We arrived in New York at 9:00 pm at night. I couldn't even sleep on the plane. My mind wouldn't let me. I pondered over everything from the last couple of weeks, the missions, Jérôme, Ashton, and his family. The drive back to Ashton's place was so quiet by then, I had gotten used to the silence I even forgot he was there. I just couldn't get over the way he spoke to me, he was so territorial, so harsh and rude just entitled. He believes he could have anything he wants just pure entitlement. I hate those kinds of people. We reached the penthouse. I didn't wait for him to get out of the car and open the door for me. I got out quickly and slammed the door behind me. I want him to know how much I despised him. I want him to know how disrespectful and ungrateful, I could truly be to his fucked-up generosity. I wanted him to feel my pain.
Ashton walked passed me pressing the button for the elevator. He punched in the bottoms to the penthouse while simultaneously, blocking me from seeing the button pad with his broad-shoulders. I felt the anger overcome me. "For someone that has so much to say about me, you sure don't want me to leave."
"We are not talking about this anymore," he said nonchalantly stepping out of the elevator
I disappeared into my room and locked the door. I really felt like a teenager. I analyzed all of the possible ways to escape but it all seemed to end in failure. An hour later, I decided to go downstairs for food and water. A distant but familiar voice caught my attention from down the corridor. Concealed behind one of the massive statues. I saw Jérôme was talking to Ashton. My heart lite-up when I saw him. I want to run to him to tell him that Ashton is crazy. To tell him to save me from this nightmare. I'm not entirely useless and I don't see myself as a damsel, but Ashton makes me feel one. He made me feel weak. How does he expect me to rely on him when he isn't a reliable person in the first place. The whole thing makes no sense.
*****Ashton and Jérôme point of view****** with Aeon Listening-in.
"So, she's upstairs sleeping?"
"I'm not sure," Ashton said dryly.
"What's up with you too?"
"Nothing, she's just dramatic that's all."
"hmmm...Like, I said if you don't want her, I can look after her."
"We both know that would be counterproductive." Ashton voiced bitterly.
"Is there something going on between Aeon and you."
"Jérôme, you did not come over here to talk about Aeon, Why are you here?"
"I'm just saying."
"No." "You're saying nothing. Unknown sent her profile to me for a reason." I voiced impatiently.
"Alright fine," "fine." "I guess you do like her." "Man, I've never seen you get so worked up over a girl." "Anyways," "there was a loophole in my grandfather's will. "So, I am now the sole beneficiary of his estate. "Everything goes to me."
"Wow, your grandfather?"
"Yeah," "My father was pressuring me into marrying Kendal." "But now that I'm the CEO I can do what I want." "I don't have to listen to The Anonymous. I believe that we will learn two things from this turn of events." "If they continue on with this marriage narrative. This will reveal a weak point in their motives making it easier to find the culprit, or back to square one and no closer to finding Jessica. Now that I've richer, do you think I should just pay them? It's the easiest way."
"Jérôme," "we already went over this they don't want your money." "This organization is after something bigger." "I think I have an idea. I'm just waiting for a call back from Unknown."
"Alright," Jérôme shook his head in agreement. "So, we'll wait and see."
"Anyways, I don't think my father has a hand in The Anonymous."
"I know you wish he did though," "I know how much you loathe him." Ashton ran his hands through his curly hair casually. "
Aeon narrating ****Jérôme walked across and purred himself a glass of water. Which I thought was actually pretty interesting, I don't think I've ever seen him drink water. He drinks a lot of concoctions and water is never one of them.
Well, Jérôme paused to drink some water. "Because he never had any real power. "The little power he did have was given to him by my mother. She gave him a seat on her side of the board."
"I see,"
"he was only in it for his own notoriety." Jérôme voiced disappointedly. "Honestly, I was hoping for a different outcome." "I didn't want to kick him off."
"That's life people will disappoint you." "Best to not expect too much."
Ashton's words seemed to resonate with me a lot. He probably has been through a lot or has been let down in his life, as well all have. I could actually empathize with him. At that moment his words made me feel sad.
"Jérôme" "we have a mission." "I didn't want to tell you here because of Aeon. But we need to go to the Mount Sinai hospital laboratory.
Why," Unknown wants me to look into something there."
"Is Aeon coming?"
"No.," he said out quickly"
"Why?"
"I'm trying to protect her." "She can't know why until I know for sure."
"When do you want to do it?"
"I'm waiting for Unknown to tell me."
"It still baffles me how she got mixed up in all of this." "You could someone so high up in The Anonymous see her as their primary target. Its bazaar."
"Jérôme Keep it down. I think I have an idea but it's not a solid one." I shifted my head in the direction of the corridor.
****Aeon's point of view****
"What!" I voiced aloud. I gasped a little too loud and flinched backward colliding into the wall, while at the same time hitting my wrist on the sculptured. So hard that the sculptured shock in place. The pain felt unreal, especially since I was pretty skinny. My arms radiated with pain, it lingered and vibrated in my bones. I could not react in time. I could not escape. I gasped in pain unable to getaway.
Ashton stood tall in front of me with his hands in his pocket. "See, Jérôme this is the wrong place to discuss anything because we have a little spy." His green eyes looked down at me.
I looked up at him frozen feeling cornered. My wrist was in so much pain. I just held on to it hoping the pain would go away closing my eyes.
I felt Ashton's arms grabbed me lifting me upwards. Still holding on to my wrist not meeting his gaze. "Let me see" he voiced sound so ordered.
I didn't want to give him my hand but the pain made me submit.
"It doesn't look broken, lucky." "But, I'll take you to the doctor just in case.
"Is she ok," Jérôme moved towards me quickly.
"She is fine," Ashton interjected not moving from in front of me and blocking Jérôme for seeing me. "I'm going to take her to the doctor." I'll keep you posted regarding the mission." "Should be tonight or tomorrow." "I just need the Ok from Unknown."
"We have a mission," I interrupted.
"Not you," Ashton said firmly. " Jérôme and I have a mission."
"Are you sure you can trust Unknown?"
"I'm confident." Ashton gazes back at me.
Five minutes later, I was downstairs dressed in an all back sweatsuit and uggs. Ashton was wearing dark jeans and a black hoodie with a leather jacket.
The drive to the hospital was rather silent. My attention never shifted from the window as we pulled into the Mount Siani parking lot. Ashton gets out of the car and then opens the door for me. His phone suddenly ringed.
"Hello"
"Yeah, tonight is good." said the distorted voice on the other end.
I stared up at him, he seemed tired his face looked serious, always serious.
"I couldn't leak them, so you'll just have to retrieve them."
"God it." Ashton hunged up the phone and looked at me.
There something, I have to do let's go". We walked into the hospital. The receptionist woman greets us and blushed at Ashton.
" H-how can I help you all?"
"She needs an Xrays done on her wrist. It might be broken."
I didn't even get a chance to talk.
"Ok. Ms just fills out these forms including your insurance information."
"Ok, I nodded my head at her."
While I was filling out the foams Ashton stepped off to make a phone call. Minutes later, I hand back the forms to the receptionist.
"Did your boyfriend leave?" she questioned.
"No, he went to make a phone call," I answered shocked by her choice of words. Ashton my boyfriend no, more like my kidnapper.
I took a seat and Ashton returned sitting next to me. 5 minutes later, a nurse came to escort us into a medical room.
The doctor will be with you momentarily, Ms.
"You know," I heard Ashton speak next to me. I almost had forgotten he was there. I guess I had become comfortable with silence. "This would have not happened if you weren't spying."
"Ashton please don't," I spoke softly turning to face him. "I'm not in the mood." "Besides if you would tell me the truth." "I wouldn't have to resort to these kinds of measures."
The doctor entered 3minutes later, "Hello everyone, I'm Dr. Brown." "It's pretty late isn't it?"
"Yeah," I agreed. Ashton didn't say anything, his facial expression never changed. Maybe a doctor could diagnose him.
"Now let me see that wrist," Dr. Brown's voice startled me. "hmmm and how did this happen. He looked at me and then looked at Ashton's undetectable face. "
I hit my hand on a sculpture"
"That's an odd way to injure yourself." "Hmm would you like to talk alone," he said looking at Ashton. Whos eyes never changed.
"No, It's ok. Its the truth."
"Alright then, the radiologist will perp you for the Xrays. He stood up and left the room. Ashton turned towards me.
Ashtons voice caught me off guard, "I have something to do. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" I said standing up.
"I'll be back in 30minutes." He said ignoring my question and walking out the room.