Chapter 15
At 6 PM, Briar stepped out of the house in her usual sporty outfit with her old backpack slung over one shoulder.
Right at the gate, she ran into Edgar coming home from work. He looked completely drained, shoulders slumped and steps slow like he was dragging hề body forward.
Seeing how beat–down he looked actually lifted Briar’s mood a little.
Edgar shot her a weak glare but didn’t say a word. He didn’t even bother asking where she was going–it was obvious he was still fuming about what had happened at the company.
Briar acted like she didn’t e even see him and kept walking. If she hadn’t already made dinner plans with Ashton, she might’ve stuck around just to mess with Edgar a little more.
Just as she stepped out onto the main road, Ashton’s sleek car pulled up like clockwork.
The window rolled down, revealing his handsome face. “Hop in, Briar,” he said casually, like it was something they did every day.
“Alright,” she said, a slight twitch at the corner of her lips. She slid into the passenger seat without hesitation.
The car didn’t stay parked long. It pulled away smoothly before anyone from the Jennings family had the chance to notice.
Well–almost anyone. Camden had just gotten back from the plastic surgery clinic and missed the whole thing. But his driver caught a glimpse of the woman with long hair getting into a luxury car with a license plate he definitely recognized.
He thought about saying something but held his tongue after seeing Camden’s sour expression. Better not get involved.
In the car, Ashton asked, “What kind of food do you like? How about Zakian cuisine?”
Briar loved spicy food, so she answered right away, “Sounds perfect.”
“Great.” Ashton nodded. “A buddy of mine just opened a new Zakian cuisine place. They fly in fresh ingredients every day. Let’s go try it out.”
“Sure,” Briar said, smiling.
About an hour and a half later, she was sitting in a private dining room on the 88th floor, overlooking the whole Shoneport waterfront. She sipped her milk and dug into the spicy Zakian cuisine spread in front of her.
She actually wanted to have a drink, but Ashton had only ordered milk for her, worried that mixing alcohol with spicy food might upset her stomach.
Briar–who could hold her liquor better than most–found it kind of funny, but she didn’t say anything. If he wanted her to drink milk, fine. It was no big
deal.
The food was amazing, and she didn’t hold back. Unlike most girls who picked at their food in public, Briar ate with zero self–consciousness. She had a big appetite and didn’t care who was watching.
Watching her eat so comfortably made Ashton eat more.
After the main course, Ashton asked the restaurant manager to bring over a special dessert. “This one’s not on the menu,” he said. “They only make it for
VIPS.”
Briar took a bite and nodded in approval. It was sweet but not overwhelming–just right after a heavy meal.
“Ashton, you’re being a little too nice,” she said. “This can’t just be about thanking me for helping Griffin, right?”
She wasn’t wrong. Ashton was a busy man–he ran all of the Wade family’s businesses. There was no way he’d carve out time like this for a girl he barely knew unless there was something more going on.
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13:35. Mon, 28 Jul Oly
Chapter 15
Ashton gave her a small smile. “Since you figured it out, I won’t beat around the bush,” he said. “Here’s the deal
Just then, Briar’s phone rang. Her expression shifted a little. She gave Ashton à quick, polite smile. “Sorry, I need to take this.”
“No worries,” Ashton said warmly. “I’ll give you some space.” He could tell it was important. He stepped out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette
Briar didn’t bother guessing why he was being so considerate. She quickly answered the call. “This is Bree.”
“It’s Sam. Bree, I need a favor,” came a clear male voice over the line. In the background, there was wind and gunfire.
“I’m not taking any missions,” Briar replied calmly. “But if you need help with something else, just say the word.”
This call came from the underground organization she used to work with abroad. So naturally, her whole vibe changed. Her voice was colder now–cool, sharp, and distant, not at all like how she was with Ashton.
Her expression gave off a kind of calm danger, the kind one couldn’t look away from even if they wanted to.
Cigarette in one hand, the other resting on the balcony, Ashton turned slightly and caught a glimpse of her through the glass.
For a moment, he just watched, stunned by how different she looked. But he didn’t try to read her lips–he just quietly watched her hold the phone, noting how steady and graceful her hands were.
A few minutes later, Briar ended the call. Her whole expression softened again as she turned toward Ashton with a smile.
Ashton put out his cigarette and stepped back inside. “Hope the smoke didn’t bother you,” he said.
Briar shook her head. “It’s fine. So–what were you going to say before the call?”
Ashton fidgeted with the ring on his thumb, thinking for a second. “Briar, I know you’re a great doctor–and that you’re connected with that lab. I wanted to ask if you could help me track down Tristan. I’ll pay whatever it takes to get him to treat my grandfather.”
Briar hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but everyone’s been trying to find Tristan. He’s completely off the radar. Even with all my contacts, I’ve got nothing.”
“I figured it’d be a long shot,” Ashton admitted. “But still, if you could ask around, see if someone hears something–anything–I’d really appreciate it.*
He knew Briar had only agreed to treat Griffin’s coma, but that wasn’t the whole picture. What had really damaged Griffin’s health was something that went way back–something the older generation had gotten involved in.
It was messy and dangerous. And Ashton didn’t want to drag someone like Briar into it. His only real hope now was finding Tristan.
AD
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