Chapter 3:
1170 Words
"Good morning, Daisy. I'm so sorry, but I have to cancel our date," Asher said, sounding regretful. "I have a meeting with the board of directors and I need to be there ASAP."
"It's fine, Asher. I'm cool. I made breakfast," Daisy replied, understanding.
But Asher was already on his way out. "I'm sorry, Daisy. I booked a flight and I need to be there." He called out to Troy, "Troy, we need to leave now!"
As they drove away, Asher's phone rang. He answered, listening for a moment before exclaiming, "Wow, just wow! How can you cancel the meeting at the last minute like that?"
Troy turned the car around. "We need to head back home, Asher."
By evening, Asher had booked a private jet for an early morning departure. He was frustrated, but Troy tried to calm him down before he returned home.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted them. Daisy opened it to find Kendrick standing there, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Kendrick, hi," Daisy said warily. "Did you call Asher before coming over?"
Kendrick chuckled. "No need to. This is my friend's house. I can come and go as I please."
Daisy's eyes narrowed. "Well, he's not around. And even if he was, I don't think he'd appreciate you showing up uninvited."
Kendrick sneered. "Oh, I know he's not a saint. He's just a playboy who thinks he can rear you like a chicken and then discard you when he's done."
Daisy's fear spiked as Kendrick advanced on her. "Respect yourself, Kendrick. Leave me alone. I'm not one of your street girls."
But Kendrick just laughed, his hands grasping for her. Daisy ran, Kendrick hot on her heels. She stumbled onto the bed, Kendrick pinning her down. She screamed, struggling to keep her clothes on.
Just in time, Asher burst into the room, Troy right behind him. Asher's face contorted in rage as he saw Kendrick forcing himself on Daisy. With a fierce cry, Asher pummeled Kendrick's face, blood and bruises erupting everywhere.
As Kendrick stumbled back, Asher rushed to Daisy's side. She was shaking, her breathing ragged. "Daisy, oh my God. Are you okay?"
Troy helped Asher pull Kendrick out of the house, leaving Daisy to process the trauma she had just endured.
Asher handed Kendrick over to the police, his face twisted in disgust. "You're an attempted r****t, Kendrick. You need to be jailed."
Kendrick sneered at Asher. "You're doing this because of a woman? We both know we share a lot, Asher."
Asher's eyes blazed. "I warned you to stay out of her business, Kendrick. And we may share ladies, but we don't r**e them. I can't believe you'd even try."
Troy intervened, "Asher, calm down."
But Asher was beyond reason. "Get him out of my sight, Troy. He doesn't deserve to talk to me. He needs to be jailed."
Later, Asher visited Daisy, his face etched with concern. "Daisy, are you okay? We need to get you to the hospital."
Daisy reassured him, "I'm fine, Asher. Thanks to you, it could have been worse."
But Asher was plagued by guilt. He avoided Daisy the next day, unable to face her.
Daisy sought out Troy, worried. "Mr. Troy, what's going on with Asher? Is he busy or avoiding me?"
Troy hesitated before replying, "He's avoiding you, Daisy. He's ashamed."
When Troy confronted Asher, he admitted, "I'm ashamed, Troy. I don't want to face her. Friends of the same feather flock together...if Kendrick did that, what does it say about me?"
But Daisy saw past Asher's facade. "Asher, I know you're a sweet soul, different from your friend. You may be a player, but I feel safe and comfortable around you. Don't ever feel bad about this."
Hazel stormed into Asher's mansion, her eyes blazing with anger. "Asher, why have you been ignoring my calls and avoiding me? You told me you were traveling, but I know the truth!"
Asher's expression turned cold. "Who let you into my house, Hazel? You barged in without my permission. This is my home, and I decide who comes and goes."
Hazel's voice rose. "You're doing this because of her, aren't you?" She glared at Daisy. "You called her your sister, but how is that possible? You're a playboy, Asher. You're using her, just like you used me!"
Asher's patience snapped. "Hazel, shut up! You're talking too much. I considered you my girlfriend once, but your drug habits made you unfit for a relationship. You're not decent enough to be a girlfriend. Get out of my house before I have you dragged out!"
The guards moved to escort Hazel away, but she resisted. "Leave me alone! Face Daisy, you think it's over? I'll make sure you regret treating me with disrespect in front of this...this...fake sister!"
As Hazel was finally dragged out, she slammed the door behind her. Asher turned to Daisy, his expression softening. "I'm sorry you had to witness that, Daisy. Hazel and I have a complicated past."
Daisy's eyes widened. "Complicated past?"
Asher sighed. "We were friends with benefits, but she wanted more. I couldn't give it to her. She's not stable, Daisy. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle."
"Asher, I know you have a complicated past, but I might be willing to look past it," Daisy said, her voice cautious.
Asher's eyes locked onto hers. "I know I've been a player, Daisy, but I've changed. I've seen someone I love, and that someone is you."
Daisy's eyes widened in surprise. "Me?"
Asher took a step closer. "Yes, you. I dream of spending the rest of my life with you. Maybe if we hadn't separated, I wouldn't have become the player I am today."
Daisy's mind raced, unsure of how to respond. Asher's words were sincere, but her past secrets and trauma still haunted her.
Asher continued, his voice filled with emotion. "My mom's infidelity caused my dad's death, and I thought all women were the same. But then I met you, Daisy. You're the perfect one for me."
Daisy's heart ached for him, but she knew they couldn't profess their love yet. "Asher, I'm sorry about your mom and dad, but this isn't the time—"
Asher cut her off, his eyes burning with intensity. "What's stopping us, Daisy? We've been together, and I'm not married. We can make this work."
Their gazes locked, and the tension between them was palpable. They kissed, and Daisy felt herself getting lost in the moment.
Meanwhile, Hazel fumed to her friends. "I can't believe Asher prefers her over me! Doesn't he see how beautiful and tall I am?"
One of her friends replied, "Hazel, you're a drug addict and a street girl. You can't even cook or have any humility. Asher is a man of status, and he won't be compatible with someone like you."
Hazel's eyes narrowed. "I'll ruin his status and career if he doesn't do what I want. I'll make sure he regrets choosing her over me."
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