Asher's Pov

I love watching Caden shiver uncomfortably in his seat. He knows I'll always be watching him.

 Ever since I knocked on his door and told him about the doctor's arrival, the little blonde prince has been avoiding me like the goddamn plague. The worst was when the treatment was over. He walked right past me like I was air.

 Ouch.

Not that I cared about his attention anyways. His life is about to end soon.

He spent the rest of the afternoon discussing with Gatsby. I didn't get the chance to hear them because I hate eavesdropping so I let them be.

Then, I spent the rest of the day in my room, polishing my weapons. Each one I wiped gleamed against the light and made me, the owner, fucking proud of myself. But when I heard Caden and Gatsby's giggles, that happy feeling I felt crawled into a hole and died.

Why was he laughing with her?

What was so fucking funny?

After what seemed like hours (it wasn't), I decided I was done hearing them laugh.

 I marched straight to Caden's room and threw the door open.

 A muscle ticked in my jaw and I dragged my hand through my hair.

 "I swear to fuck if that blonde prince doesn't stay put, I will kill him faster than I'd already planned." I hissed.

He and his little secretary had run off to God-knows-where. The laughter was just a decoy - a recording of their laughter they'd put in repeat.

 That scheming little -

 I dashed out of the room and grabbed my gun. "Get ready, Caden because you're so fucked."

 I got into the driver's seat of the SUV and checked my iPad. Caden wasn't smart enough to notice I'd put a tracker in his phone last night. Well, how would he notice when he was too busy calling me "Grey?"

 The memory of my nickname on his lips sent blood rushing to my groin and I hissed. Not now, buddy.

The beeping red dot (Caden) stopped moving at a specific location. I checked the city's map on my phone and found it. The idiot went to a freaking bar.

I drove past my regular speed, traffic laws be damned. I needed to get to Caden.

Why the heck do I sound desperate? I despise the guy. God, this is driving me crazy.

At exactly 10 minutes later, I arrived at the Sunset Raven bar but it looked different on the outside. There were lots of people yelling with their cameras.

Lots of people.

Cameras.

Fuck!

I park the car and practically jump out of the driver's seat.

 A few of them got out of my way as I approached the door.

I pushed the door open without a care in the world and entered, my eyes searching the space for a familiar blonde.

My eyes zeroed on him and he froze.

 "Shit." He hissed and rose to his feet in an attempt to run.

"Oh no, you don't!" I grabbed him before he could run and pinned him against the wall.

He wriggled against me. "What the fuck are you doing? We're in public."

"So now your brain is working? I'm surprised because it doesn't look like you used it when you snuck out of the house."

 "Don't fucking touch me!" He hissed. If I let go of him this instant, he'll bite me. Not that I'll resist.

Okay. What the hell am I doing?

Gasps and whispers began to echo around the bar. Now, people are talking.

I grabbed Caden's wrist and dragged him out of the bar with everyone watching. They can go to hell for all I care.

I didn't let go of him till we got to my car and I shoved him in the passenger side.

As soon as I got in, I locked the doors.

"Don't fucking move!" I ordered.

"Who the hell do you think you are to give me orders, stupid American?!" He hissed.

"For the last time it's Asher," I scoffed. "And where's your shadow? I don't see her around."

"Gatsby's whereabouts are none of your business!"

"Everything concerning you is my business. Maybe I'll ban her from coming to the penthouse and we'll see who's the stupid one?" I copied his posh accent but it sounded nowhere as hot as his.

Caden grabbed my collar and I could smell his cologne. "When I hired you..."

I cut him off. "...Your grandpa did."

"Shut up!" He squeezed my collar, leaning his face closer to mine. "When you first came here, I gave you 3 rules : You don't touch me! You don't tell me what to fucking do! And you don't come near me! So you better stick to those rules or I'll cut you off!"

 I didn't think when I made my next move. I wrapped my fingers around his throat and tugged him even closer, his whiskey breath fanning my face.

 "And I remember that I gave you 3 rules myself, little prince : you don't run from the house, you listen and do everything I tell you to, and you don't break the rules. Pull this stunt with your secretary again and I'll break your legs."

"Not if I break yours first." he hissed.

 I let go of him and he massaged his neck.

 "We're going home," I clenched the steering wheel. "And this time, I'm tightening security. We'll see if you'll escape now, little prince."

And I wasn't kidding. I hired 6 of my best guys from the company and had them surround the entire penthouse. Caden won't leave without them noticing.

When he first saw them, he didn't like them at all and I was glad. He doesn't get to like anything after what he did.

Memories of the past still cling to me and whenever I see him smile at something, I want to take that smile and shove it all the way to hell.

 I'm not a big fan of the news but this time, I decided to indulge myself. And Holy hotness, you will not believe what I just saw.

Caden reads the headlines before me : "CADEN BOOKER, CEO OF THE BOOKER LEGACY GROUP GOES OUTSIDE WITH BOYFRIEND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ACCIDENT."

"Boyfriend? What the hell?!" We both hiss at the same time.

"What is the meaning of this?" Caden had one hand to his hip as he pointed at the picture of me and him holding hands.

 "You tell me. I'm just as surprised as you." I scoffed. Who the hell is behind this shit?

 I gripped the remote and changed the channel immediately. This time the headline was fucking worse.

"YOUNGEST BILLIONAIRE, CADEN BOOKER, HAS HIS FANS COMPLETELY SWOONED AFTER FIRST APPEARANCE WITH HIS LOVER."

 And that was not all, a group of students both male and female gathered outside the company's building with placards and wrapped gifts.

The reporter was still reading out the news when a student came up behind her and yelled :

"Caden, we love you!" The young brunette squealed.

Her friends joined her in the same happy squeals. "Us too. Your boyfriend is so handsome. We approve of him!"

The reporter beamed them a smile and was about to continue when a younger woman in a daring red dress grabbed the mic.

"How could you do this to us, Caden? I thought we had a thing! Now, you're into men now?!" Her mascara ran as she cried.

 Caden pinched the skin between his brows. "Jesus Christ."

"You know her?" I asked.

"Yup. She's Nessa Thompson," Caden sighed. "And I'd rather be gay than have anything to do with her."

"So you're not gay?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Obviously not." Caden crossed and turned to walk away.

It only made me laugh. He's not gay yet he slept with a handsome stranger 5 years ago. How amusing.

Just when we thought that was over, it got worse.

On every social media platform, people started shipping me and the blonde prince.

"Where did Caden get such a bad boy? His man is hot."

"Me thinking I've seen it all then BOOM! Caden Booker comes out of the closet. I'm so happy for you, pookie!"

"What's your man's name @Caden_Booker?"

 These comments were fucking hilarious. I wonder how Caden's taking it.

"That's it! I'm uninstalling every single app on my phone!" I hear him echo upstairs.

 I couldn't help but laugh.

That night, I laid on my back while staring at the ceiling.

 It was less than 3 days till the D-Day. The day Caden dies.

A wave of adrenaline rushed through me and I fisted my hands. I was too busy trying seething when a familiar sound echoed through the house.

Caden!

I jumped off the bed and rushed downstairs.

 He was standing in the kitchen, holding a bleeding finger. The fucker couldn't cook but he's still trying to?

I had barely made a step towards him when Joakim, one of my guys who's openly gay, made his way towards him.

"Are you alright?" Joakim asked, taking Caden's hand in his.

"Yeah. It's just a small cut." Caden winced.

My gaze zeroed on their hands and a boiling rage surged within me. I had never felt so murderous in my life. "He said it's just a small cut. Beat it." I said before stopping myself.

They both turned to me. Caden, surprised and Joakim, grinning like a fucking idiot.

 "I'll get the first-aid." His grin widened.

"Don't bother. Leave." I bit out.

"Okay, boss." Joakim didn't stop grinning till he left the kitchen.

Caden rolled his eyes at me and turned to the sink. "I don't suppose you're here to cook."

"Give me your hand." I said briskly.

"What?"

 I grabbed his fingers and ran the tap, letting the water wash through the blood then I squeezed it.

 Caden whacked my arm. "What the fuck was that for?!"

 "Escaping earlier." I grinned.

 "Asshole." He mumbled.

 "I've been called worse." I smiled.

Why the heck was I smiling?

 I heard a knock on the door. The only people I told about the location of this penthouse were Caden's secretary and those board members. Gatsby was busy with work so it's gotta be those sleazeballs.

Cody entered and nodded at me. "They're here."

So it was them.

 "Let's go." I whipped out a bandaid from one of the kitchen drawers and put it on Caden's wound.

"They asked for just Caden, sir," Cody said. "They want to see only him." Caden heaved a sigh.

"Fine."

He walked by without sparing me a second glance. Rude much?

While they occupied the room downstairs, I lingered in the hallway for security reasons and not for eavesdropping.

"What kind of stunt was that, Caden? You're gay now?!" A gruffly voice barked.

 "I'm not gay! That's some messed up shit the media cooked up. For a second I thought it was the company's idea to divert the people's attention from the assassination attempt." I hear Caden reply with a stifled yawn.

 He was hungry. Remind me to cook him dinner later.

"Pubicity stunt? If we wanted to do that, it'll be with Nessa not a man. Your grandmother is homophobic!" Another voice hissed. Obviously Gabriel.

 "Don't you think I know that?" It was Caden's turn to hiss. "Look, we'll just release an official statement and tell the people this was a huge misunderstanding."

 "If this keeps up, we'll have no choice but to follow-up the second clause of the agreement."

Second clause?

Caden scoffed. "Second clause? What the fuck is that supposed to be?"

"You're not supposed to put yourself out there. The killer is still on the loose. Our plan was to make him or her think you're still dead but you blew that off by running around with your boyfriend."

 "First of all, that asshole is not my boyfriend and second of all, how is it my fault?" Caden scoffed. "You three clearly planned this behind my back!"

 "Caden, your life is at stake here and if the threat persists for 30 days, we will have no option but to deal with it permanently!"

Caden pushed. "And how will you do that?"

 "You will get married."

What?

Caden's POV

 "Say that one more time.

I didn't quite hear you the first time." I said, uncrossing my arms.

 Casa shook her head as if disappointed. "This isn't a joke, Caden. You will be getting married if your life is threatened again."

 "Like fuck I will!" I scoffed. "You expect me to arrive when my life is in danger? What is marriage now? Some sort of life insurance?"

 Gabriel made an attempt to speak but I cut him off.

 "Not another word from you. The last thing I want to hear is your shitty American accent." I spun around and picked at the hairs at the back of my neck with my good hand.

 "Caden, this is what your grandfather wanted." Jonathan began softly.

 "What about what I want?" I tilted my head to meet his gaze. "Did any of you stop to ask me that?"

 "It's not in our power to do that, Caden," Jonathan sighed. "Your grandfather clearly stated in the second clause that if a threat to your life is deemed persistent beyond 30 days, then you'll have to get married to someone vetted and approved by the board."

 "Why?" I asked, still picking at the hairs till they stung like a bitch.

 "Your grandpa was obsessed with legacy and stability. And a single, reckless CEO with a death wish isn't exactly stable in the eyes of investors." Gabriel added.

 "Investors are what you're worried about when my life is in danger? I should fire you!" I hissed. "And marriage? Who, pray tell, is the saviour I'll be getting married to."

 The trio exchanged quiet looks, giving me the answer I needed to know.

 I slapped my forehead."Jesus Christ."

 "Having a bodyguard follow you everywhere 24/7 will only spark suspicion among the people so to avoid that, your grandfather decided we have a bodyguard pose as your partner, thereby reducing the risk of your life falling in danger." Casa explained like this was one of those shitty lectures she attends in Cambridge.

 I sum everything they've told me and sighed. "So you're telling me if I don't marry my bodyguard, I lose my entire company?"

 The trio exchanged a resigned look before looking at me.

 "Yes." They chorused.

 That word did enough damage.

 I stuffed both my hands in my pockets and turned to the door.

 "Caden, where are you going?" Gabriel called behind me.

 I clutched the doorknob and twisted it open. "To my room to get some sleep.

You know, to sleep on the bomb you three just dropped on my lap."

 "You know this marriage will still hold without your consent." Casa added.

 "Like hell it would." I walked out of the room, not forgetting to slam the door on my way out.

 I didn't even bother to return to the kitchen. Those three had successfully ruined my appetite like they do every time.

 "Dinner is ready, sir." Joakim said the moment I stepped into the living room.

 I dismissed him with a light wave. "I'm not hungry. Thank you."

 "You sure?" He arched his brow.

 "Are you deaf?! I said I'm not hungry!" I snapped.

 Shit.

 I palmed my forehead and sighed. "Look, I lost my cool and I'm sorry but please, I'm not hungry. You can share dinner with the rest of the team. Goodnight."

 With that, I paddled to the direction of my room. A good night's sleep would fix this nightmare. I'm too young to be depressed.

 "Depressed huh? That's a common word teenagers use nowadays." Those words flashed through my head and I stopped dead in my tracks.

 It was HIM. Again. Why does he keep running through my mind after all these years? What gave him the right to just punish me with the memory of his eyes and his scent?

 Fuck. I think I'm obsessed.

 Another sigh escaped me and I took a step forward but I bumped into a wall. Since when were walls built with chiseled muscles and 6 packs?

 "If you want to feel my abs, you could just ask nicely." A familiar gravy voice caressed my skin.

 I looked up and met full pink lips, pointed nose till they locked on dark-gray eyes.

 Asher was sporting a black T-shirt that clung to his upper body like a second skin. The man was ripped in all the good places. He was the kind of man God had spent time creating. Too bad, the man in question was an infuriating asshole.

 "I'd rather bleach my eyes than touch you." I pulled away from him.

 "You sure? Because you looked like you wanted to." He flashed me a grin and I died. I cannot be attracted to this man. It's Mission : Impossible.

 "Go fuck yourself, Asher." I tried to sidestep him but he grabbed my elbow. "Let go."

 "One of these days, I'll teach that foul mouth of yours a lesson." He growled.

 Okay. What did I find that hot? And why in Queen Elizabeth's name was I looking forward to the lesson he'll teach me. My mouth, I mean.

 Get your head back in the game, Caden.

 I shoved his arm away but he was quick to grab me. This time he pulled me closer to himself. No distance, no space. Just the two of us, chest pressed against each other, breaths nearly one.

 "Don't make my job difficult for me, little prince." Asher hissed.

 "If you don't want me to make your life a living hell, I suggest you get out of my fucking way." I bit out.

 "Watch what you say to me." Asher's grip on my elbow tightened.

 I don't wince. I won't give him the liberty of seeing me fumble. So, I lift my chin and smile. "Get the fuck out of my way, please."

 He murmured a rain of unintelligent curses before he dragged me away.

 "Where the hell are we going?" I asked, trying my best to keep up with his large footsteps.

 "Dinner." He growled again.

Asher's POV

Despite my rambunctious lifestyle, I was a man of principle.

I never lost my cool unless when necessary and I certainly never lost control for any reason. Not for a fight or booze or even women. But right now, at this moment, I'd been driven so close to the edge that I feared one more step would tip me over to my doom. My own customized doom - Caden Booker.

My personal hell was this forced proximity, this natural prison I was growing accustomed to. It was torture watching him from afar and not be able to do anything to him. To ruin that perfect image was my perfect bliss. To watch him writhe beneath me and unravel like he did 5 years ago, was my personal prayer request to God, but God in his infinite cruelty, refused to answer that.

 'I am not Gay. Stop thinking like that, Asher.' I screamed that mantra in my head as I led Caden to the dining room. If no one watched the little fucker, he'll starve himself for days. I've kept tabs on him for years to notice that disturbing habit.

I pull out a chair and shove him on it. "Sit down, shut up and eat."

 "Don't talk to me that way, asshole." The blonde prince crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me.

God, I like it when he does that but as much as I do, I hate the fact that I love it.

Caden - 1 Asher - 0

"Did you poison this?" Caden said as he stared at the food.

I noticed that look on his face and leaned back in my chair. "Oh really? Your eyes and mouth are saying two different things."

"Got to hell." Caden hissed.

"You shouldn't curse." I glared at him.

"Go to hell, please." He smiled sweetly, mischief dancing in those baby-blue eyes.

"You can dig in. I know you're hungry." I smiled at his cute attempts to spite me.

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Thank you but I'd rather starve."

Well, not on my watch. I'm not saying because I don't want him to starve but because it'll only cause suspicions if he lost weight.

Convincing him would turn into a battle of words and I had no time for that, especially when he's upset from the bombshell Gabriel and the others dropped earlier. So, I picked up my spoon and started eating. If Caden was truly hungry, he would've left the table a while ago. Instead, he chose to stay.

A few minutes into dinner, he picked up a spoon and joined me.

 I didn't say a word to him. If I did, I'd annoy him and he'd probably go on a hunger strike for a month.

He lifted a bowl of chilli. I forgot to tell him it was still hot. His injured finger touched the bowl and he winced, dropping it.

"Son of a bitch!" He cursed in that posh accent I liked, blowing air to his index finger.

 "Fuck." I reached for him. "You should've been careful."

"It's just a little sting. Don't grow soft on me now." Caden scoffed.

"More like growing annoyed. Didn't you see the steam coming out of the bowl?" I ripped the band-aid off his finger and tossed it aside.

"Look, I don't need your help. I'm fine!" Caden tried to take back his finger and I spanked him.

 He froze, colour rising to his pale skin. "W - what did you just do to me?"

I didn't answer. Didn't need to because we both knew what I just did.

 "Did you just spank me?" Caden scoffed.

"Yes and I'll do that again if you don't behave." I applied pressure to the finger and with my free hand whipped out an ointment from my pocket.

"You carry that around?" Caden furrowed his brows.

"For a walking disaster like you? Yes." I unscrewed the cap and applied a little portion on the finger.

"I hate you." Caden bit out.

"Likewise." I let go of his fingers and eyes locked.

 For a moment, I drank him in. Shining blonde hair my fingers itched to run through, lips I'd ached to taste, and a body made for me to ruin. I drank Caden in, in all his twisted glory and I was still thirsty.

"Stop looking at me like that." Caden broke the silent spell that'd trapped us.

The air was super charged with tension or whatever the hell I felt a few seconds ago and I wondered if he felt it too.

"Like what?" I quipped, drawing closer. I needed to see him. All of him.

"Like you want to ruin me." He said softly.

 Jesus fucking Christ.

I'll burst into flames if I don't touch him.

One more step and it'll all be over.

"Asher, come on, you've gotta check this out!"

 Frisbee walked into the dining room. Frisbee was my best hacker and one of the guys I owe my life to, but at that moment, I was this close to killing him.

 "Oh. Am I interrupting?" He slowed in his tracks.

"No." I brushed past Caden and followed Frisbee.

We arrived at the control room downstairs.

Computers, lots of them lined the walls. They were Frisbee's favourite type of thing. As guns were my poison, computers were his. It was just him in the control room. The others were guarding the exterior of the estate.

He grabbed his swivel chair and typed away at the keyboard. The windows interface appeared on the computer screen and he clicked on an untitled file.

 "I found what you were looking for," he began. "But you're not gonna like it."

Like the police and practically half of the FBI, I was also investigating Caden's assassination. My job is to kill Caden but someone nearly deprived me of that. And I told Frisbee to find the fucker and he delivered. He never ceased to impress me. What I didn't like was the part of not liking what I would see.

"Open it." I ordered.

Frisbee opened the file. After spending a few seconds encrypting a secret code he'd used to hide the original content in the file, he played it - it was a video. Not just any video but footage.

 It was a wide shot of a private car wash. I noticed a middle-aged man I'd seen in Caden's family mansion step out of the BMV. Was he the one who planted the bomb? Doubtful. He was talking to the carwash owner.

"Fast forward." I leaned closer, watching the footage.

My eyes zeroed in on an odd factor and I snapped my finger. "Pause and zoom in."

Frisbee did as he was told.

I looked at the grainy image on the screen and dragged my hand through my hair.

I pinched the skin between my brows. "You've gotta be kidding me."

 "You know her, boss?" He asked.

"Yeah," I turned away from the office.

"Who?

An old flame?" he called behind me.

 "No!" I called back. "She's my fucking niece!"

My niece tried to kill Caden.