The Assassin's Allure

Chapter 5: So Close

Asher

I don’t know how long I stand there watching Ivy rush out of the room. When she referenced my possible marriage, I blanked. I don’t know how to tell her that my arranged marriage is a complicated mess that would affect my family.

I exhale deeply and thread my fingers through my hair with a silent curse. I want to run after Ivy and tell her I do not wish to be married. But I can’t because nothing has been settled.

Seeing that I am getting nowhere with these thoughts, I head to my borrowed room, take a shower and prepare to attend the festivities. Once I’ve changed into a pair of slacks, a black v-neck sweater and my black boots, I head to the party.

Thankfully, Priest and the others are already there.

Declan and Santana are delighted with the surprise. As the night progresses, I can’t help but observe Ivy strolling around the room. After speaking to me, she changed into an interesting, short, blue and purple tie-dye dress that showed her flat belly, making her shapely legs look long and her feet look dainty in wedge sandals. She tied her long dark hair in a ponytail, and her bare shoulders looked silky and soft.

Somehow, we both end up standing next to each other at the hors d’oeuvre table. Ivy is drinking a glass of wine as she reaches for something to eat. I know I should turn around, but I refrain because I don’t want her to think I’m avoiding her.

Reaching forward, I gather one of the confections, look at the small treat and frown.

“That’s a Tuscan Bruschetta cup,” Ivy mutters and points to each appetizer, “Presto Crostinis, Apricot pinwheels and Shimp Phylo cups. You should try them. They are seriously delicious.”

I bite the cup, surprised by its crunchy, fresh taste.

“Good, right?” she asks.

I nod, but before I can verbalize a response, a large male stops beside Ivy. I’ve never seen this man before, but Ivy must know who he is based on her reaction. The man is tall with olive skin, long brown hair that falls to his shoulders, ebony eyes and a muscular frame. My fists tighten, and my jaw pops when he wraps his arms around her waist and kisses the top of her head.

Ivy turns to face him and smiles, “Hey, you made it.”

The man gives her a cocky grin that makes me want to rip it from his face, “Of course. You know I always look forward to seeing you. Sophia was kind enough to let me in.”

His eyes meet mine before he turns back to her and pulls her closer, “Are you going to introduce me?”

Ivy’s eyes widen when she realizes I’m still standing there, “Oh, um, Asher, this is Diego,” she points to the man, “Diego, this is Asher. He’s friends with the groom.”

Diego extends his hand at me and smiles, “It’s nice to meet you.”

I take his hand and shake it, though I’d rather slice his throat open, “You as well, Diego.”

“How do you two know each other?” I ask, even though I know he’s the man she and Sophia spoke about earlier.

Ivy bites her lower lip and shrugs, “Diego is an environmental counselor. He teaches people how to create green spaces and make their homes more environmentally friendly. We met through an app.”

My lips tighten, “Is that so? That’s interesting. ”

Diego nods and kisses the back of her hand, “I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I was quite lucky to have been matched with her.”

My throat tightens, and my rage heats further, “You didn’t waste any time,” I mutter with an edge to my voice.

Diego must sense how I feel because he gives me a Cheshire smile and mutters, “I’m not a man to waste an opportunity.”

My teeth clench as I gaze into the man holding what I want’s eyes, “I’m sure you’re not. I just hope you know how to hold on to it.”

Ivy’s brow furrows at our underlying animosity. Taking her boytoy’s hand, she angles him away from me, “How about I introduce you to the rest of my friends?”

She gives me a withering glare as she passes by and grits out, “Have a nice evening, Asher. Maybe next time you should invite your fiance to one of our parties. Or is it your wife?”

My nostrils flare at her subtle reprimand. I know that I should not be acting this way, but the possessive part of me that has wanted Ivy from the moment I first saw her refuses to listen.

It’s torture to watch Diego subtly touch Ivy and be affectionate with her. By the end of the evening, I find myself grinding my teeth and resisting the urge to not kill her boyfriend.

Micah sidles up to me eventually, his eyes honing in on Ivy and her boyfriend, then back to mine, “You know no matter how hard you glare, you can’t kill him with the heat of your eyes?”

I reluctantly pull my gaze from the couple and meet my friend’s eyes, “It shouldn’t really matter to me,” I reply.

Micah arches a brow, his emerald eyes glinting with mirth, “But it does, doesn’t it? I just don’t understand why you didn’t take your chance when you had it.”

I glance back at the couple and seethe as Diego’s hand caresses her lower back.

Keeping them within the range of my vision, I look back at Micah, “Didn’t Sophia tell you why?”

Micah’s brow furrows, “Why would Sophia tell me why you’re not with Ivy?”

I quirk a brow. Ivy must have asked the women to keep her confidence because they kept the secret between themselves, showing their loyalty to Ivy.

Taking a deep breath, I take another sip of my wine and begrudgingly answer, “It seems that my uncle has taken it upon himself to arrange a marriage for me. Ivy had just discovered the news when my uncle announced it at the restaurant we were all at.”

Micah’s eyes widen with horror, “Are you shitting me, man? Are you seriously telling me that your uncle did something so antiquated, and you went along with it? What is this, the sixteenth century? Holy s**t!”

I nod, “I know it seems rather odd, but I respect uncle Haruto, and there’s a lot more involved with the arrangement, which is why I have not called it off.”

Micah gives me a solicitous look, “It’s also why you haven’t pursued Ivy? Man, that’s not good. I mean, everyone can tell that there’s something between you two,” he pats my shoulder and points to the couple, “I just hope that you don’t regret waiting so long. Because I have to say that dude looks very determined, and Ivy is not the kind of woman who will wait around forever.”

My shoulders stiffen when Diego takes Ivy’s hand and ushers her to the door. Jaw tight, I observe as the couple makes their exit. Every part of me screams for me to run after them, but somehow I manage to stay in place.

Micah observes my reaction, shakes his head and mutters, “Yeah, you’re really f****d,” he expels a deep breath before he faces me and gives me a direct stare, “Look, man, your life is your life. But I have to say, as someone who had unrequited feelings for a woman and did some f****d up things to get over it─it won’t work. If you’re set on continuing with your engagement, be sure. The last thing you want is to let the one get away and sacrifice any happiness you might have with her. I almost lost Sophia, and to be honest, I don’t think I would have ever recovered if I had.”

I internalize my friend’s earnest words and nod, “I know, Micah. I just need to find a way to end this without sacrificing my own family.”

“Why would you sacrifice your family?”

I swallow down my drink before answering, “The woman I’m engaged to, Ahmya Takahashi’s family, has a vested interest in my mother’s company. After my mother’s death, the Takahashi’s helped my uncle Haruto keep it above water by investing a large sum into its failing equity, and the company has flourished a great deal over the years. I was supposed to be the CEO, but I refused the position since I already worked for the Confradia. My uncle was unhappy with my decision, but he agreed to remain as my interim CEO until I was ready to take the helm. However, I have to marry Ahmya to retain my mother’s company, or the Takahashi family will demand a buy-out, which is several billion dollars, and I will lose my mother’s legacy. My uncle Haruto would be devastated if that happened.”

Micah’s expression darkens, “Damn, that’s really f****d up. I wish I could help you.”

I shake my head, “Do you understand my predicament now?”

He nods, “Yeah, I can see that you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

I grimace, “Yes, it seems so.”

Before continuing our conversation, the other men join us, and we change the topic.

Eventually, I lose my inner battle and drive to Ivy’s apartment. Within minutes of my arrival, I spot the couple coming out of Diego’s SUV.

I observe Ivy toss her hair back and give the man a flirtatious smile. Diego takes her hand and gives her a suggestive look before he leans down and kisses her. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as I watch their interlude. To my surprise, Ivy gently pushes him away and wags her finger playfully. Diego gives her a mischievous grin and holds his palms up with a gentle plea, but Ivy is undeterred. Within minutes, Diego drives away, and Ivy enters her building.

I unclench my fingers and flex them, still feeling a sense of disquiet. Before moving to New York, I avoided facing my feelings for Ivy because I was constantly traveling, and I didn’t see her with any other men. However, now, my feelings are heightened by our proximity. All these emotions that I’ve bottled up inside seem to have burst through the wall I’ve built up, and I don’t know what to do about them.

Thankfully, I manage to control the impulse to rush to her apartment and seduce her. Instead, I go back to the warehouse and take my frustrations out in the gym. Regrettably, my thoughts remain on what I will do about Ivy and my looming marriage.