"Do I really have to come with you?" Jackson asked bristly."You seem to be doing well without my help," Jackson said referring to Asher's planned dinner with Joan and Francesca.After their reconciliation at Altch cafe, Joan had invited him to dinner. Being the opportunist that he is. Asher reminded Joan of his suggestion for them to have dinner with their family and friends while they were preparing their contract.Asher wanted to use the dinner as an opportunity to get himself acquainted with members of the Hargreaves family he could take advantage of. Or at least Joan's elite rich friends.He was however disappointed when Joan told him Francesca was her only family and friend and would be the only one coming.She had termed the dinner an affable double date when Asher had also told her that Jackson was the only one he'll be bringing. Yet he feared it would be fraught with tension. He'd tried canceling the affair, but Joan insisted. She was excited by the idea."Of course, I need y
Mabel Hargreaves sat in her study at the Hargreaves family home. It was formerly her dead husband's. Her blue eyes skimmed through the reports her agents had collated on Asher Evans.She'd suspected something was amiss when Asher suddenly declared himself Joan's fiance at the emergency meeting. She didn't believe for a moment the pair were engaged. Before her father's death, on rare occasions, she and Abraham talked Joan had never made the mistake of informing him she was dating. Maybe Joan and her father's relationship had become so strained, but would she get engaged and not tell her father? She also pondered how they could've been engaged when Joan was in Washington for the past six years. She hadn't even come home once. She was only in New York right now because of her father's death. At the emergency meeting, the pair looked more like strangers than lovers, and importantly she had not spotted an engagement ring on Joan's finger. However, rumors had started spreading, and they'v
Joan sighed as her amber eyes gazed back at her from the depths of her dresser mirror. She was dressed in a silky pink dress.She wasn't sure she wanted to go to dinner considering what happened earlier in the day. Would Asher be present, would he be in the right mind to come?"You look just like her," Francesca said from the doorway."Oh! you scared me, what are you doing sneaking up on me like that." Joan was startled by her aunt's sudden appearance."You look so beautiful," Francesca blurts out. It seems with every day that passes, Joan looked more like her mother."Why, thank you, ma'am," Joan said with a chirpy tone. It felt good that someone as pretty as Francesca considered her beautiful."Shall I let you in on a secret?" Francesca asked conspiratorially."Of course, spill your guts." "When I was a girl I was jealous of your mother's looks. Lauren had the most gorgeous eyes. Beautiful fiery locks and a so perfect smile."Joan felt pangs of sadness hit her as Francesca said her
"So... uh... I wanted to ask what your relationship with your uncle is like. What's his deal with my family's company, and why did you hide me from him in such a manner?" The questions she blurted out have been on her mind since Nolan's visit in the afternoon. They'd stemmed from Asher's conversation with his uncle that she heard while hiding. She became curious about them and made sure to remember them. Yet she felt she's missed something important.Asher's breath became shaky as he sighed. He'd expected Joan to ask questions after his uncle's visit. But he didn't expect it would be so soon, he hoped he would have until the next day."And why should I answer any of your questions?" Asher asked, trying to circumvent Joan's inquiries."I told you that I'd like to know you, remember? And you agreed to it. This is me getting to know you." Joan said simply, she couldn't think of anything else to say.Asher's lips curled in frustration. He was impressed and at the same time irritated, he
Joan read through the article multiple times. She could see the details in the finely written art of deceit that was the tabloid article about her and her family.It seems her stepmother had pulled out all the stops for this article. But to what end, just to humiliate her, or is Mabel planning something bigger?Whatever Mabel was scheming Joan knew she couldn't bear to lose to her stepmother."How could they say such awful things about me? They don't even know me," Joan laments referring to the various comments from netizens. Most of them were either cursing at her or directing hate-fueled words at her."You shouldn't let such things get to you," Francesca said fuming. She was angry that she hadn't been successful in keeping this from Joan. "I've called the Dailypost and asked them to take down the article, but they refused. They told me they will contact you soon, so you can tell your side of the story."Joan became enlivened as Francesca spoke. She would fancy the opportunity to def
Jackson expertly treads across the familiar floors of Grey's lounge. His destination was the bar where Asher awaits him. He and Asher have shared quite a history at the upscale lounge. It's where they'd sealed their first business deal at the start of their partnership.Back then they were young and reckless, Jackson more so than Asher. Asher has always been a bit of a sad lone wolf. However the situation of Emily's death and his accident made him a total recluse, he became distrustful of other people. For a long time after the accident, he believed someone was coming for him and so he built up walls around him. Asher's movement has remained the same since then. He comes to work in the morning and then goes back to a lonely apartment in the evening. His only contact with society remains with Jackson and the women he has shared congress with. The only reason Asher would socialize is for a realization of his set goals, which he is quite strangely proficient at. "Drinking during an eme
The Nouveau-Riche RomanceChapter Twenty"Oh! That looks wonderful on you," Kathy said cheerily as she examined Joan dressed in a long green-colored dress. The pair were picking out dresses at Alice house. Alice house is a luxury brand that caters exclusively to women's garment needs, they are also quite expensive. When Kathy invited Joan to an afternoon shopping spree she didn't hesitate to accept. It did help when Kathy assured her that all costs would be covered. The payment for anything she buys however would be Joan's presence and some quality time with Kathy. Joan surmised Kathy invited her to distract her from the ordeal she's experienced the past couple of days.It has been four days since Joan's article was released and some really strange occurrences have happened since then.It all started the morning after the articles were published. Brenda Fischer the journalist that was hell-bent on destroying her renounced and deleted her writing. She also quit her job, publicly apolo
It was late afternoon when Joan finished her outing with Kathy. Taking note of Kathy's urgency concerning the Cooper party Joan decided to quite literally, drop in on Asher. She hoped to catch him in the office. It seems that Asher's office is the default location whenever they meet. She still had no idea what to do with the pictures Mabel sent to her. She wasn't sure what her next course of action should be. Joan decided she wouldn't talk about the pictures with Asher just yet. With that in mind, she convinced herself that her visit to Asher wouldn't be a social call. She would just be meeting him to fulfill one of the terms of their contract. That was what she had in mind as she entered Maven enterprise. Her ears picked up a familiar voice and her sight instinctively zeroed in on a familiar figure where the voice came from. It was Asher standing just ahead of her, with his back towards her. Joan strolled forward approaching Asher from behind. Her amble abruptly stops as she go
Asher walked the stairs to the second floor one step at a time. He had Joan wrapped around him, her arm around his neck, her legs wrapped tightly around his torso. And his hands on her buns. Their passion for each other communicated in their kiss.Asher addled with lust was careful as he dragged both of them to the top of the stairs landing on the second floor.They both of them disconnected from their kiss to take in breath before they had their lips mashed together again. Their tongues exploring each other.It was a struggle for Asher but he managed to carry them into his bedroom, navigating them to the bed. He set Joan down gently on the bed, stopping their kiss.A look into each others eyes conveyed their feelings. A frenzy of sensual passion burned in their heart and they would take their pleasure.They had not the patience to take things slow and with nothing but a moment, they were naked. Asher stared at Joan's sensual body. Her full breast, round buns and tapered waist all cal
"You're wrong," Asher said leaning over toward his uncle. "Don't be delusional, Nolan. Nothing is going according to your plan, you're in my trap now. This is my game, I rule and control how it is going to be played and you are nothing but a pawn in it.""Pawn, did you called me your pawn?" Nolan asked almost shouting. Asher's words and demeanor has earned him his uncle's ire. Nolan contemplated if he should just abandon any negotiation with Asher and have his fun with Joan instead."Yes I did. You've been playing my game all night and you didn't even know," Asher bluffed, everything he's done since he received Jackson's message was bluff. A bluff he was using to fool his uncle.The fact is he is scared. He was so close to losing Joan tonight. And he wasn't even sure if she was safe yet. Jackson had only sent him a message, informing him they were ready to breach the warehouse where Joan was held. It was not like she has been rescued yet"That's it," Nolan said and stood up. "Perhaps
Jackson walked briskly but silently behind a unit of the rescue team as they approached the side entrance of the abandoned warehouse. The rescue team had done a surveillance of the warehouse to ascertain Joan's location inside the building. Jackson and the team concluded that Joan would most likely be confined in a section of the warehouse, used as offices.Since Joan's rescue was paramount they'd decided to approach the building with as much stealth and speed as was possible while not getting found out.The warehouse had two points of entry, both through concrete paths to the side and front of the building. They broke the team off into two units with the first unit attacking from the front while the other charged from the side. Since the section Joan was held at was closer to the side entrance. It was decided that the second unit assaulting the building from the side would attempt her rescue.Both teams were to attack while concealing themselves from Nolan's goons. The first unit wou
"I've got you now, little bird, and there would be no escape," Cassidy said to Joan as she became drowsy. Slumping against the man sedating her. Cassidy had a triumphant smirk on her face as Joan slipped into a temporary coma. Joan's kidnapping was a success. She'd spent the last month fine-tuning her strategy, she was glad everything had gone without a hitch. Before Joan's abduction Cassidy and the men with her had taken care of both teams protecting Joan. That was the challenging part of her little plot, however, they had an advantage in surprise and numbers. Now the two teams of four guards are having a blissful sleep. "Bring the cars around, we need to get going," Cassidy said to one of the two men working for her. The other man had Joan drooping in his arms. "I have a message for you from Mr. Evans," One of the goons working for Nolan that he sent to provide support said. "A message? What message?" Cassidy inquired of the man. "He said this is the end of the line for your pa
Joan and Asher intertwined their hands, as they walked through Central Park. They were on an evening date and are strolling through the park before Asher drove Joan back home. Asher had his eyes on Joan who was smiling brightly. Central Park without a doubt was her favorite place, not only because she could reminisce about the good times she shared with her mom. But also because it was the one place she could exist without worry. It has become even more special now that she shared it with Asher.Joan felt a bittersweet sensation as she thought about all that has happened the past few days. She was glad to finally get her family's company from Mabel's clutches. As well as getting her revenge for Mabel ruining her family and manipulating her with her father's death.While she felt that Mabel deserved what came her way, still she felt unease. And it grew with Mabel's fretting dialogue with her as she was dragged out of the emergency meeting. She never pictured Mabel being that scared of
Mabel huffed and puffed before the door of the conference hall where the emergency meeting would hold. Her stepdaughter was the reason for her grief. The bothersome brat was running late and the meeting would soon commence. She had put all her eggs in one basket and that basket was Joan. Mabel would suffer through more minutes of irritation before Joan appeared, alone without Asher as she'd asked. Mabel had also instructed Joan not to tell Asher about her plans for the meeting. She didn't want him ruining her work. "I'm so sorry for my tardiness Mabel, I lost track of the time while getting ready," Joan recited her fake apology as she neared her stepmother. She had intentionally arrived late, in a bid to both piss off and scare Mabel. "Hello Joan darling, you came at just the right moment. Come, walk with me," Mabel muttered barely suppressing her gall. Joan smiled, she could see the fruit of her work by the crease on her stepmother's forehead and her visibly troubled face. Seeing
It was a chilly evening, the sun had set a few hours ago and it was getting late into the night. The cold of the night was starting to get to her, she knew she should have brought a jacket. The full-sleeved t-shirt she wore was proving to be useless against the biting cold.Joan sat in front of the pastry shop near her aunt's apartment, where she was waiting for the bane of her existence, her stepmother.The pastry shop was the site of her fiasco with Cassidy Myers, just weeks ago. Joan chuckled at the absurdity of the altercation-if she could call it that-but she was happy at how things turned out. Especially with Asher. She found that thoughts of him were always enough to warm her heart."You must be happy to see me. That's a hell of a smile right there." Mabel said to her stepdaughter with a fake smile of her own, just as she took the other seat at Joan's table. She wondered what the broad smile on Joan's face was for."Do not flatter yourself," Joan rebuked her stepmother, she was
Jacob stared at the multi-floor home before him with some apathy. The night was still in its youth, the sun had set not too long ago. It was evident that Jacob was weary as he stood before the brownstone townhouse a frown creasing on his features. Visiting a townhouse in the West Village, alone, was not part of his schedule when he rose from bed that morning. Needless to say, the townhouse before him is an annoyance, it was not a place he wanted to be, nor did he have any business there. However he had no choice but to come, it was the location his blackmailers gave him. His unknown blackmailers had sent him details about his and Mabel's misappropriation of company funds that hit too close to be ignored. They had given him the location of the townhouse and he had come with the hope of striking a deal, probably to pay them off. As he steps closer to the house, Jacob thought it silly, who in their right mind would use a townhouse for such a base act as blackmail? On the other hand, he
Joan since Nolan's sudden visit to Asher's apartment finds herself constantly anxious. She acknowledged that trouble was coming for her. Nolan coming to Asher's apartment had marked that. Still, she had no idea what form the storm coming would take but she knew why it was coming. She has flown too close to Asher's sky. And just like with Emily, the sun that is Nolan probably wanted her burnt.She was anxious, yet, at the moment she felt confident and safe. She recognized that her confidence perhaps came from Asher who at present had his right hand intertwined in her left one. He was driving them to Maven, and he'd personally come to pick her up. She knew he was being protective of her, it was odd, but gestures like this made Asher more appealing to her.Asher's sideways glance was met with Joan's amber eyes focused on him. It seemed he'd caught his lover taking sneak peeks of him. This was made evident by the sudden turn of her head to the other side and the bright crimson on her chee