CHAPTER 18
ASHER P.O.V
I expected her to do something reckless.
Something childish.
Something annoying.
After all, forcing her to deliver that report wasn't exactly… pleasant for her.
But this?
Inviting my siblings?
And their friends?
That—
I did not expect.
There was a reason I never invited them.
Earlier, my system alerted me that someone was at the gate.
When I saw it was her—
I let her in.
Of course, I did.
I headed downstairs to meet her, but as I got closer, I heard her muttering under her breath.
Something about loneliness.
And… a nickname.
A ridiculous one.
Was she talking about me?
"What was that, Miss Williams?"
She startled instantly—
And slammed straight into my chest.
Again.
She had a habit of doing that.
I expected her to step back immediately.
She didn't.
Instead—
She looked up.
And stayed there.
Her eyes… roaming.
Slowly.
Carefully.
From my chest—
Upward.
A faint smirk tugged at my lips.
Bold.
But then—
Her gaze returned to my face.
Paused.
On my lips.
And suddenly—
Neither of us moved.
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Charged.
Her hand lifted—
Slowly.
Hesitantly.
Reaching toward my face.
I didn't stop her.
Didn't move.
I waited.
For her touch.
But—
It never came.
She snapped out of it.
Pulled her hand back like she'd been burned.
And stepped away from me as if I were something dangerous.
"I—I'm sorry, Mr. Slade," she said quickly.
Disappointment flickered through me.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
Annoying.
Why should I care?
I said nothing.
Just watched her.
Then—
The front doors opened.
Voices.
Loud.
Familiar.
Clara.
And the rest.
I glanced at Alexia.
Just once.
That was enough.
She was behind it.
"Sir, should I escort them out?" Felix asked quietly.
"No."
My tone was calm.
Controlled.
"Let them stay."
I turned away.
If she wanted chaos—
I would let her have it.
Besides…
It was better than her being out somewhere else.
With him.
The thought alone tightened something in my chest.
I glanced back at her briefly before leaving.
Then headed upstairs.
I spent some time on my laptop.
Trying to focus.
Failing.
Eventually, I went to shower.
The cold water helped.
Slightly.
About twenty minutes in—
I heard my door open.
Then—
A voice.
Faint.
Calling out.
"Mr. Slade…?"
I paused.
Turned off the shower.
Wrapped a robe around myself.
Then—
"Mr. Slade!!"
Footsteps.
Closer.
Inside the bathroom.
My jaw tightened.
Who walks into someone else's bathroom?
Then—
"Mr. Robot."
…
Of course.
Alexia.
I stepped forward, irritation rising.
But before I could say anything—
She walked straight into me.
Again.
I caught her instantly, my hand gripping her waist before she could fall.
She looked up.
And I looked down.
And for a moment—
Everything else faded.
I should have been angry.
Furious, even.
But I wasn't.
Not when she looked at me like that.
She tried to stand, slipping slightly on the wet floor, mumbling apology after apology.
It was… distracting.
Annoying.
Yet—
I didn't let go.
I was about to pull her out—
When she slipped again.
And this time—
She dragged me with her.
We fell.
Straight into the bathtub.
Cold water splashed everywhere.
And before I could fully process it—
My lips were on hers.
A mistake.
An accident.
A moment that shouldn't have happened.
But it did.
And for that brief second—
It didn't feel wrong.
Her lips were soft.
Warm against the cold.
Her scent—
Too close.
Too real.
Too distracting.
My heartbeat quickened.
Uncontrolled.
And I almost—
Almost deepened it.
Then—
She pushed me away.
Hard.
She stumbled out of the tub, coughing, trying to catch her breath.
I froze.
I hadn't even noticed.
She was shaking.
Cold.
Fragile.
Without thinking, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.
She didn't look at me.
Didn't say anything.
Just walked out.
And I followed.
I went to my wardrobe.
Looking for something she could wear.
Something that would keep her warm.
But—
There was nothing.
Everything I owned would swallow her whole.
Finally, I found a sweater.
It would have to do.
When she wore it—
It hung loosely over her frame.
Far too big.
And yet—
I couldn't look away.
Because something about it—
About her wearing my clothes—
Felt…
Possessive.
Dangerous.
Mine.
I stiffened slightly.
What am I thinking?
I pushed the thought away immediately.
She finally spoke.
"Thank you, Mr. Slade… for your hospitality. And I'm really sorry for everything—the mischief, and… the bathroom incident. I promise it won't happen again."
Apologies.
Again.
And yet—
The way she fidgeted with her fingers…
Avoiding my gaze…
It was different.
Softer.
I wasn't used to seeing her like this.
"What was that name you called me?" I asked.
She blinked.
Then lowered her head slightly.
"…Mr. Robot."
The name lingered in the air.
Soft.
Careless.
Yet—
It stayed.
I let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh, but stopped myself.
Strange.
From anyone else, it would have been irritating.
From her…
It wasn't.
Nothing about her ever was.
And that—
Was the problem.
I watched her.
Standing there.
Drowned in my sweater.
Small.
Restless.
Avoiding my gaze like she had just crossed a line she didn't understand.
But I did.
I understood it perfectly.
And I couldn't unsee it.
The way she looked at me in the bathroom—
That hesitation.
That pull.
That want she tried so hard to suppress.
It wasn't one-sided.
And she knew it.
She just didn't want to admit it.
Yet.
"Was that your first time?" I asked earlier.
She lied.
Badly.
And I let it go.
Not because I believed her.
But because I didn't need the truth.
Not right now.
My eyes dropped to the way the sweater clung loosely to her.
My sweater.
On her.
It shouldn't mean anything.
It was just clothing.
But the sight—
Triggered something deeper.
Something territorial.
Something I hadn't felt in a long time.
If ever.
A quiet thought crossed my mind.
She walked into my space… caused chaos… turned everything upside down…
…and still stood here like she belonged.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
I took a slow step closer.
Not enough to startle her.
But enough to close the distance.
She stiffened slightly.
Good.
She felt it too.
That tension.
That invisible pull between us.
"Next time," I said calmly, my voice low, controlled, "you should be more careful where you walk into."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of the sweater.
"My house," I continued, watching her reaction closely, "is not a place you wander around carelessly."
A pause.
Then softer—
"But then again…"
I leaned in just slightly.
Not touching.
Not yet.
"You don't seem to listen very well."
Her breath hitched.
Subtle.
But I caught it.
Of course I did.
I straightened.
Creating distance again.
Not because I wanted to—
But because I needed to.
Control.
Always control.
Because if I didn't—
I would cross a line I wasn't supposed to.
Not with her.
Not like this.
And yet…
My gaze lingered.
Longer than it should.
On her face.
Her lips.
That same lips that—
No.
Stop.
I turned away sharply.
Running a hand through my damp hair.
What was wrong with me?
First, I let her into my house.
Then I let her disrupt everything.
Then—
I let that happen.
And now—
I was standing here, thinking about it.
Replaying it.
Wanting to—
No.
Impossible.
I exhaled slowly.
Trying to steady my thoughts.
Trying to return to the version of myself I knew.
Cold.
Unbothered.
Untouchable.
But then—
A quiet realization settled in.
Unwanted.
Uninvited.
Unavoidable.
I didn't send her away.
I didn't stop her.
I didn't even try.
Because somewhere along the line—
Without noticing—
I had already started making space for her.
In my house.
In my decisions.
In my thoughts.
And that…
Was dangerous.
Because I don't share.
I don't tolerate intrusion.
And I don't—
Lose control.
Yet tonight—
She walked in.
Turned everything upside down.
And left me questioning things I never questioned before.
My jaw tightened.
Eyes darkening slightly.
If she thinks this is just a game—
A harmless little act of rebellion—
Then she has no idea what she's stepping into.
Because if she keeps pushing—
Keeps coming closer—
Keeps looking at me like that—
Then sooner or later…
She won't be able to walk away.
And neither will I.