Page 46 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
“Lucy,” I correct, automatically.
I sigh, because I still haven’t figured out what to do about Aimee. I decide to just ask Asher. I text him on the number he programmed into my phone days ago in the top secret lab.
Lucy: What do I tell Aimee?
Asher: Xavier has an NDA for her to sign.
Lucy: K…
I frown. It took Asher less than a minute to reply, almost as if he had been waiting for the text. And Xavier is already prepped with an NDA catered to Aimee? This feels like a setup, my first test of loyalty.
I would bet my life that Asher wanted to know whether or not I’ll break my NDA to tell Aimee about us. I didn’t. I passed this first test, but what about the next? And what would have happened if I hadn’t passed?
Xavier follows me into the building. We pass one of the students manning the front desk. Her eyes widen when she sees Xavier. I understand her reaction. He’s tall, handsome and well-built, even under the fabric of his suit.
But he isn’t as handsome as Asher. Because of Asher, I’m quickly becoming immune to attractive men. My heart doesn’t even quicken when I enter my hall and catch sight of Kyle, my hall’s program coordinator and Vaserley Hall’s very own heartthrob.
Kyle is a senior. Not only is he brainy, but he’s also tall and super attractive in the all-American, Abercrombie and Fitch kind of way. Aimee and the other girls in the hall were obsessed with him as soon as they laid eyes on him. Even I thought he was hot when I first met him the day after the whole Rogue incident that left me walking around with my tail tucked between my legs for a month.
I still think he’s attractive, and this is post-Asher engagement… but I resent him, nevertheless. He’s actually the original source of the Minka vs. Aimee rivalry. Both of the girls think they saw him first, and both of them want him, never mind the fact that R.A.s and P.C.s are not allowed to hook up with their residents.
“Hey, Luce,” Kyle greets me. “Whoa.” His eyes widen when he sees Xavier.
Vaserley is a co-ed dorm, and bringing people of the opposite gender into our rooms is allowed, but I think Kyle is dazed because I’m one of the few who have yet to do it. Up until now, that is.
It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea. It’s just that I’ve been too focused on staying alive after calling the cops at Rogue to even consider meeting boys. Now, I’m fake engaged to one and bringing another into my room. It’s crazy how much has changed in just one weekend.
“Kyle, this is Xavier,” I say. And because he’ll probably find out soon enough, I add, “He’s helping me move out.”
“You’re moving out?” Kyle looks blindsided.
“Yep,” I confirm, but I don’t add anything else. It’s none of his business. That was just a courtesy notice.
I step past him, while Kyle and Xavier do some weird head nod greeting that I always see guys do. When I walk into my room, Aimee is already laying on my bed, patiently waiting for me. She sits up as soon as she sees me.
Before she can tal
k, I hand her the NDA I got from Xavier in the car and say, “You have to sign this before I can tell you anything.”
Aimee’s eyes widen as she scans the NDA. “Oh, my Gosh! This is so exciting. It’s like you’re dating a real life Christian Grey. Is he into BDSM? Does he want you to be his submissive?” She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “Does he have a red room at his place?”
I flush at the idea of Asher using me as his submissive. Then, I rub at my temples, trying to fight the burgeoning headache Aimee’s bringing on with her fire round of questions. “Sign first. Then, I’ll talk.”
She nods and signs, just like that. I don’t even think she fully read the NDA. Before I can say anything, Xavier enters the room behind me, bumping the door into my body, which was in its trajectory. I fall to the ground, landing on one of Aimee’s spiky heels and scraping my palms against the sharp point. It draws blood, and I glare at Aimee for leaving her shit all over the place, but she’s too busy looking at Xavier.
“Fuck. Sorry, Miss Ives,” Xavier says. The curse sounds funny juxtaposed beside the formal use of my last name.
“Lucy,” I correct.
Again.
After all, Xavier works for Asher not me.
He helps me up, and I’m amazed when Aimee remains silent. She’s studying Xavier with the scrutiny of a FBI profiler.
“Aimee, this is Xavier. Xavier, this is my roommate, Aimee.”
Xavier nods at Aimee. “Hello.”
