Asher
"Where do you want to eat?" I asked, already rubbing my temple.
Edmund didn't even look at me. "You don't need to wait for me. You can head back. Once I'm done, I'll come to the office."
I breathed in through my nose, slow and sharp. "If you do not fucking tell me where you're going to eat, I'll tell my men to bundle you up and you'll get neither breakfast nor peace. In case hunger has made you blind, there are reporters everywhere. You'll most certainly make a lovely headline."
He muttered a curse under his breath and finally opened the car door. He leaned in and told the driver the address.
The drive dragged. Traffic was slow. And with the more time I spent around him, I was getting more and more irritated. Why did I have to put up with this? I mean he had a point. I could go back to the office to go and get things done or something but a stupid part of me wanted to know what kind of things he liked to eat.
Not because I was going to do anything about it. Anything like knowing the type of things he liked and the places he liked to eat so I could mentally engrave them in my memory. Yeah right.
I just wanted to make sure that my employee is safe. After all, if anything happens to him, I'll be blamed. That's just it, nothing else.
After what felt like forever, the driver slowed and pulled over.
I frowned. We were in front of a roadside kiosk. Plastic chairs. Rusted zinc roof. Smoke rising from a grill.
Edmund reached for the door.
"Don't," I said.
He paused and looked at me. "What now?"
I glanced around again, disbelief curling in my chest. "Why the hell would you eat in a place like this?"
"Because they make really nice food," he said calmly. "And don't act like I didn't warn you."
He tried to step out.
"Driver," I said, "start the car."
The engine hummed back to life.
Edmund snapped. "What the hell is even your problem?"
"No employee of mine eats in a place like that," I said.
"I'm not your goddamn employee."
I turned fully to him. "You work under my supervision."
"I have just as much authority as you do."
"Yes," I said, voice low, "it falls under me."
"I told you before you fucking dumbass, I'd rather be anywhere else than under you. What about that do you not fucking understand?"
From the way those blue eyes shone with anger, I could tell that he was really pissed. But why? Why did seeing him finally angry and irritated, loosen all the twisted feelings I'd been keeping at bay for so long?
Accidentally, my eyes went to his lips and fuck! They were full and looked so fucking kissable and fuckable. What the hell was happening to me? Why am I in the car with my employee and I'm getting a hard on from his anger?
I knew I was deeply twisted inside but this was something entirely different. It disgusted me and amused me at the same time.
"I'm talking to you, Asher Asbourne. Why do you keep getting in my way and making my life a living hell? I don't even know you from anywhere. From the first day we met, you've been an asshole to me and as much as I want to be the bigger person here, you're really starting to get on my nerves. It seems you've forgotten I run one of the most powerful companies in the whole of Georgia."
Something in me snapped. I reached out and caught his chin, thumb pressing into his cheek. I pulled him close. Our faces were inches apart. He didn't flinch. He stared back, blue eyes sharp, daring me.
I laughed softly. "The next time you open that fucking mouth of yours to repeat that foolish sentence about being anywhere else but under me, I'll make sure you eat your words. And I'm sure that you know by now that I do not bluff."
I released him. "Stop the car."
The driver did.
"Get out," I said. "Be early tomorrow. And if you don't like the terms of our arrangement, sort it out with your father tonight. Tomorrow, I won't remind you who your boss is."
I slammed the door and we drove off.
By the time I got home, my head was pounding.
I climbed the stairs and went straight to my room. I didn't stop at my dad's this time. I was at my place. I needed to cool off badly and there was no way I would be able to do that easily if I'm at home with my father.
I stripped in my room and showered. I would have gone straight to the gym but I needed a more comfortable distraction so I settled for swimming.
I went to the pool. Dipping myself in the cool waters helped to tame the fire that son-of-a-bitch had set in my blood. Why? What is it about him that unnerves me and makes me want to lose control?
I didn't lose control. Everyone knows that. I'm Asher fucking Asbourne for fuck sakes, so why is this stressing me out so much?
I swam until my arms burned.
When I surfaced, a familiar face was sitting by the pool.
Estelle smiled. "Hi."
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"That's no way to welcome your sister."
"Step sister, and I'd welcome you properly if you hadn't surprised me. How long have you been here?"
"A few days. Took a break from college."
Estelle was my step sister. We practically grew up together. I gave her the keys to my place so it was no surprise to
find her here.
I stepped out. Water ran down my chest. She smiled wider.
"You look hot," she said.
"If we weren't related, I'd assume you have intentions of fucking me."
She laughed. "Not the worst idea but I'll pass."
I grabbed an energy drink. "Does Dad know you're in Georgia?"
She shook her head. Her smile faded. "I hate that house. I hate being around him. Please don't tell him."
I smirked. "I won't. On one condition."
"What?"
"You cook me something extremely delicious. And I mean right now."
I needed to eat proper food. It's not like I was a newbie when it came to kitchen stuff. In fact, I'm the best cook I've ever known, but I hate cooking so much that I built a personal restaurant, just so it would be bringing me food everyday.
But with time, you get tired of the fries and generic stuff. I needed to eat proper food, or else I might seek out a certain blue eyed weirdo, and eat him instead.