S I X

"Home?" Aspen asked Richard, surprised at his sudden change of demeanor. He gave a tight nod without looking at her and he began to pack his things.

"The car will be ready in an hour please, pack quickly." He said, walking away. She stood there shocked and tongue tied.

Why would he suddenly want to go home?

For what reason?

She exhaled with a shrug. Not like she can make any excuse. He was her boss and she had to accept his decision. She went into her room and started packing.

"Are you done?" - Richard's text came in.

She picked her phone and typed. "Almost done."

She did not bring so many things since she thought she was only going to be using few days there. She carried her bag and looked around for any thing she might have missed. When she was sure that nothing was left. She exited the room and saw Richard typing away on his phone. He seemed to notice her so he looked up and nodded his head without speaking, they exited the hotel and stepped to into the car.

The driver ignited the car's engine and soon drove off. While Richard was busy looking through his phone, Aspen had her eyes glued to the window of the car. The place did not change one bit but yet it was still kind of unfamiliar to her. She was already used to be at her former place.

She and Richard uttered no words.

The car soon stopped in front of a mansion. When Aspen lifted her eyes to look at the place, words were stuck in her throat as she did not know the word to use to describe it. It was magnificent and screamed money. she never knew that Richard came from such a rich house but she knew he was rich.

"Are you getting down?" He asked her and she nodded her head slowly, still mesmerized by the mansion beauty. As she got down, she took note of the place. Green beautiful grasses, high tall pillars, shower of water and wait! A fleet of expensive freaking cars!

Woah, Richard was really a catch but not her type. Dude! She should not even be thinking of these things.

Her legs moved on their own in a light manner as if she was going to stain the tarred floor. Like seriously, this place still look even better than Floyd.... Uh, uh, no thinking about it. She cautioned herself.

They reached the entrance of the mansion and to her surprise, the glass translucent door slid open all by itself, Richard stepped in and she followed suit.

Okay, maybe she said the outside was magnificent, the inside was more!

Portrait hanging on the walls and not just that... In total this place was money well, it was a mansion. Not all mansions are as furnished as this. Mansions like Floyd... Uh, uh... No thinking of him. She cautioned herself as she pinched herself.

"Ahrg!!!" A tiny voice screamed out and it made her flinch, coming out of her haze. Richard bit back his hiss and creased his brows.

What was she doing here?

Aspen turned around to see a young lady with a face full of make up literally running with her hands to spread to meet her... Or Richard.

The lady passed by and jumped into Richard's arms.

"Oh, I miss you so much." She chirped as she pulled Richard tight into the hug. Richard shook his head as he hugged her back, trying to keep his hand light on her waist. He could not look at Aspen who just stood there watching the entire drama unfold with her brows slightly creased.

"You did not even tell me that you were coming." She added as she pulled back from the hug.

Richard cleared his throat as he was about to speak, a deep and husky voice spoke. "Son."

The voice held power and authority that made Aspen look at the direction of his voice. A man dressed in well ironed grey suit stood there with focused eyes and a glass of wine in his hands.

"Father." Richard acknowledged with a slight bow as she let go of Daisy, his fiancee. She shook her head childishly and held unto him back.

His father walked towards them and was about to sip the last part of the wine, when his eyes caught hold of Aspen's face. He paused. He looked at her very well. And paused again.

She looked like... Her.

Who?

Richard cleared his throat again and his father gulped down the wine and dropped the glass on the tray. "I see you have met Daisy." He said and Richard stared at him with jaws clenched. He had only accepted to come home because he wanted to discuss some private things with his father but then he did not expect to meet Daisy. Their engagement was an arranged one which he had deep hatred for. But his father being obsessed with having so many allies in the business world, he had to accept her as his fiancee.

"Father, don't mind him. He hardly gave me a call." Daisy complained with a said pout. His father arched a brow at him, giving him a signal unto what to do. Richard sighed and held Daisy's hands that was on his and gave her a half hearted smile. "Daisy, I am so sorry. You know how work has been." He said in a soft voice which he knew would work on her. she looked at him with puppy eyes. Sometimes he wondered if this lady twenty four or ten years.

"Okay, I understand. I am glad you came." She said with a bright smile and he nodded his head before turning to his father.

"Can I see you privately?" His father said, stealing side glances at Aspen who stood there not knowing what to do.

"Wait, father. This is Aspen. Aspen meet my dad." He introduced them and Aspen bowed with a small smile.

"Nice meeting you, Mr. Woods." She said and he stared at her.

"Aspen..."

"Aspen Gerald." She completed and he lifted his chin up as eyes clouded at the surname.

Gerald? That name sounded so familiar.

He tried to piece together but... There could be no way she was related to him. He told himself.

He nodded his head and turned to his son.

"I will be right back." Richard said to Aspen as he snatched his hands from Daisy who had her brows furrowed at the way he spoke to Aspen before walking off with his father. She turned to look at Aspen. She had her lips pressed to get her as she thought of what to do. Daisy studied her from the curve of her face to the curve of her waist.

She definitely was n't Richard's taste. She convinced her jealous self.

Richard can't thinking of cheating on her. It was impossible.

"Why don't you sit down and stop looking around like a thief?" She asked with a little snicker and Aspen raised her brows before going to sit down. She knew she could have retorted but will it add it her dignity? Nope. So yes, it was needless.

She sat down and went through her phone.

Richard and his father sat down in the office. "How is it going?" His father asked.

"We could not do anything." Richard answered.

"Why?"

"His fiancee seemed to do something like harrassing Aspen so Floyd had to take her home." He answered.

His father's eyes deepened, as he thought of it. "So his fiancee was who?" He asked.

"Nicole Lockhart." Richard answered and his father's eyes widened in shock, he jerked forward as he placed his elbows on the expensive piece of wood.

"Nicole? Lockhart? The daughter of the President?" He asked, sounding interested.

Richard scrutinized his father with his eyes as he relaxed on the chair. This man called his father always straightened his wars when it comes to powerful allies.

"Yes."

"See what I said. I did not even know he was going to get married to her. You see how this will benefit us." He said with a thoughtful, maniacal grin which Richard despised because he knew to what length he could go for those thoughts running through his head.

"So you have to contact him again. And set the meeting." He said and Richard nodded his head.

His father was yet to give full right to the company. In fact, he was just a temporary CEO, his father was the real deal who was working behind the scene.

"I will." He bit out.

"Okay then. With that settled, you need to be more caring and loving to your fiancee." He added as he relaxed.

"Dad, why did you bring her here in the first place?" He asked as he tried to keep the glare from being visible but his father knew just how soft he was.

"If she does not come here, who is? And besides, I can't bear her father's tantrums. So keep her with you."

"You know I don't love her!"

"Son," he leaned forward and stared into his resembled orbs. "You don't do love when it comes to the business world."

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Am I the only one who thinks Richard's father has some secrets... Or he is using this allies for something?

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~H.B.H~