CHAPTER 5

Asher

"….what?” Sebastian was taken aback.

Just before I could say anything else, Olivia came back with the bottles of water.

She was in a haste to leave but I quickly grabbed her hand.

“This is not part of your order sir.” She said, nervously.

“I know this is your only job Olivia.” I started.

“Let me go.” She whispered.

“And I know it doesn’t pay enough to take care of your father.” I said and I saw a glint of fear, mixed with surprise in her eyes.

She stopped struggling and just stared at me in awe.

“ Asher whatever you’re thinking, stop! Let the girl go.” He said, trying to release my grip on her.

“So, out of my generosity, I am offering you a job.” Her body relaxed once those words flew out of my mouth.

I left her hand but she didn’t walk away.

I knew she wouldn’t.

“Asher, you are not doing this.” Sebastian tried to stop me, already knowing my plans.

I didn’t bother to wait for her to ask what my offer was about, I simply told her.

“You need money Olivia, I know that. But I need a girlfriend.” I said, the last word leaving a bitter taste on my mouth.

“Excuse you!” She said, a little loudly.

“I need you to be my girlfriend Olivia, for at least three months. I will pay you generously and you don’t have to do anything you’re not interested in doing as long as it doesn’t go against our contract.” I started explaining everything to her.

“Asher!” Sebastian yelled at me.

Olivia just huffed and turned around but before she was out of sight, I yelled at her.

“You will come back Olivia, I promise you. I will leave you with no choice. When you’re ready, just call me. My number is on the left bottom of the menu!” I yelled after her but she didn’t turn back.

“You have no shame Asher, do you?” Sebastian said angrily, glaring at me.

“Do you care to finish your water before we leave? Our mission here has been accomplished anyway”

Olivia

The nerve of that rude punk.

Rich people were something.

Rich white people were worse.

How dare he?

Do I look like a whore to him?

Just because I couldn’t dress in weird fancy clothes doesn’t seem I could be bought over with money.

But hold on…..

How did he know about my father?

Or my jobs?

How did he know my full name?

What else does he know?

I started feeling unsafe.

When I returned back to the main bar, he wasn’t there anymore, he and his chestnut haired friend.

From what had happened tonight, two things were clear;

Asher and Mr Chestnut hair are in no way similar.

And secondly, I should be wary of the customers, and careful enough to avoid both men.

Time flew by and I couldn’t stop thinking about Asher and his offer.

Yes, I needed money but I wanted to get it decently.

Not through a stupid offer like his.

“You should have asked what his pay rate was.” A voice in my head said.

Damnit!

I don’t want to get involved in something like that. It would really break father’s heart.

Asher

“What were you thinking back there?” Sebastian finally spoke after we had left the bar.

I knew he was going to say something against what I did.

I was waiting for him to, anyway.

“ Seb, that was the only choice I had.” I simply said, letting go of the steering as the traffic worsened.

“Why her? And why did you get Sammy to get you her info?” Sebastian asked.

“ Initially, I didn’t want her to go scot-free after what she had done. Seeing that she had walked out of the shop, I knew that making her boss fire her wasn’t going to hurt her. I wanted to do something that would really bring her down to her knees. So, I hired Sammy to get me her information. Turns out, she had too little to lose anything valuable.”

“What is wrong with you Asher?” Sebastian finally turned to me, looking frustrated.

“Seb, she’s the best candidate.”

“She’s the only candidate.”

“And it’s enough. She can’t turn down this offer. She needs the money.” I said to Sebastian, taking the steering again, seeing that the traffic reduced.

“She walked out on you Asher, what makes you think she wouldn’t turn down your offer?” Sebastian asked and I simply smirked.

“She just needs time Seb, she’s going to come back. Trust me on this one.”

Olivia

For some reason, my mind kept drifting back to the number on the menu.

Ugh!

 I can’t keep doing this.

I took my phone and took s snapshot of the number.

I didn’t want to, but it disturbed me that I didn’t.

I finished my shift and drove back home.

When I got down from my van, I saw that my father wasn’t waiting on the Porsche as usual. A part of me was concerned because waiting for me was something he had always done. And another part of me was relieved he didn’t stand in the cold tonight.

I locked the doors of my van and went inside.

My nose was hit with the harsh smell of burnt food.

I covered my nose with one hand.

“Dad?!” I called him, walking into the kitchen.

There, I found him there, staring at the burning pot.

What the hell?!

I ran to the fire extinguisher and took it.

Going over to the burning pot, I first pushed my dad away before putting out the fire.

Once I had done that, I walked up to him to check for any injuries.

“Dad? What’s wrong?” I asked him , concerned, when I found him crying.

His eyes looked like they were staring at something distant but within seconds, they came back to their normal form.

“Olivia.” He gasped, like he was just realizing I was standing in front of him.

“ When did you come in?” He asked me and I pulled my brows together, in confusion.

What the hell?!

 He was just realizing I was back home!

“ Dad, I returned moments ago and the pot was on fire.” I said, pointing toward the pot on the stove.

“Oh my goodness! I didn’t mean to. I must have zoned out while cooking.” He said and gave a nervous look.

He tried to walk away but I blocked him.

This man is hiding something.

“You zoned out while cooking? Dad, what is wrong?” I asked him.

“It’s really nothing to bother about Olivia.” He said and tried to excuse himself but I blocked him again.

“Olivia? What happened to Princess?” I asked him and his shoulders slumped.

He is definitely hiding something.

He rarely called me Olivia.

“They are back Olivia. And they want us out of the house.” He said, shaking as tears formed in his house.

What?!

My hands trembled by my side.

What did he mean?!

"Who?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't give the answer I feared the most.

"The bank Olivia. They're back and they want the house-our house."