Damien stared at the people before him and shook his head.
“Look, I had a terrible day. If this is a prank, quit it out.”The girl named Ash sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I know you do not want to jump, Master Blackwell. Step out. Your father wants to see you.”“Father?” confusion is visible in the male’s eyes. “Sorry… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t think it is me you’re looking for.”“You are.” Ash leaned closer to him until he could feel her breath on his face. Damien averted his eyes from her and looked away. “Emerald eyes and jet black hair, with a small scar on your cheek. You are indeed Lord Blackwell’s son.”“Who—”Ash placed a finger on his lips cunningly and then shifted her eyes to the men behind her. “It’s him. Take him.”The men in black approached Damien and pulled him off the edge of the bridge. Several cars in the street would look at the suspicious sight in front of them but figured that they didn’t want to get involved so they kept on driving.When the men in black tried to tie Damien up, a car pulled over.“What the hell is going on here? Where are you taking that man?”Ash tucked her hair behind her ear and stepped to talk to the driver. The driver who pulled over immediately meets Ash’s sadistic but cold grin.“Cold evening, is it not?” she greeted the driver.Somehow, the driver got chills just by looking at Ash’s smile. Within the corner of his eye, he could see the men putting a sack over Damien’s head and pushing him into the vehicle.Ash’s head tilted, blocking the scene behind her. “Where are you headed off, Sir?” she asked him again to get his attention, still wearing that chilling smile on her lips.“U-Uh… just passing by.”“Good. Have a safe trip.”The driver was shaking. He could tell from the sight before him that these people were not just any member of society and that he had pulled into the wrong scene.“I-I… am going ahead.”Ash taps the vehicle’s front and nodded. “Off you go.”The driver was about to stir his wheel when he then hears her whisper: “…and not a single word.”“Y-Yes ma’am.”And so, the car drove off into the gloomy, bridge.Ash smiled at the cars after him, and they did not even think about pulling over like the other one did. When the men in black successfully put Damien inside the limousine, Ash also enters inside.She sits and then pulls Damien’s head to rest on her lap, then she told the driver of the limousine, “To the mansion, Lord Blackwell expects him before dawn.”______Damien woke up on a soft mattress against his spine. His eyes were blurry because he had smashed and lost his spectacles previously. He spanned his eyes across the room which he swore he had never been in before.“Where am I?”“In your room, of course, Master Damien.”“Master?” Damien pivoted his head beside him only to see that silver-headed girl from yesterday.“Who..?”“My, my. Seems like you, too, have inherited your father’s forgetfulness, Sir.” the lady who wore a tuxedo and black skirt, which perfectly fit her hourglass body— stands up and chuckles. “It’s Ash, Sir.”“Ash…” he repeats with a glare. “Why did you kidnap me?”Ash heads to the nearby windowsill and opens the blinds, allowing the sunlight to fill the room. “Perhaps you should ask your father about that.”Damien pursed his lips.His father?He’d been an orphan since he was a baby. The nuns in the orphanage told him his family was dead. And now… his own Father sends him?Damien lowered his head and inspected himself. His skin was clean and his clothes were changed. Someone definitely took care of him the night before.“Where are my clothes, I need to go to work.”“Work?” Ash raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes, I have forgotten to tell you about that. You were fired, Sir.”“Fired?” Damien repeats, his chest sinking. Earlier, their boss manager just asked him if he wanted a promotion!“What else do you expect? Apparently, you touched your CEO’s bride.”“I did not!” Damien stood up from his bed, towering over Ash’s small physique. Ash takes a step back as she allowed the young master to express his disbelief and right to deny. “I never touched Clarissa! I loved that woman!”“Right. And how did that go for you, Master?” Ash crossed her arms and then turned her back of him to head out. “Expect that no employer will be taking you in, Master. However, you need not worry about surviving. Everything will be provided for you in this mansion. You should be quick, though, and perhaps there will be a discussion of how you can get back against the Coltons. Your father expects to see you. He couldn’t talk to you yesterday because you passed out.”“Your men placed that sack all over my head! How am I supposed to breathe in such limited space?”Ash sighed. “We would not have placed a sack on your head if you behaved. Anyway,” She pointed to the closet. “Your clothes are there. Meet us at the dining hall. Be there in ten minutes.”“Wait— what?!”Ash left him and shuts the door close. Damien is left, ruminating about what he must do in this situation.He was fired, and now society hates him because of Clarissa’s statement that he tried to touch her. There is no one left for him to rely on.But he cannot ask forgiveness for something he did not sin for.Damien rushed to the closet, took out some clothes, and washed himself before heading to the dining room to meet his so-called father.Several thoughts rushed in his mind. His feelings from yesterday had not fully subsided yet, and now, another emotion stirs within him.Anger.How can this father of his— fail to visit him in the orphanage if he were alive? More so, if he was this wealthy… why did he have to throw him away?Damien massaged his forehead as it was starting to hurt.Meanwhile, in the dining hall, Ash has returned. She focused her eyes at the male at the end of the table who wore lavish coats. Different cuisines were displayed on the table, and naturally, she stood beside Lord Tyrell Blackwell.“Is he awake?” the father of the household asked her.“He is.” Ash replied and then shifted her eyes to the entrance of the dining hall, waiting for the young master to show himself.Lord Tyrell’s eyes rested at his palms which were clasped tightly above the table. Ash could tell that he was nervous to meet and speak with his son for the first time.She didn’t know the reason why he abandoned his son in an orphanage. Is Ash was not his employee, she would’ve disliked him for that reason.But Ash knows there’s a reason why he had to leave that boy in an orphanage. She knows it too well because she had been exposed to the dangerous line of work by the Blackwells.Ash tied her silver-dyed hair in a ponytail while waiting for Damien to arrive.“Shall I go and call him, Sir?” she asked her boss. “The food is getting cold.”It was an understatement. The food had been cold hours ago since Lord Tyrell sat on that chair since 8 A.M. It was already 11 A.M.“No.” He forbade her. “I will wait for him.”Ash gritted her teeth, a display of the woman’s rogueness and delinquency. She slipped her hands into the pockets of her skirt and continued to wait.A few minutes later, they hear footsteps approaching the dining hall. Lord Tyrell tensed as a tall, brawny man appears from the doorway. He had a meek expression in his face like a confused sheep. The first thing Tyrell noticed was his viridescent eyes. And only with those, he knew he was his child.Damien stared at Tyrell, Ash, and the rest of the men in black in the room.“Let’s get out.” Ash told the men and proceeded to walk away from the dining hall when Damien stops her.“You’re not leaving.” He firmly told her.Ash glared at him. Though he looked calm at that moment, the way he gripped Ash was tight. The girl thought her arm was going to snap.“You don’t want to speak with your father alone?”“You’ll be here in case my hands slipped and I kill this man.” He replied back as he looked at his Father. Ash rolled her eyes and remained in the room in case the abandoned child snapped.Lord Tyrell sat on the far end of the long table while Damien was on the other end. Ash moved his plates to his side and served as their referee when things heat up. The girl then stationed herself beside Lord Tyrell.The dining hall was very silent. The two didn't know who should start eating. Ash cleared her throat. “Please, Master Damien, dig in.” Someone had to say it.Damien said nothing and took his spoon and fork. He weighed the utensil in his hand and realized how heavy they were. He then starts eating his breakfast, and his father follows.Ash could feel the awkwardness between the two. She crossed her arms across her chest and leaned against the window while watching the two eat. Now, it would be interesting who would be the first one to break the tension.She waited and waited, but there was not a single word being shared between the two. They finished their meals and have not yet said a single thing to each other. She was about to break the ice, when all of a sudden, thank
TWO YEARS LATER________________In a dark, wet alleyway of 504 Greenhill Street, just near the dumpsters— a bleeding man is surrounded by five other men wearing black suits and dark shades, each of them holding a gun to his head. A black Cadillac parks near the alleyway, blocking its only entrance and exit to the main road— giving these mobsters their own privacy.The man is sent to the muddy, grimy floor— begging for his life. “Please don’t do this! Have mercy on me! I was only told to do it!”The drizzling rain covered the man’s muffled cries, making him unnoticeable to the people walking past the street. But even if someone had noticed them, they wouldn't dare interrupt. After all, the Black Vigilantes was a former mafia group and now works as the government’s lapdog. A huge business, for the Blackwell family, head of the mob.A woman’s powerful heels then join the scene— Ash Harlock’s haunting footsteps caused the man to tremble even more. “Is this him?” “Yes.” One of the membe
When they returned to the villa, Tyrell Blackwell was waiting for them in his office. As always after a late night’s hard work ends, Damien hopped off from the vehicle while stretching her arms in the air. Ash followed behind while dragging the unconscious man with her into the ground. When she dropped his body into the soil, Ash crouched and chuckled. “Whoops, sorry didn’t mean that. Whoops! Uh-oh didn’t mean that either!”Damien sighed at the girl. He really thought Ash was going to be one of those butlers that are always so strict and polite. But she was the polar opposite of what he had expected. Ash was brave, but foul-mouthed and also unbelievably honest to the point that her honesty can sometimes make you cry. There are times when she is so naughty like a preschool kid who had gone into a park for the first time, and there are times when she becomes a complete beast. And in those times, she becomes deadly. There are indications that could tell when she was. If the atmosph
Damien exited his father’s office with a throbbing chest. His eyes were fixated on the carpet as he walked to find his way back to his own chambers to rest. He happened to walk past the floor’s bathroom, and he entered inside. There, he took off his bloodied gloves and placed them on the sink. He turns on the valve and splashed his face with some cold water before taking another deep breath.“Nervous?” He finds a silhouette in the mirror behind him. Ash was leaning against the door, her arms crossed all over her chest. Damien turned off the valve and looked at her, with his hair dripping wet. His eyelashes were wet too, and it made them thicker. “What do you want? The shift is over.”“Not sure why I had to listen to all of those, but congratulations.” She patted him on the shoulder. “But hopefully you don’t lose your head and forget we’re still buddies, alright?”Damien rolled his eyes and pushed her away. “What do you want, Ash?” “I want a week off.” She told him. “Since the cooler
Damien took the car as he planned to go to the clothing shop that day. When he rode the car, he took his phone and looked for Ash’s number before turning on the engine. He dialed her number and waited for the woman to answer the call, but she didn’t.“Huh. So she was serious about me not calling her?” Damien sighed and puts the phone in his pockets and placed his hand on the wheel. In front of him was the entire villa, and to this day, the magnificence of the premises he was residing in— did not really sink into him just yet.The fact that he could hold the stirring wheel of a car which he never managed to afford, was unbelievable. He could still remember the time when he suddenly became Tyrell Blackwell’s son. And now, from being a poor orphan child— who had to work because his orphanage was burnt down; he is now someone who can build orphanages of his own. Not wanting the silence to make him feel gloomier, he started the engine and then left the villa. When he arrived at the bou
Ash was in the airport, in the waiting area. She was just an hour away from a flight to another country, only a few minutes left, and then they would be called to the plane to take their seats. She had her bags with her, so prepared to leave and take her well-deserved break. She even had the fanciest shades and some summer outfits. She swore that when she goes back to Petersburg, she would run to the beach first.In the middle of her ambitious daydreaming, she receives a call on her phone. The woman looked at the caller's I.D and realized it was her boss— Damien. She grunted and pressed the end call and went back to her daydreaming. Before she could lean back on her chair to relax again, a text pops up from her screen.“Argh!” she growled, causing other passengers to sit away from her. “Why is he disturbing me this time?! Can’t I ever take a break?!”She clicked the messages icon and read what her needy boss wanted to do.‘I need help.’The girl stopped. Her irritated face turned seri
When the car gets back home, Damien exited the vehicle while Ash turned the engine off. She then hopped off the car and was met by Damien scrutinizing her. She crossed her arms. She could already tell from the look on his face that he had something to tell. Ash lazily looked at him and faced her master with a bored face. “What is it, Master?” “Watermelon dress." he pointed, smiling like an idiot. "You did not wear your usual black today.” Ash became silent. Of course, she couldn’t. She didn’t want to bring any gloomy clothes when she was supposed to attend her little brother’s birthday party. Besides she didn't want to be passed off as a freak on the plane. “Is that a problem, Master? Shall I change?” “No,” Damien replied as fast as he could. “I think I have you too much to do, Miss Harlock. I will be asking more of you in the next weeks, especially during the ceremony.” “What’s with the formality?” she scratched her nape. “Sounds weird for you to call me a miss.” “You are not i
When Damien was out of the shower, Ash was still waiting but had already fallen asleep in his bed. He dried off his hair with a towel and then picked up his clothes before coming any closer to her. He was concerned that if she woke up seeing him undressed from shower, he'd earn a black eye. He'd seen what Ash had done to those people. And getting injured by Ash is the last thing he could ever want. Upon finishing, he poked the girl from sleep. Ash groaned and slapped his hands away but sleepily. She continues to murmur inaudible words that Damien knew were of another language. He knew very little of Ash, but what did it matter? Why should he bother learning so much about this mysterious foreign girl, anyway?Even so, Damien could not understand why his heart longed to know more about Ash. Damien could easily deny it, but this time he couldn’t. How can he deny being curious and amused about her when this woman is sleeping vulnerably across his bed, spreading her silver hair— dous