Chapter 78: I’m Here
"Yes."
A chill went down Edward Yates’s spine. Although he couldn’t see Asher Keating’s expression, he could tell from his voice that he was in a terrible mood.
Asher Keating had a cold temperament, but he rarely spoke harshly to them. Having followed him for so long, both he and Sean Yates knew exactly what each of his tones implied.
"Ash... President Keating."
Leah Sinclair spoke up nervously. She knew Asher Keating was furious, but acting on it now would be too obvious. She was afraid he’d get into trouble.
Asher Keating turned to look at her. She was sitting awkwardly on the sofa, her face still a little pale. The wound on her neck had clotted, and the sight of the red mark made his eyes darken. "Bring in the first-aid kit."
"Right away." Edward Yates hurried out to find it.
Ruth Hughes spoke up to remind him, "Asher, shouldn’t you have Leah take a shower first? It’ll be hard to wash out of her hair later."
Although not much had been splashed on Leah’s head, she had still gotten some on her. That kind of stuff was impossible to get out without a thorough washing.
Asher Keating walked over and pulled Leah to her feet. "Mom, you have a seat for a bit. When Sean Yates gets back, have him take you home."
"Okay. You two go on, don’t mind me," Ruth Hughes said quickly.
Asher Keating led Leah into the break room. The moment the door closed, he pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her. His kiss was fast and fierce. Leah pushed against him nervously but couldn’t move him. Asher only kissed her harder.
With Ruth Hughes just outside, Leah didn’t dare make a sound. Asher pressed her against the door, their cool lips slowly turning feverish. It was as if he wanted to meld her into his very being.
Leah knew he was furious, so she didn’t dare push him away again. She braced herself and endured the stormy kiss. After a long while, Asher’s kiss softened into something more tender before he slowly released her lips.
Leah panted softly, murmuring his name in a low voice, "Asher..." Asher hugged her tightly. "I’m here."
Leah’s eyes reddened. She buried her head in Asher’s chest. He held her quietly for a moment before letting go. "Go take a shower. I’ll bring you some clothes in a bit."
"What about you?" Leah asked, holding onto him. After that hug and kiss, Asher was also covered in gasoline.
"You go first. I’m going to go check on my mom."
Thinking of Ruth Hughes outside, Leah’s face instantly turned red. "Your mother... how did she end up here?"
"I’ll tell you tonight when we get home."
Asher gently pinched her cheek, took off his clothes, grabbed a bathrobe from the closet, and put it on before opening the door and walking out.
Leah took Asher’s jacket and hung it on the coat rack. She knew he kept clothes here, so she wasn’t worried he’d have nothing to wear.
She had been up here a few times before, so she was fairly familiar with the place. Stepping into the bathroom, the hot water showering over her gave Leah the feeling of having survived a disaster.
Asher Keating sat on the sofa without a word. Ruth Hughes glanced guiltily at her son. She knew he was in a bad mood and didn’t quite dare to speak.
After a long moment, Asher finally sighed softly. "Mom, you were too rash today."
"I know, I know. I was just thinking I’d see her and have a little chat. Who could have known something like this would happen? But what was that all about? Something about rape and seduction?"
Thinking back on it now, Ruth Hughes felt a wave of delayed fear. The scene had been chaotic, and all she could hear was that Lynn Lawson yelling about rape and seduction.
"Back when she was up for a permanent position, Winston Lawson threatened her. He said he wouldn’t approve it unless she slept with him. I was already planning to make a move against Winston, but she wanted to help me get him out, so she pretended to agree. After she got the evidence, Winston almost... but nothing happened in the end. We called the police." Asher summed up the situation in a few sentences.
Ruth Hughes was stunned. "You’re saying... she put herself in that much danger to help you?"
"Yes."
"Is she a fool? The woman always loses in these situations. Even if nothing happened, people will whisper and point fingers if they find out."
Ruth Hughes was very worried after hearing that, but she hadn’t expected Leah to do something like that for Asher.
"I know."
Asher spoke softly. That was why after it happened, he had given a strict order that no one was to speak of it. It wasn’t just for Leah’s sake, but also for the other women Winston Lawson had victimized.
Aevon Group was a big place filled with gossip, yet not a single name of any woman Winston Lawson had assaulted had ever been leaked. But today, Lynn Lawson had exposed Leah so directly and in front of everyone.
Ruth Hughes sighed. "Ah, son, don’t be too hard on her later. When that person rushed over, her first instinct was to push me out of the way. She’s a good girl."
"And that’s enough to call her a good girl?"
Ruth Hughes patted his hand and smiled. "When something sudden happens, a person’s first instinct is always to protect themselves. That attacker came in screaming for her to die, yet her first reaction was still to push me away. For that alone, she can’t be a bad person. Your mother can at least tell that much."
A slight smile touched Asher’s lips as well. "Mom, what did you two talk about today?"
"Just... how old she is, if she has a boyfriend..." Ruth Hughes looked guilty again as she mentioned this.
"..."
’Tsk, she really is my mother.’
Sean Yates knocked and came in. "President Keating, I’ve brought the clothes."
Asher nodded and stood up. "Mom, you should head home. I’m taking her to the police station to give a statement. Sean, see my mother home."
"Alright, I’ll go then. Let’s find some time to have a meal together."
"Mm, we’ll see what she wants."
Ruth Hughes looked at Asher in surprise. "She wouldn’t possibly still say no, would she?"
"It’s hard to say. After all, she’s still preoccupied with the money she owes me."
"Tsk, no need to be so scrupulous. It’s not like you’re short on cash," Ruth Hughes muttered as she walked to the door.
When Asher went back into the room, Leah still hadn’t come out. Hearing the sound of the shower, he thought for a moment, then took off his bathrobe and went in.
’Yes, he was just trying to save time. Can’t keep the police waiting too long.’
Leah was rinsing her hair. She heard a noise and was about to open her eyes when Asher wrapped his arms around her. She let out a cry of surprise. "Your mother is still out there!"
"She’s gone home."
Asher kissed her. The hot water had her face flushed and rosy, and Asher couldn’t resist pressing her against the wall.
"Asher... we still have to go to the police station later."
Leah pushed against Asher, but he didn’t budge.
Asher’s deep voice sounded by her ear. "It’s fine. I’ll just show you what thirty minutes feels like."
In the end, Asher still went over time. Forty-something minutes later, he finally carried Leah out of the bathroom and handed her the hairdryer.
Leah glanced at the time, and despite her aching legs, she hurriedly started drying her hair. By the time Asher was dressed, she still wasn’t finished.
She had a lot of hair, and it was slow to dry. Leah was getting anxious, and her hair was starting to tangle. Asher took the hairdryer from her and started drying it for her. "What’s the rush?"