Nothing Without You

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

The Dinner

Asher's POV

I stepped inside the Grey mansion and knocked on the door. Ana opened the door and urged me inside. 

"Hey Asher." She said. 

"Hey Ana. How have you been?" I asked her as Mr. Drank came to take my coat. I took it off and handed it to him. 

"I have been good. Come on now you're late. Everybody is waiting for you in the dinning room." She said as she led the way to the dining room. 

"I know, just something came up." I said in a calm tone as we both entered the dining room. I greeted everyone and went to my chair, pulled it out and settled myself down.

"Asher." I heard dad's voice calling my name. I looked up at him and answered. "Yes dad."

"Son, I want you to get married." He said with hope clear in his eyes that I would agree to it. Never in a million years she's the only one who is capable and ment to be by my side no one else. 

"Dad," I took a deep breath trying to control my anger, "I can't."

"Why not Asher? It's been 2 years since she left. You can't just sit and cry for her." He said. I wanted to laugh at him. Left? She sacrificed her life for me. 

"Dad first of all I am not crying. Second dad in a relationship you need to give love too and you know I can't I am broken beyond repair and third some are just sluts they will marry me just because I am a billionaire." I gave him the obvious reasons not wanting to come out rude to him as he was elder than me and I owe him and this family a lot. 

"Uncle Ash I will find you a nice bride." Dakota said in her cute little voice distracting me from my thoughts.

"Thank you, Dakota but there is no need." I politely declined her as a maid served me food and left. 

"But I need an aunt, Uncle Ash."

Her voice seemed as if she was about to cry any moment. And there she knows exactly how to play that crying card. I sighed. Just then brother Christian chimed in. "Asher look, what if we find you a bride? That way you won't even have the trouble of searching for a girl. We find a girl, you meet her and then we'll proceed further if you want. Is it okay now?" 

"Sure why not? But you can't find a girl who is willing to love me but expect nothing in return not even affection and is not some slut who is after money." I mocked him. There was no possible girl who would possibly fit my description except her. 

"Deal. I know exactly the person that would fit your description. " My niece immediately chimed with a bright smile covering her face. "Dakota we are not talking about your dolls." I told her."Who said I was talking about my dolls? I am talking about a real life person." She said turning her head towards me and as always a big bright smile covering her face. I was startled by the courage and determination she had to find herself an aunt being reflected in her eyes. 

She is so innocent but the world feigned innocence. No girl can be that pure except...... her. I gave in to my niece's determination anyway.

"Deal." I said as I picked up my spoon to eat. "Yay, mom look Uncle Ash agreed." She said as she got out of her chair and started jumping up and down. There was a sweet smile on her face reflecting her innocence. I smiled at her innocence. I turned my head towards her and gently said, "Okay little one but now sit and finish your vegetables like a good girl."

"Yes sir." She said saluting me as she immediately came back to her chair and with a lot of struggle but she made it on her own.

After we finished our dinner. Dakota immediately said, " I have dessert for for everyone." She went and got down the chair and ran towards the kitchen  and brought back a packet. She kept it on the table and caught her breath once she was done. She immediately opened the box, carried it in her little arms carefully as she kept a brownie in everyone's plate.

I picked up the brownie and I took a bite. It tasted really delicious, whoever made it is definitely a good cook.

"How is it, Uncle?" She asked from her father's lap, smiling at me. 

"It's okay. I like it." I said as I looked at the brownie with a smile on my face. Just then I heard a spoon drop on the floor. I shifted my attention from the brownie to the people around me. Everyone at the table stopped had eating and they all were looking at me with widened eyes.

"Am I hearing things?" Dad asked as if he didn't hear what I just said. 

"Look everyone I liked it so I said it. It's not a big deal. Okay?" I said as I finished the brownie. 

"Asher you don't have fever, right?" Amelia got up from her chair walked towards me as she touched my forehead. 

"No Amelia. I am downright okay." I said as I removed her hand from my forehead. 

"Wow Ash, you liked someone else's cooking. That is definitely unreal. "

Jamie commented.

"Stop okay. I will be taking my leave now." I said I was feeling overwhelmed now so I decided it would be best if I take my leave now. I immediately stood up and said goodbye to everyone. I walked out of the dining room. As I was about to leave Mr. Drank handed me my coat, I took it from him and walked out. 

I started driving towards my mansion as soon as I reached my mansion. I knocked on the door. Maria opened it I handed her my coat walked inside and went straight to my room. I closed my door behind me and went to my nightstand as I opened my drawer and took out her picture. With her picture in my hands I sat down on the edge of my bed. I hugged the picture. 

"Why did you leave me Selena? Why didn't you take me along with you? Why did you.............," my voice cracked up. Tears streamed down my face like rain pouring down from the sky on earth. 

This is the real me. I was weak and broken. Pathetic, right? The Asher, who was all rough and tough is just a mask to hide the real me. Just a facade. I was, in honesty, nothing but a broken man. 

I don't want people to think I am weak. To think they can take advantage of me thus I put on that mask as I travel in between people. I kept her picture back in the drawer, laid on my bed and hugged the pillow. I was so tired that I didn't even changed out of my suit. With her thoughts consuming my mind I let sleep consume my eyes as I finally fell asleep. 

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