Constance Marounta
Asher
Asher was in the middle of packing up his life. His new apartment, conveniently located near his company, was ready and waiting for him. Noah had made sure of that. But Asher wasn’t in a rush to settle into the city he’d grown up in.
Come Monday, he’d be meeting his new team. He’d already told Noah not to make a big fuss. Crowds weren’t his thing. He’d rather just meet the department heads and then send out a group email to everyone else. It felt less intimidating that way. Plus, it gave him the space he needed until he figured out what he was dealing with.
Most of his stuff was packed, except for his photography gear. He was leaving the day after tomorrow, and he might want to use it before then. Even though he’d captured almost every corner of this city through his lens, he might still find something worth shooting. You never know.
He hadn’t called Maggie in the past few weeks. He’d wanted to, badly. But when he heard about the technical issues keeping the operators busy, he decided not to add to her stress. He missed the thrill of teasing her, of knowing he got under her skin. And she got under his skin too, more than he’d like to admit for a stranger.
That’s why he’d decided not to call her after Monday. He’d be her boss, and it wouldn’t be right to keep this up. Not to mention, it would be unethical. He found himself hoping she was older than she sounded, or not his type. Not that he usually had trouble resisting attractive women. He’d turned down plenty lately.
Despite his high-profile position attracting plenty of women, he just wasn’t interested. Maggie was the first woman to pique his interest in a long time, and she didn’t even know it.
Sitting on his bed, he decided to call her one last time. He knew he shouldn’t, but he convinced himself it wouldn’t hurt. But she wasn’t there.
He sighed, disappointed. Maybe it was for the best. But that didn’t stop him from feeling frustrated.
***
The next day, he hit the road. The drive was long, but he didn’t mind. He could’ve had a driver take him, but he preferred to travel alone or with his dog. She stuck her head out the window the whole way, barking happily. It lifted his spirits.
He arrived in the city in the early evening. His new apartment was modern and fully equipped, but it lacked personality. He’d have to change that, but for now, he decided to rest. He had plenty of time to make it his own.
His father called to make sure he’d arrived safely and invited him over for dinner. He politely declined, claiming he was tired, but promised to join him for breakfast the day after tomorrow.
The days leading up to Monday were uneventful. He spent his time exploring the city, taking photos, and finding new favorite spots. His dog didn’t seem to mind the change of scenery, which was a relief. He’d been worried she wouldn’t adjust well.
He spoiled her with daily walks, knowing he should probably stop once Monday rolled around. But he decided to enjoy his last few days of freedom.
On Sunday morning, while he was out walking his dog, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he knew he was in trouble.
“You little piece of shit!” James yelled from the other end. “You’ve been back for days and you couldn’t be bothered to call us!”
“I wanted some peace, you dickhead!” Asher shot back. “If I’d told you I was here, you guys would’ve dragged me to party after party.”
“And you think you’re off the hook?” James snorted. “Adam’s house tonight. We’re getting you wasted.”
Just like that, Asher knew he was screwed.