“Is Alex here?” I ask as I walk inside.
“Yes…uh…he’s in his office.”
“Thanks, Izzy.” I smile, unsure why she’s in a jerky mood. “Are you okay?”
“Me?” She nearly yells then stops in her tracks by the stairs. Sweat beads on her forehead and she keeps wiping her hands on the apron.
“If there’s something going on, you can tell me.” I face her, softening my voice. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. You’ve done so much for me since I woke up with no memories, and I’ll never forget that.”
A sudden sob tears from her throat and my eyes widen. It’s the first time I’ve seen Izzy out of sorts like this. She is always the epitome of care and kindness.
“Izzy.” I clutch her shoulder. “Please tell me. I want to help.”
“Why did you have to be like this?” She sniffles. “It would’ve been so much easier if you were the old Reina. Ever since I found this, I can’t sleep.”
“Found what?”
“Even though I would give my life for him, I can’t do this to you or to Mr. Carson. He’s my savior and I owe him my life.
“You’re not making any sense, Izzy.”
“Just…just promise me you won’t ruin his entire career, please. Please, Reina.”
“Who—”
I’m cut off when she retrieves something from her apron and shoves it in my hand. “Please. If you care for me even a little, make my wish come true.”
With that, she disappears down the hall. I attempt to chase her but Alex calls to me from up the stairs.
I stare at the small object Izzy has shoved into my hands: a flash drive.
What could all this be about? I guess it has to wait. After tucking the drive into my bag, I join Alex.
In his office, he tells me there’s still no news about Reina. However, he’s close to finding his contact.
That gives me so much hope, I can’t help getting up and hugging Alex. He’s not a warm person per se, but he’s always treated me well on behalf of my dad.
My phone vibrates on my way out of Alex’s office.
Asher: Come out.
The impatience of this man.
Reina: Why don’t you come in?
Asher: The only place I’ll be coming in tonight is your pussy.
My cheeks heat and I’m so glad I already left Alex’s office.
Reina: Asshole.
Asher: Your ass too if you keep tempting me.
God, this man will be the death of me.
Before I step outside, I pull up Instagram and type a message to Cloud003. My chest is uneasy at the thought of doing this behind Asher’s back, but he’s left me no choice.
Jason and I need to talk one on one and solve whatever issues we have. I’m also sure he’ll tell me about Arianna if Asher isn’t around.
Reina-Ellis: Can we meet?
My fingers are stiff as I add the next word.
Reina-Ellis: Please?
I don’t expect him to reply. It’s a stretch, but I’m ready to try every option right now. Not only do I need to clear my name, I also need Asher to let go of the ghosts of the past.
My screen lights up.
Cloud003: Tomorrow. Seven. Blackwood Grand Hotel. Room 1003.
I stand in front of room 1003 at seven o’clock.
From what I’ve gathered about my odd relationship with Cloud003, we never met in person. We never had an encounter outside the Halloween parties.
So why does this hall seem familiar? Why does it feel like I’ve stood in a similar hallway before? I had the same feeling of the unknown.
No.
I have to do this. Besides, I’ll just talk to him and go. I brought my security with me. If I don’t come out in fifteen minutes, they’ll call, and if I don’t reply, they’ll come for me.
I pull on the sleeves of my denim jacket. I dressed in jeans and a white top, nothing too out there.
Maybe all this tension is because I don’t want to do any of this behind Asher’s back.
I told him I was going out with Lucy and Naomi, and I did catch a ride with them, but as soon as we were away from campus, I had my security guys drive me here.
They only report back to Alex, and he won’t ask what I was doing here. Even if he does, he won’t tell Asher.
Besides, I’m doing all this for that asshole. If he had let me talk to Jason last night, I wouldn’t be forced to meet him in a hotel room as if I’m a cheater.
I’m not a cheater.
With one last deep breath, I knock on the door. A few seconds pass but no reply comes.
I knock again. Maybe he’s not here yet? Well, it is seven, and he seems to be punctual, so—
My thoughts shatter when the door opens. The man standing in front of me isn’t Jason.
No.
He’s the last person I expected to find here.
Dark jeans accentuate his powerful thighs and a gray T-shirt stretches against his bulging muscles.
The eyes that shouldn’t be staring at me right now capture my soul in their merciless hold.
“A-Asher?”
“The one and only, my slut.” He grabs me by the arm and pulls me inside.
I’m too stunned to react or even move. It isn’t until the door closes and he pushes me against it that I slowly come out of my stupor.
“W-what are you doing here?”
Oh, God. Oh, no.
My slut.
He called me his slut. Only one person calls me that, and it shouldn’t be him. But maybe Asher saw our exchange? Maybe he knew I was meeting Jason and came to ruin it?
Why aren’t any of those options registering in my head? Why does it keep rejecting them as if they hold no weight?
It’s as if my head already knows the answer and those are not it.
“What are you doing here?” He drags his thumb down my cheek then grips my chin with both his fingers. “Weren’t you supposed to have a night out with the girls?”
“I…I…”
“You lied. That’s what you did. Do you know what happens when you lie to me?” He drags his nose down my cheek, and I hold my breath.
“Ash, I…” I clear my throat, as if that’s enough to dissipate the cloud suffocating me. “I thought you were Jason.”
“You thought I was Jason,” he repeats, his voice gaining a lethal edge. “First you lied, then you thought I was Jason. Those are two strikes, my slut.”
“D-don’t call me that.” Even as I say the words, I don’t mean them. In a deep part of me, I like being called that by him just like before.
Just like before?
Oh, God. It is him.
It’s really him.
“But you are…” He darts his tongue out and drags it over my bottom lip, making me shiver. “My slut.”
I’m too lightheaded to think or form any words. I just stand there like a deer caught in the headlights. “B-but Lucy showed me a picture of you at a Halloween party in England last year. You…you couldn’t have been here.”
“That was a day before. I asked my friend to post it late.”
“Why?”
“Because.”