Kiara's POV :

"That is actually perfect, when do you think we could launch this?" Kyle asked. "I'm thinking of having the model design come in a month so it could be launched a month after testing?" I suggested. "Great, so if that's all, I would like to go home," He laughed getting up. "Well lucky you, I have a couple of things to finish," I said, grabbing my laptop.

"Sucks to be you," he smirked. "You sound like a ten-year-old," I rolled my eyes while walking out. I sat down to write some emails when my phone pinged with a message from Leo. I smiled texting him back saying I could meet up with him soon. It was almost two hours when I finished up the work, cranking my neck and getting ready to leave.

As soon as I got to the parking lot I started to drive out when I found the same black car following me again. My tiredness turned into fear real quick as I started to search for my phone dialing his number as soon as I hit the road.

"Ash," I said, my voice lacing with fear. "Kiara, are you okay?" he asked. "Ash the car is following me again," I said. "Fuck, Kiara I need you to keep driving to your house okay? I am going to try to meet you mid-way," he said as I heard some shuffling. "But my house is like twenty minutes away and the road is going to be secluded soon," I said.

"Don't worry I can already see you and the car," he said. "Blake, track the fucking number," he said. "You want me to keep driving?" I said taking a turn to see the entire road empty. I looked in the mirror to see the window roll down and a man put his hand out with a gun in it. "ASHER" I screamed. "Baby, calm down okay? Your car is bulletproof, I am right behind," he said as I could see his car pull up behind the black car.

There was another man pulled out of the passenger seat window aiming the gun at Asher's car. "Ash," I said, my voice cracking. "Blake shoot at their tire right fucking now," Asher shouted. I could see Blake get out and shoot their tire immediately and the car stopped, but the guys kept firing at Asher too. "Kiara, keep driving and go to your house and lock the door, don't open it unless it's me okay?" he asked.

"Asher I'm not leaving you!" I said about slowing down. "Kiara, I'm going to be fine please just listen okay?" he asked as I stopped to see his hand come out with a gun. "Asher-"I said as I saw him get out of his car. "GO!" he said and I ended the call zooming out. My heart was racing so fast. What the hell was that?

And why the hell would he just get out of the car like that? I rushed to park my car and ran inside the building and to my apartment locking the door and leaning against it. I knew I would be fine and he would be too but I knew this was going to end up putting Asher in danger.

I sat there staring at my phone tapping my foot impatiently. It had been twenty minutes and I was so anxious. As if on cue my doorbell rang and I ran to the door and looked through the machine to see Asher standing there with cuts on his face and immediately opened the door and hugged him tightly.

He groaned but pulled me closer. "Thank god you are okay," I said, pulling him in. He stopped me from dragging him and looked at me giving me a once over to find any injuries. I looked at him to see his face with two cuts. "I'm glad you got out of there," he said sitting on the couch while I grabbed a first aid kit.

"What happened?" I asked. "One of the rival gangs thinks you are my girlfriend and hurting you would be a nice way to warn me," he said with so much anger and vengeance lacing his voice that it made me shudder. "I'm sorry," I said as I sat down to tend to his wounds. "Baby, it's not your fault," he said, placing his hand on my jaw and making me look at him. "I mean look at you!" I said pointing at the wound.

"The other guys are dead," he smirked. My eyes widened at that. "Relax, Nothing is going to happen. Those fuckers called for back up and we had to fight like ten more people and we didn't have enough bullets, hence the knives," he sighed. "Okay I'm glad you are okay," I said, cleaning the second wound. He placed his hand on my waist and rested his head on my shoulder pulling me closer.

"I don't like that you have to be alone at night," he said after a minute of silence. "Then stay over tonight," I said, making him look at me immediately. "I don't want to be alone tonight. I'm really scared," I said, trying not to look at him. "You don't have to be strong in front of me, okay? I'm always going to protect you," he said looking at me. I looked at him, giving him a soft smile. "I'm sorry Kiara," he said after a few minutes of silence. I looked at him confused.

"Asher, let's not talk about it," I said, trying to avoid the subject. "No, I need you to know that I was stupid," he said. I looked at him chuckling.

"I know"

"And really really dumb"

"Yes, very"

"And I have zero brains"

"100 percent" I laughed, enjoying him trying to make this right.

"I want to kiss you"

I didn't say anything. I just looked away trying to hide a blush. "Okay, how about we go to sleep for now?" He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. "I thought you were sleeping on the couch?" I said as he entered the room. "Wait what?" he said, turning to me with a horrid look on his face.

I laughed while walking to my cupboard. "I don't think this hoodie is going to fit you anymore," I said holding his gray hoodie from years ago. Only to find him only in his boxers. "You still have it?" he said, taking it from my hand. "Of course! Still fits me!" I said. I walked into the closet and changed into some shorts and removed my shirt and wore the hoodie. "See?" I said walking out only to find him staring at the polaroid wall.

"New pictures?" he said looking at all of them from my high school graduation where I looked almost dead to actually happy during my college one. Then there were a few at Kyle and Elina's wedding and Elijah's birthdays.

I stood beside him and stared at the memories and smiled a little. "I am glad you at least found happiness. I love your smile," he said looking at me. "I know but you are still missing in all of these. You could have been there, you know?" I asked. "We can take one now," he said, grabbing the camera that was at the desk.

"How the tables have turned," I said, chuckling. "Please who wouldn't want pictures of their handsome faces being taken," he smirked, pulling me to the window and sitting beside me. I was smiling at the camera when he leaned to peck my cheek and the camera clicked.

I looked at him wide-eyed. "That is really unfair," I said, grabbing the camera and taking the picture out, fanning it a little before putting it on the wall. I turned to Asher to see him walking toward me. He pulled me down landing us both on the bed.

His arms engulfed my tiny waist. Bringing my head on his shoulder I smiled closing my eyes. His thumb stroking my thigh made goosebumps all over. Sleep engulfed me. I don't know if it was the warmth of the hoodie that I wore after years or if the person that it belonged to had his arms around me.

"I missed you." was all I heard before I fell asleep.

I heard my alarm go off only for me to hear a groan. I tried to open my eyes a little but I looked at the clock for it to read 7 am. I turned around to see Asher slamming his phone before pulling me to him and nuzzling me back to sleep.

"Ash, I need to go to work," I said, still a little sleepy. "Please take the day off," he said, pulling in closer if that was even possible. I tried to moan at the feeling. My phone started ringing again and I answered it. "Hi, Leo." "Kiara, I am coming to pick you up," he said, making me jolt up. "What why?" I asked him. "It-" "Can you come back to sleep," Asher's deep voice said, pulling me down. "Wait, who are you with?" Leo asked. "Umm.. continue what you were saying-" "Was that Asher?" he questioned further.

"Angel, I swear to god if you don't go back to sleep-" he said, opening his eyes to find me on the phone which he snatched. "Look Leonardo I appreciate you trying to come to pick her up but I will drop her wherever she needs to go, she will see you at your stupid lunch thing bye," Asher said hanging up. I looked at him shocked.

He looked at me pulling me closer. "I would have loved to sleep a little more," he said. "I am shocked you didn't swear at him or threaten him or -" "I'm not jealous of your friendship, okay?" he said sitting up. "But when did I say anything about jealousy?" I asked. "Glad that you brought it up, I want you to have all your meals with me, I want you to call me up and be grumpy and ask me to drive you to places, take you shopping and whatever the fuck you want to do. I want you to do it with me," he said, staring at me.

I just looked at him not knowing what to say. Did he really want to spend so much time with me? "So you are saying if I become really annoying and keep troubling you, you won't mind?" he nodded. "Even when you are dealing with gang stuff?" I asked and he nodded without hesitation again.

"Okay," I said, getting up only for him to pull me down. "You remember the kiss I was talking about last night?" he asked, making me blush. "I need to get ready," I said, not trying to look at him. "I am going to get that kiss soon and you are going to love every second of it," he smirked, letting me go and I ran to the bathroom.

Is it hot in here?

As soon as I got ready I walked out to see Asher sitting at the table in his clothes from last night and some breakfast. "Wow, thank you, I haven't been able to have a good homemade breakfast in a long time," I said sitting down and we both started to eat talking about business.

"Do you want me to drop you?" he asked. I smiled at him nodding. "If you don't mind," I said, grabbing my coat and wearing my heels. We walked down to the parking lot and got in speeding to work.

"So what is your plan for the weekend?" I asked. "Have work," he shrugged. "Okay, can I come by train?" I asked and he immediately looked at me. "Kiara, I hope you know it is very dangerous to be around there and I am not stopping you from anything but you don't have to," he said. "I know but I should be getting the training you know?" I said. "After that day I don't think you do, but nonetheless, you can come by whenever you want." He smiled.

"Okay," I smiled. As we reached the building. I took off my seat belt. "Have a good day," he smiled. "Thank you," I said quickly, kissing his cheek and getting out of the car and rushing in with a small smile on my face.

It was Saturday and I hadn't seen Asher for three days now. It was weird not having him around but I was busy with work and so was he. The texting had definitely increased and he even called me once which was shocking. And right now I was driving to the base.

As soon as I reached the main door the security stopped me. "Ma'am this is private property, you can't enter," he said. "I am here to see Asher King," I told them but they just didn't budge and glared at me. I sighed giving him a call only for him to not answer.

I dialed Blake who immediately picked up. "Kiara, to what do I owe-" "Listen they won't let me into the base," I said. "What the fuck? Wait, you are at the gate?" he asked and heard some shuffling around. "You morons let her in and register her face and car she is fucking important," he shouted at someone and the guard immediately opened the gate. "Why thank you that was fast," I said to Blake. "I'll see you at the door," he grinned.

As soon as I spotted him I parked the car and ran to him giving him a hug. "Hey!" I said as he walked me to the door. "What a surprise," he smiled. "Well, I told Asher I might swing by," I said. "Yeah he is upstairs in a very important meeting right now," he said. "Oh shit, that explains why he didn't pick up," I shrugged. "So what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well, you offered some training," I smirked. "Fuck yes," he fist-bumped me as we walked to the arena. I dropped my bag.

I panted while Blake smirked. "For someone who can kick ass you are pretty out of stamina," he smirked. "Okay, hulk I don't do this every day," I laughed. "You wanna go take a shower?" he asked, guiding me.

After a few minutes, I was feeling way better. When I came out Blake was already standing in formal attire talking to very attractive women. I walked to him smiling. "Kiara, meet Isadora Marino, she is the daughter of an Italian mafia who Boss is meeting with right now. And Isadora, this Kiara Wilder the COO at Wilder and Co," he said introducing us. "Of course, I have heard about you, I use your company products all the time," she smiled. "Why, thank you," I smiled at her.

"Anyways, it was nice meeting you. Blake, I am about to leave, is Ash going to be free anytime soon?" I asked him. "Well my brother and father have been in there with him, they might take too long," she said, making me sulk a little. "Oh, okay. Well, then I guess I'll see you-"

"Kiara?" a very familiar voice called out. I turned around to see Asher walking towards me. "Hi," I smiled as he stood in front of me. "When did you get here?" "I thought your meeting was going to be long," we said at the same time, making me chuckle and he smirked.

"Were you waiting for me?" he asked. "Don't get ahead of yourself," I said to him. "Asher, hai una base magnificia," (you have a magnificent base) an elderly man and a man our age walked towards us. "Grazie," Asher replied. "Immagino sia stato bello fare affari con te. Sono felice di vedere che hai un vantaggio maggiore qui che a casa."(It was nice doing business with you, I am glad to see you have a greater advantage here than back home)the younger man continued. "Certo che voglio vivere qui ora" Asher replied looking at me. (Of course, I want to live here now.)

"Well it was nice to meet you again, Asher, Blake and ..." the younger man looked at me. "è Kiara," I smiled. "Kiara, that's a nice name," he smiled. "Ci vediamo presto" (we will see each other soon) Asher said, shaking all their hands. "Blake, escort them out please," he said, his voice holding power like always. "Pensavo saresti venuta con noi?" (I thought you were coming with us?) Isadora asked stopping behind while everyone else walked ahead. "Era prima, ma ho alcune cose da fare, spero che vi divertiate per il resto del vostro viaggio," (It was before, but I have some things to do, I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your trip) Asher replied grabbing my hand and turning around walking in another direction. I looked back to see her sigh and give me a small smile before leaving.

While Asher dragged me to god knows where I finally got the chance to look at him. He looked hot. He was dressed in an expensive suit that fit him like a glove. He had his hair pushed back and a little messy giving him a sexy look. He had this commanding expression on his face which made everyone else immediately greet him with respect as we passed by.

When we finally made it to the end of the hallway he turned around and stopped. "You know you just broke her heart?" I asked. "I know but she needed to know I was taken," he said, making me smile a little. "Why didn't you call me?" he asked. "Well, I did but I guess you didn't pick up, I mean you were in a meeting," I trailed off.

"How long were you waiting for?" he asked. "Not long, trained with Blake a little," I smiled as we entered a room which looked like an office.

"I would love to spend some time with you but I have to finish something up real quick," he said apologetically. "Take your time I'm going to read a book," I said, grabbing one for the shelf and sitting on the couch.