Kiara's POV :

I was back home and in my office working for the past six hours. "Yes, I need that sent to me ASAP. Where the hell is the contract signature that was supposed to be received yesterday?" I yelled at my secretary. He shuddered and left. It was a long week with the launch of the new product, and I had no time for anything.

"You slept with Asher?" Kyle said storming in his voice really loud. "Yeah tell the entire fucking company Kyle," I said glaring back at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you? So what all these years and you forgive him just because you are horny?" he screamed at me. I stood up taken aback. "Mind your fucking tongue, did Elina forget to mention to shut the fuck up and not bring this up with me?" I asked him.

"You should have come to me first," he said taking a threatening step forward. "My sex life is none of your fucking business," I glared back at him. "It is when you are with someone who treated you like trash, give me one good reason you are with him Kiara," he said finally calming down a little. I stared back at him having no answer. "I like him," I said after a while.

"Really do you like him or do you just like the thought of him and your sorry ass can't digest the fact that he is back and he couldn't love you then and now that he is giving you the slightest of attention you are ready to fuck him," he said. "Shut up," I said sitting down on my chair. Not able to comprehend. "You do realize that you have just been waiting for him, that's pathetic Kiara, he just came back and you just let him, what is wrong with you?" he asked.

"Kyle, stop you are making me sound like a desperate whore," I said looking at him tears brimming in my eyes. "Kia, I love you and I say this because he hasn't treated you right then and he isn't treating you right now. He is being desperate for god knows what reason and has gotten in your head about it too. You are wasting your time on him again, you deserve so much better Kia," he said holding my hand and gently rubbing it trying to calm him down. "I really hope you think about this with all your head, I will support you no matter what but I'm going to break his face," he said getting up and storming off.

I sat there completely shocked. I hadn't realized what was happening. Everything was just happening and I had not put any thought into it. It just felt right at the moment. But was Kyle right? Was I just doing this because I was attracted to him? Or because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I shook my head. I didn't have time for this right now, I said burying myself in work and trying to forget about a certain man in my head.

*****

The product launch had been successful and the party we were hosting for it was going great. Kyle and I were definitely in a cold war. "I'm sorry Kiara," El said sitting beside me. "It's fine but a warning next time would be nice you know?" I said. "So how is Asher?" she asked. I didn't know. I didn't know because I was avoiding him at all costs. He was supposed to be back two days ago but he was not yet. He was texting me constantly but I was ignoring him saying I was busy, or I was at work, or something else. He was pissed I knew that and I wanted to talk to him but not before figuring it out.

"I haven't talked to him," I said. Her eyes widened, "What do you mean? Don't tell me Kyle got in your head!" she said shocked. "He didn't get in my head Eilna, he did bring up some pretty serious things that I should have thought about before fucking the guy that broke my heart," I said before downing the champagne. "Well I hope you have had enough time to think because Asher is walking over to Kyle right now," she said getting up. I turned around seeing him in his black suit, pretty pissed. His face had a scar, his hand was wrapped in a bandage and yet he somehow looked amazing. I missed him. A lot right now the only thought in my mind was to run to him, hug him, and ask him how his week was. Ask him if he missed me. But I just sat there, I didn't want to be the girl pining over him again. Pathetic. I said turning away from him and looking down at my fingers.

"Trouble in paradise?" Christian said sitting down beside me. "Hi," I gave him a small smile. "What's going on in that big brain of yours?" he asked. "How did he get hurt?" That was my first question. "If you care about him so much why not show it Kiara?" he asked. "Because Christian I don't wanna end up being that person who just cared so much when he didn't give a flying fuck about me," I said. "You know he likes you right?" he asked.

"Christian in today's world even loving someone is not enough," I said. "Did you tell him that?" he asked. "Do I have to ask for everything? Do I have to be asked to be treated right?" I scoffed. "Has you treated you badly since we are back?" Christian asked. "No, but what has it been 2 months? What he decides to change his mind again, what am I to do then Christian?" I asked. He had no answer. "I thought so," I said getting up and leaving the room. I needed a break.

I stood outside the hotel staring at the road. It must have been ten minutes when I felt familiar strong arms around my waist and his scent engulfing me completely. "I see you are pissed. But can we hold off on that? I missed you. I haven't seen you in a week and if that wasn't torturing enough you decided it was the right time to be pissed. I need you, Kiara. I need you to survive. Fuck," he said kissing my exposed shoulder. He turned me around when I didn't say anything. My eyes were almost watering.

"Angel, don't cry, what happened?" he asked cupping my cheek and wiping the tears. "Ash," I said sobbing into his chest. "Baby, what's wrong why are you crying?" he said rubbing my back as I sobbed into his chest. Ten minutes later when I had finally calmed down I looked up at him from his chest. His shirt was soaked with my tears. "Now will you tell me what's wrong?" he asked pulling me into him.

"Do you love me?' I asked still recovering from the whole wee of torment. "What?" he asked taken aback by my question. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," I said pulling out of his embrace ready to leave. Before he held my hand pulled me back. "No, you are not leaving upset," he said wiping my stary tears.

"And why are you asking me that, I don't want to convey my feelings towards you right now outside and hotel just after getting punched by your brother, but if that makes you feel any better, I lo-" I put my hand on his mouth. "No, stop don't say it because I need the validation," I said looking at him still not being able to look into his eyes. "Okay one, I did not say it because you wanted to hear it, but I'll wait for now, now tell me what the fuck has been going on in your head," he asked making me look at him.

"I'm tired Ash, Can I go home?" I asked. "No, I meant it when I said you are upset and you are not going home alone," he said pulling me to his car. "I want to be alone," I said trying to explain. "Then be alone with me," he grumbled opening the car door for me. I got in and sat down. "You think I'm stupid? When you are upset you hate being alone," he said as he put on my seatbelt for me and kissed my forehead. "You can continue not talking but you are staying in my house tonight, there is a guest room if you need space," he said driving away. I just looked out of the window.

The car stopped and he got out and opened the door for me, offering me his hand. I looked at the apartment building confused. "Stan," he nodded at the security guard before we walked into the elevator. He pressed the top floor and I looked at him. "This is my penthouse," he said twisting his injured arm a little. "Does it hurt?" I asked looking at him and then gently placing my hand on his jaw that had started to bruise.

"If it was anyone but Kyle, I would have hit back," he said. I shuddered at the thought of their fight. "Relax, I would let him beat me up if that means I can have you," he said as we walked out of the elevator and into his penthouse. The penthouse was romantically lit the dining table was arranged for two people, and there were pink roses in a vase and candles at the center. I looked at the whole thing shocked. "Ash?" I said looking at him as we reached the table. "Angel, I was supposed to come to surprise you at your launch party and then bring you here, for dinner, to tell you something really important," he said as he held both my hands and went down on his knees.

"You know I have never been the one to deal with my emotions very well, but then you came into my life, I hated the thought of moving here and going to that stupid high school until you literally barged into my life, forcing me to be your best friend, caring about me like no one ever had. I had never felt something like that for a stranger, the feeling of pull and the desire to be with you constantly.

You are the smartest and the most beautiful woman to ever exist. I was stupid enough to leave back then, thinking I couldn't protect you or that you deserve more. I wish, I wish I would have stayed. I regret it so much. But even after so many years, I have loved you. I loved you then, even though I couldn't tell you. And I love you now. More than ever and I know this might be hard for you to accept but I always wanted you and only you.

Nothing would change that. I am going to be the person who deserves you even if I have to change every ounce of me. I want to be there proudly standing when you achieve every milestone in your life, I want you to drag me shopping and do my shopping for me cause you love it so much, I want you to scowl at me and call me names, I want you to hold when you cook and kiss you when you leave for work. I want our kids to have your eyes, and for them to say daddy loves mommy so much it is gross," he chuckled making me sob again.

"I am not saying you have to say it back to me right now or ever, but I can't go on more day without you knowing that I love you, Kiara," he said a lone tear escaping his eyes. "Asher," I said pulling him up and hugging him. After like five minutes we pulled apart and gave him a small kiss. "Thank you," I said smiling at him. "For what?" he grumbled as he pulled my chair to sit me down. There he is, my grumpy bear. "Just this," I said pointing at the table and the decor. "Wait until you see the food," he smirked and left to what I assumed was the kitchen. "Am I allowed to snoop?" I called to him. "It's going to be yours soon to go ahead, angel," he hollered back and I smiled getting up.

It was pretty huge the living room, the dining room, the balcony the house was furnished so well with a dark yet pleasant aesthetic to it. I opened the door and it was a simple bedroom barely any sign of someone living there. I opened the other door finding the master room with his scent lingering in it. The backdrop was black and so was literally everything. I walked to the bedside and picked up the photo frame. I was shocked. It was a picture of me but it wasn't from high school. It was from when I visited London. I don't wanna know. When I heard a utensil falling I rushed to the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" I asked walking in. "Yeah?" he said looking at me and smiling a little. "Let me help you," I said as we set the table and sat down to eat. For the next hour, week talked about our week, everything random and I conveniently skipped about the whole Kyle and me fight. "You still wanna go home?" he said as he loaded the dishwasher. I sat on the counter looking at the clock. "Well no," I smiled. He stood in front of me and grabbed my face kissing me softly before holding onto my waist and picking me up easily.

"ASH!" I screamed. "What?" he smirked as I held onto him my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck. "You are hurt you idiot, put me down, have two very capable legs!" I said. "You are light as fucking feather shut up," he grumbled before walking into his room and dropping me on the bed. "I'm going to take a shower, if you wanna change into my clothes, they are in the dresser," he said unbuttoning his shirt. I very shamelessly checked him out and he smirked at me.

"We can shower together if you want, angel," he smirked. "We will do everything except shower if I go in there with you," I said throwing a pillow at him. Come back fast, I need to take a look at all those nasty wounds. I said walking into his closet, as I heard the door close and the water. I grabbed a shirt and his boxers before heading to the guest room bathroom. I needed a shower. I looked at my face and I was horrified. He called me beautiful while I looked like this? The make had smudged completely. My eyes were dark with all the crying and eyeliner and mascara I shuddered quickly taking a shower and walking back to his room. I smiled when I saw him already on the bed with his laptop out.

"We are sleeping," I said pulling the laptop out of his hand and leaving it on the coffee table. He pulled his arms out to me and I went straight into them and lay beside him. "I'm sorry Kyle punched you," I said tracing the bruise that was showing. "I'm just glad he can fight like that," he chuckled pressing a kiss to my forehead. He dimmed the lights and pulled the covers over us. "I hope you can forgive me, Kiara," he said after two minutes of us just laying there. "I will," I smiled pecking his lips. "We are going to be fine, Ash," I said closing my eyes.

Before I was fully out I heard him kiss my forehead and say, "Yes, because I won't let the only person I love in this world get taken away from me," he whispered.