The abrupt change

Asher's pov

Everything seemed serene in my ideation. Before her, my only priority was work. Ideate a guy never developing feelings and on the spur of the moment, the guy has feelings for a girl whom he saw yesterday. It feels like I have known her for years.

I couldn't stop thinking about her exquisite almond-shaped eyes, her ravishing emerald eyes seemed elegant. They suited her.

Even her hair was glamorous. It reached till her waist. Her jet-black velvety hair will always stay fetching for me. Thinking about her relaxed my posture as well.

"What are you thinking about?" Liam asked with curiosity. "Never seen you smile this much so was just asking" and started whistling. I rested behind the chair and rolled my eyes at him. He took out his phone and started clicking selfies of him, acting as if he was not paying attention to me.

I was still thinking about her. She seemed like an optimistic person. Giving her best in life and thinking about the positive side more.

When I first saw her yesterday, I didn't imagine I would ever see her again but now she is living with me. Faith, I suppose?

Her voice was also calming. I didn't expect anybody to make use of the guitar that Joshua threw but I mean, nothing is impossible in life, right?

I glanced at my watch as the food arrived after a few minutes.

It had been 20 minutes and there was no sign of Athena which made me anxious. I was about to get up and look for her.

When I got up, I spotted her coming. However, she didn't look up, she had lowered her eyes and avoided making eye contact with anyone.

Something must've happened but will she be comfortable enough to tell us or tell Liam?

I immediately got up and gently pulled the chair back for her to sit. She forced a smile on her face and it was quite evident but she mumbled "Thank you". I then sat beside her so she wouldn't feel scared.

"If you want, you can hold my hand" and without any hesitation, she took it and was holding it tightly. There was this intense silence as Liam could see she wasn't alright either. "What happened? Are you alright Athena?" in a concerned tone he questioned her.

Instead of hiding from us, she was quite straightforward as she shook her head as a "no". Her beautiful emerald had become glossy as if she had cried in the bathroom.

"So what ha- "she cut off his sentence before he could complete it "I don't want to talk about it" she muttered softly while looking down. Her hand was still holding mine tightly.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it right now or even later. Just don't bottle up your emotions" I said while looking at her. Her eyes had shifted towards me which made my posture tense again. She gave me a slight smile as her tears fell down. I took a napkin out of my pocket to wipe her tears. "it's okay Athena, I and Liam are there for you, right? We won't ever leave you, okay? Don't cry. I can't bear seeing you like this. You don't want to talk about it right now? So okay we won't talk about it today; tomorrow you have to tell me everything"

She nodded in agreement.

Trying to change the topic, Liam spoke "shall we eat now?"

"Yes, we shall" she beamed.

"The lunch was amazing" giving her usually genuine smile.

I was pleased with the response and finally didn't feel the suffocation of her not liking the food but apparently, she loved it. I was extremely ecstatic and I couldn't even control my facial movements as I gave a huge smile while saying "thank you".

Liam was just gawking at both of us. "I have never seen you this elated. You had always been grumpy and acted like an old man and now you are all glowing and smiling" Liam teased while looking at me. I just glared at him. He could be really aggravating at times but at the end of the day. He is still my brother.

The three of us got up when I noticed one of my waiters wouldn't stop staring at her. I felt like firing him but that would seem very unprofessional I thought. I gave a huge tip as my staff was extremely hardworking.

Athena started looking at the restaurant but my eyes were only on her. She was just perfect in every way in my eyes. I got out of my reckless thought when she exclaimed in joy.

"I love your restaurant so much!"

I gave her a small smile. "We can come here at any time," I told her. Meanwhile, she was awestruck by my restaurant.

"Oh wait! I'm literally idiotic" she continued by adding "I forgot the restaurant name"

"You aren't idiotic, Athena. This happens and that's fine" I explained in a calm tone.

"The restaurant name is Tréos"

"The name is kind of bizarre but yeah," I said while looking down and touching the front of my neck as I was extremely anxious. Never thought I would be nervous but all of these emotions are hitting me all at once while talking or even looking at her. My heartbeat increases when I'm around her. I haven't felt this way for anyone before because I thought love meant betrayal but none of that was true. Growing up dad was really strict and heartbroken as the love of his life, ran away with another guy after fifteen years of being with dad.

"Hello?" I came to my senses. I really had to stop talking with my intrusive thoughts but as you know quiet people have the loudest brains.

"Were you guys saying something?"

"We are waiting for you to unlock the car Ash," my brother said while rolling his eyes at me. I just glared at him and sighed because he is never willing to change. I unlocked the car and we got in. After a few minutes, Liam and Athena started talking about make-up which I didn't really understand so I just kept quiet listening to them.

Then I was talking with my intrusive thoughts when I heard my name call softly. I promptly looked at her "yes?".

Then I shifted my gaze back to the road.

"Can I call you Ash?" She asked me gently in an angelic voice. I sheepishly nodded as a yes and a huge smile formed on her gorgeous face. I know she is a shy person but she didn't know how captivating the beauty within her and outside her was. My wish is that one day I can keep reminding her how perfect she was in my eyes. She is the only thing I think about.

I just met her yesterday in a very crummy circumstance. Now she is the only thing on my mind?

"Right? My dear brother" I heard someone also known as Liam call me.

"Pardon?" I asked looking at the rear-view mirror.

Liam just rolled his eyes at me playfully mocking me and gave me an audacious attitude as usual.

"Give me that attitude and I'm going to leave you in the middle of the road so you can come walking home"

After hearing that Liam changed his entire demeanor and started his dramatic acting again. He was consummate at that. Then I heard a soft giggle from beside me. It made my lips twitch but I controlled it.

I met her yesterday and seeing her joyfully made me satisfied. She had such a lovely smile. I always will be gratified to see her happy.

I decided to close off my intrusive thoughts immediately and go back to reality where the two people were chatting.

I thought of joining the conversation.

"What are your hobbies?" I glanced at Athena while asking the question.

"I love to play the guitar and piano. Also, I love singing, as my grandmother and I used to sing so much," she replied while smiling and looking out the window.

"that's nice," me and Liam said at the same time. All of us bust out laughing on the most stupidest thing.

I have never laughed like this for years.

"What about you guys?" she asked Liam and me.

Liam said, "I'm really good at make-up and I guess it counts as a hobby."

"That's amazing" Athena replied and glanced at me. "What about you Asher?"

"Umm mine is probably painting"

"Wow! I always wanted to try painting but I was never good at it" In an excited, she spoke. "As you better teach me how to paint" she playfully glared at me.

"Oh my gosh! I'm scared, I will definitely teach you how to paint madam. Please show some mercy on a poor man like me"

"Poor man?" Liam couldn't stop laughing. "You deserve it, you are no poor man," he said while pretending to be in a play.

I couldn't hold my laughter anymore and started laughing.

"It's so good to see you smile and laugh Asher," Athena told me and my heart was beating really fast. I didn't know what to say so I just smiled at her.

We also reached home and I ran to the other side, opened the car door for Athena and bowed. She looked at me with wide eyes but later understood what I was talking about and tangled my hand with hers. We completely forgot about Liam who was watching us do this moronic behaviour.

When we opened the front door. Liam screamed "Who reaches first upstairs will get the pink onesie". Athena left my hand and both of them ran upstairs while I couldn't stop laughing because they acted like they were 5.

---------------------------------------------------

After we all were done changing, we came downstairs and binge-watched 10 Disney movies and we didn't even realize it was past 11. Liam got tired and decided to go to sleep.

Athena was hungry as we didn't eat dinner. So, we both went into the kitchen.

"I shall make dinner for both of us," I told her while putting on an act.

My phone suddenly started ringing, so I rushed to the living room to get it. When I picked it up, I saw that it was a phone call from one of my restaurants. I stepped outside in the backyard and picked it up.

"Sir, you need to be here tomorrow"

"Why?"

"Somebody burned the entire kitchen down, there was a huge fire and two of the staff were severely injured"

As a result of my frustration, I slammed my hand against the wall. Athena was standing outside looking at me in horror. However, her attention was drawn to the blood on my hand. She rushed back into the house.

I replied with okay and cut the call immediately. I was about to go behind her but she came back with first aid box.

"Asher you need to sit down please?" she asked me pleadingly as she looked at me.

I took her hand and guided her inside the living room. She then cleaned my blood and wrapped my fingers with a band-aid. While doing that she asked me "what happened?" and I didn't feel like lying to her so I did tell her everything.

I could see she felt terrible, but she hugged me tightly. I couldn't process what was happening because I didn't expect her to do that.

I hugged her back and told her "It's okay" and then we pulled away.

She looked at me with droopy eyes. "If you are going tomorrow, can I come with you?" she asked.

The truth is that I wasn't sure whether to take her there or not, but I nodded my head in approval despite my hesitancy as to not scare her.