Chapter 27
1057words
"Back so early," Someone said as he walked into the living room and he froze momentarily. His eyes went to the huge wall clock hanging in the room, and he immediately turned to the direction the voice came from, and there was Lily. She was sitting on the sofa, her knees pressed against her chest, still dressed in what he guessed is her work outfit at half past 10, a bottle of wine open on the table before her.
His brows knitted together as he took note of all these. His eyes finally rested on her face, and his heart dropped to his stomach when he noticed how red and swollen her eyes were. Just how long has she been crying?
He instantly shrugged off his suit jacket and walked over to her, and made himself comfortable beside her. He wasn't one to comfort anyone crying. He didn't know how to, but...
"How long have you been here?" He asked, picking up her glass and finishing up its content.
"You know I drank from that, right?" He stared at the glass then at her before he set it down on the table while nodding his head. "How is Charlotte?"
He raised a perfectly arched brow. She knew? "Better than you think." She sniffled and nodded. That's great. At least they won't say she murdered her. "You didn't stop by even though you knew?"
She chuckled and wrapped her arms around her legs. Of course no one was going to tell him that she in fact came, she had to be the villain. "I got caught up with work," she lied effortlessly. There was no need to confuse him with her family drama and lies. " You must be very tired. You should go and rest."
"And what will you be doing?" He asked almost immediately and she shrugged even though she knew what she'd be doing. Having a pity party.
Asher exhaled loudly and deeply when a minute passed and she said nothing in response. "How about we talk about whatever it is that's bothering you first, then we both can retire for the night. "
Lily's eyes met his after his offer, and she held his gaze. For the first time in a while, she could see the intricate colour of his eyes once again. They seemed to be drawing her in, trying to read her and figure out whatever was in her head, and it warmed her heart. She felt a teardrop roll down her right cheek,and immediately wiped it away, and cleared her throat.
"Let's talk about something else," she said when shr finally found her voice and sje saw the surprise that contorted into Asher's expression, and she forced a small smile on her face. She badly wanted to let him know what was going on in her head, but their arrangement would possibly be over in the next 43 days, and she wasn't going to lay herself bare for a man that might not be in her life in the next month and a half.
She heard him sigh, and it was followed by a slight slap on his thighs. "Take your time." He said, and lips tugged up in a genuine smile.
Silence engulfed them afterwards and they both wordlessly passed the wine between them. Her mind raced in different directions, thinking and dreaming up so many different scenarios, but one person however dominated every sphere her mind travelled to. No matter how hard she tried, he seemed to occupy a tiny portion of her mind in every way, and that brought about a sudden realization.
"I know nothing about you, Lily blurted out before the thought took form properly in her mind, and she turned to face him once again.
He stared down at her with a raised eyebrow and what seemed like a smile tugged on his lips. Even while sitting, Lily had to look up to get a good view of him, and she wasn't't a small woman. Clearing her throat, she snapped her mind out of her tiny observation and back to the conversation at hand. "I only know what the tabloids say about you..."
He stroked the stubble that has been growing more and more into a full beard over the days, and looked away. "So, what do you want to know about me?" He slid down the chair a little, man spreading as he did and she gulped, forcing her eyes away from where they were hurriedly going to back to his face but that didn't help matters. He had rolled up his sleeves and crossed his hands beneath his head, giving her a front row view of his biceps.
Lily swallowed, wetting her dry mouth as she fanned herself subtly, and looked away. She decided that it was the wine that was getting to her and raising the temperature of the room as she reached out and I did two buttons. She heard him snicker behind her before covering it up with a cough, and I
She glared at him despite the heat that has crawled up her face.
"So..." He started again, and she created a little more space between the before she copied his position by resting her head against the chair, her knees were however still tightly pressed against she chest. "What do you want to know?"
"Hmm..." Lily hummed as she thought hard and long about what she wants to know about him. It was really hard to pick something when you know virtually nothing. What about his business? His other exes? His childhood? His... Parents? Sge rubbed her lips together and glanced at him as she thought of the last one. His parents are rarely ever mentioned, by him or by the press. All that's known is that they are both deceased.
Taking a deep breath, she focused her gaze on the ceiling. "Tell me something I don't know," she finally said, deciding it was better to let him choose what to tell bed.
A few minutes of silence followed Lily's statement before Asher spoke again. "I was 15 when I watched my parents die."
