Ashley

Five Years Ago

I blinked my eyes rapidly to adjust to the dim light inside the room. The thing that brought me here rushing was the sound of a bullet. 

I saw a silhouette of two men as I stumbled inside. 

I prepared myself for a fight as I brushed my hand against the wall hoping to find the switch box. 

My pulse quickened and my fingers shook. I kept my ears alert soaking every sound I heard.

As I turned the switch on, the room glimmered with light. I rubbed my eyes and as I opened them, I regretted.

There was a pool of blood on the granite floor. A body was in the middle.

My head turned dizzy, eyes hurt to see the crimson fluid all over my room floor.

There was a dead man lying in my room.

I blew a sharp breath and put a hand over my thudding chest.

I looked around and there was another man who was sitting on my couch with a gun.

Familiar blue eyes stared at me lifelessly.
Austin.

My mouth gaped open, I clutched my sweaty palms into fists when I realization dawned upon me and I took another look at the dead body. He was lying on his stomach, I scooted to see the face.

My stomach dropped.

Austin's father.

His black blazer was tainted with blood stains, he was shot on his back twice.

I looked up and found him still sitting.

He blankly stared into my eyes, his arms stretched in front, his fingers swiftly wrapped around the revolver. His eyebrows were in rest, his lips pressed into a thin line; he looked cold, dangerous.

I didn't know what to do. 

"Austin?" I whispered, trying hard to hide the fear in my voice.

He blinked. 

"Did you kill him?" I asked, my heart rate ricocheted in my ears.

"Austin!" I called him again. 

My throat constricted, eyes prickled and lips quivered. I bit my lip to stop the action.

This time he heard as his fingers uncurled from the gun, it fell into the ground with a thud. His face twisted in pain, his eyebrows furrowed, he stared at the carcass of his dead father. His blue eyes looked dull.

This was the first time I met him and I caught him with his father who was murdered in cold blood.

I walked up to him and knelt beside him. Timidly, I squeezed his shoulder and he looked at me. 

"I killed him." He confessed, his eyes turning glassy. 

"Why?" I asked, softly while I wanted to scream at him.

"He threatened me to disinherit me when I confronted his weakness." He gritted his teeth. 

I could smell the alcohol in his breath. I needed to get rid of the body. He was the source of my freedom. There was hope, finally. 

I checked the clock, it was 2 a.m sharp.

Cleaning the blood off the floor along with the gun, I put the dead body into a black bag and dragged it outside toward the dumpster carefully.

It was game time here. Everyone was drunk, getting knocked up or busy playing cards. 

I took the opportunity and wrapped my fingers around the bag. 

Mustering all my strength, I dragged the bag toward the dumpster and pushed the bag inside. It took me thirty-four minutes to drag the body. 

Around four in the morning, the bins were swiped clean by the garbage trucks. 

I ran inside my room and tucked Austin to sleep in my bed. I kept checking the time until I heard the screeching of tires and the sound of unloading of the trash.

The whole night I stayed wide awake.

I went inside the bathroom to wash my face and take a cool shower. When I stepped out, the bed was empty. He left. 

No, no no. He cannot simply leave like this. 

And that's how I started the game of catching his eye. 

I would indulge in a stupid fight or steal money from a junkie, to grab his attention.

I made it my main aim to grab his attention, for it was a gateway for freedom.

After that night, it was like he disappeared into thin air. Nobody knew where he was, or even if they knew, none said a word.

After six months of incessant trying, I was called to meet him. I had beaten one of his loyal almost to death. 

I wiped the blood off my lips, as I stepped inside the room. The walls were ivory white, black drapes contrasted the walls. 

My eyes focused on the tall figure sitting on the settee, familiar blue eyes calculating me. 

They were sparkling, unlike that night. 

His crisp grey suit matched with his platinum blond hair tousled back. 

He was sitting in the posture he did that night.

I knew he remembered everything. Now, he was the owner of the A-organization after all.

"Take a seat, Ashley." His raspy voice filled the air, a small smile tugging at his lips as if something seemed amusing to him.

I didn't comply.

"Ah, always the stubborn one." He mused, now smiling widely. 

"I am here to make a deal," I stated boldly, my arms locked behind back, eyes boring into his. 

He quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Pardon me?" He feigned confusion.

"Six months ago, something happened. Does it ring a bell?" I asked, this time quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Smart girl. Just the type I was looking for. You know why you're called here, Ashley?" He asked, crossing his arms against his chest.

"No," I said.

"Well, I have a proposal for you. Work for me. One mission. And you can have anything you want." He said, his calm voice ticking me off.

"How do I know that it isn't one of your pathetic games?" I asked.

He laughed. He stood up and walked toward me standing a few inches away from me.

"I know what you want the most.  The freedom it is, isn't it?" he said, pushing a lone strand behind my ear. 

I stood still. 

"I will train you personally. I will make you stronger than ever. You are a brave girl and with me, you'll be a lioness. And after that mission, you'll be a free bird." His tempting words shook my nerves.

I went through all my options, which were none other than this. I had to take the risk because I had nothing to lose anyway. The tick-tock of the clock numbed my jittery nerves. I made my mind. This was it. I looked into his ocean eyes, taking a deep breath, I nodded.

For the first time ever, I complied.

I made a deal with the devil himself, for my freedom.

                 •••••••••••••••••••••••

Present Day

I fixed the earpiece and walked along the tiled floor with hushed steps. The Hallway was clear so I strode across the other side of the wing towards Nathaniel's room. I pushed the door slightly open and peered inside.

"Clear," I spoke while moving inside. I took a look inside the bathroom and the balcony and then started rummaging through his wardrobe. 

God, he had a hell lot of outfits. 

There was a locker which I shimmed open and found just cash. 

Damn, not a single clue about it.

Where the hell have they kept it?

"Nothing found," I spoke while removing the earpiece and shoving it into my pocket.

Where is he anyway? Curiosity peeked inside of me as I rearranged his room and walked out of it. 

I walked down the stairs towards the fight room/a gym where the guys take out their frustration.

I peeked inside and there he was.

He was wearing a black hoodie with track pants. His blond locks were messed up while he was doing push-ups. Suddenly, he got up and took his hoodie off and, now he was half-naked. His chiseled back was full of scratches as if he got laid last night. 

I cleared my throat to grab his attention while I took a look of the gigantic gym. 

It had a boxing ring too. Impressive. 

I remember how back there in the hellhole, I used to do street fighting for some extra privileges. The one who won got a little more time to sleep or maybe some good food. 

Almost like a prison even worst.

He turned around and glared at me, his hazel orbs trying to analyze me. I glared back accepting the who-looks-away-first game.

He looked away.

Loser. 

"What are you doing here?" he barked while he strode towards the ring, stopping to get inside it.

"To fight," I replied flatly.

Basically, I am bored and, all of the other guys are sleeping cause its 11 a.m and also Sunday.

"You fight?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. 

"You think I can't fight cause I'm a fragile damsel?" I drawled while I paced forward and jumped into the ring. 

"I think females wouldn't bother to fight when they can defeat the men by straddling their brain with their wretched games and lies." He spat out. 

I moved closer till we were just an inch apart. 

I took a deep breath to calm myself and threw a punch to his face causing him to jerk his head towards the right.

"You know what? Not every egg turns out to be a chick, can be a duckling too." I said while smirked at him.

He regained his posture and shot me a death glare. His eyes seemed to pop out of its sockets. His cheeks were flushed, his jaw ticked like a wall clock. 

I could see the nerve throbbing on his neck, then my eyes traveled south, his chiseled body on full display. His chest was like a real-life version of Adonis. I exhaled sharply.

Damn, he looked attractive when didn't act like an asshole. 

"Cheaters, that's what you'll are," he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Oh gosh, why the heck are you so stuck up? Is there a stick up your ass? Let me have a look." I said while moved around to examine his ass. It was one fine ass wasted on such a brute. Why?

He turned around, grabbed me by my elbow and pulled me to him.

"Look, Sheila. I got no interest to do anything with you. So, stop messing around with someone you know nothing about." He said, trying to tug in his scalding temper. He was trying hard cause he looked like a tomato.

He turned around, hopped out of the ring, grabbed his hoodie and started to retreat.

"But, I want to," I blurted out.

I got no filters. Someday, I will die due to my habit of fueling an already inflaming fire.

He stopped right on his track. So, he heard it.

But he didn't look back rather took off after a few seconds.

He could be a real winner if there was an award for walking away. He keeps doing that like I vex his entire existence. 

I made my way towards Hudson's room. I could hear him snorting from over a mile.

"Hudson," I cried out dramatically.

He stirred but then covered his ears with a pillow.

"Omg, I forgot to wear underwear today," I said with a fake enthuse.

"I'm awake, possum," he replied within a second.

I rolled my eyes. Expected.

He removed the pillow and smiled at me.

"Good morning," he cooed.

"Good afternoon to you too," I added while dragging him out of bed. 

"I'm hungry, Huds. Make me some yummy food." I complained while rubbing my tummy.

"Sure, dove," he raspily added.

He chuckled and moved into the bathroom to freshen up.