*Unedited*

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There was a knock on the door , my stomach tightened, immediately. I knew it was Asher.

I turned around as soon as I secured the diamond hoops, they felt way too precious to be on my body. I was already scared to lose them. The Emerald green satin dress flowed down my body, fitting in the places it should be. I had a pair of black heels on to bring the look together. The more I looked in the mirror the more I wondered if I was dressed well or not. If I still looked like myself or not. A little voice inside of me said I looked pretty. The voice was quite familiar. It was my mother's. My heart warmed at the thought of her and a smile creeped up to my face.

The second I laid my eyes on him all those random thoughts went out of the window. My eyes didn't stay on his for long they travelled down his body. I couldn't help but smile, everything about him was just so precisely perfect. The look on his face matched the slate black colour of his perfectly tailored three piece suit that molded on his body like it was just made for him. His mood didn't seem dark, his eyes told another story, they were burning, it was terrifying to see appreciation in them.

"How do I look?" I asked running a hand on the bottom of my dress. It was so stunning, I wish I could wear it everyday. It was a silly thought but I was dwelling on it. I didn't know if I could keep this dress or not, yet.

"Decent enough." My smile dropped for a second and I had the urge to snap back.

"Well, thank you." Asshole. "You cleaned up well." His hair looked slightly wet and his freshly shaven jaw looked even more defined. I had the urge to run a hand on his smooth skin. My fist clenched.

No, Sophie. Don't fuck this up.

He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, slightly messing them up and that little action made me appreciate his appearance even more. I looked calm on the outside but my insides were fucked, inner Sophie was acting up like her crush just smiled at her.

God, get a grip!

He gave me one last look before walking out of the room, I took one last look at myself in the mirror before following him, shutting the door behind me as I left the room.

We walked out of the building, Asher maintaining a distance to avoid stepping on my dress which annoyed me, the dress didn't sweep through the floor but I noticed how his eyes were stuck to the hem of it. I wondered if he was nervous.

A lemousin pulled up and for once I wasn't surprised. I was getting used to the grand things that came along with Asher Grayson. I slid in first, Asher followed. "The whole family is going to be there."

Something shrunk inside of me.
"Victoria?" I knew I shouldn't have asked that but she bothered me, I'd rather not have her there.

"Yes."

"Lily?" I wished he'd say no.

"Most probably."

A sigh escaped my mouth as I relaxed in my seat, turning my face to look at him.

"We can still turn around, I can change and then we can pick up some dinner." Everything on me suddenly felt heavy, the dress, the earrings and those high heels.

My words caught his attention.
"That sounds like something I would want but it's not happening, Callister"

"Why do I feel like, it's gonna be literal hell not only for you but me aswell and you want to see me suffer." I narrowed my eyes at him, I knew he couldn't see my face clearly.

"I didn't think you'd figure that out." A soft laughed left his mouth and for a second I forgot all my worries. A warm ache spread through my bones. I wanted to hear it again.

"If I'm going down you're going down aswell." I pulled my hand away from his and looked out of the window at a glowing Sorrento as I tried to calm my nerves.

"I'm aware."

I wanted nothing more than the earth to open up and swallow me as I stepped out of the limousine. I looked up at the several stairs that lead to the ball room, it looked regal. It didn't feel real. I looked at Asher with wide eyes and he nodded at me knowingly, a smirk on his face.

The countless steps reminded me of the staircase to heaven the only difference, there wasn't heaven at the end of these stairs, it was hell in disguise and I knew even before stepping in.

I blinked, I wanted to hold his hand. I couldn't because I was afraid he'd let go so I kept walking looking around, Asher walking close enough. I felt a bit strange with every step I took towards the grand entrance of the hall. People were looking at us. Some even staring long enough to make me look away. Asher held his head high. He didn't look aware of those stares but who was I kidding. I knew he was more aware and affected than I was. He looked relaxed like it was an everyday thing for him.

I didn't belong here, my heart felt tiny. I hesitantly gripped Asher's hand and he looked down at it, when he didn't pull away, I spread my fingers and interwined our hands.

The fear was almost dissolved. I felt him down my spine like he was actually touching me but he wasn't. I looked up at him and smiled. He frowned.

"I didn't think I'd see you again in this lifetime, Grayson."

I watched Asher shatter all the while standing up strong like a mountain.
He was tensed, I squeezed his hands, his face went from stressed to stoic in one swift second. His gaurd were up. He was the Asher I didn't like once again.

"Timothy." Asher nodded. His voice too calm.

Timothy was an old man, probably in his late 50s, he looked cunningly wealthy so did every other person my eyes landed on but he had kind eyes, the ones that had seen things go down and still stood strong. He was shorter than Asher and at ease.

"Good to see you again, Grayson."

"You too, old man."

"Still not a talker?" Timothy laughed and Asher's grip tightened on my hand.

"Don't see a point in it." Asher flicked him off all the while staring at him intently.

"Tonight is going to be different now that you are here. I bet, there are a lot of fishes for you." Timothy said, giving Asher a knowing look that I couldn't understand. I just stood there, not existing for a second, waiting for Timothy to leave.

"I hope not. You know I'd rather be anywhere else but here. My lack of interest is quite obvious." I looked down at our hands while he spoke, I wasn't interested in the conversation. I knew Asher was keeping it up because he didn't want to be rude, for once.

"Then why are you here?" I couldn't tell if Timothy was being extra nosy or just pressing the wrong buttons to frustrate Asher.

"Well, that's a story for another day." Asher looked larger than life towering over Timothy and I. When his gaze snapped down to mine, I looked away.

Jesus.

"Ah, a story I'll never get to hear." Timothy gave him a forced smile.

"You're smart, old man."

Timothy laughed, his eyes moving to me.
"And, who is your taste for the day?"

My heart dropped in my stomach. Taste for the day? Lot of fishes for you? Timothy's words made me think of possibilities I didn't want to know.

"She's my wife." I didn't know if Asher's reply made things better or worse.

"Oh, Christ. Another surprises! I'm sorry, I said that. It's honestly hard to believe." Timothy looked back and forth between Asher and I. His eyes wide and calculative.

"I'm Sophie. Nice to meet you." I smiled at him. I didn't like him but I didn't dislike him either.

"Nice to meet you, Sophie. I hope you enjoy the night." Timothy said, his head moving down with his gaze which was quite noticable but he wasn't afraid to check me out in front of Asher. "The more I look at you the more I see why Asher married you." It wasn't a compliment. It couldn't be. It made me feel sick. When Asher squeezed my hand my doudt was confirmed. I felt small. His words was another reminder why I shouldn't be here.

"Your wife must be looking for you, Old man. Don't want her to know you've been hitting on someone else's wife, now do we?" His tone was cool but he was glaring at him like he was about to slit Timothy's throat.

Timothy's eyes widen, he let out an uncomfortable laugh and then dissapeared in thin air.

Asher and I didn't talk about what just happened. I was grateful for that. I wanted to hug him so bad. Just hide away somewhere.

It felt like I was in a whirlpool and I didn't have a way out, neither did Asher. We spent almost an hour greeting strangers. Asher was good at making people uncomfortable by either staring too much or ignoring them completely when they approached him.

Everybody was talking about him, giving him weird stares, some keeping a distance others couldn't wait to be near him. Not once did he let go of my hand.

"I feel out of place." I whispered but I was loud enough to be heard by him.

"Because you are, Callister. You should have a look at your face, you're more than terrified." The humour in his voice didn't go unnoticed. He kept staring ahead at nothing.

"Yeah, I'll hate you if you leave my hand." My nails dug in his skin, I knew they'd leave marks.

"Don't trust me." He was right, I shouldn't trust him. My grip loosened on his hand but I didn't let go.

"I will until I can't." I bumped into his side a little and a small laugh escaped me.

"Fair enough."

"This doesn't seem like a charity event at all."

"Well, each and every person here has donated a considerable amount. You donate and then you get to celebrate your riches. It's like paying to get in a club." A woman in a blue dress, looking in her 30s, walked by nodding at Asher, he nodded back before looking at me.

"I didn't give anything." My face dropped and there was a knowing look in his eyes that he saw it.

"You're with me."

"I still don't get it."I frowned at him then looked down at the floor.

"Dumb little thing, haven't you heard it's not about how much you give it's the fact that you volunteered to help and give as much as you could." His words jumped here and there inside of my head.

"So... You donate but you don't let the world know you're doing a good cause because you're not doing it for fame and appreciation," I leaned my head closer to his making sure I wasn't loud enough. I was invading his comfort zone but he didn't seem bothered.

"—Then you attend this very elite ball but you're allowed to get in if you've donated or else not. Aren't you letting the world know you donated for a cause which is what you're not supposed to? Which is why there's no charity happening in a charity event? Something doesn't add up. " My frown deepened. I ran a hand down my hair, his eyes caught on my movement and stayed on my hands as I combed my fingers through my hair.

"It doesn't have to." He turned his head away, looking everywhere but at me.

"We have a problem then." I sighed

"We sure do, there's one walking this way." His words held tension.

I raised my eyes to Asher's and then followed where his gaze was. My hand tightened on his for a brief moment and then I let go, his jaw ticked but he didn't reach for my hand.

Dumb little thing.

Dumb little thing.

Dumb little thing.

The words that didn't matter to me a few seconds ago slammed into my head and they echoed until I wanted to curl into a ball. Watching Lily walk towards us made insecurities flare up within me.

"Asher! You're here! It's so good to see you have started going out again." Lily almost threw herself at him, when Asher stepped back and Lily was left standing there with arms wide open. A smile threatened to show up on my face.

"Lily." His voice held no emotions but my heart still twisted painfully, just hearing her name from his mouth hurt. Lily affected me and I didn't want her to know that. So, I did what I thought was the best, I smiled like the happiest person in the room. Her eyes moved to mine and a slight frown marred her features before it dissapeared.

"Sophie, good to see you?" She lied.

"Good to see you, aswell." I lied.

Lily looked gorgeous, Red was definitely her colour and she knew that, her dress was simple yet so elegant. Lily knew how to hold herself up. She dressed to impress and was aware what would make a man follow her like a lost puppy.

"Where did you get this dress from?" She asked running her gaze down my body.

"It's a gift," I told her. I didn't know why I said that, it just came out of nowhere.

"Oh, it's probably not from Asher. Green is his least favourite." She laughed and I just wanted to punch her. She looked like an angel but she was the complete opposite.

"What's his favourite colour?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Red."

Of course.

"That's nice, green wasn't his colour until I tried this dress on." I smiled at her. It wasn't only Lily who had an odd reaction to my words but Asher aswell. He looked amused and satisfied. Warmth filled me when I felt his fingers brush against my hand and then they interwined with mine once again.

"Have a food evening, Lily". Asher nodded at her but didn't move. It was clear he wanted her to leave. Her eyes moved from me to him thinking something, her face become dull under the bright lights, she gave me one last look and something inside me dropped. Lily looked nothing but sad, her eyes narrowed at me then she turned and marched away.

I sighed.

"Green wasn't my colour until you had it on. Indeed, Callister. " His words made butterflies crowd in my stomach.

My cheeks turned warm and crimson creeped up my neck as I avoided his eyes.

"Why are they playing music from the Victorian Era? I tried to deviate the conversation. The music was beautiful but it still sucked.

"You don't like it?" He leaned against the pillar behind him, facing me, my hand still in his grip.

"Not at all." I looked around, taking in a little more of everything. Everything was frustrating, awkward yet fascinating. I knew I'd never see something like this again.

"What would you rather prefer?" he sounded curious which was surprising.

"Considering how everyone has a partner to dance with, something by ed Sheeran" I looked around the couples on the dance floor. Some spinning, some just moving to the music like a different song was being played in their head.

"I see." His thumb stroked the back of my palm. Three long glides then a short one. A long silence stretched between us. We were in a room full of people yet he wanted to be with me and I wanted to be with him and no one else.

"You know him right?" I questioned.

He turned his head to me, raising a brow
"Why do you think I'd not know Ed Sheeran?"

"I'd say the lack of any romantic bones in your body." I grinned at him like a child.

"I surely don't have those but I know Ed Sheeran."

"Well, I believe you." I said, biting the inside of my cheek. We were talking too much. I wasn't used to talking to him. I didn't want to stop talking. Everything he said, even a little sigh that left his mouth was imprinted in my mind forever. The way I cherished him made me realise even more how much I loved him for no reasonable reason.

"Name a song." He asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Castle on the hills."

"That's not very romantic." He sounded amused. Like he expected a different song.

"I can still move around the hall with you." I wished he could read my mind.

"I don't dance." His voice was harsh and something unexpected.

"You don't or you can't?"

"Both."

"Well, it's not that hard. Imagine being drunk and in love, that's dancing."

"How so?" He was looking at me like I knew the secrets of the universe.

"You're so high your brain cells can't comprehend half of the things and you're so deep in love that you're spinning in an orbit around the person. That's dancing." 

'That's bullshit." His cold tone made me realise I said way too much.

"Your bad." I shrugged. "Oh! There's another song I like— "

"Fuck, I didn't know  the infamous Grayson was going to be here." The voice interrupted me.

Asher's lips curved up slightly and the corner of his eyes wrinkled. My chest fluttered. He was happy to hear his name, for once.

My eyes followed the voice and every muscle in my body tensed. It was the mirror of my reality, Dr. Clayton. One of the Senior doctors of my university. The same person I met a few days ago personally, when I burnt my hand, the same person who I saw almost everyday but he never acknowledged me, I was merely a student. The last time I was at the University was a month ago. I just hoped he wouldn't recognise me as one of his students.

Because right now, I was his best friend's wife.

"Clay," Asher turned to him completely, dragging me with him, so that I was facing Dr. Clayton, feeling completely exposed. His head snapped in my direction and a look passed through his face, the happy kind but it carried something along with it which I couldn't name.

"We've met before." Dr. Clayton said and I gulped, putting a smile on my worried face. I just wished he would not recognise me and not remember me aswell after the conversation ended.

"Uh, yes. Good to see you again, Dr Clayton." I smiled at him.

"I didn't know you were going to be here." His stare stayed on me a little longer before he turned to Asher. "Atleast you could have told me. You're such a fucker. " He said to Asher.

"That I am." Asher chuckled. Clayton was dressed in a grey suit, he had a black tie on. What caught my eyes was his smile. Asher didn't smile much and when he did it was nothing compared to Clayton. Clayton smiled like his life depended on it. They seemed like two ends of the same ship sailing in the same water but both had a different view.

"And an arrogant piece of-"

"I couldn't agree more." When it felt like the room suddenly went quiet and my voice was way too audible I realised I spoke my thoughts out loud. I looked up to find both the men staring at me, while Asher was burning holes in my skull. Clayton had those already bright eyes lit up even more. I couldn't utter a word.

"See! she's on my team." Clayton patted Asher's shoulder and I thought Asher would have a bad reflex to the contact but he didn't.

"Like I care." He said, grinding his jaw which didn't go unnoticed.

Clayton coughed and then laughed, a look passing between them all the while I stood there feeling warm inside out with embarrassment.

"It must be really frustrating to be around my friend." Clayton looked at me with hope.

"Well, it's certainly not." I shrugged.

"It doesn't seem like you're enjoying." He mischievously frowned at me then turned to Asher, "would you mind Grayson if I have a dance with your Wife?"

"I would, that's why you shouldn't." His tone was harsh yet cool.

Clayton didn't seem fazed by the Asher's blunt words like he was used to it.

"Well, then I'll see you two around." Asher watched his back as he walked away. He continued staring until he Clayton was completely out of sight. I wondered if he wanted Clayton to stay. I wanted to ask him if he was okay but I decided to just pretend that I only saw what was skin deep.

The night seemed to be moving too fast for a second and then too slow the next second. So many people, so many eyes yet no one even tried to talk to me. I wished someone did, I saw a few women looking at me, I wanted to go to them, have a conversation, feel a little less unsettled but the moment I smiled at them they looked away.

Sharing a table with glimmering strangers was another overwhelming experience. I avoided eye contact. While Asher made the worst kind of small talks, the kind which reflected authority and mad money. He didn't say much but still his silence spoke volumes.

Dr. Clayton sat beside Asher. Asher's mood was way better. I didn't get a chance to talk to Dr. Clayton. I caught him looking at me a few times, he smiled and looked away each time. My side of the table was filled with Asher's stoic words, Clayton's uncomfortable laugh trying to cover up for his friend. It's funny how I knew nothing about Asher's and Clayton's friendship but considering how comfortable he made Asher, they shared history, stories and an indescribable bond.

The food was the part I'd enjoyed the most so far. Asher sat beside me while I ate, I didn't urge him to eat, I didn't want to spike any kind of tension in him. Asher was different, he hated the crowds, I couldn't imagine him eating in front of them. He appeared so confident no one could tell how he was was fighting to keep himself sane in this crowd, I saw glimpse of the war once in a while. One of his arm was wrapped around my chair I was somewhat plastered to his side and I could never complain. He smelled divine. The same sandle wood and ciggrates  enveloped me in the best way possible.

I cleared my throat for no reason but it caught his attention.

"What?"

Asher wasn't good at showing affection. I knew his 'what' meant 'everything alright?'

"My feet hurt." I whispered leaning closer, almost whining. He ran a hand through his hair.

"You've been sitting here from the past forty five minutes, Princess" his taunting tone made anger shoot through me, I tried to stay calm. Very funny.

"They still hurt." I argued. "The food is nice." I exhaled sinking in my chair.

He stared at me for a second then frowned. "How very spontaneous of you. Shut up."

"Uh, Everything good?" I asked completely ignoring his words.

"Why wouldn't it be, Callister?" He leaned back into his chair and gazed at me like I was a troublesome child.

I nodded, stabbing a lonely cherry tomato on my plate and popping it in my mouth. My eyes watched him watch my mouth, his face tilted a little he exhaled and looked back up to where my eyes were.

"You aren't chatty enough" he said out of nowhere. I didn't know where our broken conversation was going. I wondered if this was his way to calm himself.

I frowned at his words

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

This man was so confusing. Was he showing me fake affection for the crowd or he actually cared?

"Your people look friendly but actually aren't."A few of them gave me the don't approach me eye." I said keep my voice as low as possible. I didn't know why I was so afraid to be caught trash talking.

One side of his lips curved up as he stared down at the fork I was twirling. "Your people" he repeated my words then went quiet for a brief moment. "Well, Callister, my people don't like strangers in their territory especially when the stranger have some kind of power that they don't have. You are a threat to them and their status."

"What kind of power do I have?" My feet were tapping against the floor nervously.

"You walk differently, you look different, your eyes are different, your hair... let's not go their," his eyes moved up to my head and my hand immediately shot up to smoothen them, "you're awkward and annoying, dumb at times, you don't seem afraid of being yourself while most of my people are on something to just keep them going." He brought a glass filled with amber liquid to his lips and tipped it all the while his body turned to me and his eyes never leaving mine.

I was none of those things. I was different but I didn't see any good in it. My mother always said I had a habit of underestimating good within myself. Maybe she was right. I shrugged at that thought. Asher was being weird or I wasn't used to him being good to me.

When his knee leaned on mine and he let out a sigh. I looked down at my lap. I couldn't comprehend anything.
"You're nothing but yourself, Callister. And, that's a dangerous thing to be."

I blinked at him, my chest felt so heavy, I wanted to explode into pieces.  I shook my head thinking of the things he just said. I wanted to know what was going on in his head. He was definitely high on something like the rest of the crowd.

"What are you on, Asher?"

"I'm on a fucking break, Sophie"

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Author's note in the next update which is going to be an announcement. It's almost 2am here and I'm exhausted. See you tomorrow!!

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, more coming up. Do tell me what you think of it. ❣️❣️❣️

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