Chapter 9: put me down
Chapter 9: put me down
(#Rule 3: Kidnap her without actually kidnapping her)
"Why?" Asher's voice was calm and collected.
"You just kidnapped me!"
"I didn't. Now, stop giving me a headache" Asher's voice was gruff and he could see Charlie doing his best to keep his opinion to himself.
"Let me go, Asher! Please!"
"Okay. Charlie, stop the car please"
Charlie stopped the car and Asher moved closer to Eden, for a split second she thought he was going to kiss her but instead he opened the door.
"Get out" Asher gestured to the outside with his head.
Don't call my bluff! Don't call my bluff! Asher repeated over and over again in his mind.
"No, I need to talk to you. Why did you buy a company for me?" Eden relaxed just a little bit.
"Pick one" he told her.
"Pick one, what? I don't u-understand what you are asking" Eden sounded confused.
"Either stay or leave, Eden"
"I have to talk to you about your generosity, Asher"
"Then stay" Asher offered
"But you are a stranger to me"
Asher wondered what Eden would do if she found out how far from the truth her statement was. They have met before...several times actually. He was fifteen years old and tattered, she was thirteen years old and rich and she was betrothed to his younger brother, Liam Barrington.
"Make up your mind, coffee girl"
"Where are you headed to?" Eden asked him
"To a party then shopping and whatever next that tickles my mind" Asher answered. It was the half truth anyway.
They were going to a party because he needed to send a message to Ares by taking one of his family members as a warning to drop the bounty he placed on his head. Then he was going shopping for ammunition but the love of his life didn't need to know all the gory details but most importantly, he was taking her far away from the mainland bridge.
Eden thought about it.
"Give me five minutes of your time to understand why you bought a company for a girl you just met"
"No. The choice is stay or leave. You have five seconds to decide or I will choose for you. 1...2...3.."
"I will stay!" Eden blurted out without thinking.
"Good girl. You are going to need a dress" Asher undressed her with his eyes.
"Why? I am comfortably dressed" Eden looked at herself. She was wearing a sunflower dress that was the right length. It wasn't short and it wasn't long.
"Charlie, you may start driving now" Asher pulled out his phone and sent a text message to his personal assistant regarding Eden's change of wardrobe.
Eden was suddenly tired. Recently, she hadn't been sleeping well and she must have dozed off because when she opened her eyes, Asher was stroking her cheek.
"What are you doing?" She asked him
"Waking you up, it was either I stroke your cheeks like I am planning to make love to you or yell with my mouth directed at your ear. I figured you would prefer this. Do you always snore when you sleep?" Asher asked her.
"No but I apologize if I was"
Asher was beginning to understand why Lean Jackson referred to Eden as a doormat. The girl could apologize for the sun shining in the day.
"Do you always apologize for everything?! Grow some back bones, push back when pushed!" Asher yelled.
On average, a normal person would yell at him too but Eden was anything but average.
"Why? Getting angry is not going to make this world less crappy. All it's going to do is make me less happy. I believe in good karma" Eden said and blinked.
Asher was frustrated.
"You suck!" He pushed her further.
"I am sorry you feel that way. Asher, what are you really hoping to get by upsetting me?"
"I just want you to know that being good is stupid" Asher answered truthfully.
He had turned his back on goodness and he always operated on the assumption that everyone was as rotten as him but then he met Eden and she was his worst fear come true.
"Take back Sparkles publishing company. I don't want it" Eden pleaded with him.
Asher cleared his throat.
"I will make you a deal, Eden Powell. If in the next forty eight hours, I don't show you that being good is stupid and people walk all over you for it, I will take back the publishing company and you will never see me again."
"And if I win? What if I end up showing you that being good is worth it, what happens then?"
(Nothing...I am never letting you go, Eden Powell) Asher thought in his mind but he simply smiled at her. He didn't want to lie to her face.
"I need you to answer me, Asher. What happens when I win this bet?"
"If you win, I will grant three wishes for you. Anything your heart desires except one thing. Do we have a deal, coffee girl?" Asher brought out his hand for a shake.
"Deal" Eden shook his hand.
"Good. Because we are at the airport" Asher opened the car door and came out.
"What did you say? Wait! Did you say airport?" Eden was confused but she got down from the car too.
Asher didn't lie to her, they were at the airport.
"No, no, no you said we were going to a party" Eden protested.
"We are but I didn't say where" Asher replied with a smirk.
Eden scratched her head like she was afraid of knowing the answer to the question she was about to ask "Where exactly is this party?"
"New York" Asher told her.
"No, no, no, I am going back home. Please tell Charlie to take me home" Eden started walking back to the car and Asher followed her.
"I am sorry, Eden"
"No need to be sorry, sir. It's my fault; I should have asked where the party was"
"I am not sorry for that. I am sorry for what I am about to do"
Eden was confused until suddenly her feet were dangling over the ground as Asher lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders.
"No...No, please put me down. Asher, put me down" Eden tapped him gently on the shoulder in protest.