Ashley

"Fuck," I grunted as I saw my phone fall into the ground. Damn, this multi-tasking. I had been eating a donut with my left hand, holding a brewing cup of coffee on another, and balancing my phone between my cheek and shoulder blade.

Morning wishes from the A-Organization reminding me of my job for the millionth time. Did they think I was a crank or what? I know it was taking time but hell, it was not like stealing candy from a supermarket. 

Just because I was a girl, didn't give them the right to underestimate me.

I looked between the donut and broken phone, decided to finish the donut first.

Priorities, people. 

Picking up the phone, my gaze fell on the calendar that hung on the wall like a constant reminder of my temporary visit. 

Thirty days have passed, living within the members of our rival.

But the fact that I had grown fond of these guys company wasn't helping me much. 

Playing video games with Andrew had been so competitive that after winning I almost like an Oscar winner. That guy really knew computers, I had to be cautious of him.

Hudson had been a sweetheart, seemed like a gentleman. Every morning, he made me breakfast, and that had made me gain a little weight which I didn't mind.

Everyday bickering with Mason and being avoided by Nathaniel had become a part of my daily life. I didn't know why he had been avoiding me like it pains him to even look at me. I didn't know why but I had been trying a lot to get his attention. I kinda missed snapping back at him.

Yes, my abductor----fake-abductor's name was Nathaniel. That night, we talked, drank, even kissed but forgot asking the obvious---names. But then, it wasn't really a normal party, was it? He stunned me though I knew it. I had seen him gripping the syringe. The thing that pissed me was that he wasn't using it. And so, I had to keep blabbering random shits.

His lousy kissing skills made me wanna use that syringe on him only.

It was all part of my plan. Poor Nathaniel.
How much it'd hurt his dick-ish mind when he'd realize it?

The day we spent in a motel room in London, I finished my first job. That was locating the main office of The CWT where the file would arrive. It's a City Pub which is astonishing as well as amusing.
I had hacked into his phone and transferred the details to our tech team through NFC. All I needed to do now was wait for the file to arrive and stay close with these guys.

Thrashing his car so we'd end up in the motel was also a part of our plan.

 But I knew, I was here for a purpose for which I would end up breaking each of these guy's heart. 

A part of the deal that I made with Austin for my freedom.

The day Nathaniel asked me about Austin, I had told him exactly what I needed him to know. It was all the part of our plan.

I took a long shower and saw a pair of hazel eyes staring at me with that look. I squeezed my eyes and let the water droplets wipe off the image but it didn't.

Nathaniel Rattigan, the best agent of CWT. He likes to stay aloof and is reserved which works quite well for his work.

The words of Austin still echoed in my ears. He had told me how he hates females and was a cruel man.

Throughout the number of days I had been with him, I saw the rage radiated off his body when he was around me, hatred slipped through his lips incandescently. I saw something else too. I couldn't put my finger on it, though. He was mostly out, never interacted much with his mates and had a constant frown lacing his features.

His hazel eyes looked dull and sad. I had this feeling that something was wrong about him. Was he truly what he portrays and what Austin said? He hates women but why?

The soft mewling of a kitten forced me out of my reverie. I looked around it was pitch dark with just street lamps lighting the granite path. I was outside the house. I blew a sharp breath and turned around to find Hudson smiling at me.

Yes, we were going out to eat.

"So, you seriously won't eat a thing?" I teased Hudson. He was on a diet and so I picked up his favorite restaurant. 

"No, today, I'm in a mood to feed you the delicious dishes of here." He said.

He wore a black tuxedo which matched the color of his eyes. He opened the door of the car for me and I hopped into the seat. 

We headed to a fancy restaurant.

"You look good," he beamed at me.

I coughed. As we reached there, Hudson went to park the car while I stood near the entry. 

I was looking around when I saw a blond guy. He looked like, no, he definitely was Nathaniel. He stood beside another blondie who was giggling and snuggling closer to him.

I narrowed my eyes at him though he couldn't see me. All the female hatred emerged in my case only? Whatever. Like I cared. 

He was wearing a blue suit, talking continuously with a man in his fifties, standing in front of him. He was standing with his back against me so I couldn't see much but it looked like he was out on business. His hand wrapped around the tiny waist if that blondie.

"Let's go," Hudson chimed in and he offered me his arm as I wrapped mine around his. 

Such a gentleman, unlike that brute. 

As we were eating rather I was, my mind wandered to that blondie. Who was she and why was she standing so close to him? Why did that bother me? It did not, absolutely.

I shook those thoughts away.

"So, what's your story?" I suddenly asked Hudson while hogging on my food.

"What you mean?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed at me.

"I mean, how'd you end up in here while being such a sweet human being?" I asked genuinely. He was really nice to me since the day I entered that mansion. 

"Are you flirting with me, Ash?" he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.

Not just flirting but doing a hell lot more, big guy.

"No way, I am serious, Hudson," I added.

"Um, what can I say? I mean, my dad was a psychopath, used to beat me and my mother every night. Then, one day we escaped. He looked for us while we wandered on the streets. " he said, casually. His eyes fixated on the coffee he was sipping.

"Then?" I asked, pressing my lips into a thin line.

"When he did find us, he shot my mom in front of my eyes and left me on the streets only. That's when Mikhail found me and gave me a home," he said, his eyes didn't waver with any kind of emotion.

Was he even telling me the truth? His face gave away nothing. Was he telling me a sob story just like the one I had told Nathaniel? Who the hell cares? That was none of my business.

I squeezed his palm and he smiled at me.

"I'm so sorry. You're really brave." I said, faking sincerity genuinely. Now, he must think I took him as a suffered soul. Well, maybe he was but he still is a drug dealer, wasn't he?

He caressed my fingers and kissed them softly.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for." He said, his lips curling into an easy smile.

I smiled back.

The soft music filled the silence as I ate while he kept looking at me. There were few people inside and the place screamed extravagance.

All the money they have is from the crimes they commit. They all are criminals. You need to be out of here as soon as possible.