Chapter 59 Darling

An: Check out my new novel Whispers Of The Lost!!

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Asher stood in the bustling lobby of the office, his arm comfortably linked with that of Renee Duval. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of anticipation and amusement, especially from Captain Bolard, whose jovial laughter filled the air, resonating like a lively melody, and the ever-smiling receptionist, Liz, who exchanged knowing glances with him as they watched the playful pair. It was a scene of camaraderie and joy, punctuated by the lighthearted chatter of colleagues and the rhythmic click of heels on the polished floor.

"Yes indeed, Asher! That sounds like a splendid idea! I'll fetch Sharon as well. I'll be back shortly!" Captain Bolard announced, his voice bursting with enthusiasm as he turned on his heel and strode away, the click of his shoes echoing against the polished marble floor, a sound that seemed to blend harmoniously with the office's vibrant energy.

Asher glanced down at Renee, who gazed up at him with wide, doe-like eyes, sparkling with mischief and intrigue. Her excitement was palpable, like a shared secret waiting to be unveiled in the midst of their colleagues' chatter.

"Renee, would you do me the honor?" Asher asked, his tone teasing yet earnest, the corners of his mouth lifting into a playful grin that mirrored the light in her eyes.

Renee's cheeks flushed a light pink as she giggled, pretending to be coy. "Ah, well, if you insist! You're really putting me in a tight spot, though!" Her playful tone filled the air, a delightful addition to the lively atmosphere.

Asher put on a mockingly hateful smirk, relishing their playful banter. "Then I'll be in my office. Liz, come on, Renee, you can wait inside."

With a shared laugh, Asher and Renee walked into his office side by side, the door closing behind them with a soft thud. The office was a chaotic mess, papers scattered haphazardly across the desk, some teetering precariously on the edge like a precarious tower waiting to collapse at any moment, a testament to his busy mind.

"Wow, this is much worse than I imagined! How do you even work in here?" Renee exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she took in the disarray. She puffed up her cheeks and playfully swatted at his hand, feigning shock at the chaos. "It looks like a tornado hit a library!"

Asher chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Hmm, well, Renee, this is where I work! I don't show up at the bookstore and complain about your working conditions, now do I? If anything, I should be upset that you're crossing personal boundaries! First my home, now my office—gah, I really feel wronged."

Renee halted her attempts at tidying, crossing her arms with a dramatic harrumph. "Oh, is that so? Are you terribly upset? Well, in that case, I'll just go home and cook dinner... ahh, woe is me!" Her voice trembled, feigning despair, and her dramatic flair made Asher laugh even harder, the sound filling the cluttered office with warmth.

Asher quickly stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He pulled her into a warm embrace, kissing the top of her head gently, savoring the moment, cherishing the comfort of her presence in his chaotic world.

"Oh, stop it, you!" he said, his voice softening. "You and I both know I'm beside myself. Your timing was absolutely wonderful. Nothing could have improved my evening more than your presence, Renee. That's a fact."

Renee melted against him, her earlier playfulness transforming into a sweet sincerity. In that moment, the chaos of the office faded away, leaving just the two of them, entwined in a shared warmth that spoke volumes more than words ever could, a moment they both cherished deeply.

"Mmm, well, at least you have some sense! All joking aside, though, are you okay? You seem stressed."

Asher sat down at his desk, losing himself for a moment in Renee's beautiful green eyes, which shimmered with genuine concern.

Then the smell of her perfume drifted into his nose, mingling with the scent of old paper and ink, and he remembered the strange scenes he'd witnessed at the Cathedral that day. What did… what did it mean? He tried hard to lie to himself about his suspicions, but the implications were fairly clear. Was Renee involved in Janice's disappearance? I can't just accuse her with no evidence. I'll see a dream interpretation specialist before I bring it up, he thought, the inner turmoil churning in his mind.

"Ah, it's nothing. Just stressed out about work, you know how it is. Luckily, I've been promoted as a result, so we are having a dinner to celebrate! So, at least for tonight, help me forget my worries, won't you?" he added, attempting to divert the conversation.

Renee didn't seem to believe him in typical fashion; her Asher bollocks detector was operating just fine. However, she didn't press the issue. Instead, she walked up behind his chair and began to rub his shoulders gently, her touch soothing him in a way that made him feel cherished.

"As you wish, darling. Let's have a wonderful evening! Congratulations, by the way! What's the promotion for?"

Asher felt a small lump in his throat. Well, this is quite the conundrum, isn't it? I'm certain Renee is connected to the supernatural world. In fact, I'm certain she knows I am too. However, we have never breached the topic? Well, things… are serious between us now, and the NDA I signed with the firm did have a clause for spouses.

"Renee, are you a descender?"

Renee stopped rubbing his shoulders, leaning her head down and nuzzling his neck affectionately, the warmth of her presence enveloping him like a cozy blanket.

"Obviously, dear! I'm of the Bloodfiend path, step 8—Bloodmage."

Asher wasn't even a little bit surprised; the writing had been on the wall for a long time. Back during the Bloodfiend case, after they had disposed of the bodies, he had once flipped a coin and asked, "Are these all the vampires?" He had received a negative answer that day. He had dismissed it as a failed divination, but wasn't it actually referring to Renee? Of course, that wasn't all of them—there was a vampire hiding near me the whole time! If anything, he was quite surprised by her path. How does she hide it so well? Is that why she's so enchantingly beautiful? he wondered, marveling at her allure.

"I see. Well, the celebration is in honor of me progressing to step 8; I'm now a Clown of the Jester pathway," he explained.

Renee pulled his chair out and sat on his lap, cuddling into his chest like a kitten, her warmth radiating against him and igniting a flutter in his heart.

"Wow! I actually… didn't think you were a descender at all, yet you're a step 8? Impressive." Her praise made him feel a sense of pride, further deepening their connection.

Rubbing her shoulder, Asher smiled, feeling truly lucky to have her in his life.

"Yes, well, I suppose we both were keeping some secrets from each other. But what can I say? I'm a bit smitten with you. I hope you are too? Nonetheless, I hope we can share more secrets with each other moving forward; it's only healthy," he said, his voice earnest.

"Hmmm, you're right. Uh, there's something else I should tell you—don't get mad, okay?" Renee replied, her tone shifting, a hint of seriousness creeping into her voice.

Asher laughed, wondering what else this girl had to say that was going to be more shocking than "I'm a powerful vampire!"

"Go on, I'm sure it won't be any more of a shock."

Renee looked up, her expression troubled as she bit her lip, a hint of anxiety flickering in her eyes, and he felt his heart sink a little; he had rarely ever seen Renee look so serious. She almost perpetually wore a look of mischief or amusement.

"Asher, I'm a member of Sleeping Forest." She squeezed the words out, then hid her face as if she had admitted to a crime.

"Sleeping… Forest…?" he echoed, trying to comprehend the weight of her admission.

"You… you don't know what it is?"

"No, I have never heard of it. What is it?"

Renee inhaled deeply and sighed, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air, amplifying the tension between them. "It's an ancient organization from Urbs Stellarum. They are a shadow society, moving things to their will from beyond the curtains of history. An organization of powerful descenders led by people in high places, operating in the shadows."

Asher mulled over Renee's words, thinking how much more sense everything made. What bookstore? Renee probably made all of that up. Goddamnit, he believed her too easily. She works for a secret descender organization; no wonder she got her hands on that book so easily.

"I see… well, it's good to know. I appreciate your honesty. I think you're well aware of what I actually do for work, then."

"Yes, I know! Bok bok!" She made a cute imitation of a crow, her playful spirit shining through and lightening the mood once more.

"In any case, it doesn't matter; it won't change my feelings for you. So don't make me worry about it, alright?"

"I wouldn't dare!" she said, giggling as she settled against him.

"Alright, let me be alone for a while so I can get some work done, please. Your presence is enough of a distraction on its own; I can barely concentrate."

Renee nodded and silently rested her head on his shoulder, watching him work with an expression of quiet admiration.

Asher continued reading the documents on his desk, tapping his finger from time to time, lost in thought about the strange turn of events that had unfolded in their lives.