DOMINATING HIS FOES

Chapter 2 - The return

A man stood In front of Asher, smirking, tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing an expensive suit; in his hand was a bouquet of fresh red roses. Asher knew him to be Emily’s boss and one of her admirers, Edward George. The man she had replaced him with.

The sight of Edward made Asher’s blood simmer. His expression turned cold, while Edward’s grin widened. “I didn’t think I had run into you so soon, pauper.”

Asher gritted his teeth. And his jaw clenched. His knuckles turned ghostly white. And he could feel the heat of his rage through his skin. “You should learn to mind your business.”

Edward chuckled, walking forward. “I heard the news about how you got dumped by your wife, or should I say, ex-wife. Guess she finally realized she was wasting her time with a loser like you.”

Asher exhaled slowly, suppressing his anger. He had no time for this, so he turned to walk away.

Edward blocked his path, “what’s with the rush?” he uttered. “I can see you can’t stand seeing someone better take your place. You know I should thank you.”

He paused. “If you weren’t such a failure. Emily wouldn’t have come to me. She deserves a better and real man. Someone who can provide for her, not someone who would drain her.”

Asher raised his cold gaze. “A real man.” His voice was eerily calm.

Edward nodded with a grin, lifting the bouquet. “Yeah. Someone who can buy her nice things. Take her on expensive dinner dates and vacations.”

Asher’s lips curled. He lifted the velvet box just enough for Edward to see the glimmering necklace inside.

Edward’s smile faltered, and his eyes widened in disbelief. It was the latest diamond necklace worth over $9.5 million.

How did Asher get his hands on such an expensive item? Edward looked perplexed.

“How did you get that? It’s expensive?” Edward asked, looking at Asher with wide eye.

Asher, seeing Edward’s expression, chuckled. Snapping the box shut. “Ironic, isn’t it? I know it’s expensive and was supposed to be for Emily, but we are no longer together. You can get her a necklace like this if you want to provide for her. The necklace is more expensive than anything you have given her.”

Edward’s face twisted into something dark; his face was etched with jealousy and rage. “there is no way a broke man like you can afford something like that.”

‘Believe whatever you want.” Asher pockets the box.

“Hand it over?” Edward warned, lunging forward.

Asher sidestepped. Twisting out of his grasp.

Edward stumbled forward but quickly straightened. “Fine, I can see you want it the hard way.” He snapped his finger.

Two massive men stepped out, they stood firm with a stern expression.

“I didn’t want to do this but you leave me with no choice.” He sneered. “take it from him.”

The guard matched forward, Asher shook his head and exhaled. The first guard swung a fist, but Asher was fast to duck, driving his elbow into the man’s ribs before twisting and landing a brutal punch to his jaw. The guard staggered back.

The second guard lunged, Asher sidestepped, grabbed his arm and flipped him onto the pavement with a sickening thud,

Edward’s jaw dropped, and his eyes widened in panic. “What the’

“You were saying?” Asher cut him off. As he turned to face Edward, he rolled his shoulders.

Edward swallowed, but he had too much pride to back down; he stared at his men, who were lying on the floor in pain. With a roar, he charged forward.

Asher’s fist met his face mid-stride; a sickening crack echoed in the air. Edward crumpled to the ground, with blood dripping from his nose, and the bouquet of roses lay crushed beneath him.

When he looked around, he couldn’t find Asher anywhere. It seems Asher had disappeared.

A gasp rang out from behind; Emily and her mother ran forward the moment they spotted Edward and his men.

Mrs Deborah’s face twisted in horror, while Emily’s eyes flicked from Edwards’ bloody face to the guards’ groaning. Emily strode towards Edward.

“What happened? Who did this to you?” she asked with a low but unsteady voice.

Edward groaned, wiping the blood from his nose. “That bastard, he did this to me because I tried to take what he has stolen from you?”

Emily and her mother exchanged worrisome glances; her face darkened. “What! he stole from us?"

Edward struggled with his words, “I saw him with a diamond necklace; it’s expensive, worth $9.5 million. He had it, I am sure he stole it.”

Emily’s expression mixed from shock to fury, and she shook her head in disbelief. “That’s impossible; Asher is broke. He can’t even afford a good phone; how did he get something that expensive?”

Mrs. Deborah’s face twisted, “That filthy thief must have stolen it.”

Emily curled her fist; she had known Asher but never had she imagined he would stoop so low as stealing. “Where is he? Where did he go?”

Meanwhile, Asher took his phone, calling the butler.

“Young master, what a surprise? How can I help you?” Mark asked.

“I just sent you my location, send someone to come pick me up. I am coming home.” He informed.

“Alright, young master.” Mark Spencer replied as the line went dead.

A few moments later, Asher walked toward the Range Rover parked before him; the guard bowed their heads respectfully, parting the car door open for him. He entered inside, closing the door. The engine ignited and the car zoomed towards the airport,

The drive was quiet, Asher kept thinking of how he spent the last three years of his life. He felt a surge of betrayal and a pang of hurt. Upon arriving at the airport, he went straight to the private jet that was waiting for him; he was going back home to Italy.

When Asher arrived, he glanced at the mansion he had abandoned for three years. He stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his home. The life he had put on pause was about to resume.

He ambled into the mansion; the butler, Mark Spencer, smiled upon seeing his master.

“Welcome back, young master.” He said, handing him a glass of whiskey.

Before Asher could take a sip, his phone buzzed. He exhaled sharply, pulling it out of his pocket. The name flashing on the screen made his jaw tightened.

Emily.

He almost ignored it, but curiosity got the best of him; he swiped to answer, bringing the phone to his ear.

“What do you want?”