CHAPTER 4

WREN

This is unbelievable, I almost yelled, but then I knew I’d made a rash mistake, sleeping with my boss’s husband, who's indirectly my boss too.

My mouth formed a small circle, but no sound came out.

I tried to hide my trembling hands.

“No? You lost words?” Eve’s killer voice was at it again, now it became so distant, like I was on another planet, I was far gone.

I couldn’t look at her, nor the headlines on the phone.

“I thought he’s your neighbor, “ I tried to save myself.

“Still doesn't give you the right to sleep with others, in your time of work.”

Feeling hurt for sleeping with her husband was understandable.

And I felt so bad for sleeping with him, my desires that I've kept hidden betrayed me when I laid eyes on him.

I feel like a slut right now.

I recalled the flowery dress I'd worn, was it Eve's?

“I should’ve refused your service, the moment I saw you.”

Ouch.

This isn’t what I wanted, the attention wasn’t needed, not till I succeed in who I am looking for, then go back to Australia, and then think of how to build Lovelink from scratch.

I hope the hungry media in Australia hasn’t seen this.

I could guess their headlines would be ‘ceo of a matchmaking company, who preach love still exist, has finally shown her true nature by breaking a married home’

“But his name is Asher,” I muttered.

Eve burst into a mockery laugh.

“You even know his first name.”

Baffled as I gaze at Mrs. Vaughn, obviously if I’d known his last name, I might’ve solved the puzzle, and that night wouldn’t have happened.

The night I had the best orgasm of my life.

And where the hell was Asher?

I was damn angry too, I felt used. He knew all this while and didn’t say anything.

But why would two people be living separately if they're married, I shook my head, nothing was adding up.

Mrs. Vaughn took the phone from my hands, correction, she literally grabbed it, almost prick on my skin with her long gel nails.

“You’ve done this damage on my pay roll, I’m going to ruin you,” her eyes were dark, and full of wicked promises.

Eve Vaughn began typing fast on her phone, before placing it on her ear, my heart skipped.

“Meet me in the house as soon as you can,” she paused for a second, listening to the receiver from the other end. “Yes, take the necessary documents.”

She wouldn't call the press on me would she?

*************************

The next hour was filled with insultive words from my boss. I tried letting her see reasons, but she wasn't interested.

It was tensed.

A man in glasses and a lady were present. They sat with us in the living room, laptops on the table, arranging some documents.

I know where this is going, they are going to pressure me to sign an NDA to keep quiet. But I'm confused about what they had planned.

I cleared my throat and stood up.

I need to pee.

“Uhh I think I need to use the restroom.”

Eve looked at me, in disbelief.

“There are cameras all over the house, don't you dare run.”

“I won't,” I assured her.

Eve kept watching me, I placed my palm on my bladder to make her fall for it more.

I couldn't stay here, it was all a mistake. It's best I go into hiding or something, till the press brings in recent gossip.

They live for gossip.

The room I'd lived in for the past three days was upstairs, it now feels strange to me.

I looked down the window, it wasn't far from the ground, I can jump down, maybe with some little scratch.

My phone has been beeping since I saw the post.

It was from my roommate, Misan.

An another message from my private investigator, I sent both of them an I'm okay message, but Mark called me instead.

“I thought we are on this together,” he said.

“We are, but I don’t know where to begin.”

I pinched my nose along with a sigh.

How did Mark find out about the tabloid? He was still in Australia. I almost dropped my phone to the floor, doing the maths.

If words had gotten to him, so also the press team…

I couldn't finish the statement.

“Start from the night it happened.”

Damn.

“It wasn't my fault Mark, I didn't know he was married,” I briefed.

Mark kept quiet for a bit, I waited impatiently till he spoke again.

“Wait Wren, I'm confused,”

I frowned.

“Where are you and what are you talking about,”

“Still in Houston, why?” I asked, then I recalled I haven't told Mark of my recent job, all he knew was I was still living with Misan.

“I called, to tell you about the night your grandmother died,”

“What about it?” I released my breath, thank goodness words haven't reached Australia.

“Someone came for a visit, a man actually. You shook hands with this person.”

I remembered clearly now, Mick Zervas and my grandmother were business acquaintance, and he owns a leading matchmaking company.

His company is doing marvelously well, far better than Lovelink

“Yes Mark, that's Mick Zervas.”

“I think it's related to the missing Paige williams.”

I laughed.

“It's had for you to believe, I know.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because he seems suspicious too, everyone around you is a suspect till we catch the culprit.”

I understand where Mark was coming from, but there was nothing Mick would gain in this, he owns the best matchmaking company and my grandmother trusted him.

I heard a loud hit downstairs, that's when I took action.

“Let's talk later, Mark.”

“Of course,” he replied, ending the call.

It wouldn't hurt that much as the window is located at the sides of the building, unlike the back that has gardens and a swimming pool.

My breathing was heavy as I couldn't fathom what's going on.

I carried my backpack only, in it were some essentials, and left behind my small luggage.

When I jumped to the ground, I paused like a statue, trying to gain my balance, while not making a sound.

I got a scratch, my kneecap was hit by a small stone.

I silently tiptoe to the pavement, towards the gate, while hidden from the cameras.

Halfway through the compound, a Maserati drove in. I stopped where I stood, as I watched the back seat door open and a man I couldn't forget anywhere came out.

Asher Vaughn.

He's finely dressed in a blue suit, eyes fixed on me.

Immediately the image of his bare body flashed in my head.

I divorced the memory instantly.

What it yields isn't a pleasant one, I let anger and feeling betrayed overcame me.

When he approached me, preventing me from leaving, his eyes were dark and unreadable as usual.

“So you plan to leave?”

“I don't owe you guys shit,” I cursed.

“Get inside the house.”

He doesn't look like he's ready to apologize for the betrayal I got from his intentionality.

My laugh was bitter.

“Never, I'm leaving.”

Even as the environment was calm and quiet I didn't trust it, Seems Asher was thinking the same.

He came close, bringing his ear close to mine, to the extent I could smell his sweet seductive cologne.

Don't go back to the night, Wren.

For god's sake!

“You don't want to have your face plastered in America's magazine for the second time, do you?”

He was right on one thing though, even if I hated it.