CHAPTER 113: DARE TO LOVE ME Asher Russell?
Ash
I arrived at the meeting with Will and the engineers from T–World. Although I hadn’t been connected to the same medium because I’d wanted to design since I could remember, from a very young age, I’d come to understand and know my family’s business–networks, communications, and all that. My father had decided to open a company related to communications many years ago, establishing it in the prosperous land of the United Arab Emirates. My grandfather had always been his guide and provided the initial investment to start on his own, and it had been successful ever since, never needing another euro from my grandfather, who had always been proud of his son’s success. Although my father had wanted me to continue his work as soon as I finished high school, I decided to follow my passion for fashion. With my mother’s support, my father reluctantly allowed me to begin my studies, though I’d realized he had held it against me until now, wanting to destroy what I’d built.
I entered the boardroom followed by the engineers, noticing that William was already there with his team, ready to start the meeting.
“Welcome,” Will greeted us warmly and shook our hands. These meetings had been repeated over the past few days. At some point, I would have to stop being in charge of this, and the engineers would be able to move on their own, following Alaia’s directives, of course.
William sat at the head of the table, and I positioned myself to his right. Without further delay, he began the meeting. I had thought this pretty boy was a jerk all day, seven days a week, but I’d been surprised to see that he was an intelligent man who knew how to do his job very well. He had an excellent memory for recalling data and quickly resolving any issues that arose with the system, so incredibly, I always paid attention to what he said. It was something I couldn’t help; my mind and body focused on him.
One of the engineers mentioned that we needed more technicians to work in an area that was taking longer than it should. They needed to finish with it as it was the beginning of everything. William observed and took notes, then wrote something on his phone.
“The technicians are on their way,” he stated, and I raised both eyebrows, having thought he
wasn’t paying attention.
“Very well, sir,” said the engineer from his team. “We’ll work from here for the rest of the
afternoon. We’ll be on the 9th floor if you need us.”
William and I nodded as we watched them leave, but I still needed to stay with him a bit longer. We had this matter of the purchases we needed to make between both companies
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pending.
“Sir,” his secretary entered the boardroom.
“Order something for lunch. I want a filet mignon with potatoes, you know, and a medium–rare steak with steamed potatoes and salad,” he continued looking at the papers on his desk, and I frowned. The second option was what I always ordered for lunch. “My engineers usually eat the same as me; just consult the ones from T–World,” William said without looking up.
Okay, he liked to be in control, but that was what I felt like eating today, so I didn’t change the order.
The girl left, and almost 30 minutes later, our lunches finally arrived, much to the relief of my stomach. I was starving.
They served the food, and this time I was disappointed to see that the portion was so small. I was a girl who loved to eat, and I wrinkled my nose in disgust, catching William’s gaze.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, preparing his cutlery. His order seemed double because that plate looked enormous.
“Where did you order this from?” I pointed to the plate. “It won’t even fill half my stomach,” I complained, and William seemed to stifle a laugh before typing on his phone. His secretary entered, and they served me another portion of everything.
I hadn’t had breakfast and skipped the mid–morning snack. Yes, despite my petite body, I loved
to eat, just like my precious Noah, who ate and ate non–stop.
“Better now?” he laughed, cutting his filet.
“Much better,” I nodded, satisfied, and he showed a big smile.
“You’re a strange guy, and for being so skinny, you eat like a trucker,” he commented, and I
couldn’t help but burst out laughing, which he followed while elegantly eating a piece of meat.
After lunch, we left the office to go to a club where we would meet with the cable suppliers. It was a huge purchase, and our meeting was with the company owner. I sighed, I just wanted to go home and see my loved ones.
Will went straight to the driver’s seat while I had to open the door on my side. Well, well, I was
getting used to men not having any courtesies with me because I had had the brilliant idea of
pretending to be one of them. I huffed and opened the door to get in.
He turned on the car radio and played “We Don’t Talk Anymore” by Charlie Puth, starting to hum along, and I turned to look at him, eyes wide open.
“It’s one of my favorites,” he said, tapping the steering wheel with his fingers to the rhythm of
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the music.
It was also one of my favorites.
“We should go to a club one of these days,” he commented as we passed the club zone of Los Angeles. “It would be a start for you to get closer to girls and solve your problem.”
“Being a virgin is not a problem,” I retorted. Had he forgotten?
“Of course, it is. Women don’t like inexperienced men,” he asserted cockily.
“Sure, you know a lot,” I replied and huffed.
“You’d be surprised,” he affirmed and smiled confidently, my eyes lingering on his smile for a moment before I snapped out of it.
“I’m not…” I wanted to clarify the virginity issue.
“We’re here,” he said, getting out of the car without letting me finish. Here we went again.
“Jessie,” he answered the call that just came in on his phone, a splendid smile spreading across his face at the call from his precious ex–girlfriend. We walked towards the entrance of
the social club.
“Of course, tonight, yes, I’ll go with a friend,” he looked at me from his height. Oh no, he better not dare.
He talked a bit more with his ex until we reached a table where a man in a dark blue suit was sitting. He must have been around 30 years old, blond with gray eyes, as tall as my companion. He was a hunk, as my dear Tino would say, and for some reason, he seemed familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I’d seen him before.
“Frank,” William shook his hand and they hugged.
“William Garnett, if you didn’t need me, I wouldn’t know about my old friend,” he commented
with a smile.
“You know time is short when it comes to business,” William responded.
“And women,” Frank smiled, and William patted his back with camaraderie while laughing and shaking his head.
“Let me introduce you, Asher Russell,” William pointed to me. Frank looked at me for a few
seconds, and I extended my hand towards him.
“Asher Russell?” he looked at me curiously. “From the Russells who own T–World?” he asked
intrigued, and William crossed his arms, looking between us. I maintained a neutral posture,
though I didn’t like the way Frank was looking at me.
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“That’s right, I’m Darius Russell’s grandson,” I affirmed with a feigned voice, even more masculine than I usually used.
“How strange,” he tilted his head and frowned without stopping looking at me. “I’ve worked with Darius and Patrick Russell for years, and I’ve never heard of another grandson besides little Aidan,” he assured, and Will fixed his eyes on me.
DAMN IT.
