Chapter 6: the devil in the details.

Chapter 6: the devil in the details.

Asher offered his arm to Eden as soon as they got down from the car. She was dressed in the red dress he bought for her and somehow, he talked her out of wearing her glasses in favor of the contact lenses she was wearing.

Eden could feel her heart pound faster and faster when they got to the party.

These were the type of parties she used to attend with her former fiance Liam Barrington or with her parents but that was years ago. The Eden that was standing there with Asher, wasn't the girl that lost her parents a few years ago.

She let out a breath through her mouth.

"You will be fine" Asher murmured to her.

"I know"

"And you lost our little game, coffee girl" Asher reminded her.

"You don't have to rub it in" Eden said with a smile.

"You have a nice smile. Remember to smile like that when we walked through the red carpet" Asher said and started walking, forcing Eden to walk with him.

"Did you say red carpet?" Eden asked but Asher only ignored her.

Eden was a natural at the red carpet even the former mafia boss was impressed. She smiled and she posed. She was determined not to embarrass herself or the stranger she was with.

Soon, they were inside holding a glass of champagne when a red haired girl approached them.

"I see you got over me quickly, Asher" the red hair sized up Eden in a threatening way. "I can't believe you left me for her"

Asher stared at her like he was trying to place her face. "It's Maple, right!?"

"Oh my God, you don't even know my name. It's Annalise!" The red haired looked fairly embarrassed and she looked like she was about to burst into flames.

Asher simply nodded and wiped off the look of confusion from his face. Annalise turned around and walked away, Eden was mortified.

"You really didn't remember her name? I can't believe you are that kind of…"

Eden was interrupted by Asher.

"Her name is Annalise Reese, daughter of Jonathan Reese who is the CEO of Reese factories. They basically make milk cartons yet they are millionaires" Asher answered her.

"If you knew her name, why did you pretend that you didn't?" Eden was confused.

"I didn't like the way she spoke to you. Come on, dance with me"

Eden wondered how she was supposed to feel about the information he gave her. They were also strangers to each other while he would care about how people addressed her, Something seemed off. She wanted to say something about it but something knocked the air out of her lungs.

She froze to the spot.

Eden felt the room get smaller and smaller until it was about to crush her. She was breathing hard and for some reason everything wasn't still anymore. Everything was going haywire.

She felt her lips tremble as she stared at the floor that seemed to be going round and round and round. She was breathing out of her mouth now.

" God no! Please, no"

She kept saying it like they were magical words that would make time stand still while she figured out her next step.

She vaguely remembered Asher saying something to her, then everything and everyone was in slow motion.

"Oh God…this is not happening"

She tried to take off her jacket but she wasn't wearing any.

"It's hot" she whispered under her breathe

"No, it's freezing"

Asher followed her gaze and there in flesh and blood was his half brother, Liam Barrington. He understood very well, now.

Liam was with a girl and they were talking to another couple.

Asher could see that Eden was a second away from falling apart.

Asher hugged her. He half expected her to push him away but instead, she held him tighter and buried her face in his chest.

"Eden?"

The voice made Eden pause. She knew that voice, she would know it even in her sleep. It was Liam's voice.

"Don't let him see me like this. I have to be strong when I face him. I need to be a brick wall, Asher" Eden pleaded with him.

"Then be a brick wall. I will buy you time"

Eden didn't make any sense of it until she felt Asher's lips on hers. He was kissing her.

When she got over the initial shock, she thought he would let her go but he didn't.

He kissed her like they were lovers and he had just professed his undying love for her.

Eden had never been kissed like that before. She had never kissed anyone for years now and so she had nothing to compare it with.

He was definitely better than Liam's and that was it. She had no other comparison. After Liam, she took love and intimacy off the table for herself.

She felt the rush and the warmth. The surging sensation she had never felt before. The feeling that she was wanted, loved and safe. It was an slien feeling.

When he finally pulled away, he asked her a question.

"Are you better, Mi Amor?"

"I think so"

"Be a brick wall then" he touched her cheek gently.

Eden turned around.

"Hi Liam. How have you been?"

Eden was thankful, her voice was steady.

"Great…I am great. You look beautiful by way…older obviously but good. You might want to see a plastic surgeon about the chin" Liam told her.

Eden was quiet. Asher knew she was not going to say anything to Liam about his rude remarks and so, he did.

"How are you feeling, Liam? Last time I spoke to your father, he told me you were still recovering from the gonorrhea" Asher's face showed that he was concerned about Liam's health.

"I don't have gonorrhea!" Liam was embarrassed.

"Oh, sorry that was last year. I meant to say staph infection, my bad" Asher watched Liam's date as her face twisted in disgust.

"I have to go" the black haired girl told Liam and left.

Liam wanted to say something when their host approached them. He was a man in his early thirties with black hair.

"Hey, Asher…I am sorry. I didn't know your brother, Liam was going to be here"

"Half brother" Asher quickly corrected but he didn't fail to notice the horrified look on Eden's face.

"Brother?" Eden whispered.

She turned around and walked away.