Saving the Villain

"Where are you?"

Cosette furrowed her brows at Asher's question. "Why?" she asked.

"I just came from a business trip and I want to see you." He didn't beat around the bush, telling his intention immediately. "Are you free?"

"Why would you want to see me when you should go straight home and rest?" Cosette frowned. "Asher Quinn. I told you this many times and I will say it again. You and I —"

"There's no chance, right?" he continued, cutting her off. All he heard was Cosette clearing her throat, making him chuckle. "Don't worry. I'm not trying to win your heart. I just want to share something with my friend."

"Share something?" Cosette arched a brow. "Like?"

"I'll tell you in person. Are you home?"

"Uhm… no. I'm actually on my way home." Cosette glanced at the window. "Want to meet up?"

Asher smiled at her offer. "Mhm." He listened to the address she said, somewhere near her house.

"I got it. I'll see you then." Asher slowly ended the call, smiling. He gazed at his phone for a second before telling the driver of the destination he wanted to go.

Meanwhile, when the call ended, Cosette stared at her phone. Her brows were still furrowed, tilting her head from one side to another.

"He sounds really happy," she murmured.

Unlike the last time she saw him, Asher sounded thrilled. It was as if he was so happy, but didn't know how to contain his excitement. Or rather, he just didn't have someone to tell about it.

"That guy…" Cosette chuckled. "... he better not have any silly idea in mind or I'll punch him in the gut."

Cosette placed her phone back on her phone, forgetting she wanted to call Maxen. A smile was plastered on her face, looking forward to what made Asher sound so happy. And with that, she traveled to the meeting place near her home.

There was a park nearby. Since Cosette was commuting, there were a few stops that took her some time to arrive. Still, she thought Asher would come a bit later. But when she arrived, she immediately saw Asher's figure sitting on one of the benches.

He was still in his suit, and based on the coat he was wearing, he truly came from abroad. After all, it was summer, and wearing a coat was strange in this weather. Even though it was already night, it wasn't that cold.

"Gosh… he really is handsome." Cosette stayed on the spot she was standing on, assessing Asher from head to toe. She folded her arms under her chest as mischief shone in her eyes. "I wonder if he will be annoyed if I let him wait for some time."

Cosette waited for minutes, just watching him from the same spot. However, Asher just smiled from time to time as if a happy thought would cross his mind.

"He really looks happy," she mumbled, pleased that Asher seemed to have gotten his thoughts together. After all, the last time… Asher seemed to be all over the place. His aura now was completely different from the last time. He didn't feel gloomy at all. She was relieved.

"Huh?" her brows rose when Asher slowly turned his head in her direction. Her expression stiffened as if she was caught red-handed.

Asher rose to his feet, facing her direction. The corner of his lips stretched until his teeth were showing, waving at her.

"Why…" Cosette scrunched her nose up. "... does it feel like we're in a movie?"

Cosette shook her head to clear her thoughts, skipping her steps to him. When she stood in front of him, a smile turned up on her face.

"Have you been waiting?" she asked innocently, only to get teased by him.

"Cosette Blac, don't make it sound like we're on a date. How long have you been standing there? Are you planning to make me wait?"

"What?" dismay instantly dominated her face. "First things first. I didn't make it sound like this is a date. It's NOT! And secondly, I… around five minutes, I guess?"

He chuckled. "So you were planning to make me wait?"

"I want to see if you'll throw a huge fit."

"You mean you want to bring the worst out of me?" he narrowed his eyes suspiciously while Cosette only realized her actions until he worded it that way. "Cosette, do you want me to fall for you?"

"What?"

"First, you treat me indifferently, and then showed a bit of kindness. You continued to treat me like shit and then give me a little warmth from time to time. Now, you want to bring out the worst in me," he listed in a knowing tone. "You're giving me mixed signals, which makes me think about you all day. Are you purposely doing this to make me hooked?"

Cosette opened and closed her mouth, rendered speechless. After a second, she scoffed in disbelief.

"What?" she gasped in disbelief. "Are you putting malice in all of my actions?"

"Pfft —" Asher laughed, covering his lips with the back of his fist. Seeing him laugh out loud as if it was a mission success, Cosette scoffed once again. "That's for making me wait."

"Gosh… I can't believe you."

"Don't tease me, so I won't tease you back," he humored, shoving his hands inside his pockets. "Anyway, now we're even."

Cosette rolled her eyes before she threw herself on the bench. "Why are you so annoying? Is that part of the Quinn's genes?"

"Or maybe you're just sensitive?" he returned, sitting beside her.

"Wow…" Cosette cast him a look of dismay. "Do you really have answers to everything I say?"

"Do you always have complaints about me?"

"Goodness!" Again, she was lost for words. "Wow… did you tell me to meet just to give me hypertension? You and Luke —"

"Just me."

"Huh?"

Asher flashed her a smile. "Can you not compare me with others every time?"

"Did Luke annoy you somehow?"

"No. But it feels like every time you want to insult me, you drag my entire clan in it. Have mercy on my ancestors, Cosette. Give them some slack and the people who weren't here." Asher leaned back, peeling his eyes away from her. "If I'm a jerk, then I'm a jerk. Just me, not my brother or dad or anyone in the Quinn family. I mean, they were jerks when they wanted to, but I'm the one you are teasing, not them."

Cosette frowned, but she chose to end this discussion with silence. She felt like they wouldn't stop arguing. And also, he had a point. Moreover, it was Cosette who started it. As she stayed quiet, she observed Asher's side profile.

"Anyway, why did you call me here?" she asked, watching him look back at her. "What's something you want to share?"

"I closed a big deal." The corner of his lips stretched from ear to ear until his teeth were showing.

"Oh!" Cosette clasped her hands together but then furrowed her brows. "Wait. That wasn't the first time you achieved such a feat."

"It's not, but this time there's a reward," he chuckled, giving her a meaningful look. "They approved my resignation."