I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

"He didn’t say. Third Master, are you going?"

On the other end of the line, Ethan Shaw frowned. Ever since Asher Keating and Morgan Sterling had stopped hanging out, this was the first time one had specifically organized a get-together like this. His gut told him it was for nothing good.

"If he has the nerve to invite me, you think I don’t have the nerve to go?"

Asher Keating’s eyes turned cold. Though he didn’t know what Morgan Sterling was planning, the Southwood land deal was already signed and sealed. At this point, there was nothing that required him to tread carefully around Morgan.

"Alright, I’ll accept for you then. Zenith Club, seven tonight, Room V888."

"Mm," Asher Keating grunted. Without waiting to see if Ethan Shaw had more to say, he hung up and tossed the phone aside.

Only then did Leah Sinclair dare to speak up. "Third Master, it itches."

Asher Keating rolled over and pinned her down. "It won’t itch if you don’t move."

"Third Master! I’m hungry," Leah Sinclair said quickly, afraid he was about to start something.

Asher Keating felt hungry too. He hadn’t eaten dinner last night, and he’d only had a few bites after going to The Dynasty Club. After a moment’s thought, he let her off the hook.

The moment he let go, Leah Sinclair scurried into the bathroom. Asher Keating lay in bed a while longer before getting up, only to realize he didn’t have any casual clothes here.

He slipped on a bathrobe and sent a text to Sean Yates, telling him to bring over a few sets of clothes and his laptop.

Sean Yates was quite shocked when he received the message. ’Is the young master planning to live there now?’

He had always thought that when Asher Keating started sponsoring Leah Sinclair, it was just a passing fancy.

After all, even though he was sponsoring her, he had still been living at the Silverwood villa for the past half-month. Nevertheless, with excellent professionalism, he quickly replied with an "Okay."

Leah Sinclair glanced at the time—it was almost two. She asked Asher Keating what he wanted to eat. He said he wasn’t picky, so she cooked two bowls of noodles and served them with some pickled side dishes she’d made before.

She’d even placed a perfectly tender fried egg in Asher Keating’s bowl. The white noodles, refreshing side dishes, and a sprinkle of green onions whetted Asher’s appetite, and he ate almost everything.

After they finished the noodles, Leah Sinclair asked Asher Keating if she was going tonight. Instead of answering, he asked her if she dared to go.

"What’s there to be afraid of? Didn’t you just say it? If he has the nerve to invite us, why wouldn’t I have the nerve to go?"

Asher Keating sat motionless in the dining area and lit a cigarette, wondering what Morgan Sterling was up to. Inviting him was one thing, but insisting Leah Sinclair come along was another.

Morgan Sterling had only met Leah Sinclair once, and he wasn’t the type to be obsessed with a woman. It didn’t make sense for him to keep pursuing her after Asher had already made his own position clear.

"Oh, right. Third Master, what if tonight—and I’m just saying what if—I can’t stop myself and end up provoking him?" Leah Sinclair asked suddenly.

"How could you possibly provoke him?" Asher Keating asked, looking at her with amusement.

"Like, cussing him out. Or not being able to resist punching him."

"You’ve got some nerve."

A smile touched Asher Keating’s lips. "Call me something nice, and if he tries anything tonight, you can raise all the hell you want. I’ll back you up."

"Something nice?"

"Figure it out yourself."

"Third Master? Third Master Keating? President Keating? Asher? Ashy? Zee-Zee? Sugar Daddy?"

Leah Sinclair rattled off a chaotic string of names, and the last few made Asher Keating nearly choke on his cigarette.

Leah Sinclair started laughing too. She walked over, wrapped her arms around Asher Keating’s neck from behind, and wheedled in a soft voice, "Third Master Keating... Third Master..."

Her voice soothed him. He pulled her onto his lap and pinched her cheek. "Stay sharp tonight. Don’t be like last time."

Leah Sinclair rubbed the spot he had pinched. "Anyway, you’ll be there. What do I have to be afraid of?"

"You’re certainly taking this in stride. Or are you getting ideas again?" Her words put Asher Keating in a good mood.

"No, no! Being clear-headed is just fine."

After saying that, Leah Sinclair went back to agonizing over what to wear that night. Asher Keating watched her run back to the bedroom and followed. She had the closet open and was staring blankly at her clothes.

Leaning against the headboard, Asher Keating noticed the shirt he’d left here before was now neatly ironed and hanging next to Leah Sinclair’s clothes.

’Living here long-term might not be so bad after all,’ he thought. ’There’s food to eat and someone to sleep with.’

After agonizing over her clothes, Leah started agonizing over whether to wear makeup. She fussed for a long time, muttering one moment about dressing more maturely, then worrying the next that she should be more casual.

Asher Keating zoned out for a moment before snapping back to reality. He gestured at her with his chin. "Come here."

Leah Sinclair put down what she was holding and crawled over to him from the foot of the bed. Asher Keating pulled her close and pinched her cheek again. "What are you so nervous about?"

He’d seen right through her, and she felt a little embarrassed. She really was nervous. Morgan Sterling definitely had something planned for Asher Keating, even if she didn’t know why she had to be there.

But at the end of the day, she really was Asher Keating’s woman now. She began hesitantly, "Didn’t you say before that since I’m your woman, I shouldn’t look too shabby?"

Asher Keating froze for a second, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Whether you look shabby or not is for me to decide. Stop fussing with all that. Just wear whatever makes you comfortable."

Leah Sinclair stared at him, dumbfounded, then suddenly gave him a quick peck. SMOOCH. "Third Master, you’re the best."

Asher Keating immediately deepened the kiss. Leah was once again left dizzy and breathless. He hadn’t intended to do anything, but as they kissed, his hands started to wander.

"Third Master, we... we still have plans tonight."

"We’ll talk after we’re done."

Asher flipped her over and pressed her down. Her fingers clenched the blankets as she couldn’t help but wonder, ’Where on earth does Asher Keating get all this energy?’

Mindful of their plans for the evening, Asher Keating didn’t drag it out for too long. By the time they finished, Sean Yates had already been waiting downstairs for a while.

Asher Keating texted him, and he immediately brought the things upstairs, including the necklace Asher hadn’t had a chance to grab last night.

Leah had just finished blow-drying her hair and was combing it when Asher came in and draped the necklace around her neck, startling her so much that she nearly dropped her comb.

She tried to turn, but Asher held her in place, telling her not to move as he carefully fastened the necklace for her.

"Happy birthday."

Asher Keating looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was fair, her neck long and slender, and she had beautiful, straight collarbones. On her left collarbone was a tiny red mole, like a small dot of cinnabar.

Her neck and collarbones were currently covered in marks he’d left the day before. The rose-gold necklace looked good against them, and Asher felt quite satisfied.

"Third Master, this must have been very expensive."

"Does your Third Master look like someone who’s short on cash?"

"But it’s not like your money grows on trees," Leah Sinclair murmured, touching the necklace.

Her words stirred a strange feeling in him. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and gently pinched her cheek. "Don’t worry about spending it. You won’t bankrupt me."

Leah’s eyes stung. She forced down the bittersweet feeling in her heart and tried to keep her voice as natural as possible. "Third Master, don’t be so good to me."

’If you’re this good to me, I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave when you tell me to go.’

She didn’t dare say those words out loud.