Ashley’s POV

“Hey, Mrs. Mason” I greeted her happily after entering the coffee house.

Maurice was a very dear friend of my grandparents and the mother of uncle John. He was my mom’s closest friend and legal advisor.

John was a lawyer and owned a firm in Yorkshire. He used to live there but he moved back here for mom’s sake and now managed everything from here.

I used to work in this coffee house before moving to Leicester. This place was filled with fond memories for me.

I hung my coat and came behind the counter.

“Oh my!” Maurice chuckled at my appearance. “Look at you” she removed snow from my hair.

“I am glad I was not buried on my way here” I giggled. “There is so much snow outside.”

I rubbed my hands together and blew in them. I was dressed warmly but I was still cold.

“So cold.” I shivered slightly.

“Look at you” My mood soured when Jake whistled behind me. “You are as white as a ghost.”

“Same old stinky jokes, Jake?” I said blankly.

“Now,” Maurice stepped in before we could have entered a brawl. “I want my customers inside, not outside, okay?” She looked between us strictly. “You are past the point of fighting like kids now.”

I just nodded in silence. I didn’t want to create problems for her in any way.

I looked at Jake in disgust when he smirked when Maurice was not looking.

He was a flirt. He hit on me countless times during school days but when I didn’t respond, he turned nasty.

He just didn’t know how to take a no.

“Where are Sophie and Rena?” I asked Maurice once Jake left.

“They took the day off,” she told me.

“And uncle John?”

“Here,” I wrinkled my nose when John sprinkled the snow from his hat on my head.

John was in his mid-forties. He was tall with a sturdy body. His brown hair was greying on the edges. His blue eyes were filled with so much warmth.

“Hey!” John hugged me. “How are you, kiddo?” He looked at me from head to toe. “I can’t believe you have grown this much in five years.”

“And so beautiful,” Maurice added while looking at me adoringly. “She is so much like how Alison was in her young days.”

“Yes.” John chuckled when I blushed. “Very much beautiful to be courted by a gentleman.”

“Please!” I rolled my eyes. “There are no gentlemen these days.”

“Really?” John mused.

“I have work to do.” I ushered them out. “You two leave me alone now.”

“You come home once in a while and spend half of the day here.” Maurice scolded me.

“Sam and Fey are busy with exams and mom with her work,” I told her. “She doesn’t allow me to accompany her. Don’t throw me out. I will die of boredom.” I pouted at her sadly.

“Who could dare to say no to this” Maurice pinched my chin. “You are so adorable, you know that?”

“May I stay?” I asked cutely. “Yay!” I hugged her happily when she nodded.

“I am in my office. Call me if you need anything, okay?” I nodded at her. “I have placed freshly baked cakes and pastries. Tell me when you run out. I will make more.” She went to her office through the back door.

“Ashley?”

“Yes, uncle John,” I said without looking up from the register.

“Alison told me about the visit.” I looked at him in surprise.

I was glad he didn’t talk about it in front of Maurice. The fewer people knew about it, the better.

Two officers from Leicester visited me to inquire about that murder.

I was shocked at first.

There was no news about it when it happened and after so many days, someone came to my door from another city just to inquire.

My first thought was to tell them everything but something about those officers was not sitting well with me. And my doubts concreted when they mentioned Marie.

If they had visited her, she would have called me right away.

So, I lied through my teeth to the very end.

I didn’t want mom to panic because of this and I was not ready to take my chances of getting involved with Nathaniel again.

“I don’t know why they came,” I lied. “We did go to that club but we saw or heard nothing,” I said without looking at him. “We left early because I was not feeling well.”

“Alison was suspicious of those officers,” John said somberly. “So, I called back to Leicester headquarters to confirm” he paused and looked at me carefully. “There was no murder and no report. Those were not real officers.”

I kept looking at him silently.

“Your face says everything.” John pointed out the obvious. “Ashely,” he pinched my chin gently. “You know you can tell me anything, kiddo.” I nodded feebly. “No need to be afraid, okay?” He palmed my head. “You can count on us.”

John looked towards the door when the bell jingled.

“We will talk about this later,” John patted my head. “Tell me everything when you are ready.”

“Okay,” I said in a low voice.

“I was expecting some people. They are here,” he told me. “I am taking them upstairs. Come yourself to take their orders.”

I was about to protest.

“Please,” John requested. “I don’t want many people to see them or know.”

“Okay.” I didn’t want to agree but I nodded nonetheless.

“Thank you, darling.” John patted my cheek and went outside to receive his guests.

“Hey!” Jake turned me around roughly.

“What is your problem?” I pushed his hand away from my shoulder. “Don’t touch me.”

“Whoa!” Jake raised his hands in surrender. “Why are you always so stiff?”

“Why are you always such a prick?” I countered.

“As much as you are cute and,” Jake swept a look down my body. “Hot,” he continued. “Your cut-edge tongue is a huge turn-off no matter how much of this,” he gestured to me whole, “is a turn-on.”

“You are disgusting, Jake,” I said angrily. “Leave me alone.”

I looked behind me when I felt someone pass by. I could only see the backs.

They were dressed in expensive suits, meaning it was not a small party or no small business.

John came as well.

“Are those your clients?” I asked John when those men went upstairs.

“Yes.” He didn’t seem happy about those people for some reason. “Come up after some time to take the orders. Don’t send anyone. Okay?”

“I might need a hand to bring the orders upstairs” I reasoned. “You know I am not good with serving.”

“Only serving,” John said strictly and went upstairs.

“Will you look at that?” Rob exclaimed excitedly right after entering.

“Look at what?” Jake inquired and went after him.

“The cars, mate!” Rob yelled again.

“Rob!” I glared at him in a warning.

“There are really expensive cars outside and lots of them.” He said excitedly. “The men in black too. It’s like a movie scene.”

Everyone went to see it.

“Holy cow!” Jake whistled. I went after them and peeped out through the window.

“No shit man!” Jake wolf-whistled.

“Why are you creating so much commotion?” Maurice came at last. “John has an important meeting, for goodness’ sake. Pipe it down, you all.”

Why meet here?

“Don’t fanny around.” Everyone scurried away when Maurice snapped.

I grabbed the notepad and went upstairs.

“It is not possible” John sounded agitated.

“Then make it possible,” His client said coldly.

That man, whoever he was, reeked of authority and dominance.

No wonder John was so worked up.

“But–” John stopped when he saw me.

“I am here to take your orders,” I smiled at him. John just nodded and looked at his client.

My smile fell when I saw his face.

“What would you like to have, Mr. Rothschild?” John asked him.

Nathaniel skimmed through the menu briefly and then put it down.

“Roasted beans,” I noted his order with trembling hands.

“Same,” His companion followed suit.

“The usual?” John nodded at me. “Anything else?” John shook his head. “Your orders will be up shortly.”

I turned and almost ran from there.

Why him? Why here? Why?

“Hey!” Rob held my shoulders when I bumped into him. I just brushed past him and went to the kitchen. Rob followed me. “Will you at least speak?”

I thrust the tray into his hand and placed the cups on it after I was done.

“Follow me.” I walked ahead of him.

“Ashley–”

“Just be quiet.” I cut him off and led him upstairs. “Go,” I stopped and motioned him to go ahead.

“Nutter,” Rob muttered under his breath and went ahead of me.

I followed him, making sure I was behind him all the time.

John looked at me quizzically when he saw how I was trying to be a shadow of Rob.

“What is wrong with you?” Rob whispered.

“Nothing,” I whispered back.

Rob served them coffee and stepped back. He looked at me over his shoulder when we bumped again.

But my eyes were trained on Nathaniel against my consent.

I couldn’t understand why my heart started pounding when he picked up his cup and sipped his coffee.

I didn’t know why I was looking at him expectantly when he stopped after the first sip and stared at the dark fluid for a few moments before sipping it again.

I was startled when Nathaniel looked at me.

His eyes turned hostile the moment they met mine.

I looked at Rob in question when he suddenly blocked our eye contact.

“Ashley?” Rob pointed to his sleeve in my grip.

“Sorry,” I let it go reluctantly.

“Take it easy,” He said gently and made sure I couldn’t make another eye contact with Nathaniel.

“That will be all. Thank you” John said to us.

“Let us know if you need anything,” Rob said happily and turned. “Let’s go,” He ushered me forward.

He didn’t let me peek back even once. He only let go once we were downstairs.

“You are welcome.” He grinned. “See ya.” Rob faked a salute and left.

I leaned against the counter and closed my eyes.

Is it a coincidence?

I went behind the counter to get my phone from my coat.

“Where are you going, dear?” Maurice came right when I was about to walk out of the door.

“I will be back.”

“At least wear your coat.” She yelled after me but I was already out.

I shivered when I saw his men outside. They mimicked statues.

I crossed the road while glancing back every second. There was a pit on the other end with no fence. No one knew how deep it was.

The location of the coffee house was ideal and beautiful but it was deadly as well.

I called Mathew while looking into the pit of death. It was always so dark and looked so eerie because of the thickets.

“Hey!”

“What is your brother doing here?” I jumped the gun.

“My brother? Where?”

“Here, Mathew,” I yelled in frustration. “He is in the Lake District.”

Mathew fell silent.

“Mathew?”

“He is there?”

“You... didn’t know?” I closed my eyes and palmed my forehead.

“No.”

“I just–” I breathed out. “He is here for some business then.”

“What business?”

“How am I supposed to know? He is with my uncle right now.”

“Your uncle?”

“You really don’t know with the way you are answering.” I shook my head. “Anyways, I have to go now. I will talk later.”

“Sure. Tell me if you need help. Bye.”

I stared at my phone when the call ended.

“Nathaniel is a goddamn owner of a freaking empire,” I whispered. “He has no time to spare for nonsense. I should stop assuming things now.”

I breathed deeply and rubbed my arms.

I should stop this now.

I turned to go back inside and ended up colliding with someone. I staggered when I stepped back hastily.

I stared into the pit in horror when I couldn’t regain my footing.

It did not fascinate me at the moment. It looked like a monster with its mouth wide open to swallow me whole.

I gasped when the person I collided with grabbed my upper arms and pulled me back.

If it was not for his instant reflexes, I would have fallen into that pit.

“Than–” I froze when I saw who saved me.

“Careful,” Nathaniel said in his deep voice. He let go of my arms when I stepped away from him hurriedly.

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

It was best to leave before anything could occur.

I looked at Nathaniel warily when he blocked my path.

“Fancy meeting you here, princess,” Nathaniel mused.

My guard went up when he moved closer to me. It automatically forced me to take a step back from him.

“So, this is where you live,” Nathaniel looked around. “Your sweet little nest, your home.” He said tauntingly. “It doesn’t look like a safe place in the least.”

I kept my lips sealed. I didn’t want to instigate anything between us.

Not after what happened last time.

“You see,” Nathaniel leaned toward me. “Beauty can be as lethal as it can be alluring.”

I moved back when he tried touching my cheek.

“This place,” he continued, “is a very manifestation of what I just said. There are too many chances of accidents to happen.”

I stopped when he stopped.

“Like...this.”

I screamed when he pushed me back. My arms flailed but there was nothing I could hold on to. I couldn’t even regain my footing because I didn’t notice I was standing on the edge.

He cornered me and I did not even realise it.

I looked at Nathaniel appalled when he smirked.

I was going to die?

I closed my eyes when I felt the strong pull of gravity behind me. But my eyes flew open the next instant when I felt his hold around my hand.

I kept looking at Nathaniel when he kept me dangling in midair for a few moments.

A few tears rolled down my cheeks when I felt his grip slipping on my hand.

He was torturing me.

“Please,” I closed my eyes when I once again felt the claws of death behind me. I was totally at his mercy right now.

I would die of heart failure at this rate.

Nathaniel pulled me toward him harshly. I hugged his torso and buried my face in his chest the moment I crashed into him.

It was so scary.

The feeling of hanging by thread around your neck in a chokehold.

The feeling of pure torture.

“Did you feel it?” Nathaniel whispered in my ear darkly.

My heart dropped in fear when he locked one arm around my waist and forced me to walk toward the edge.

“This is what it means to cross paths with me.” He stopped on the precipice of death.

I was horrified by how he was not in the least affected to be toying with death. It was one thing to scare me and another to endanger his own life.

Did he hold any regard for himself?

No sane person would ever do something like this.

Nathaniel pinched my chin and forced me to look up at him. He smirked at the fear in my eyes and caressed my cheek with the back of his index and middle finger.

It only made me cry harder.

“If only you had not been an insolent fool, you wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

I buried my face in his chest again and clutched his jacket with all my feeble strength when I felt his hold slacking around my waist. I pushed myself into him because I feared that moment to repeat itself.

By the very hands that pushed me toward death and then pulled me out of its mouth.

“You should have just slept with me,” Nathaniel whispered in my ear.

“What happened?” I heard Maurice but I couldn’t bring myself to move away from Nathaniel. “John!”

Everyone gathered around us in the next moment but no one dared to move closer to Nathaniel.

“What’s wrong?” John pushed through the crowd. “What happened?” He unclasped my fingers holding Nathaniel’s jacket and pulled me into his embrace. “Ash?”

I let out a broken sob and clutched John’s arms fearfully when I was out of that monster’s claws.

“She was about to fall,” Nathaniel lied smoothly.

“My,” Maurice cupped her mouth in horror.

“Are you okay?” John asked me.

I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

I couldn’t look away from the monster in front of me.

“Let’s take her inside for now, John,” Maurice looked at me worriedly. “She is shaken.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Rothschild,” John said gratefully.

I shrank in John’s hold when Nathaniel looked at me. No one else but me could see the menace in his eyes.

“You should be careful.” He said apathetically. “You won’t want to cause pain to others because of your thoughtless actions.”

This was intentional.

Nathaniel smirked evilly when more tears fell from my eyes.

Monster

“Let’s discuss the matter some other time,” he looked at John. “I see now is not the right time.”

“I will contact you,” John said to him.

Nathaniel nodded and looked at me. He just smirked at my fear and left. He got in his car and left just like he came.

“Come on,” John walked me back to the coffee house.

I looked behind me, at the pit.

I will never be able to look at this place the same way.

He tainted my haven with his terror.

“Do you want me to call Alison?” John asked me.

I shook my head at him pleadingly.

“Alright,” He nodded in understanding. “Relax yourself if you don’t want your mother to find out.” He squeezed my shoulders gently. “You are fine.”

I wiped my tears and nodded at him.

“Give her some space to calm down,” John said to everyone. “And no one is to say a word about it to anyone.” He looked at Jake sternly. “Got it?”

Jake just nodded and handed my coat to John who draped it around my shoulders.

“Let us know if you need anything,” Jake said to me and left with Rob.

“I will get you a cup of tea,” Maurice patted my cheek and went to the kitchen.

“I will be right back,” John stood up and went out while calling someone.

I looked at my trembling hands.

Why was life doing this to me?

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.

I shouldn’t have come across him. I should not have messed with him.

I should have never met Nathaniel.