ENGAGEMENT 15

CHAPTER 15 

ASHER 

Fuck,” I snapped at my myself, pressing my foot on the gas pedal, even though I was already driving at the highest speed possible. 

Twenty four hours. That was all they gave me. I’d flown back to the city on my private jet withou wasting any time. 

Twenty-four hours to sign over billions worth of empire. Twenty-four hours to save the womar who had already been stolen from me once. 

I wasn’t going to let it happen again. 

The phone on the seat beside me buzzed with another message. It was a grainy photo of Jada with her wrists bound, and tears streaking her face. An address was written under the photo. 

I followed the directions on my phone, and soon enough, I was on the outskirts of town. 

When I arrived at my destination, I was standing in front of what looked like an abandoned and run down warehouse. 

It looked like a shadow against the night sky. It was so old and run down that I wondered how i was even standing. I slowly made my way to the door, and noticed that it was slightly open. 

That was weird, but I didn’t have time to think. 

I slowly pushed the door open, and right in the middle of the room was Jada. 

“Asher,” she had seen me too. 

She was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, a single weak light bulb dangling above her casting shadows across her pale face. Her eyes widened the second she saw me, filling with a 

mixture of relief and terror. 

“Asher, no-” she started, shaking her head frantically. 

But I was already kneeling in front of her, my hands working at the ropes, fury burning through me with every knot. “I’ve got you,” I muttered. “I swear to God, I’ve got you.” 

Her eyes widened. “Asher! Behind you!” 

Before I could turn, the sound of a metallic click froze me in place. 

“Step away from her.” 

I straightened slowly, my head snapping toward the voice. 

Henry stood behind me, with a silver pistol pointed right at my head. 

– 

Maya walked into the room and her father turned to her with anger in his eyes. “You fool! You lef the door open? What if I didn’t walk in on time?” 

“Dad I just went to get some-” 

“Silence!” Henry roared and pointed at his daughter. “You better get your act right, or I’ll toss you aside and keep everything for myself!” 

Maya sniffled and walked out of the room in tears. Her father had never raised his voice at her 

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ke that. And he did it in front of that bitch Jada. 

She called Matt without thinking. 

“Mattle! Dad yelled at me.” She cried. 

“Maya, I don’t have time for this right now-” 

Something broke inside of her. “It’s because of that bitch right? You’re still obsessing over her? Well I guess it’s a good thing you’ll never see her again!” 

Matt was silent for a while. “Maya, what… what do you mean?” 

She smiled, she had him just where she wanted. “Daddy and I have her at our old warehouse. She’s going to transfer everything to our name and then we’ll have no need for her!” 

The call ended with a click. Matt didn’t even bother to respond to her. She pouted and went back into the warehouse. Her father’s anger would’ve subsided by now. 

JADA 

Uncle Henry had Asher kneeling on the ground beside me. The gun was still pointed at both of us, and he threatened to shoot us if we dared move. 

“Call your lawyers right now,” Uncle Henry said. “Get them to prepare the papers. I’ll have someone pick them up.” 

Asher looked angrier than I’d ever seen him in our entire lives. I knew he wanted to make a move He hated the fact that he was in this position. But every time he looked at me, I silently pleaded with my eyes for him to stay still. My uncle was a mad man, and I wasn’t willing to risk our lives for anything. 

“If you think you can get me to do your bidding just because you have a gun, then think again. Asher spat. 

“Asher, please…” I cried. “Please just give him what he wants. It’s not worth it.” 

“Listen to your wife now, she’s known me all her life. I’ll blow off your brains without a secon thought.” 

Just then, someone pushed the door open, and to my greatest surprise, Matt rushed in. 

“Oh for heaven’s sake!” Uncle Henry growled. “Now how did this fool get here!?” 

Maya cleared her throat behind him. I hadn’t even noticed her come back in. Her awkward action was enough of an answer to Uncle Henry’s question. 

“What did I do to deserve such a foolish daughter!?” He yelled. “You called him? You gave him our location?” 

Matt stepped forward with arms outstretched. “Uncle Henry… this isn’t right. Put the gun down and let’s talk it out like adults.” 

Matt’s eyes flickered over to me, and for a second, I thought I saw something good in there. 

Uncle Henry ignored him and faced Maya. “How can you be so foolish? Can’t you see that this is all for you!? I’ve given up everything for you!” 

“I even killed my brother just so you could have a better life!” 

I whipped my head up so fast that I almost got whiplash, 

CHAPTER 15 

12:15 pm & 

Uncle Henry had gone silent, and I could see that he only realized what he said after it came out of his mouth. 

“I-I- I didn’t mean-” He stuttered as he struggled to find the right words to say. But it was too late. 

The truth was already out. 

Uncle Henry was the one who killed my father. 

12:15 pm