Cousin

Third Person's Point of View

AYANA was sitting in her swivel chair inside their department and she was not in her mind. What happened last night was playing over and over again in her head. Did Gavin really kiss her? It was an intense kiss! Why did he do that?

“Why you left us last night, huh?” Stacey elbowed her and thanks to her, she gets back her senses. “We’re just dancing then when we went back to our table, you’re already gone.”

Ayana felt nervous. What she will going to say? She went out with stranger? Worse, she slept in his condo!

She swallowed deeply before she answered. “I went home already as I am not feeling well last night.” She scratched her nape.

“You should tell us. So we can able to bring you home.” Stacey worriedly said. “Are you okay now?”

She timidly smiled. “Yes. I am fine now.”

Stacey was about to speak but Mike suddenly went inside their department with announcement.

“Everyone go to the event area. Mr. de la Vega has an announcement. Move fast! He’s in a bad mood.”

They stopped what they were doing and proceed in a function hall. All employees were already there. She was sitting in front together with her officemates. Mike is right. Gavin is in a bad mood as his face was so emotionless and his gaze was so dark. He was sitting in the middle of the stage. Despite of that, he’s still handsome and seductive.

Her gaze suddenly looked down at Gavin’s lips; the lips that ravished hers last night. She shook her head. ‘What she was thinking?’

Gavin stand up and cleared his throat as he started to speak.

“This is a quick announcement.” Coldness was filled in Gavin’s voice. “I would like to announce that the COO position will be held by one of my cousins from now on.”

Her eyebrow quirks up. She knows Gavin’s cousins. She suddenly felt excitement. Because if Gavin’s cousin was with them, Gavin will act sweet to her again as they need to hide their real treatment towards each other.

“Please come here in front, Mr. Asher de la Vega.” Gavin uttered and everyone was applauding except her. She was so confused because she’s not familiar with the name. Until Gavin’s cousin was now in front, her eyes were widened.

“Jesus Christ! Tell me this is not happening!” She whispered. She was still in shock.

She hid when Asher looked at her direction. She was screaming inside. ‘No, please!’

She can’t be mistaken. That was the same guy on the bar. How come he’s Gavin’s cousin? She doesn’t know him!

But she can’t deny that Gavin and Asher were somehow similar when it comes in features. They’re tall, handsome and white skin men.

Her heart was thumping so loud when Asher finally recognized her. He was smiling at her widely. She bowed her head to not meet his gaze but she was in shock when Asher spilled her name in the microphone.

“It’s nice to see you again, Ayana.” Asher’s voice was so manly. Everyone was murmuring and her officemates were teasingly smiling at her.

When she looked at the stage, she met the grim eyes of Gavin. His presence became dark even more. It seems like he’s ready to kill someone the way he clenched his jaw and the way he moved his eyebrow.

They caught everyone’s attention. She was startled when Asher jumped out from the stage, went to her place and slightly hugged her. She gasped.

“I already miss you.” He loudly said. ‘What the fuck is he doing?’

“You’re such an asshole. Let me go!” She irritatingly whispered in his ear but he just giggled.

She slightly pushed him away. And the moment she met Gavin’s gaze again, she felt scared. His eyes were so scary to the point it can kill a person. He was clenching his jaw and his fist was close. He’s just controlling his anger.

“Back to work everyone!” Gavin grimly ordered. Everyone went out in the function hall and she was about to follow her officemates but Asher grabbed her hand.

“Where do you think are you going?” Asher playfully asked.

“I am going back to work.” She crossed her arms under her chest. “And why the hell did you hug me in front of everyone? Are you insane?!”

Asher just laughed. “I just miss you.”

“Damn you!” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, you’re Gavin’s cousin?”

Asher bit his lower lip. “Are you deaf? He just announced it earlier.”

“Why I didn’t see y—”

“Why are you still here, Ayana?” She was startled when someone spoke behind her. When she turned around, it was Gavin, obviously mad. “I said go back to work.” His voice rose.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I’m going n—” She was about to leave but Asher grabbed her hand once again.

“Stay. I’m still talking to you.” Asher commandingly said. “Let’s go to my office—”

Gavin grabbed her hand too. “No. She’ll not go anywhere.” Gavin seriously said.

Why she has this feeling that the two men grabbing her hand right now was not in a good term?

“We’re just going to talk. What’s wrong with that?”

Gavin was impatiently looking at his cousin. “You can’t just grab an employee to go to your office, Asher.”

“And so what? I’m the COO.” Asher acidly said that made Gavin mad even more.

“She’s not just an employee.” A dangerous low voice of Gavin made her trembling.

Asher just giggled and he doesn’t care if his cousin was already mad at him. “Let’s go, Ayana.”

She can’t do anything but to go along with Asher as he was grabbing her hand tightly. They walked away from Gavin. She glanced at her husband and madness was written on his face.

When they arrived at Asher’s office, she sat down as he leaned on his desk.

“What the hell are you thinking, huh?” She madly looked at him. “You hugged me in front of everyone and front of my husband!”

Asher stopped laughing when he heard her last word. “In front of your what?” He was confused.

She frowned. “In front of my husband!”

“Who’s your husband there?”

“Don’t act as if you don’t know. Did you just act as if you really don’t know me at the bar last night?” She scrutinizingly gazed at him.

“I don’t know what you’re saying. I just met you at the bar last night.” He was still confused. “Who’s your husband?”

Her forehead creased. “I’m the wife of Gavin.” She stated.

Asher’s face became blank. “What?!” His lips were slightly parted. “But Gavin has a wife and they love each other. You told me last night that your husband doesn’t love y—”

“It’s a big lie. We made our parents blind to our real relationship. We pretend we love each other for their sake and the sake of the company.” A million knives were stabbing her heart slowly and the pain was roaming inside her. That’s the fact that she wants to escape.

“You mean—”

“Gavin doesn’t love me. He can’t love me back.” Thousands of needles pierced her body and insanely hammered it inside her freaking chest.

“But why?” Asher’s face turned somber. “That’s… that’s insane. He’s insane not to love you back!”

“But I am more insane to love him even though he’s pushing me away.” She bitterly smiled.

Why don’t you divorce him?” Sadness was visible in Asher’s face. He suddenly sat down beside her and caressed her right cheek.

“I love him so much and I can’t afford to lose him, Asher.”

“Don’t settle for less. Don’t forget to love yourself too.”

“Can you promise me one thing?” She clasped her hands. “Don’t tell to our parents what’s going on between Gavin and me, please?”

“You’re really insane.”

“Please?” She beggingly said.

Asher nodded.” If that’s you want, I will not tell to anyone.”

She genuinely smiled. “Why I didn’t see you at our wedding? And why I don’t know you?”

“I stayed in America that’s why I wasn’t able to attend Gavin’s wedding.” Asher leaned on the sofa. “I went back here to train myself—”

Before Asher could finish his sentence, someone was harshly knocking on the door. When Asher opened it, Gavin entered and gave her a gaze coated with impatience. He jerked his head as he stared at her. Examining her. She remained calm even though she started to get scared because of Gavin’s presence.

“Hello, dude. Why are you here?” Asher innocently said but Gavin ignored him.

“We’re going home now.” He was talking to her. She was startled as he walked towards her.

“But… why?” She was stuttering. She doesn’t know what’s going on.

“Because I said so.”

“But I still have work—”

“Damn it! Just come with me!” He runs his fingers through his soft dark hair as if deeply frustrated.

Before she could speak, Gavin was already grabbed her hand and they went out at Asher’s office. Some of the employees that walking in the hallway were looking at them.

“Goodbye, Ayana. See you tomorrow!” Asher was teasingly said. Gavin glared at his cousin.

Her husband let go of her hand when they’ve arrived at the parking lot.

“Drive. I’m just at your back.” He slightly pushed her inside her car.

“What’s your problem? I still have things to do inside. If you want to go home, then go home with yourself.” She was about to walk towards the company but Gavin grabbed her once again and forcedly pushed her to get inside her car.

“I said we’ll go home.”

Before she could protest, Gavin closed her door and ordered her to start driving. She can’t do anything but to follow her husband.

‘What the hell is going on?’