Chapter 89 - Goodbye Grandpa

Ash was woken by the doorbell. Mirae was still sleeping peacefully in his arms. Gently pulling away from her, he got up and went to the living room.

"Siri, show me the front camera," he ordered. A camera descended from the ceiling to show the visitor outside. It was KJ.

Ash contemplated for a minute on whether to face KJ or not before deciding to answer the door. He had a hunch about his relationship with the CEO of Abyss anyway. Might as well come clean to him about it.

KJ was about to turn away when the door opened. Standing in front of him was his group mate and best friend.

"You're not surprised to see me here," Ash commented in a cool tone.

"I'm not," KJ replied. An awkward silence hung in the air.

"How long has this been going on?" KJ finally asked.

"A few weeks," Ash admitted. "She...she was the one who rescued me at the auction."

"I know," KJ said. "I figured it out when she was acting defensive about you at her friend, Psycho's bar. She bought you on the night of the auction."

"She saved me," Ash pointed out.

"So you're simply grateful towards her?"

"At first I was," Ash admitted. "But now..."

"Now what?" KJ demanded.

Ash looked at his, directly in the eye. "Now, she is the woman I would do anything to protect," he stated firmly. "Anything."

"So will I," KJ confessed, not breaking their eye contact.. "But you knew that already."

They stared at each other for a while, an underlying tension building up between them.

Suddenly, KJ let our an ironic laugh. "Here we are," he laughed. "After years of friendship, we're confronting each other about a woman both of us like. She must be something since the cold heart bastard and prince of aloofness from EXOTIC fell for her!"

"That she is," Ash mused. "I never thought that both of us would fall for the same woman. But she dislikes you a lot. You must know that. Then how come you fell for her? Are you a masochist?"

He teased his friend.

"Let's just say, you're there to protect her and I'm here to protect her smile," KJ lamented. "So yeah. I am a masochist."

Ash could sense the deep sadness hidden in his words. "We both are," he said. "Anyways, why are you here so early in the morning?"

"Madam Hong called me," KJ replied. "To invite me for her private ball. Apparently, she invited you and our assistant Mirae. I don't know why but she asked me to accompany Mirae."

"Oh, she took a liking to our PA," Ash said. It was still not safe to reveal that Mirae and the CEO are the same person. That was Mirae's decision to make. "Mirae casually mentioned that she fancies you the most among all EXOTIC members. Hence, Madam Hong decided to play cupid."

"Pft," KJ snorted. "Since it's Madam Hong's party, I'll have to go. Otherwise, I would not have bothered."

Both men his their true thoughts well. It bothered Ash that KJ will be the one who will go to the ball with Mirae while KJ was aware that the woman he loves is probably dating his best friend.

"I'll take your leave then," KJ bid Ash farewell. "Since it's Saturday, we don't have any work today. Prepare for tomorrow's ball. I'm sure Madam Hong will do something there. You know our plan."

"I do," Ash said. "See you tomorrow night."

They bid each other goodbye. KJ walked away and Ash closed the door.

"Ash, where are you?" Mirae asked groggily as she came out of the bedroom, yawning. Ash did not say anything but strode towards her and locked her lips into a passionate kiss. It was different from him usual kisses. He was possessing her with his tongue, kissing her as if he was afraid to lose her. She felt his suppressed feelings being poured into this kiss.

She was gasping for air when he let go of her. Her lips were swollen after the vicious attack on them.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

Ash hugged her. "Nothing," he said. "I just wanted to hold you badly."

Blinking in surprise, she smiled and hugged him back. Something did happen and she was sure of it, but he was reluctant to talk about it. Suddenly, her stomach grumbled.

"Let's get some food into you," Ash snickered as he let her go.

"I'm a lousy cook," Mirae admitted.

"I'll cook," he shrugged. "You go and freshen up."

"Mmm..." Mirae mumbled as she made her way to the bathroom, while Ash headed towards the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, Mirae came out, wearing a loose white shirt and shorts. She saw that Ash was still cooking something. She walked towards him and embraced him from the back, tiptoeing over his shoulder to see what he was making.

Ash was not startled by her sudden back hug. Instead, he let her hold him while he fried the eggs.

"Mir, you gotta let me go now," Ash said as he turned off the stove.

"You smell so good though," Mirae muttered. Ash caught her hand and turned around to face her.

"Time for breakfast," he poked her head.

"Okay," she mumbled. They set their plates at the dining table and silently finished their breakfast.

"KJ stopped by this morning," Ash informed her as he cleared the plates at the sink. Mirae, who was standing beside him, froze.

"You answered the door?" she asked in shock. She knew that KJ found out about their relationship. But she completely forgot to inform Ash that KJ knew.

"Why did you answer the door?" Mirae demanded. "What if KJ leaks that information? Or worse, if the Cartel finds out since they're keeping an eye on KJ?"

"KJ knew about us for a while," Ash pointed out. "Something which you forgot to inform me about. But I wanted to ask KJ something important."

"What did you ask him?"

"That is something between me and him."

Mirae opened her mouth to protest but Ash cut her off. "This is between me and my friend," he said firmly. "We have utmost faith in each other. I cannot betray his trust by revealing our conversation. All I will say is that you should trust KJ."

"What if he back stabs us?"

"He won't," Ash said.

"But-"

"Trust him, Mirae," Ash assured her. "KJ knows what he's doing. Trust him."

Trust KJ. Why was everyone trusting him so much? she wondered. To her, he seemed like someone who would run away at the last minute. Why was everyone so adamant on trusting him?

Ash read the uncertainty arising inside her.

"Mir," he put his hand on her. "KJ won't run away from his friends. He isn't a coward like that."

She looked at him. "You better be right," she said. "Because if something happens to you in this mission, I will kill him before the Cartel does."

"And I assure you, nothing will happen to me as long as KJ is there," Ash reiterated his words. Even if KJ and Ash both loved Mirae, they would never let their friendship be compromised. Ash knew this much at least.

"I'm hurt though," Ash said in mock annoyance.

Mirae blinked. "Why?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"You get to wear a pretty dress and go to a ball with someone other than your boyfriend," he feigned sadness in his voice. "Honestly, I'm kinda jealous."

The last part was a little true though. Even if it was for their ultimate goal, he did feel a little bothered by the fact that Mirae will be KJ's date that night.

"Ahhh...how can I make it up to my boyfriend?" Mirae asked, pouting.

"Like this."

Ash pushed her back against a wall and once again, crashed his lips on to hers. They hungrily tasted each other as Ash's hands explored her body. His right hand was pressing her nub, gently caressing them while the left hand slid under her pants.

"Someone is being very touchy today," Mirae gasped as she pulled away.

"Do you want me to stop?" he winked, as he inserted two fingers in her, gently throbbing her g-spot, making her hotter and wetter.

"Hell no!"

Taking the cue, he lifted her up and led her to the bedroom once again. For the next few hours, groans and slow moans were heard throughout the apartment.

Jade, who was keeping an eye on the couple since last night, sneaked in through the balcony. He heard the erotic noises coming from the room.

"Oh man, my virgin ears have been plagued," he complained. "Sigh! If only that KJ wasn't a dumb moron."