Natalia POV It has been months... Months since the trip to Hawaii. And it has not been easy getting into the flow of things... actually far from that. It has been the worst, with Miya, work, and most of all Asher. He has been so rude to me more than usual. He treats me like I'm nothing. He barely talks to me at work, let alone at the house. I don't know how many heated arguments we got in. I don't how many times I threatened that I'll leave the house taking Miya. I don't know how many times I tried to come up with solutions for us to get along. But, I'm honestly done with it. It is coming to the point where I can't and won't do anything about it. I was currently setting up an appointment for him during the week. He also had a big trip in New York in a month or so. So, I was planning the arrangements for him through the phone, which was more complicated then it seemed. After this phone call, I was basically done for the day. That's how it has been for weeks. Asher will assign me tasks that literally only take a few hours. And then I'll have nothing to do for the next 7 hours. So, he just sends me home. I still get paid the same which is great, but it' still odd. I just feel like I'm not doing my job, and most off all I think he sends me home early so he doesn't have to see me. After I hung up the phone I got up, opened my office door heading to Asher's. I knocked on the door and I heard a gruff voice say come in. Once I opened the door. I held my breath. Stacey was sitting on his desk, facing him. He sat on the chair right next to her facing her as well. He was already looking up at me, but she turned around as well when she realized that everything she was saying was not registering through his mind. She looked so good, I mean she had a slick black dress with black heels to match. Her lips were covered with red lipstick, and her hair was curled and looked full. She obviously gave me a dirty look, but I didn't even say anything I just looked at her dumb founded. I think I was staring for a long time because I heard a voice yell my name. "Natalia!" I snapped my head towards him, and then looked down quickly swallowing a lump in my throat before I could speak. "Sorry sir, I was wondering if there was anything else you needed?" I was expecting an answer, but there was silence. I was still looking down because I couldn't even look up. I waited another minute so he could just say something then I could leave. When I heard Stacey mumbling words to him if he was going to respond. I knew he heard me. So, I finally looked up. I met his piercing eyes, that gave me shivers down my spine. We held gaze for a long time, till I finally caught onto what was happening. He looked at me with challenging eyes. He knew that this bothered me, and the sight of them made me uncomfortable and jealous... He wanted to see what I was going to do. If I was going to coward away or do something. I looked at Stacey beside him and saw her do an evil grin. I looked back at him and waited for an answer. What was he even doing with her. Last time they were in contact he beat up her father, and left her at the ball without telling her that he was leaving with me. So, if anything they were looking like fools, especially her. "No, you're excused for the day." He said smiling. Oh, he thinks this is funny. He really wants to go there. He thinks that he won that I will just coward away. Well he has one thing wrong. Being acoward doesn't align with who I am. "Okay, So I guess I'll see you at the house Asher?" I asked him with a smirk on my face. As soon as the question came out my mouth. He had a shocked face, and Stacey had an angry one. She was going to blow in any second. He didn't say anything so I took this as a sign to leave. I walked towards the door, but before I actually opened up the door I turned around and said one last thing. "I guess I'll take that as a yes." I said with a wink towards him and finally walked out the door leaving him with that. I came upon the elevator, and stepped in and pressed the first floor button. The doors were closing, until I seen a hand reach out. The elevators opened, and there was Jason stepping in. After the elevators closed he looked up at me smiling. "Hey" "Hey" "Are you just getting off?" He asked "Yeah, I am." "It's only 6:00, why is he letting you off so early?" He asked. I sighed answering with: "Good question." He looked at me with raised eyebrows, and then gave a mischievous smile to himself. Almost like he knew something. "What do you know?" I asked. He snapped out of it, and turned to me giving me a confused face, a fake one at that. "What do you mean? I don't know anything? Why do you think I know anything? What do you know? Do you know anything? Maybe-" "Wow!" I said cutting him off giggling. He stopped quickly and asked what? "You know for going for the slick, handsome, business, calm, and collected best friend of Asher you sure are a bad liar." "I'm not lying-" "Yes, you are that 1-minute ramble that you just did just because I asked one question, or the simple twitch of the fingers because I'm simply calling you out, or the mischievous smile that you had on your face from the beginning proves that you are hiding something, and that's just for starters. Shall I keep going or save the embarrassment?" He had a shocked expression written on his face. We just stared at each other for a long time. Until he spoke up again. "Man, you're feisty If Asher didn't have this long torturing crush over you. I will have a go at it." "What Asher has-" "Go to dinner with me?" Jason asked. I looked at him with disbelief but I retorted back quickly, and responded. "No, I can't go with you. What about this crush-" "If you want talk more in depth about it go to dinner with me?" He asked one more time before the elevators opened. He stepped out walking away not looking back. This was kind of a big moment. I mean either I stay in the elevator without knowing the unknown. Or go to dinner and hear the unknown. However, the unknown with Asher is what I want. I ran out of the elevator and spotted him walking towards the doors in the lobby. I called his name out loud to get his attention. "Jason, wait up!" He turned around, and looked at me. "I take that you're going to dinner-" "Yes, it does now let's go before I change my mind." I said walking with my heels clacking on the floor out the door. "Yes Ma'am." I heard him chuckle following me out the door. *******