Page 41 of Lost In The Dark

“He’s upstairs. He told you not to come tonight,” Eli said, sounding annoyed.

“Nonsense. He needs me there. He can’t very well turn up without a date,” she said dismissively.

“How did you even get in here?” Eli asked.

“I have access codes, of course. Asher gave them to me. Don’t be so ridiculous, Elijah.”

“ASH!” Eli yelled up the stairs, clearly frustrated. The woman winced at the yell, then shook her head in annoyance. Who was she? Did Asher have a girlfriend?

“I’m here,” Asher announced as he came jogging down the stairs.

“Good. Then you can handle this,” Eli sighed as he faced his brother and nodded towards the leggy blonde.

“Zara? What are you doing here? I told you I didn’t need you to attend tonight,” Asher asked as he looked to her with surprise.

“Of course you need me. The press will be there. You need to have a date on your arm,” she sighed impatiently. “Realy Asher, I told you this earlier. And you need to handle those buffoons who work for you. They tried to question me as I came in. Damned idiots!” I was surprised when she strode up to him and started pulling at the bow tie he wore with his tuxedo.

“The security are doing their jobs. And I told you earlier, Eli is coming with me to the fundraiser. As for the press, I don’t care what they think,” Asher sighed as he stepped back from her grasp. “Why are you here anyway? We always meet at the venue.”

“She has access codes for the house. Says you gave them to her,” Eli questioned.

“You let yourself in?” Asher growled as he turned back to Zara with a stone cold look that shocked me. I had only ever seen warmth in his face since I met him, but he was clearly angry in that moment. I prayed I never gave him cause to look at me that way.

“You gave me the codes. I thought…”

“I gave you the codes to grab the paperwork legal needed while I was away. You do not ever let yourself into my home without permission,” Asher growled, then he looked to me and his face softened. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I promise that no one else can access the house. Zara is my P.A. and I really needed some paperwork while we were in Vegas,” he explained more gently.

“Why are you apologizing to her? This is your home!” Zara snapped as she looked to me with clear rage.

“It’s Addy’s home too, and I assured her no one could enter it but the people who live here. You just made me a liar,” Asher snapped.

“I-it’s okay, Asher,” I told him shakily.

“No, it’s not, but it will not happen again.” Asher glared at Zara again, but she didn’t really seem to care as she turned her focus back on me.

“You’re not quiet what I expected,” she commented as she looked me over with blatant disapproval. I was just relieved the back of the sofa was hiding the fact I was wearing pink and white stripy pajamas. I had chosen them when Eli had persuaded me to order more clothes online the day before, thinking they were cute. They were soft and comfortable, and I had loved them as soon as I felt them in my hand, but they weren’t exactly stylish. Regardless of how much of my outfit she could see, my hair wasa mess, tied up on top of my head, and I was pale and thin. I knew beside her I looked pretty pathetic and that just made me feel even more intimidated.

“Zara!” Eli snapped. “Don’t you dare!” He moved, placing himself between Zara and I so she could no longer glare at me.

“You are ridiculous, Elijah. I just meant the girl looks like she needs some medical attention. Maybe she’d be better off in the hospital?”

“Addy is none of your concern, Zara. She’s fine right where she is,” Asher replied with a small growl in his tone.

“Did you call the psychiatrist I found for her? She looks like she needs some psychological help,” Zara went on and I flinched. Did she know what had happened to me? Did she know everything? The idea that Asher had shared the details with her hurt.

“Asher, get her the fuck out, right now, or I will,” Eli barked, startling me. I had never heard such a dark, menacing tone come from him. He was always so gentle and soothing.

“Why don’t you stay here with the girl, and I can go with Asher to the function? I’m here now anyway,” Zara suggested with a sickly sweetness that almost made my teeth hurt.

“Just leave, Zara. I already told you several times you were not required tonight. I’ll speak with you at the office in the morning,” Asher told her as he started to usher her towards the door.

“So you’ll be in the office tomorrow then?”

“No. I told you I’m taking some time off. I’ll call you,” Asher sighed, his frustration evident.

“If she needs that much care, you really should consider some professional help. You have an empire to run, Asher,” Zara tutted as she looked over Eli and sent me a glare again.

“Zara. You’re standing on very thin ice right now. I suggest you leave if you want to keep your job!” Asher stepped even closer to her, but she didn’t back up. Instead she placed a hand on his arm and smoothed it over his jacket sleeve seductively.

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