Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Seven.

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Seven.
Ember's POV

I made a signal for him to give me a few minutes, so he walked out of the office. I took a deep breath before I picked up the call.

“Hello.”

“Are you screening my calls?” It was the first thing that came out of her mouth. She sounded like she wanted to burst through the phone and pull my hair from the roots of my head.

“Why did you call?’ I ignored her question, sitting down. Because I don't feel interested in talking to her. The time I thought I saw her, I've had this odd feeling that someone has been watching me. Especially from outside the garage anytime I was working.

I thought it was my mind playing games on me, but now that she was calling me, it can't all be a coincidence right?

“You should stay away from that place you're working.” She said and I grunted under my breath.

“So, you've been the one stalking me?” I asked.

“Not stalking. I'm looking out for you. That place is not what you think it is.” She said feeling agitated.

“You don't get to tell me what this place is like, mother. I know first hand already. So why don't you mind your business and stay the hell away from mine?” I snapped.

“You have no idea what you're talking about. I'm trying to protect you here. Their family is bad. Terrible.” She said and I raised my eyebrows.

“I don't work for their family. What is this about precisely? Do you need more money? If that's it, all you have to do is ask like you usually do and get off my back.” I rushed out angrily. After a moment of silence that dragged on for too long, she spoke,

“They will kill you once they know who you really are.” And the line went dead.

What is that even supposed to be about?

I dropped the phone on the table. My thoughts began to swarm around what she said last.

She must be in her haze again. Maybe she's had too much crack and she's decided to start spewing nonsense again. I picked the phone and sent her money, few minutes later she sent me a text that read,

I don't need your money anymore. I've told you my piece, if anything happens to you, that's on you. You're as useless as they come.

Even from what she sent, I could see the discrepancies in her spellings which showed that she was high. I know that I should not take whatever she said seriously.

And she makes sure of that herself. Her words hurt. But not like before. I'm used to it now and I hope that she stays away from me and stop fucking with my mind.

I left my phone on the table and stepped out of the office in an attempt to check for Asher. But he was not around anymore.

“Looking for someone?” I was suddenly jerked out of my thoughts.

“You play too much Charlie. You need to stop it." I said to him.

“Oh please.” He rolled his eyes and continued to hunt me with questions that I didn't have answers to.

“He's not here though. He kind of left in a hurry like his ass was set in fire. Did something happen between y'all?” He asked and I swung my head to look in his direction.

“What do you mean?” I asked. He shrugged.

“I don't know. His look was kind of disappointed a little bit.” My heart jumped.

“What happened? Tell me.” He said and I tilted my head to the side.

“Nothing.”

“You can always talk to me, you know? I see the way you look at each other like you'd tear each other's clothes off. That's not something that happens very easily for you especially. And you know that. Why don't you take a chance?” He asked and I shook my head, my lip mashed together.

“You don't understand.” I said to him.

"Make me understand then. Make me get it.” He said and I sighed deeply.

“We can't happen. I don't know how I feel about him but then, it's a strange feeling that I have never had for any other person, Charlie.”

“That's love girl. Maybe not love. But then, you like him a lot.” He said in a gentle tone.

“He makes me feel things. But, he's my boss and you know nothing can happen. Besides, I'm older than he is.” I looked at him, hoping to find understanding in his eyes but I didn't see anything, instead, he rolled his eyes.

“All I hear are excuses. You're trying to put a bridge that is not necessary between the both of you and that is not gonna work. Listen to me, there is no rule book anywhere that says you can't shag your boss, or did you sign something like that?” He asked me. And before I replied, he went on, “And even if there is somewhere, I think he likes you. No, he likes you. Also, age is just a number. I don't know if you're hearing that for the first time, but it is and there is only a two year difference between y'all.” He said.

Everything he's doing is because he wants us to get together. But he's not inside me. He does not know the amount of strength that is holding me down. Now even adding my mother to it, I don't feel really good about it myself. There is this gnawing feeling that something bad might happen if I decided to act on the way I feel about him.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head, Ember. It's not that deep nor is it that serious. If you don't want a relationship, you might as well just have sex. Something for yourself does not hurt.” He said and I laughed knowing the meaning of what he's talking about.

Being a twenty seven year old lady that has not willingly had sex before because of past trauma is insane.

“I'll think about it.”

He groaned out in frustration and I laughed.