CHAPTER 6

WREN

I zipped up my luggage and dropped it on the bed to arrange my clothes in the closet. Since I was given a place to live, just for the appearances, I hadn’t had strength to attend to my clothes nor see who had been calling my phone.

Asher’s team came and took a picture of me in the apartment. How convincing.

I’d slept off yesterday, thinking of all the ways to choke Asher.

From the start, I was in jubilee of being hired in a quiet, calm environment, but now. Damn me if I don't want to reverse time, to living with my roommate.

I called Misan, she has been calling my phone, wanting an explanation of the recent news obviously, she picked up on the third ring.

“What the hell Wren?”

“Hello to you too,” I murmured.

“You sound like shit,” she said, her background was noisy, I heard hurried footsteps till it became quiet. “I saw the news, I couldn't believe it.”

“Me too, I thought it was going to be a secret.”

“Too bad it isn't, how was it?”

“What?”

“The night with Asher,” she lowered her voice.

“It was good,” I replied, I wasn't going to tell her it was mind blowing, it doesn't feel right to be discussing someone's husband's private life.

“Better than Jace?” Misan teased.

I and Misan, are two opposite. Where she’s so full of love around her, I’m not. Frankly speaking, matching two people for love isn’t what I like doing, I’m just fighting for Lovelink to become successful because I can’t dare to see my grandmother’s sweat tarnish away.

Reason why I kept Jace as one with benefits.

“I’m not answering that.” I covered my face shyly, like she could see me.

“You don't need to answer, Asher is top profile. Women would dream to be in your spot right now."

From the time Eve left the house, to when she bashed in shouting at me for having late nights with her husband, I explained all to Misan.

“That man deserves a beating, but he's Asher Vaughn,” she said, it sounded like it was form a distant.

“What do I do now?”

“Start with being active on the news, online updates. If it was otherwise, you could've remembered his face from the onset.”

She knew how much I don't like the tabloid, reading people's mistakes especially, but she doesn't know why.

We kept quiet for a minute till I broke the silence.

“What do you know about Vaughn?”

“Happily married.”

That's all?

“And?” I asked, sensing there might be more.

“Asher was a womanizer, but he left that lifestyle since Eve.”

“Woah,” I was baffled, then remembered the lawyer said something like this.

“Sincerely speaking if it hadn't been you, I wouldn't have believed Asher cheating on his wife.”

I was short of words, different footsteps came from around Misan and the call abruptly disconnected.

I decided to brave up and check the blogs online, expecting to see the headlines this morning.

Instead it has been updated, with the cover story, explaining why I'd been to his house.

So much for having lots of money.

I lay on the queen sized bed, my hands and legs spread wide with exhaustion staring at the ceiling.

At least it's settled, it’s high time I make the facade to my advantage.

Now I just have to be disciplined, never look at Asher, nor have a thought of him for the duration of my stay.

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

It was a cool evening, the weather was still bright, I needed a jog to clear my head.

There's Lovelink to think about.

Even though I hated the arrangement, I'm not different from the rich elite for the next one month.

Then I heard a knock.

Who could that be? I wasn't expecting anyone, okay maybe Eve, but definitely not Asher.

“Hello dear.” It was an elderly woman.

“Hi,” I replied.

“I saw you move in, you must be new.”

“Uhh yes, I am,” I lied.

“Nice meeting you.”

“Likewise.” I felt bad for lying to her.

“We would be having a little party in the neighborhood, I just thought if you could join,” she explained.

“Not really. I'm tired from jetlag,”

I stretched my body, and yawned so it's believable.

“Sorry for being rude, I'm Wren Hastings.”

“Eleanor Wilcox.”

I returned her smile genuinely, at least I've seen someone more human.

“I'm going for a jog, I can walk you back to your building.”

“Ooh that's so cute,” she smiled with a wide grin.

We passed Vaughn's house, I'm still in confusion, wondering the reason behind the separate building.

“That's a lovely couple living there,” Eleanor said, bringing me back to the present.

“Wow.” That was all I could voice out.

“You keep staring,” She observed.

She hasn't said anything, like she remembered me somewhere, I'm believing she isn't the social media type just like me.

I finally met my twin.

We got to her house, the next two blocks after the Vaughn's. A young doorman around my age, stood at the main entrance.

“Wren, I'm new around here.”

I shook hands with him.

“I'm Billy, welcome to the neighborhood.”

“Thank you.” I answered. “I'll be off now.”

“Would you care for tea?” Eleanor asked, hoping I would agree.

I held Eleanor's hands and smiled at her, with a promise. “Maybe another time.”

I waved her goodbye then started my run, some men in black stood at different corners, they weren't there before.

“They are securities.”

I stopped suddenly, hearing a deep voice, as if he could read through me.

Asher wore a matching jogging kit, me in my leggings and a sports bra.

My mouth almost dropped, he had a wide bicep, and looked tempting to touch, stop that thought!

“You okay?”

“It’s none of your business,” I hissed.

“You're upset.” He stated.

I continued jogging, he followed suit.

“How are you enjoying the environment?”

“Like a prisoner.” I muttered.

“We need to talk about what happened.”

I rode with him like any other I've been with, he wasn't different. I could invite Jace into my new apartment if I choose to.

“Why are there lots of securities?” I changed the hot topic, partially because I was getting tired of seeing men in black.

“I can't bear to see another headline,” Asher cursed silently.

Ooh, they are meant for him. His privacy.

“What happened that night was a mistake, it won't happen again,” I cleared the air, not wanting a repetitive talk on it.

I would keep the memory of the time I had with him, for future masturbation with my dildo.

“You knew I'm an employee and you let me believe otherwise.”

“Sincerely Wren, I was caught off guard.”

People have been commenting on my look. I'm average height for a lady, with dove eyes. Funny how I'm still single with lots of men coming my way.

I stopped to take a deep breath, my throat became dry, touching my shoulder, then I noticed I hadn't brought any bottle of water.

“Here have mine,”

Asher passed me a bottle from his bag.

“I'm fine,” I ignored him.

“You aren't going to choke on me, are you?”

I told myself, it’s just water, there’s nothing fishy about this, then I shamefully accepted his water, and drank a few drops.

“What do you want from me?” I sighed.

“Truce, you and I.”

It isn't possible.

“Why would I agree to that?” I asked, when I turned to look ahead over his shoulder, I saw a shadow in a flowery house inhaling the sweet smell of the flowers.

Eve Vaughn.

“Because you love me touching you, and I'd like to repeat that night with you.”