Lancaster.

I should daydream a lot more. I have some manifestation superpower. I think about Victor, he shows up. I think about Asher and we are going to meet him soon.

"I want a cheesecake." I say with closed eyes, testing my manifestation superpowers.

I open my eyes to find no cheesecake but a very weirded out Scarlett.

Maybe my superpowers get shy around people.

"How are we going to know where to find Asher? The envelopes never mention the sender’s address. Plus, they're established at so many places. He even owns multiple penthouses. How will we even know-" Scarlett trailed off when she saw the sheepish look on my face.

Of course, I know where to find him. But in my defence, I am associated with the Lancaster enterprises and it just needs beginner level stalker skills to figure that one out.

"Zara, I am so concerned. How do you even know all this? I’m sure they don’t put all this in the stupid newspaper.” I could tell Scarlett was absolutely done with me. This whole conversation involved her just shaking her head at me 90% of the time.

"Well, I have my resources and I am very good at joining the dots. And it's helping us right now so quit complaining." I try my best to defend myself.

We take a few minutes to decide when and how we plan to meet Asher at his penthouse the first thing in the morning. I could tell Scarlett was still not completely on board with this but we both know we weren’t exactly left with much choice.

As much as the Victor situation scares me, especially after him hurting me, I feel a weird sense of comfort as soon as Scarlett agreed to meet Asher tomorrow so he can help us out through this.

I really don't know what we're signing up for when we go to him tomorrow but I know he will take care of it and put this Victor situation to an end.

I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to sleep tonight.

How will react to us showing up to his place without any prior notice? 

I stared at my bruise arm and wondered if he would softly brush his fingertips on my bruise and say with gritted teeth, "Who did this to you?" like he does in those fan fictions I've read about him.

Okay, my brain needs to shut up. None of this is helping. Maybe Scarlett is right about being so concerned about me.

For all I care, he probably doesn’t even remember me.

The most important concern right now is safety. We need to buy a few self-defence items, maybe a couple more flavours of those pepper sprays, I already have red chilli pepper spray and cayenne pepper spray.

I check the main door one last time to ensure it is properly and sufficiently locked. You never know with Victor and his very problematic ways. Scarlett and I head to our rooms, locking the doors behind us.

I let out a deep sigh as I get under the covers. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch some sleep amidst all this havoc.

NEXT MORNING

"Scarlett, this isn't the time to chicken out. I thought you agreed with me when I said this is the only way to deal with the Victor situation." I let out an exasperated sigh as we sat in the cab, on our way to the Lancaster penthouse.

"I know but he's Asher Lancaster. He is way more powerful and dangerous than Victor and how on earth can we trust him so blindly with this? For all I care, Victor is probably a gang leader of one of the mobs that work under the Lancaster’s." Scarlett tried to reason.

"You seriously need to calm down. It's either us trying our luck to get help from Asher or you undoubtedly being kidnapped by Victor. It's your call." I stated as Scarlett sunk in the car seat, knowing this is the only way out.

But that being said, Scarlett isn't completely wrong. I'm not obviously going to say that to her but I have a gazillion questions in my head too.

Like how are we going to introduce ourselves?  'Hey Asher! You might not remember us but you killed our stepfather ten years ago and have low-key been providing for us all this while'

Also, where are we going to even start with explaining all this? Who's going to do the talking? What do we tell him if he asks us what do we expect him to do exactly? 

I shake my head in an attempt to get these spiralling thoughts to calm down. The cab pulls over as we reach the Lancaster penthouse. I pass by the penthouse almost every day because it's on my way to work and I'm hoping that's not creepy at all.

As we reach the main gate, the security asked us who we are and who we wanted to meet.

"Uh- it's Zara and Scarlett Howard. We were hoping to meet Asher Lancaster" I felt my throat dry up as I replied.

"The Howard sisters are here to meet you, Sir." The security guard spoke on the phone as I felt my hands get clammy.

"Please wait. He'll be down with you in a moment" He told us as the gates opened, letting us in.

"I can't be the only one losing my shit right now, Zara. Even the fucking watchman has a huge-ass gun." Scarlett begins to ramble again

"Zara, I don’t think you understand that these are Mafias. It is not too late. We still have time, let's run." Scarlett suggests, already looking around for a way to escape.

"I can assure you he isn't going to do anything to hurt us. I don't know about help but he's not retarded to shoot us like we're having a paintball fight with him." I was clearly the one rambling now but it was still any day better than Scarlett's.

"Do you remember that time the newspaper said he threatened this gangster Gilbert, which by the way is a very lizard like name, but after Asher’s threat this lizard-man flee the country and-" My ramble was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.

I turn around and find Asher fucking Lancaster.

Of all the gazillion ways this meeting could go, this in the way this situation chose to play out?!

I turn around to fully face him. He is dressed in full formals. A very well fitted button down white shirt and formal black trousers. He probably has a ton of ‘business meetings’ lined up.

He had that infamous neutral face on but there was a slight glint of amusement in his eyes. It was so brief that if it wasn't for me staring at him like fish, I would’ve not even noticed it.

Before any of us could say anything, he silently gestures us to come with him in the nearby room. Why on earth is this man so unreadable? Not being able to read this situation makes me so anxious.

Scarlett just grabs my elbow, dragging me with her behind him.

Please tell me this isn't real. Tell me this is some sick joke.

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