His Forever

The First Time

"You can drop me on the next square." Eloise didn't want to be a hindrance or take advantage of him. She had already damaged Asher's expensive suit and car seat with her wet clothes. Plus, he was on his way somewhere when he had to detour because of her.

"Do you have someone waiting for you there?" Asher asked, keeping his attention on the road ahead.

"Umm, no. But I will call a friend." Eloise lied. She looked outside of the window, trying not to get caught.

"Then call the friend to the hospital. It is nearby." Asher did not leave any room for discussion. He was very stern despite how politely he talked.

"Thank you for saving me. And I am sorry for everything." Eloise knew she couldn't fight with him when he looked that serious. So, she felt like she should at least apologize and acknowledge him.

Asher did not reply. He kept stealing glances at her from time to time. He wondered what must have happened for her to be in such a state. She desperately wanted to avoid Drake. She had makeup spilled all over her face. He wondered if it was because of excessive crying or the rain. He could tell she was beautiful, but all that spilled mascara and makeup spoiled her natural beauty.

However, Eloise had forgotten about him. Drake's betrayal captured her mind.

"Are you alright?" Asher asked, making a turn.

"Yes, and you?" She was not really interested in knowing. She simply responded.

"Me?" he asked. Why wouldn't he be okay? When he realized her unmindfulness, he didn't further the conversation despite having several questions.

When Asher made a few familiar turns, Eloise began to pay more attention to where they were heading.

"Are you taking me to Newlife Hospital?" Eloise asked, alarmed. She kept checking the billboards and familiar signals to be sure.

"Hmm, I am-" Asher was about to complete his sentence when Eloise demanded him to stop. She was petrified; her face turned pale, and her hands were trembling with anxiety.

"No! We can't go there. Please!" Eloise begged him. It surprised Asher to see her react like that. He kept shifting his gaze between the road and Eloise, wondering what made her react like that.

"Is it because of Drake?" He implored.

"No. Not there. It's different." Eloise stopped. Why was she explaining herself to him? "You can drop me here. I will call my friend." Eloise requested, pleading with him with her eyes.

"No, I will take you to Medicare. It isn't far away." Asher insisted, worried about her.

Eloise didn't fight. She was, anyway, consumed by her thoughts, feeling exhausted. There was nowhere to go in that rain when she didn't want to call her friends. She had always bragged about Drake. What would she tell them now?

Earlier that day, her class got suspended because her professor was sick. So, her evening was free. She wanted to surprise Drake. But it was she who got the surprise instead.

It didn't take them long to get Eloise treated. But even after Asher asked her several times to call someone, she kept giving excuses. Eloise felt pressured because he was not leaving her.

"Don't you have any friends, or are you purposefully avoiding them?" Asher finally asked. It was some time now since he noticed her hesitation.

Eloise sighed, finally giving in to his nagging. Asher Williams was a persistent man. Rick was right about it.

"You must have a rough idea that I broke off with my boyfriend. I don't want my friends to find out about it yet." Eloise replied. "But I will be fine. I will go to a nearby motel to spend the night." She felt terrible for keeping a busy man like him engaged in her petty affairs.

"In those clothes?" Asher furrowed his brows.

Eloise had already washed her face. She looked beautiful with no makeup, wet hair, and dirty, drenched clothes. He looked at her when she wasn't looking, making him wonder what could have happened to her to wander like that.

"Why don't we get some change of clothes and then have some food? It is freezing." He suggested, watching her intently, waiting patiently for her answer.

Eloise was against taking more favors from Asher. But when he insisted and asked her to return his favor, she had to give in. She wasn't sure why he was kind to her. Even if he was every woman's desire in the city, everyone knew he was unreachable. He had an icy persona that made him unapproachable. Yet, her personal experience begged to differ from the popular general opinion. It made her question his intention. But she convinced herself that it was because she was Rick's tutor.

"Alright!" Eloise agreed, getting inside his car. She let out a deep sigh, trying to clear her head.

Asher started the engine, looking at her while she was still unmindful. He smiled as he remembered the first time he had seen her when she came for the tutor interview. She was unmindful even then, bumping into him just like today!