Chapter 270
Chapter 270:
Only then did Kristine notice another figure standing just behind Asher. It was Tripp.
Normally sharp and attentive, he seemed frozen, momentarily lost in thought. A few seconds ticked by before he snapped out of his daze, hurried to the car, and retrieved a towel. He started to step forward to assist Asher — but a single cool look from his boss made him pause mid-step. Tripp got the message immediately and handed the towel straight to Kristine instead.
He remained spaced out, his mind still struggling to catch up. Too much had happened all at once.
That morning, the plan had been a straightforward trip to the office for a meeting. But just before they were set to leave, Asher changed his mind and switched it to virtual. Tripp assumed they would simply handle it from home. Instead, Asher asked him to drive to a coffee shop near the television station. Then, midway through the call, Asher decided to leave the café without offering any explanation.
Utterly confused, Tripp had followed his directions exactly, winding through streets until they pulled up in front of a house — and then he could hardly believe what he saw next. Right before his eyes, Asher stepped in front of Kristine, shielding her from a deluge of water clearly meant for her.
Asher appeared approachable on the surface, even easygoing. But Tripp knew the truth — he wasn’t the type to let things slide. So when Nathan actually hurled water and drenched him from behind, a chill raced down Tripp’s spine on Nathan’s behalf.
𝘋𝗂𝘀со𝗏𝗲𝘳 𝘯𝖾𝗐 s𝘁𝗼𝘳𝗶еѕ 𝗈n
Yet Asher didn’t utter a word. If anything, he seemed to be in good spirits. The more Tripp watched, the less sense it made. He racked his brain for some explanation — then a terrifying thought struck him. He cast a wide-eyed glance at Kristine and swallowed hard.
Kristine missed his expression entirely. She accepted the towel and gently patted away the droplets clinging to Asher’s neck. At least the water had been cold — it helped take the edge off her anger. As she calmed, her gaze lingered briefly on his skin. His neck was strikingly smooth.
Once she had wiped away the last bead of water, Kristine folded the towel neatly. “All done. You’re dry now p>
Asher glanced up at her, a gentle smile brightening his face. “I appreciate it p>
Curiosity flickered in Kristine’s eyes. “So, what brings you out this way p>
Behind him, cracked pavement, piles of faded leaves, and chipped brick walls painted a picture that couldn’t have felt more at odds with Asher’s usual world.
Asher didn’t miss a beat. “I’ve got a friend who lives nearby,” he replied smoothly, his expression perfectly composed. “I just happened to spot you here.” His gaze shifted to the tightly shut door. “And you? What are you doing out here p>