Three weeks later Ashlynn's POV: Gage is slowly secluding himself, and it makes me sad. His grandmother is still at the hospital and each day her chances of getting past the heart attack decrease. He's also been figuring out the whole Iris situation, which I still don't know what it's about. He was gone for a week, apparently in South Korea, but that only gave him a new lead that she's currently in Iceland. So he's been busying himself with that. He rarely sleeps. Alex has put me in charge of bringing Gage his meals. I'll go in there to give him his breakfast and he'll be in the same clothes as the day before and his appearance just screams tired. Today I won't let him hide himself anymore. I grab the tray full of breakfast foods and a glass of orange juice. Tori gives me a small wave as I walk past her and up to Gage's office. A few of the maids give me small smiles as I walk by and I return them. The guards who are walking through the house look stoic as ever. I keep my head
Gage's POV: To say I was furious is an understatement. Once I got Ashlynn to relax I laid her on my couch, and she's currently playing a game on the small tablet. I'm at my computer looking at the background check of her so called parents. They are still living in Peoria, Arizona. They've been caught for possession of drugs and driving drunk, but nothing that has convicted them to prison. I continue to dig through their file, and I'm shocked at what I find. I make sure that what I'm reading is correct before I message Vince to look into it. "Are you stressed?" I look up at Ashlynn who is looking over at me, the tablet now laying on her chest. "Just work stuff," I shrug off. "I'm almost done. Just have to get everything prepared for a meeting tomorrow then we can head downstairs." "Alright," she says and grabs the tablet. "If you're lying I'll punch you." "Okay," I chuckle as I switch tabs on my computer. I focus my attention back to the Iris case, and I'm able to pinpoin
Alex has set the jet to leave at 8:00 in the morning, leaving me with only seven hours to sleep before the plane leaves. Really only about five to five and a half before I have to start getting ready. We are taking a group of ten men who will be on ground and then five who will be tech. Vince is staying home, per mom's request. He's pissy about it but I side with mom on this one. Considering that tomorrow is Friday, I still have to call the brothel and tell them that Ashlynn won't be there. "Go to sleep," Ashlynn says and I roll my eyes. "I could say the same for you," I reply and she grins before taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "I don't have to be somewhere in the morning, you do," she retorts and sets the mug down. "Will you tell me why you're up now?" "Anxiety?" I say, although it sounds more like a question. "I just want to find her and give her what she deserves." "Can you tell me what she did?" She asks hesitantly. "The Iris I knew was a mentor to me. I just wan
Ashlynn's POV: "Elliott is on the mission too," Kylie says as we sit on my bed. She was given the day off for some reason, so we are just relaxing in my room before I work tonight. "I'm scared. I know we aren't really anything yet, but I've grown to care for him." "I don't think the mission is a dangerous one," I say, trying to calm her nerves. "They just have to find one person. They should be back soon." "Are you scared? For, you know, Mr. Cutler?" She asks and my cheeks flush. "I know he can handle himself," I say and tuck my hair behind my ear. "Besides, why do I need to be scared?" "There's obviously a connection between the two of you," Kylie scoffs as if what I said was dumb. "We both like each other, that's it really," I shrug. "No labels yet? Shame," Kylie sighs before she starts to smirk. "Can you imagine how cute your guy's baby will be? Blonde hair and hazel eyes!" "What!" I choke out. "What do you mean kids? We have only kissed a couple of times, so
"Wait, that's Gage?" I ask as Nicole shows me a picture of a little boy in the bath with a stack of bubbles on his head. He's holding two yellow rubber duckies and has a large smile on his face. "I think he was three in this. My mom had just gotten him the two rubber ducks and he was obsessed with them," Nicole smiles. We continue to flip through the photo album and I can't help but take pictures of a few of the photos. "He's in a little suit!" I exclaim as I see the picture. Gage is probably six or so and he is in a black suit and tie. His arms are crossed tightly over his chest and his lips are forming the biggest pout. "This was his first time wearing a full suit," Nicole tells me. "It was for my sisters wedding. He was the ring bearer and he didn't want to wear it. He cried for a few hours before the wedding. I managed to bribe him with suckers, so it worked out in the end." "It sounds like he was stubborn even as a kid," I smile and she laughs. "You would've never m
One week later "You're taking it because I bought it for you. Also, I could never fit into it," Kylie says as she hands me the pink bag. "I think it'll look great on stage too." "I don't want you to buy me anything," I tell her as I hesitantly take the bag. "Lingerie is expensive too." "Just take it and try it on," she rolls her eyes and shoves the bag all the way into my hand. "Go!" I roll my eyes as I take the bag and go to the small changing area at the club. Kylie wanted to see what it was like so she tagged along tonight. What I didn't know was that she bought me a new outfit to dance in. I take out what's in the bag and gasp at the color. It was a dark burgundy color that I just fell in love with. It's a two piece set that is very strappy. The top has the normal triangle lace cut to cover my boobs, but straps go from the band of the bra and around my boobs to make them look like they are larger. The waistband of the lace bottoms have two straps that rest high on my wa
Gage's POV: When I got home from the club last night Ashlynn was fast asleep. I had to carefully take her out of my car and take her to her room so she can sleep for the remaining of the night. I did get a couple hours of sleep before my day begun, right at 7:00. Alex has organized everything for today so I can have as much leverage as I need over her. She's not getting away this time, and I'm finally giving her what she deserves. "Boss, we have the family," one of my men says. They click a few buttons on the tablet they're holding before they show me the love video footage from a small living room. The family is kneeling on the ground, tied up and blindfolded. The oldest two are obviously her parents and the boy that is with them is her brother. That's only the beginning of my leverage. "We've also got access to all of her bank accounts and money is ready to be transferred. Along with the men who discovered her hide out here in New York. They discovered she was hijacking some of
"She stays downstairs, no one sees her unless I okay it. Understood?" I tell my men, wanting the meeting to be over so I can go to Ashlynn. Yesterday's events were exactly what I needed. Now that they are done I can take Ashlynn to the movies like she wanted me to. She doesn't have to work at the club tonight, mainly because I said so. Felicity got a girl to take Ashlynn's shift, much to Ashlynn's dismay. She doesn't like how I treat her at work per-say. She said I favor her, which I know I do. I have every right to, and my employees know better than to go against what I say. In the end Ashlynn did tell me she's excited and that she's choosing the movie. "Alright we need to keep tabs on the groups who Iris sold information to," Alex says as he stands up. "We already were watching a few of them, but others are new to us. Also, we need to make sure we prepare for the arrival of Hayato and his men. They'll be arriving in four days and will be staying in the guest house next door. Qu