CHAPTER FIVE

Asher's Pov

I love watching Caden shiver uncomfortably in his seat. He knows I'll always be watching him.

Ever since I knocked on his door and told him about the doctor's arrival, the little blonde prince has been avoiding me like the goddamn plague. The worst was when the treatment was over. He walked right past me like I was air.

Ouch.

Not that I cared about his attention anyways. His life is about to end soon.

He spent the rest of the afternoon discussing with Gatsby. I didn't get the chance to hear them because I hate eavesdropping so I let them be.

Then, I spent the rest of the day in my room, polishing my weapons. Each one I wiped gleamed against the light and made me, the owner, fucking proud of myself. But when I heard Caden and Gatsby's giggles, that happy feeling I felt crawled into a hole and died.

Why was he laughing with her?

What was so fucking funny?

After what seemed like hours (it wasn't), I decided I was done hearing them laugh.

I marched straight to Caden's room and threw the door open.

A muscle ticked in my jaw and I dragged my hand through my hair.

“I swear to fuck if that blonde prince doesn't stay put, I will kill him faster than I'd already planned.” I hissed.

He and his little secretary had run off to God-knows-where. The laughter was just a decoy — a recording of their laughter they'd put in repeat.

That scheming little —

I dashed out of the room and grabbed my gun. “Get ready, Caden because you're so fucked.”

I got into the driver's seat of the SUV and checked my iPad. Caden wasn't smart enough to notice I'd put a tracker in his phone last night. Well, how would he notice when he was too busy calling me “Grey?”

The memory of my nickname on his lips sent blood rushing to my groin and I hissed. Not now, buddy.

The beeping red dot (Caden) stopped moving at a specific location. I checked the city's map on my phone and found it. The idiot went to a freaking bar.

I drove past my regular speed, traffic laws be damned. I needed to get to Caden.

Why the heck do I sound desperate? I despise the guy. God, this is driving me crazy.

At exactly 10 minutes later, I arrived at the Sunset Raven bar but it looked different on the outside. There were lots of people yelling with their cameras.

Lots of people.

Cameras.

Fuck!

I park the car and practically jump out of the driver's seat.

A few of them got out of my way as I approached the door.

I pushed the door open without a care in the world and entered, my eyes searching the space for a familiar blonde.

My eyes zeroed on him and he froze.

“Shit.” He hissed and rose to his feet in an attempt to run.

“Oh no, you don't!” I grabbed him before he could run and pinned him against the wall.

He wriggled against me. “What the fuck are you doing? We're in public.”

“So now your brain is working? I'm surprised because it doesn't look like you used it when you snuck out of the house.”

“Don't fucking touch me!” He hissed. If I let go of him this instant, he'll bite me. Not that I'll resist.

Okay. What the hell am I doing?

Gasps and whispers began to echo around the bar. Now, people are talking.

I grabbed Caden's wrist and dragged him out of the bar with everyone watching. They can go to hell for all I care.

I didn't let go of him till we got to my car and I shoved him in the passenger side.

As soon as I got in, I locked the doors.

“Don't fucking move!” I ordered.

“Who the hell do you think you are to give me orders, stupid American?!” He hissed.

“For the last time it's Asher,” I scoffed. “And where's your shadow? I don't see her around.”

“Gatsby's whereabouts are none of your business!”

“Everything concerning you is my business. Maybe I'll ban her from coming to the penthouse and we'll see who's the stupid one?” I copied his posh accent but it sounded nowhere as hot as his.

Caden grabbed my collar and I could smell his cologne. “When I hired you…”

I cut him off. “...Your grandpa did.”

“Shut up!” He squeezed my collar, leaning his face closer to mine. “When you first came here, I gave you 3 rules : You don't touch me! You don't tell me what to fucking do! And you don't come near me! So you better stick to those rules or I'll cut you off!”

I didn't think when I made my next move. I wrapped my fingers around his throat and tugged him even closer, his whiskey breath fanning my face.

“And I remember that I gave you 3 rules myself, little prince : you don't run from the house, you listen and do everything I tell you to, and you don't break the rules. Pull this stunt with your secretary again and I'll break your legs.”

“Not if I break yours first.” he hissed.

I let go of him and he massaged his neck.

“We're going home,” I clenched the steering wheel. “And this time, I'm tightening security. We'll see if you'll escape now, little prince.”

And I wasn't kidding. I hired 6 of my best guys from the company and had them surround the entire penthouse. Caden won't leave without them noticing.

When he first saw them, he didn't like them at all and I was glad. He doesn't get to like anything after what he did.

Memories of the past still cling to me and whenever I see him smile at something, I want to take that smile and shove it all the way to hell.

I'm not a big fan of the news but this time, I decided to indulge myself. And Holy hotness, you will not believe what I just saw.

Caden reads the headlines before me : “CADEN BOOKER, CEO OF THE BOOKER LEGACY GROUP GOES OUTSIDE WITH BOYFRIEND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ACCIDENT.”

“Boyfriend? What the hell?!” We both hiss at the same time.

“What is the meaning of this?” Caden had one hand to his hip as he pointed at the picture of me and him holding hands.

“You tell me. I'm just as surprised as you.” I scoffed. Who the hell is behind this shit?

I gripped the remote and changed the channel immediately. This time the headline was fucking worse.

“YOUNGEST BILLIONAIRE, CADEN BOOKER, HAS HIS FANS COMPLETELY SWOONED AFTER FIRST APPEARANCE WITH HIS LOVER.”

And that was not all, a group of students both male and female gathered outside the company's building with placards and wrapped gifts.

The reporter was still reading out the news when a student came up behind her and yelled :

“Caden, we love you!” The young brunette squealed.

Her friends joined her in the same happy squeals. “Us too. Your boyfriend is so handsome. We approve of him!”

The reporter beamed them a smile and was about to continue when a younger woman in a daring red dress grabbed the mic.

“How could you do this to us, Caden? I thought we had a thing! Now, you're into men now?!” Her mascara ran as she cried.

Caden pinched the skin between his brows. “Jesus Christ.”

“You know her?” I asked.

“Yup. She's Nessa Thompson,” Caden sighed. “And I'd rather be gay than have anything to do with her.”

“So you're not gay?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Obviously not.” Caden crossed and turned to walk away.

It only made me laugh. He's not gay yet he slept with a handsome stranger 5 years ago. How amusing.

Just when we thought that was over, it got worse.

On every social media platform, people started shipping me and the blonde prince.

“Where did Caden get such a bad boy? His man is hot.”

“Me thinking I've seen it all then BOOM! Caden Booker comes out of the closet. I'm so happy for you, pookie!”

“What's your man's name @Caden_Booker?”

These comments were fucking hilarious. I wonder how Caden's taking it.

“That's it! I'm uninstalling every single app on my phone!” I hear him echo upstairs.

I couldn't help but laugh.

That night, I laid on my back while staring at the ceiling.

It was less than 3 days till the D-Day. The day Caden dies.

A wave of adrenaline rushed through me and I fisted my hands. I was too busy trying seething when a familiar sound echoed through the house.

Caden!

I jumped off the bed and rushed downstairs.

He was standing in the kitchen, holding a bleeding finger. The fucker couldn't cook but he's still trying to?

I had barely made a step towards him when Joakim, one of my guys who's openly gay, made his way towards him.

“Are you alright?” Joakim asked, taking Caden's hand in his.

“Yeah. It's just a small cut.” Caden winced.

My gaze zeroed on their hands and a boiling rage surged within me. I had never felt so murderous in my life.

“He said it's just a small cut. Beat it.” I said before stopping myself.

They both turned to me. Caden, surprised and Joakim, grinning like a fucking idiot.

“I’ll get the first-aid.” His grin widened.

“Don't bother. Leave.” I bit out.

“Okay, boss.” Joakim didn't stop grinning till he left the kitchen.

Caden rolled his eyes at me and turned to the sink. “I don't suppose you're here to cook.”

“Give me your hand.” I said briskly.

“What?”

I grabbed his fingers and ran the tap, letting the water wash through the blood then I squeezed it.

Caden whacked my arm. “What the fuck was that for?!”

“Escaping earlier.” I grinned.

“Asshole.” He mumbled.

“I've been called worse.” I smiled.

Why the heck was I smiling?

I heard a knock on the door. The only people I told about the location of this penthouse were Caden's secretary and those board members. Gatsby was busy with work so it's gotta be those sleazeballs.

Cody entered and nodded at me. “They're here.”

So it was them.

“Let's go.” I whipped out a bandaid from one of the kitchen drawers and put it on Caden's wound.

“They asked for just Caden, sir,” Cody said. “They want to see only him.”

Caden heaved a sigh. “Fine.”

He walked by without sparing me a second glance. Rude much?

While they occupied the room downstairs, I lingered in the hallway for security reasons and not for eavesdropping.

“What kind of stunt was that, Caden? You're gay now?!” A gruffly voice barked.

“I'm not gay! That's some messed up shit the media cooked up. For a second I thought it was the company's idea to divert the people's attention from the assassination attempt.” I hear Caden reply with a stifled yawn.

He was hungry. Remind me to cook him dinner later.

“Pubicity stunt? If we wanted to do that, it'll be with Nessa not a man. Your grandmother is homophobic!” Another voice hissed. Obviously Gabriel.

“Don’t you think I know that?” It was Caden's turn to hiss. “Look, we'll just release an official statement and tell the people this was a huge misunderstanding.”

“If this keeps up, we’ll have no choice but to follow-up the second clause of the agreement.”

Second clause?

Caden scoffed. “Second clause? What the fuck is that supposed to be?”

“You're not supposed to put yourself out there. The killer is still on the loose. Our plan was to make him or her think you're still dead but you blew that off by running around with your boyfriend.”

“First of all, that asshole is not my boyfriend and second of all, how is it my fault?” Caden scoffed. “You three clearly planned this behind my back!”

“Caden, your life is at stake here and if the threat persists for 30 days, we will have no option but to deal with it permanently!”

Caden pushed. “And how will you do that?”

“You will get married.”

What?