CHAPTER 5

WREN

“I hate you,” I told him.

He didn't even give off a blink, only a distant chuckle.

His driver walked up to us, facing Asher, waiting for his order.

I raised my head high in defiance, boldness was what I needed. I turned to the house, and stormed inside.

Eve Vaughn was climbing down from the stairs, when she saw me, she walked faster to where I sat, raising her hand in an attempt to hit me.

The main entrance opened suddenly, without moving my eyes, I knew it was Asher.

She suddenly retrace her actions.

Asher scanned the room, at everyone, when his eyes landed at me, I gave him a glare, so he knows I'm not scared of him.

Even though I am slightly.

“How the hell did they get access to the estate!” His voice was high.

“Mr. Vaughn, that's how this hungry, the press can eat up people's privacy,” said the man, he must be a lawyer.

While the rest of us sat down, Asher backed us and stood at the window facing a luxurious outdoor bar.

“Mr. Vaughn,” the lawyer's voice was shaky, and the lady was still quiet as they'd been since they walked in.

Huh.

“So is there any solution you can come up with?” Asher asked.

I expected to see him knee and beg his wife, for what had happened in her absence, but he acted calm.

I will take it, he'd do that privately, but part of me knew he isn't the type to beg.

“Yes Mr. Vaughn,” the lawyer answered, and I watched Asher raise his left hand to stop him.

“Asher, call me Asher, and make this snappy.”

The room was quiet, I'm shocked Eve hadn't said a word since Asher walked in, not even a hi.

“The news has gone far, we hadn't seen it earlier to stop it,” the lady said. “I'm sorry Mrs.Vaugh.”

Eve only nodded once in silence.

“Wren would've to sign here before we proceed,” the lawyer announced, and he gave me a written NDA paper.

I was right,my heartbeat increased.

I remembered signing a contract like this two years ago.

With excitement when a twenty two year old me inherited my grandmother's company, I agreed to take her seat as the CEO of Lovelink.

But today was different, I have mixed feelings, the lawyer gave me a pen and I signed my name to the devils.

“The time the picture was taken was too early that morning, with you holding fluffy, the press doesn't know the cat that much, so we can create a cover story and say Wren lives in one of the estate,” the lawyer explained.

They actually came prepared.

At the mention of that, Eve sat erect on the chair, shaking her head with refusal at her lawyer's suggestion.

“It's not happening,” she frowned.

“Mr. Vaughn?” The lawyer turned to look at Asher, who didn't give off any reaction.

“Live as what?” his deep voice echoes in the room.

He asked like am some trash. He acted so charming and different that night.

“Actually, a new neighbor who just moved into the neighborhood.”

“Never, in fact, come up with another, I can't be forced to live here without my permission.” I said, surprised I'd said that.

Asher turned to face me, his lips forming close to a smirk.

As much as I don't like Eve, I think I support her judgment right now. I have lost interest in being employed by her, I couldn't stay any longer.

Not while Asher was married.

God, I have destroyed a home.

I missed my grandmother, she would have given me words of consolation, I needed to return Misan’s call for some advice.

No doubt she has seen the news.

“We could say, she was going to introduce herself to some neighbors, and maybe make friends.”

“This stinky bitch isn't worth the luxury.”

I closed my eyes at my boss's hateful words, I was tempted to shut her mouth, my hands gribbed the chair strongly.

“This is the best cover story we can think of.”

I sat still, in silence. The way they are talking about me, looks like I'm not in the room.

“Just make a writeup, let the public know when to mind their business,” Asher uttered harshly.

“That will work partially but it might not go well on your part.”

I raised my eyebrow, my eyeballs rotating from one person to another, trying to get their point.

The room became tense, I felt it.

“They need evidence,” the lawyer finished.

“Right,” I murmured.

“And with your past lifestyle…”

Eve gave her lawyer a ‘don't you go there’ glare, he coughed and corrected his speech. “Pardon me, Mr. Vaughn.”

I will have to ask Mark, to search on the couples, what does he meant by his past lifestyle?

“How long is this going to last?” Asher asked, ignoring the statement the man made earlier.

“For the next five months.”

Why that long? I wondered.

“I'm sorry guys but it's not possible, five months?”

Eve glanced at my outburst.

“It's best you keep quiet.”

I obeyed, for now, my leg tapping furiously on the tiled floor.

What's going to happen after or during the five months? I'd signed that damn NDA too quickly.

“Can't it last for a month? We can later say she moved out of the house or something.” Eve suggested.

“With time, we'd use that,” he replied.

Asher left the window, and stood at the back of Eve's chair. His hands in his pocket.

“My wife's right, the press will get on another scandal and forget about ours,” Asher pointed out.

“Alright, one month it is.” the lawyer, who up till now I don't know his name agreed along with a double nod.

“Would your father fall for it?” Eve turned to her husband, her voice now charming was surprisingly low, so no one could hear.

But I did.

“It sounds believeable, if she lives close by.”

Eve stood and paced round the room, I stole glances at her husband who looked more composed, compared to his parading wife.

Saying the word wife triggered something in me I don’t like.

“I hate this,” Eve said.

“It's just for one month, she will keep to her boundary.”

Now I was boiling inside with anger, why was Asher saying it like I'm a homewrecker.

The fact he isn't feeling remorseful needs to be studied.

“Fine!”

Eve clapped once, her hands like in a prayer. She sat on the chair, our eyes met, it was filled with hate, revenge, and realization of all the bad things she’s in store for me.

“See her in the available apartment.”