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

"Tsk! Do you have to be such a mood-killer right now? Fine, have it your way."

Asher Keating knew she’d never be able to let the money go. ’Whatever, let her do what she wants,’ he thought. ’With her current salary, even if she made ten thousand a month and saved half to pay me back, it would still take her five or six years.’

Besides, it wasn’t like she was making that much anyway. ’If this makes her feel better, there’s no harm in it.’

"Then... can you just hold on to what I gave you before?" Leah Sinclair asked, hugging him.

"Mm-hmm. All done?"

As Asher Keating spoke, he nestled between her thighs, his hand beginning a restless caress.

"Yeah, all done."

Leah Sinclair had just lifted her head when Asher Keating’s kisses rained down on her like a torrential storm.

"Now, why don’t you start by fulfilling your girlfriend duties."

The two hadn’t seen each other in a week, and now that they had cleared the air, they were both able to let go completely. In the end, Leah Sinclair couldn’t take much more. She hadn’t been resting well lately and had eaten very little, leaving her weak. Asher Keating didn’t push her too hard, simply nibbling on her earlobe and whispering that they would continue that night.

Dazedly, Leah Sinclair was carried back to the bed. As she nestled in his arms, she softly asked, "Asher, you... these past few days... have you..."

Asher Keating knew what she was thinking. He gave her waist a light pinch. "No. I was just angry that day. Besides, I went to Everluck right after, didn’t I? I only got back yesterday. I tried calling you, but your phone was off."

At the mention of that, a tight ache spread through Leah Sinclair’s heart. "My phone broke. Someone bumped into me on my way out of the subway station yesterday. I dropped my phone, and a car ran right over it."

Asher Keating patted her back. "Let’s get something to eat. I’ll take you to buy a new phone later. And you’re moving your things back. Daring to run away from home behind my back... you’ve gotten bold, haven’t you?"

Leah Sinclair mumbled, "Well, you weren’t very clear that day."

"Oh, so it’s my fault? Did you even let me finish speaking before you threw that card in my face?"

"It’s my fault, it’s my fault."

Satisfied, Asher Keating pinched her cheek before getting up to get dressed. Luckily, the clothes he’d bought for her were still there. Leah Sinclair picked out an outfit and put it on. Then, Asher Keating took her out for a bite to eat before they went to buy a new phone.

Then, Leah Sinclair could only watch as he took the very card she had given him and started buying things for her. She grabbed his hand. "Asher, please stop. I... I won’t be able to use all of this."

"This is the money you paid for my services. I’ll spend it however I want."

Asher Keating held her hand and, without batting an eye, swiped the card for a new handbag. His words made the cashier’s hand tremble as she took the card. She stole a glance at Asher Keating and Leah Sinclair. ’These two...’ she wondered. ’Is the woman really the one paying the man for... that?’

’The man’s overcoat is from the new BRIONI collection, and his watch is a Roger Dubuis. If I remember correctly, that watch alone costs seven figures.’

’And while the woman is also wearing a coat from a well-known brand, she doesn’t look like she could afford to hire a man like him. Could she be some secret millionaire playing it low-key?’

Seeing the cashier’s expression, Leah Sinclair wanted to find a hole to crawl into and die. Asher Keating, however, seemed to be in an excellent mood. In the end, they decided to head back to the office first. Leah would pick up her things after work.

Asher Keating pulled the car into the underground garage. Before they got out, he asked her, "Scared?"

It took Leah Sinclair a moment to understand what he was asking. She shook her head. "I was scared before. I was afraid that someone like me would just cause you trouble. But now... you’re my boyfriend. There’s nothing to be scared of anymore."

Saying the word "boyfriend" made Leah Sinclair blush. Asher Keating, still in a good mood, pulled her in for a kiss. "As long as you know."

"Mm, Asher... does this mean I can start throwing my weight around now?"

"...Go right ahead. Throw it around as much as you want."

Both speechless and amused, Asher Keating pinched her cheek. "Let’s head up."

Leah Sinclair gave a firm nod and followed him out of the car. The moment she stepped into the office, she saw a large bouquet of flowers. Her brows knitted together.

Zion Sawyer hurried over. "You left early yesterday. These were delivered about half an hour after you’d gone."

After finishing her handover yesterday, Leah was supposed to be on leave today. She would have thrown the flowers out herself, but Zion Sawyer wouldn’t dare do that, so she had just kept them for her.

Leah Sinclair sighed. Just as she was about to throw the bouquet away, someone else appeared at the door. "Excuse me, is Miss Sinclair here? I have a flower delivery for you."

It was another bouquet of 99 roses. Leah Sinclair didn’t take it. Instead, she asked, "Could you please tell Mr. Sterling not to send these anymore?"

"I’m sorry, Miss Sinclair, but I’m just the one running the errand. Mr. Sterling told me to say that he is awaiting your call."

The deliveryman was one of Morgan Sterling’s assistants. For the past several days, his only job had been to deliver a bouquet of 99 roses to Leah Sinclair at the same time every day.

"I had no idea Mr. Sterling’s employees were so idle. Running to Aevon’s project department for days on end... what are you after? Trying to steal corporate secrets?"

Leah Sinclair was about to speak but was cut off by the sound of Asher Keating’s voice. He had appeared at the entrance to Project Department One, with Edward Yates right behind him.

"President Keating, I wouldn’t dare," Morgan Sterling’s assistant said, bowing slightly. "I’m only responsible for delivering flowers to Miss Sinclair on behalf of Mr. Sterling."

The staff of Department One hurried to greet Asher Keating. He acknowledged them with a faint murmur before taking the flowers from the hands of Morgan Sterling’s assistant.

Today’s bouquet was of black roses. In her other hand, Leah was still holding what he presumed were yesterday’s blue roses. He chuckled lightly. "Edward, how many days has it been since Mr. Sterling’s man started showing up at Aevon?"

Edward Yates could feel a cold sweat forming. He had, in fact, noticed Morgan Sterling’s assistant coming to deliver flowers for the past several days.

’But Leah Sinclair had thrown them away every time, and the assistant always left right after the delivery, so he hadn’t thought much of it. He’d merely assigned someone to keep an eye on the man, with instructions to leave him be as long as he was only dropping off flowers. After all, Morgan Sterling wasn’t someone you wanted to provoke unnecessarily. It was best to avoid conflict for now.’

Edward Yates composed himself and replied, "A week."

"You know what to do."

As he spoke, Asher Keating took the other bouquet from Leah’s hand and passed both to Edward Yates. His gaze swept over Morgan Sterling’s assistant, and that one glance was enough to send an involuntary shiver down the man’s spine.

"I do, President Keating."

Edward Yates took the flowers and scurried off to dispose of them. He was wailing on the inside. ’There goes a month’s salary,’ he lamented, ’all because of these damned flowers.’

Asher Keating pulled out his phone and dialed Morgan Sterling’s number. Morgan answered with a laugh. "Asher, back from your trip already?"

"I am," Asher replied coolly. "And I’ll have to ask you to stop sending flowers to Leah Sinclair. It’s inappropriate."

"What’s so inappropriate? I heard you and Leah Sinclair were over. I like her, and I want to court her. Sending flowers is a perfectly normal part of that, isn’t it?" Morgan Sterling’s voice was dripping with amusement.

Asher’s lips curled into a smirk, his tone laced with mockery. "Then I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed, Mr. Sterling. We’re not over. In fact, Leah Sinclair is my girlfriend now. To send flowers and pursue a woman who’s already taken... Mr. Sterling... are you trying to be the other man?"